Meren of Clan Value (Duel Banlist)
Duel Commander*
SCORE: 9 | 9 COMMENTS | 3556 VIEWS
Won last event —Nov. 23, 2016
The deck performed well in the last event, however it was a small field and a number of the decks were quite new. This was only the second duel commander event that has run at my LGS and people are still trying out new decks. I had trouble with a Purphoros, God of the Forge burn deck in the final that Meren doesn't really have any answers for. With so many Lightning Bolt effects, mono-red burn doesn't care about you recurring fleshbag maurader repeatedly. I won mostly based on my opponent taking a risky hand in game 3.
In general, I have come to the conclusion that my curve need at least one more, better 2-drop creature. and that Grim Flayer (maybe replacing the grisly salvage slot) fits the bill perfectly. Maybe I will be able to grab one closer to when EMN rotates out of standard.
All changes from last week appear to be paying off, Satyr Wayfinder fills the graveyard and can be recurred, and even though Grisly Salvage is not as easy to bounce back to your hand, it puts a creature in the 'yard early to ensure you gain card advantage off Meren's end step trigger as early as possible (ideally turn 3).
Burgeoning does a reasonable Exploration impression, as expected, making for very fast starts.
In: Braids, Cabal Minion, Liliana, Heretical Healer Flip, Grim Haruspex
Out: Steel Hellkite, Filigree Familiar, Desecration Demon
Braids should do a reasonable smokestack impression but can be reanimated. Flip liliana is a planewalker that can be reanimated (what's not to like) that comes with a token that can block, sac to Ashnod's Altar or just hit face and Grim Haruspex is just straight card advantage.
Both three drop creatures I subbed in are simply better than Filigree Familiar while Steel Hellkite is the 6-drop that I just don't tutor/birthing pod into given my other options. I have been meaning to lower the curve a bit anyway. I would like to put Desecration Demon back in at some point as I don't feel like I gave it enough testing, but I also do not want to crowd meren in the 4-drop slot.