The Merfolk creature sort in Magic: The Gathering for Everlasting codecs had eight new playing cards drop by means of Misplaced Caverns of Ixalan Explorers of the Deep Commander Precon, together with a face and secondary commander.
Merfolk have all the time been a well-liked GU (Inexperienced and Blue) typal archetype inside the Commander format, and different MTG codecs as effectively. The Explorers of the Deep Commander deck from Misplaced Caverns of Ixalan (LCI), explores design area inside the creature sort.
That is seen by means of the face commander of the Precon, Hakbal of the Surging Soul, together with the secondary commander Xolatoyac, the Smiling Flood—utilizing the Explorer mechanic and counters to overrun opponents. And thru the eight new Uncommon MTG playing cards featured within the LCI preconstructed deck.
Hakbal of the Surging Soul
The face commander of the Explorers of the Deep LCI Commander Precon brings collectively the Explorer mechanic and the Merfolk creature sort. Every Merfolk Explores firstly of fight, with Hakbal of the Surging Soul dropping lands from hand each time the scout assaults. In the event you don’t have a land, you get to attract a card.
For a 3/3 four-drop, Hakbal of the Surging Soul is a strong commander, particularly because the scout Explores too, making it a viable risk with a number of Merfolk on the battlefield.
Xolatoyac, the Smiling Flood
The secondary commander is Xolatoyac, the Smiling Flood, a six drop that produces Flood tokens and synergizes with counter-centric decks. Counters are what Exploring Merfolk are all about, which is why Xolatoyac, the Smiling Flood slots right into a Merfolk Commander deck as both a commander or supporting Legendary. The salamander serpent can even work in all kinds of GU decks, as it really works with any counter.
Deeproot Historian
Deeproot Historian is doubtlessly a strong four-drop creature in both Merfolk or Druid typal decks. The appropriately titled, Merfolk Druid, offers all playing cards in your graveyard Retrace, which is an MTG mechanic that lets gamers solid playing cards from their graveyard at a further value of discarding a land. In a Merfolk deck constructed across the Discover mechanic, having a land to discard isn’t tough.
It additionally works in Druid builds, making Deeproot Historian a card Commander gamers will need from the Explorers of the Deep LCI Commander Precon.
Mist Dancer
MIst Dance is a singular five-drop Uncommon within the LCI Commander deck. The wizard prices 5 mana and is simply a 3/3. However Mist Dancer has Flying, and provides all different Merfolk you management Flying, together with +1/+0 stats. When Mist Dancer hits, it is going to hit arduous and finish matches. The wizard can also be a useless card in hand more often than not.
Inside a Merfolk Explorer deck, although, Mist Dancer is the perfect creature to toss into the graveyard for a +1/+1 counter on a goal creature. When it’s wanted, gamers can reanimate Mist Dancer again at hand. Or gamers can choose to pay for its Encore value of 5UU.
Singer of Swift Rivers
Supporting creatures with attacking talents, like Hakbal of the Surging Soul, is Singer of the Swift Rivers. As an added bonus, the Merfolk shaman has Flash, placing a defend counter on a goal creature upon getting into the battlefield. It has first rate safety at the price of three mana, particularly when it comes with a 3/2 physique and the power for different Merfolk spells to have Flash.
Topography Tracker
Synergizing with the Explorer mechanic is Topography Tracker. The three-drop Uncommon Merfolk scout creates a Map token upon getting into the battlefield. It additionally prompts Discover a second time when a creature Explores. The draw back to Topography Tracker is the scout’s 2/2 baseline stats.
Tributary Teacher
Including +1/+1 counters by means of the MTG Mentor mechanic is Tributary Teacher. The four-drop Merfolk shaman is a strong midgame creature that scales in energy and toughness as different Merfolk creatures Discover. Tributary Teacher additionally has an honest dying set off means that pulls a card every time a creature with a counter on it dies.
Bygone Marvels
The Explorer mechanic places creatures into the graveyard, which synergizes properly with the brand new MTG mechanic Descend. With a Descend value of eight, gamers can copy the Sorcery spell twice, bringing three creatures from the graveyard again at hand. Bygone Marvels can even convey again just one creature if the Descend value isn’t met, however at solely GG mana, I really feel the Sorcery spell is kind of sturdy inside an Discover Commander deck.
Wave Goodbye
In a counter-specific Commander deck, Wave Goodbye is a strong Sorcery spell and one of many greatest new Uncommon spells within the Explorers of the Deep LCI Commander deck. The spell solely prices 4 mana to solid and may bounce greater than half of every participant’s creatures again at hand, leaving the battlefield vast open to your Merfolk to assault.
Ripples of Potential
Ripples of Potential is a strong addition to a counter deck of any variety and is a precious addition to the Explorers of the Deep deck. The Blue Instantaneous two-drop spell Proliferates after which Phases out all creatures with a counter on them by means of the Proliferate till their controller’s subsequent flip. Ripples of Potential is nice in opposition to board wipes and may shield your board state when wanted. And it solely prices two mana to solid at Instantaneous velocity.
