Quick Hits from Ixalan: Surfing the Merfolk Tide

Merfolk is a tempo-ish blue deck with a typal theme. It doesn't engage in the usual tempo game of cantrips and counterspells alongside a couple threats. Instead it runs an abundance of creatures that serve aggro and utility purposes backed by a few counterspells. It aims to win quickly with a battalion of Merfolk permanently pumped by cards like .

With most of the deck made of Merfolk creatures, means one does not have to worry about counterspells oneself. fits that role too, and its instant-speed activation also works as a way to ambush the opponent: Drop another to grow the creatures and win the combat, or a to remove relevant abilities. Normally the Vial will stay at two counters as most of the creatures cost as much, and they make for better surprises. However, some Merfolk cost three, including the new .

Tidebinder is on a stick, which fits the tempo play style perfectly. As if that weren't enough, it can permanently remove the abilities from an artifact, creature, or planeswalker. This is huge to properly answer tons of combo cards like or and take control of the game. But this is only the tip of the iceberg as there are plenty of other good targets that one wants to stifle once, like , the combo of and , or a storm trigger from or . These days there are so many relevant cards with nonmana abilities that the challenge is to find cards that won't be answered by Tidebinder! A exiling one of your creatures? Tidebinder. One of the lands? Tidebinder. And many more examples.

Many other Merfolk have utility abilities, like , that can mess with the opponent's mana. turns every creature into a better , helps you develop your game and grow your board. protects your team, especially the Lords, and may not be the menace it once was but is still a good card in this shell as it can easily get to 4/2 or 5/3 to clock your opponents.

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