Control_Train, I'm really really digging your build man and last night I decided I need this deck in my life as well. I always hated Meren with a passion, since she is very hard to stop. Your deck made me join the darkside. Just a few questions!: 1. How are you dealing with stuff getting exiled. The fact that you only play Plaguecrafter and not the other ones. 2. Could you explain your wincon a bit more in detail? Cause I don't see why you need World Shaper as part of the combo? Maybe I'm missing something. 3. Do you have alternate wins then the win con you explained?

Thanks a lot!

@Ripwater: Welcome to the dark side! I'm humbled that my list inspired you to actually build the deck. She is very hard to properly disrupt and that's why I love her so much. I'll answer your questions as best I can and hope that it helps! If you have any more questions don't hesitate to ask here or in a pm.

1. Dealing with stuff getting exiled isn't generally a problem, except for mass graveyard hate like Rest in Peace or Leyline of the Void. Sacrifice outlets can save any creature from targeted exile effects or even something like Merciless Eviction. At first I tried playing lots of cards to counter these kinds of cards, but in time I realized that just playing conservatively until you can find windows to take big turns is much better than having slots dedicated to reacting to being on the back foot. I've also learned that even having key pieces of the combo exiled or a huge chunk of value creatures getting removed isn't necessarily game over. The deck has a lot of built in resiliency and redundancy, so if a RiP hits a few value creatures, don't be afraid to blow it up and keep chugging along. However, if you are running into these types of effects a lot, and you need to be proactive about it, there are a few cards I've tested to help mitigate the damage done.

Loaming Shaman can help at sorcery speed if you anticipate a Rest in Peace coming, or can be flashed in with Chainer to really dampen the hurt.

Bone Harvest , Footbottom Feast , and Gravepurge are instant speed Loaming Shaman style effects that can save at least your creatures from this sort of thing. I don't run them because it requires you to both have them and hold up mana for them, but again if you're experiencing a lot of graveyard hate these can help. They also don't target, so they get around things like Grafdigger's Cage.

Corpse Churn , Grapple with the Past , and Sudden Reclamation are cards that can be used to help fuel your graveyard or to protect key pieces against targeted or mass hate. I ran Grapple for a while and cut it because it wasn't a great card for filling the graveyard, and I rarely needed it to stop a Rest in Peace, but it could be much better for you.

Riftsweeper can also help dig important pieces out of exile if they get hit, but I cut it because it was dead outside of these graveyard hate interactions and not furthering my own gameplan when I'm already on the back foot didn't feel great.

(1 Continued) Why I'm only running Plaguecrafter and not the other similar effects. Plaguecrafter is quite clearly the best of these style of effects, second maybe only to the C18 card that picks a different mode for each opponent. I cut the others mostly because Plaguecrafter puts in so much work for me, but also because they're bad against wider aggro strategies like Elves or Goblins, and they're hard to reliably use en masse. If you like this style of effect, Butcher of Malakir is Grave Pact on a body, or you could just slot in Grave Pact and Dictate of Erebos. They're fantastic cards, just not my style. I don't like having too much creature removal because when I'm ahead they don't do much of anything.

1. (2) The way the deck is setup now, you can go infinite with Izoni, Savra, Chainer, Earthcraft/Pitiless Plunderer, and enough creatures in the graveyard. The old combo relied on World Shaper I just haven't updated that section of the primer too much. I cut Bitter Ordeal purely for the fact that I just don't need a win condition because people scoop so often. Plaguecrafter can empty their hands, Izoni makes a mass of tokens, and Mikeaus makes it hard to truly get rid of anything I can stick. I'll update that section of the primer more in depth in a day or two when I've got some more time and have both the infinite and non-infinite win conditions listed.

