Introducing: all-you-can-eat sushi, the deck
I've had an inkling that the recently-spoiled Namor, the sub-mariner might be decent. After throwing together a deck around him, I've changed my mind. He is busted.
Introducing: all-you-can-eat sushi
Contents:
the list
the game plan
the quirks
conclusion
the list
1mana:
4 Harmonized Trio // Brainstorm
4 Preordain
2mana:
1 Thassa's Oracle
3 Fblthp, the Lost
4 Vodalian Hexcatcher
1 Thundertrap Trainer
3mana:
4 [[Namor the Sub-Mariner]] (*/4 Flying, power equal to Merfolk you control.
Whenever you cast a noncreature spell with blue pips, create 1/1 Merfolk equal to the amount of blue pips.
free spells:
4 Force of Negation
4 Flare of Denial
4 Commandeer
4 Harmonized Crescendo
3 Transcendent Message
lands:
4 Sink into Stupor // Soporific Springs
1 Flooded Strand
4 Prismatic Vista
4 Cavern of Souls
5 Island
2 Otawara, Soaring City
- the game plan
Early game:
You want to have Namor, free protection spells (including Hexcatcher) or both in your opening hand. Failing one, use Fblthp or Preordain to dig.
Play early creatures for digging or as fodder for Flare of Denial.
Mid-game (turn 3):
[[Harmonized Trio]] should be online for regular brainstorms at this point.
Play Namor, or dig until you find him.
Use free spells to build up a boardstate and to protect Namor.
Finisher/combo:
[[Transcendant Message]] has convoke and 4 (!) blue pips. If you have 4 untapped creatures on the board, you can create 4 fish for 0 mana.
Resolving a [[Harmonized Crescendo]] on an average board state draws you about 10 cards FOR 0 MANA. If there are any spells on the stack, you can get even more fish by casting free counterspells or [[Commandeer]].
All of these spells are instants, and 12 are counterspells or redirects, making the combo turns very sudden and extremely well-protected. Even countering the spells does not matter as Namors ability is what matters most.
After an average combo turn and a single "0 mana, draw 10" spell, you will untap on your turn with a full hand, free counterspells, more fish than you can wave a stick at, a flying lethal threat in Namor, and probably a [[Vodalian Hexcatcher]] for buffing the small fish.
Plan B:
If a fancy combo turn into an ungodly smack won't work, then taking a slower game plan keeping up counter magic also works really well. Removing Namor will rarely ever be clean as his ability leaves you with plenty of tokens that can swing, be used for convoke draws or brainstorms.
If, for whatever reason, you can't seem to get an attack in, an uncounterable (also Merfolk, thank you, [[Cavern of Souls]]) [[Thassa's Oracle]] can seal the deal as well.
- the quirks
The deck is better at slowly grinding out value that might be apparent. The repeated use of [[Brainstorm]] means an additional card and a free fish with Namor every single turn.
[[Transcendant Message]] X = 0 doesn't have to resolve, so it's an easy target for one or more free counterspells to build your army.
[[Harmonized Crescendo]] checks the amount of creatures on resolution. Casting any number of (free) spells will ensure you draw even more free protection and draw spells.
- conclusion
Having tested the deck, it really feels like a fever dream. It can be slow and plotting, waiting for the right cards and countering key pieces and removal for free while building the board. Once a critical mass of creatures is on the field, either swinging for lethal or pay 0, draw 10 really is an average play pattern.
PS:
If you could take this deck out for a spin, I'd be happy to hear your feedback!
The actual list was drafted in about 20 minutes, so I'm sure I've missed some improvements. One easy card to consider is [[Disrupting Shoal]]. I haven't done the math on the mana spread, so decided against main-decking it for my test runs. Should be a great card though.
Subtlety and Harbinger of the Seas seem like easy SB inclusions as well. Haven't given the SB much thought at all, so any ideas are welcome in this regard as well.
Enjoy!