CardShark Content -
K. David Ladage
(1/19/2005)
Back in the old Alpha/Beta/Unlimited days, the people that wanted to play
blue creature-based decks sort of got the shaft. I mean, for one mana you
could generally get a 1/1 creature with an ability. White had the Benalish
Hero (1/1 Banding); Green had Scryb SpritesScryb Sprites
|
 | Set: Revised Edition Cost: 1 Color: Green Type: Creature Sub Type: Faeries Rarity: C Artist: Amy Weber Power: 1 Toughness: 1 Text: Flying |
(1/1 Flying), Shanodin DryadsShanodin Dryads
|
 | Set: Revised Edition Cost: 1 Color: Green Type: Creature Sub Type: Nymphs Rarity: C Artist: Anson Maddocks Power: 1 Toughness: 1 Text: Forestwalk |
(1/1 ForestForest
|
 | Set: Oversize Cards Color: Land Type: Land Rarity: X Artist: Tony Roberts Text: T: Add G to your mana pool. |
walk), Llanowar ElvesLlanowar Elves
|
 | Set: Revised Edition Cost: 1 Color: Green Type: Creature Sub Type: Elves Rarity: C Artist: Anson Maddocks Power: 1 Toughness: 1 Text: T: Add G to your mana pool. This ability is played as an interrupt. |
(1/1 Green mana Producers), Timber WolvesTimber Wolves
|
 | Set: Revised Edition Cost: 1 Color: Green Type: Creature Sub Type: Wolves Rarity: R Artist: Melissa A. Benson Power: 1 Toughness: 1 Text: Bands |
(1/1 Banding). Red had the Goblin Balloon BrigadeGoblin Balloon Brigade
|
 | Set: Revised Edition Cost: 1 Color: Red Type: Creature Sub Type: Goblins Rarity: U Artist: Andi Rusu Power: 1 Toughness: 1 Text: R: Gains flying ability until end of turn. |
(1/1 with the potential to
be a flier). Black lacked a good solid 1/1 with ability creature, but it had
the Will-o-the-Wisp that was a 0/1 Flying with cheap regeneration.
Blue, sadly, was left with only one creature in the one-drop range: the
Merfolk of the Pearl TridentMerfolk of the Pearl Trident
|
 | Set: Revised Edition Cost: 1 Color: Blue Type: Creature Sub Type: Merfolk Rarity: C Artist: Jeff A. Menges Power: 1 Toughness: 1 |
. A 1/1 with nothing going for it. When Arabian
Nights came out, it got a bit better. Blue had Flying MenFlying Men
|
 | Set: Arabian Nights Cost: 1 Color: Blue Type: Creature Sub Type: Flying Men Rarity: C Artist: Christopher Rush Power: 1 Toughness: 1 Text: Flying |
, and (strangely)
the life producing Merchant ShipMerchant Ship
|
 | Set: Arabian Nights Cost: 1 Color: Blue Type: Creature Sub Type: Ship Rarity: U Artist: Tom Wänerstrand Power: 0 Toughness: 2 Text: If Merchant Ship attacks and is not blocked, you gain 2 life. Merchant Ship cannot attack unless opponent has islands in play. Merchant Ship is destroyed immediately if at any time you have no islands in play. |
(0/2, if unblocked, gain 2 life). But as
the current set of Champions of Kamigawa shows, blue one-drop creatures are
not getting any better -- witness the anemic Wandering OnesWandering Ones
|
 | Set: Champions of Kamigawa Cost: 1 Color: Blue Type: Creature Sub Type: Spirit Rarity: C Number: 100 Artist: Heather Hudson Power: 1 Toughness: 1 |
(1/1 SpiritSpirit
|
 | Set: Divine vs Demonic Cost: 0 Color: Colorless Type: Creature Sub Type: Spirit Rarity: C Power: 1 Toughness: 1 Text: Flying |
with
no abilities).