2. (3) I don't have any alternative win conditions, but I also don't have any real win conditions either. Izoni is essentially my way to say "okay here's how I can finish the game" but as I stated above I mostly just get concessions when my opponent's are all topdecking and I've got 90% of my deck on the battlefield. Creature beatdown is viable, and if you're looking to go the fairer route like that you can add stuff like Pathbreaker Ibex or Avenger of Zendikar to really lay the smackdown on your opponents. You could also add in something like Exsanguinate or Torment of Hailfire as a "real" win condition with Cabal Coffers/Urborg and Pitiless Plunderer. There's a ton of ways you can tweak for your meta and playstyle so don't be afraid to toy around with spots. Just because I cut something in the past doesn't mean it's bad. I've gone back to old cuts numerous times. For example I recently re-added flip Liliana from Origins. It was never great for me before, but the first game I landed it after I put it back in Liliana won me the game by herself. The deck itself has gotten better since then, so that helps, but the point stands. Sorry for this really long-winded reply, just wanted to cover everything I could while I've got the time so sit down and give a thoughtful reply. Thanks again for the interest and I'm glad you like the deck! :)

Control_Train - Bone Harvest , Footbottom Feast , and Gravepurge super do target xD

Ah fml they do target but they still serve a good purpose.

Control_Train Thanks again for the explanation. Already had the feeling the combo with World Shaper was the old combo. But thanks for clarifying that! I have nothing to add or correct you on your story, cause you seem to have thought off how and why you play certain pieces. Gives me a lot of trust when borrowing this list ;-)

Just 2 more card choices I wonder why you made them: Why don't you run Sheoldred, Whispering One ? She almost seems a staple in all Meren decks. Why do you run Thrashing Brontodon instead of Caustic Caterpillar , the second one seems beter on all front thanks to the mana cost.

Again thank you for clarifying a lot of choices, it really helps understanding the list a bit better!

I’m happy to help! :)

I don’t run Sheoldred personally because I think it’s overhyped and not THAT good, but you could easily run it. It’s a powerful card, I just don’t like playing cards that have no immediate impact on the board. The reanimating is really nice but I doubt it would survive a turn cycle in my playgroup. Feel free to test it though, and if it works really well for you I may have to test it myself.

Caustic Caterpillar and Brontodon are pretty much interchangeable, so feel free to use whichever you like. I like Brontodon better because it’s cheaper to use EoT as a disenchant effect, but the difference is marginal as Caterpillar comes down earlier, so either or both is honestly fine. That one is just a personal choice for me.

The only card I could even suggest to this beauty is Insidious Dreams .

Cheers Control_Train! Thanks for the explanation again. As soon as I have evertything complete (missing 33 cards now), so somewhere this month, ill start playtesting her. Ill give sheoldred a go as well. It's just my friend runs her in a Muldrotha deck and she is really really powerfull. And we don't play creature based no interaction decks. But 75% powerlevel decks. So even with all the removal she still does a lot for him. Thats why I'm curious about her.

But ill take you up on that one, since I'm basically stealing your deck ;-), as soon as I playtest stuff I'll let you know in this comment section. And when I have the deck complete Ill drop her in my decks so you can see any changes as well! If you do the same, maybe we can make each other decks better :-)

Again thank you for the clarification! If I have any other questions about card choices I know where to find you!

@HappyCat123 - I absolutely love this card since I started playing it in Yuriko. I really want to find a slot for it in this list, but I’ve never found a card that this would have been better than. I’m still always on the hunt for a slot for this though.

@Ripwater - My playgroup is at about 75% power level too, I guess we just run a lot of creature spot removal lol. Keep me updated on how the deck works for you and any cards you test or anything else you want to share. :) I’m always updating here when sets come out or I find new gems.

Control_Train haven't played with the deck yet, but I can already inform you of one change :D I finally found a spot for one of my pet cards, that I really really want to give a go and see how it does. Phyrexian Obliterator

Since you don't have a lot of creatures on the 4 mana spot, I thought I'd give it a go :)

Oh and one more question: Whats Vivien Reid doing for you? I have the feeling she is a bit out of place in this deck, might be wrong ofcourse? Would love to get some insight on that.

As well, is there a reason that you don't run Survival of the Fittest ?

Your combo could be infinite with Squandered Resources

@Ripwater - Phyrexian Obliterator seems like a great card, my only issue is that it seems like you'd have a hard time getting damage onto it, as most people would just take the five damage, but it's definitely good if you can force a block or play it into a red sweeper like Blasphemous Act.

