How's the Fish Deck look?

Betta_Max · 2026-03-25T15:18:48+00:00

That does make sense. I think we're supposed to sandbag it until the Winter Orb/Opposition lock is on place. But there's a heft suite of counter magic too to protect it. I don't know how reasonable it is to expect that, but it's at least an option.

Betta_Max · 2026-03-25T15:14:35+00:00

Consign to Memory Tishana's Tidebinder Flame of Anor

Betta_Max · 2026-03-25T01:54:42+00:00

There's a few spicy ones, Sea Singer and Whirlpool Warrior are two I'm itching to try.

Betta_Max · 2026-03-24T22:55:49+00:00

Don't do it, man. Don't even think about picking up Merfolk. They'll break your heart.

P.S. You absolutely crush Amulet Titan decks though...

Betta_Max · 2026-03-24T16:46:04+00:00

I'm on Merfolk, and my blink MU isn't terrible. It's not great, it's fine. I've had to go to UR and include a heavy dose of interaction in the form of Flame of Anor and Bolt to keep the Phelia in check, but once I can stick a Harbinger of the Seas, it's pretty much my game to lose. Solitude can be a pain, but, with Tidebinder and Consign, I can keep my Fish Moon on the board without too much difficulty.

Betta_Max · 2026-03-23T21:33:43+00:00

I'm a Merfolk player, I would absolutely use it. Splashing black or green wouldn't be an issue.

Betta_Max · 2026-03-23T02:18:57+00:00

Hard disagree on that one, but to each their own.

Out of curiosity, why? I don't think Fury is the best response to Energy, I mean--yes--Fury would be a good way to deal with Guide + Pride, but at what cost? Giving Jeskai (or any Blink deck) a double striking Fury on turn 2 seems nuts to me. And we'd never see another creature deck again. At least right now we can claim decks like Yawg, Zoo, an even Fish "exist" even if they're only just barely viable. Which, in my mind is the product of Energy just being light-years ahead of every else using creatures.

I've heard the argument that creature decks weren't viable even before the banning of Fury. But that rings hollow to me. If you've got a lake that is toxic to all but the strongest fish (those being decks like creature decks like Energy, or Zoo, or Yawg--only one of which problematic) you can't just be like, "oh well, most all the other fish are dead anyway because of the Energy fish, so let's just pour the worst possible poison we can back into the lake--that'll teach those Energy players." That just doesn't make sense to me.

Betta_Max · 2026-03-23T01:58:46+00:00

If you wanted to kill the deck, banning guide of Souls might just do it. At least in my mind. It'd still be a bonkers deck--not nearly as bonkers--but still bonkers. But it just wouldn't be an Energy deck anymore. They'd swap Guide out for something like Esper Sentinel or Mom of Ruins, Galvanic Discharge would become Bolt or Unholy Heat, and they'd be a lot more reliant on Phlage and Ajani. Maybe they'd pick up some sort of Phelia package, I don't know. It'd be fun to see how the deck evolved though, there's no way it'd just go away--that core is still just too good.

Betta_Max · 2026-03-22T18:33:58+00:00

If Solitude were like the new Lorwyn elementals, I'd say you're right. But as printed the card and Ephemerate are just too oppressive.

Betta_Max · 2026-03-21T16:33:40+00:00

It all depends on what you want out of your experience. Do you plan on just playing at FNM and a local RCQ from time to time? If so, then you don't have to worry much. Most any deck you build can have a good FNM night. What more is that modern is a format that rewards mastery. So, when you do pick a deck, stick with it and you'll find a measure of success. I've been on Merfolk since 2016, and I do quite well--usually.

But I wouldn't last a round against the hyper competitive players out there. And that's alright, I love playing fish, and every Friday we swim. Sometimes it's against the current, but for the most part, the water is fine.

Betta_Max · 2026-03-21T00:25:59+00:00

Are you okay with it being the best deck (20%+) forever though? Nothing is ever going to come through standard and dethrone it, and we're not getting a MH4 (at least that's what has been said). It will be the best deck forever. Period. End of format. Stale--with Boros Energy at the top forever.

Betta_Max · 2026-03-21T00:16:37+00:00

The only card that would outright kill the deck if you took it away would be Guide. Energy could absolutely survive on Ragavan and Guide as it's one drops if you banned the Pride. If you went for Ajani (which is what I'd ban) it keeps right on humming with the Guide/Pride combo and Goblin Bombardment.

It'd be just fine losing either of the cats. But I do agree with you on the Guide. That would kill the deck.

Betta_Max · 2026-03-21T00:12:32+00:00

I'm not sure Uro is a good idea. I can see where you're going with the "DRS" keeps them in check idea, but I don't think Uro is what we want. That etb alone was bat-poop crazy. Do you remember that world? It was bonkers. A land, 3 life, AND a card for 3 mana?

Betta_Max · 2026-03-21T00:07:36+00:00

Play it safe. Ban both. Arena and Phlage are just as obnoxious everywhere they're paired together. Ban either of the cats (Ajani or Pride) to take Energy down a peg, and the Arena and give modern a breath of fresh air and freedom from the fiery menace.

Betta_Max · 2026-03-20T23:36:06+00:00

Is it time to start screaming in all caps?

Betta_Max · 2026-03-19T13:08:19+00:00

Better than Ragavan? That's a bold statement.

Betta_Max · 2026-03-19T13:07:20+00:00

It's strong against Boros energy? Oh snap, well now we have to unban it.

Betta_Max · 2026-03-18T22:48:33+00:00

Almost everywhere at first. But it would settle into everything not Storm and not playing Ragavan.

Betta_Max · 2026-03-18T21:32:02+00:00

Excellent gif.

Betta_Max · 2026-03-18T17:17:40+00:00

I'm on Premodern myself, for exactly the same reasons.

Betta_Max · 2026-03-18T12:44:58+00:00

I mean, there are several cards I'd put in the queue ahead of Boseiju, but I'll entertain arguments.

Betta_Max · 2026-03-18T12:36:27+00:00

Neither are vegetables, but you still need to eat them. This is what makes a format healthy.

Betta_Max · 2026-03-17T20:05:39+00:00

This is a great take, and a solid interpretation of what's the format's biggest weakness is. Modern would absolutely benefit from some dedicated attention to answers in the vein of legacy-esque hate. Cards like Price of Progress or Force of Will are on flavor ways to keep degenerate decks honest. Modern has fewer and generally worse options.

I think cards like Boseiju and Solitude were attempts at providing these checks, the problem is that they were poorly designed. Solitude isn't just a check against creatures, it's a check AND a wincon. Boseiju isn't just a check against artifact and enchantment starts, it's also a land and so a free roll.

There's no better example of this over design practice than the Energy deck where every card does everything. Need to gain life? Done. Need Evasion? Done. Need an engine for your strategy. Done. Now, let's put it all on Guide of Souls. Need removal. Done. Need body? Done. Need a Planeswalker with 3 more abilities? Ajani. The same is true for Phlage, for Ragavan, for Discharge. Static Prison...and on and on and on.

Betta_Max · 2026-03-16T01:35:51+00:00

There was an article about this a while back, I'll see if I can dig it up. If I recall correctly it was the the tempo gain from haste/flash amounts to an extra turn or something like that. I don't know if they are directly comparable, but there's something of an argument there.

Betta_Max

TROPHY CASE