Now, the Merfolk had a secret weapon: The Lord of AtlantisLord of Atlantis
|
 | Set: Revised Edition Cost: 2 Color: Blue Type: Creature Sub Type: Lord Rarity: R Artist: Melissa A. Benson Power: 2 Toughness: 2 Text: All Merfolk in play gain islandwalk and +1/+1 while this card is in play. |
. This cheap 2/2
gave all merfolk +1/+1 and IslandIsland
|
 | Set: Oversize Cards Color: Land Type: Land Rarity: X Artist: Tony Roberts Text: T: Add U to your mana pool. |
walk. Good stuff. It was matched only by
the Goblin KingGoblin King
|
 | Set: Revised Edition Cost: 3 Color: Red Type: Creature Sub Type: Lord Rarity: R Artist: Jesper Myrfors Power: 2 Toughness: 2 Text: All Goblins in play gain mountainwalk and +1/+1 while this card remains in play. |
in red. Over the years, the number of goblins has outpaced
the number of merfolk by a long shot. But the Merfolk have been interesting
nonetheless.
It has been a while since some cards have come along that can make a Merfolk
Deck shine. But the Mirrodin block does offer some interesting
possibilities. The two main cards that can be of great use in a Merfolk deck
from that block are the Soul FoundrySoul Foundry
|
 | Set: Mirrodin Cost: 4 Color: Colorless Type: Artifact Rarity: R Number: 246 Artist: Arnie Swekel Text: Imprint - When Soul Foundry comes into play, you may remove a creature card in your hand from the game. (The removed card is imprinted on this artifact.) X, T: Put a creature token into play that's a copy of the imprinted creature card. X is the converted mana cost of that card. |
and the Isochron ScepterIsochron Scepter
|
 | Set: Mirrodin Cost: 2 Color: Colorless Type: Artifact Rarity: U Number: 188 Artist: Mark Harrison Text: Imprint - When Isochron Scepter comes into play, you may remove an instant card with converted mana cost 2 or less in your hand from the game. (The removed card is imprinted on this artifact.) 2, T: You may copy the imprinted instant card and play the copy without paying its mana cost. |
.
First, lets look at the deck-list for what I call ´´Return of the Men From
Atlantis´´ shall we?
(20) -- LAND
* IslandIsland
|
 | Set: Oversize Cards Color: Land Type: Land Rarity: X Artist: Tony Roberts Text: T: Add U to your mana pool. |
x20
(24) -- CREATURES
* Lord of AtlantisLord of Atlantis
|
 | Set: Revised Edition Cost: 2 Color: Blue Type: Creature Sub Type: Lord Rarity: R Artist: Melissa A. Benson Power: 2 Toughness: 2 Text: All Merfolk in play gain islandwalk and +1/+1 while this card is in play. |
x4
* Various Merfolk x20
(16) -- OTHER SPELLS
* Isochron ScepterIsochron Scepter
|
 | Set: Mirrodin Cost: 2 Color: Colorless Type: Artifact Rarity: U Number: 188 Artist: Mark Harrison Text: Imprint - When Isochron Scepter comes into play, you may remove an instant card with converted mana cost 2 or less in your hand from the game. (The removed card is imprinted on this artifact.) 2, T: You may copy the imprinted instant card and play the copy without paying its mana cost. |
x4
* Soul FoundrySoul Foundry
|
 | Set: Mirrodin Cost: 4 Color: Colorless Type: Artifact Rarity: R Number: 246 Artist: Arnie Swekel Text: Imprint - When Soul Foundry comes into play, you may remove a creature card in your hand from the game. (The removed card is imprinted on this artifact.) X, T: Put a creature token into play that's a copy of the imprinted creature card. X is the converted mana cost of that card. |
x4
* Shimmering MirageShimmering Mirage
|
 | Set: Apocalypse Cost: 2 Color: Blue Type: Instant Rarity: C Number: 30 Artist: Rebecca Guay Text: Target land's type becomes the basic land type of your choice until end of turn. Draw a card. |
x4
* ForeshadowForeshadow
|
 | Set: Visions Cost: 2 Color: Blue Type: Instant Rarity: U Artist: George Pratt Text: Name a card. Put the top card from target opponent's library into his or her graveyard. If that card is the one named, draw a card.Draw a card at the beginning of the next turn's upkeep. |