I'm also going to be cutting Vivien for Worldly Tutor. I liked Vivien in standard, and she's a great value engine, but she's just not what the deck needs.

@Squirrel_of_War - the combo can already go infinite with Izoni, Chainer, Pitiless Plunderer, and Savra, I just haven't updated the primer yet. Will be doing that today after War of the Spark spoilers preview.

Control_Train whats your thought on the new Liliana? :) Little draw engine...

Control_Train, thank you for this deck! My god is was fun! I did ofcourse changed a few things, but for 95% I play the same build as you do.

Only swaps I made were: Sheoldred, Whispering One , performed outstanding tonight. She got removed but turn after she was back again and did a shit ton of work for me. Normally I'm not a huge fan of her, cause of her high mana and often getting removed the same turn. But luckily Meren doesnt really care for that :)

Phyrexian Obliterator Basically another win con in the deck. I tutored for him tonight cause I wanted to see in action and people just don't block him. Swinging in for a solid 5 damage a turn and if they block it's gonna cost. Where he really shined was the fact that he is 4 mana, so meren can get him early out of the graveyard.

Survival of the Fittest Really good as well, did a shit ton of work tonight. The fact that you can use it the turn it gets too the field is really good. Shame it's an enchantment and not recurrable, but it gives too much value not to run it. This card will replace Pattern of Rebirth cause I rather have the recurrable tutor then the one time tutor. Next to that every game I was consistently flooded with mana (compliments on that) so I don't mind that much for it going into my hand, worst case it gets countered and then meren will pull it out of the graveyard.

Birthing Pod Same as above. In my opinion, too much value not too run it. Together with Survival of the Fittest and Fauna Shaman a nice tutor redundancy.

As you said above Caustic Caterpillar is personal preference. Played him almost every game and got value of him. Don't think it will be any different as the dinosaur.

I saw that you added Worldly Tutor , might reconsider swapping that one for Survival of the Fittest or Birthing Pod because they do the same thing for you, but slightly better.

Again thank you so much for you build, if I try out any more cards or the cards above more games Ill let you know again :)

I'm glad you liked the deck! I'll have to test Sheoldred out since it worked so well for you.

As far as Survival, it's really just expensive in foil and I don't feel like the deck absolutely needs it to function. It's a fantastic card and I would probably make that swap for Pattern if I owned one, but I don't have the cash to drop on a foil and with my deck already being foiled out completely, I won't put a non-foil in now haha. I'm just picky like that. I also have a personal fear that Survival will get banned in the format one day so that's another hesitation I have towards buying one, foil or not.

Birthing Pod I used to run and never personally liked it because of it being sorcery speed, once a turn, and having to strictly go up. It also requires a bit more curve structuring that I'm not 100% sure the current build can maximize Pod with, but if it's working for you then more power to you! It's certainly a powerful card. I'm also glad Obliterator has worked for you. It might catch my playgroup by surprise if I played it a few times haha.

Hehehe, thanks for the response man! :-)

I have a completely foiled out Krenko's Command deck. So I know your pain. Goblin Matron is the only non foil I still need to get but it's about 140 euro and not on the reserved list....

I agree with you on the curve of Birthing Pod maybe some more playtesting for me will get me to the same conclusion. Worst case scenario I'll be putting Garruk, Apex Predator since it arrives this week. And with war of the spark coming up, I have a gut feeling he will be performing just right :-)

Hopefully they will be surprised and in awe by everything that is the Phyrexian Obliterator or he'll die to a path to exile in the face... Most of the time it's either one of those 2...

Just another question Earthcraft I'm getting in probably next week as well, but after playing with the deck for about 10 games I have the feeling mana isn't something I'm too concerned about. Still a nice card to put in the collection (reserved list) so I'm not sad that it comes in. But is there any reason why you run it? You already mentioned before that mana is not something this deck lacks, and that being said you don't run fetches and even cycle lands to put to better use late game. I just have the feeling Earthcraft is a bit of overkill...

Control_Train, this is a nice list. I appreciate the time you have invested in this and your willingness to answer questions.

Have you considered Sylvan Library and Gaea's Cradle ?

In addition, I have seen Greater Good in a lot of Meren decklists.