x4
When I say _various Merfolk_ -- I mean it. Use any you want to use, or feel
would be interesting. The most fun Merfolk for me have been Merfolk
Traders/Vodalian MerchantVodalian Merchant
|
 | Set: Invasion Cost: 2 Color: Blue Type: Creature Sub Type: Merfolk Rarity: C Number: 85 Artist: Scott M. Fischer Power: 1 Toughness: 2 Text: When Vodalian Merchant comes into play, draw a card, then discard a card from your hand. |
, Manta RidersManta Riders
|
 | Set: Tempest Cost: 1 Color: Blue Type: Creature Sub Type: Merfolk Rarity: C Artist: Kaja Foglio Power: 1 Toughness: 1 Text: U: Manta Riders gains flying until end of turn. |
, Vodalian KnightsVodalian Knights
|
 | Set: Fallen Empires Cost: 3 Color: Blue Type: Creature Sub Type: Merfolk Rarity: R Number: 58 Artist: Susan Van Camp Power: 2 Toughness: 2 Text: First strikeU: Flying until end of turnVodalian Knights may not attack unless opponent controls at least one island. Bury Vodalian Knights if you control no islands. |
, Rootwater
Hunters, River MerfolkRiver Merfolk
|
 | Set: Fallen Empires Cost: 2 Color: Blue Type: Creature Sub Type: Merfolk Rarity: R Number: 51 Artist: Douglas Shuler Power: 2 Toughness: 1 Text: U: Mountainwalk until end of turn |
, Vodalian MageVodalian Mage
|
 | Set: Fallen Empires Cost: 3 Color: Blue Type: Creature Sub Type: Merfolk Rarity: C Number: 59 Artist: Susan Van Camp Power: 1 Toughness: 1 Text: U, T: Counters a target spell if caster of target spell does not pay an additional 1. Play this ability as an interrupt. |
, and (if you want to be cruel)
Vodalian IllusionistVodalian Illusionist
|
 | Set: Weatherlight Cost: 3 Color: Blue Type: Creature Sub Type: Merfolk Rarity: U Artist: John Matson Power: 2 Toughness: 2 Text: UU, T: Target creature phases out. |
. But basically, any 20 Merfolk (with a decent mana
curve) should work just fine.
The deck revolves around the two artifacts, however. Isochron ScepterIsochron Scepter
|
 | Set: Mirrodin Cost: 2 Color: Colorless Type: Artifact Rarity: U Number: 188 Artist: Mark Harrison Text: Imprint - When Isochron Scepter comes into play, you may remove an instant card with converted mana cost 2 or less in your hand from the game. (The removed card is imprinted on this artifact.) 2, T: You may copy the imprinted instant card and play the copy without paying its mana cost. |
s come
out, and you want to imprint Shimmering MirageShimmering Mirage
|
 | Set: Apocalypse Cost: 2 Color: Blue Type: Instant Rarity: C Number: 30 Artist: Rebecca Guay Text: Target land's type becomes the basic land type of your choice until end of turn. Draw a card. |
or ForeshadowForeshadow
|
 | Set: Visions Cost: 2 Color: Blue Type: Instant Rarity: U Artist: George Pratt Text: Name a card. Put the top card from target opponent's library into his or her graveyard. If that card is the one named, draw a card.Draw a card at the beginning of the next turn's upkeep. |
onto it. This
acts as a two-part advantage for you: each card has an effect that will help
you directly, as well as allow you to draw a card. Shimmering MirageShimmering Mirage
|
 | Set: Apocalypse Cost: 2 Color: Blue Type: Instant Rarity: C Number: 30 Artist: Rebecca Guay Text: Target land's type becomes the basic land type of your choice until end of turn. Draw a card. |
will
give your opponent IslandIsland
|
 | Set: Oversize Cards Color: Land Type: Land Rarity: X Artist: Tony Roberts Text: T: Add U to your mana pool. |
s (to aid in your IslandIsland
|
 | Set: Oversize Cards Color: Land Type: Land Rarity: X Artist: Tony Roberts Text: T: Add U to your mana pool. |
walking), and foreshadow
will mill the opponent while giving you the possibility of drawing two cards
instead of just one (hint: just keep guessing basic land types).
The Soul FoundrySoul Foundry
|
 | Set: Mirrodin Cost: 4 Color: Colorless Type: Artifact Rarity: R Number: 246 Artist: Arnie Swekel Text: Imprint - When Soul Foundry comes into play, you may remove a creature card in your hand from the game. (The removed card is imprinted on this artifact.) X, T: Put a creature token into play that's a copy of the imprinted creature card. X is the converted mana cost of that card. |
is the card you want to put a Lord of AtlantisLord of Atlantis
|
 | Set: Revised Edition Cost: 2 Color: Blue Type: Creature Sub Type: Lord Rarity: R Artist: Melissa A. Benson Power: 2 Toughness: 2 Text: All Merfolk in play gain islandwalk and +1/+1 while this card is in play. |
on. From
that point on, all of your Merfolk will be getting +1/+1 *per turn*. Once
you have two-or-three Lords in play, and you are casting one-mana 3/3 Manta
Riders... the game will be pretty close to over more than likely. Thus far,
I have yet to have more than 5 Lords in play... but that is plenty...
This deck is a casual one. In other words, it is not a very quick deck, and
has few ´´solutions´´ to the threats an opponent could throw at you. If you
ware playing more competitively, you can change out the ForeshadowForeshadow
|
 | Set: Visions Cost: 2 Color: Blue Type: Instant Rarity: U Artist: George Pratt Text: Name a card. Put the top card from target opponent's library into his or her graveyard. If that card is the one named, draw a card.Draw a card at the beginning of the next turn's upkeep. |
s for
other cards... examples that are quite potent in this deck are:
CounterspellCounterspell
|
 | Set: Revised Edition Cost: 2 Color: Blue Type: Instant Rarity: U Artist: Mark Poole Text: Counters target spell as it is being cast. |
, BoomerangBoomerang
|
 | Set: Fifth Edition Cost: 2 Color: Blue Type: Instant Rarity: C Artist: Alan Rabinowitz Text: Return target permanent to owner's hand. |
/Eye of NowhereEye of Nowhere
|
 | Set: Champions of Kamigawa Cost: 2 Color: Blue Type: Sorcery Sub Type: Arcane Rarity: C Number: 59 Artist: Alan Pollack Text: Return target permanent to its owner's hand. |
, or even off-color spells like
TerrorTerror
|
 | Set: Revised Edition Cost: 2 Color: Black Type: Instant Rarity: C Artist: Ron Spencer Text: Buries target creature. Cannot target black creatures or artifact creatures. |
, wild Might, Otherworldly JourneyOtherworldly Journey
|
 | Set: Champions of Kamigawa Cost: 2 Color: White Type: Instant Sub Type: Arcane Rarity: U Number: 37 Artist: Vance Kovacs Text: Remove target creature from the game. At end of turn, return that creature to play under its owner's control with a +1/+1 counter on it. |
, or IncinerateIncinerate
|
 | Set: Fifth Edition Cost: 2 Color: Red Type: Instant Rarity: C Artist: Scott M. Fischer Text: Incinerate deals 3 damage to target creature or player. Creatures damaged by Incinerate cannot regenerate this turn. |
(which can be used
thanks to the fact that the Isochron ScepterIsochron Scepter
|
 | Set: Mirrodin Cost: 2 Color: Colorless Type: Artifact Rarity: U Number: 188 Artist: Mark Harrison Text: Imprint - When Isochron Scepter comes into play, you may remove an instant card with converted mana cost 2 or less in your hand from the game. (The removed card is imprinted on this artifact.) 2, T: You may copy the imprinted instant card and play the copy without paying its mana cost. |
does not care what color mana
you use). Any way you slice it, however, it is a lot of fun watching the
Lord of AtlantisLord of Atlantis
|
 | Set: Revised Edition Cost: 2 Color: Blue Type: Creature Sub Type: Lord Rarity: R Artist: Melissa A. Benson Power: 2 Toughness: 2 Text: All Merfolk in play gain islandwalk and +1/+1 while this card is in play. |
being mass produced each turn.
Enjoy!
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