Meren players: opinion on sad robot
Commander Deck Help forum
Posted on Sept. 13, 2018, 10:11 p.m. by Vman
so ive been playing a non competative/no infinite combo meren edh. but everytime i draw into Solemn Simulacrum i feel like i could do more with a Sakura-Tribe Elder or another mana dork. I dont seem to recur him too often as for 4 experience coutnters id rather recur a maurader or something. As a 4 drop i feel he is kind of underwhelming despite the insane value he can bring being recurred. what do you guys think of him?
Although I typically play a more competitive meta and do not use the sad robot, I’m not sure I would even in a more casual meta due to a couple of factors. The first, and most important in my eyes, is the competing CMC with Meren. Unless you play sad robot ahead of curve, you’ll almost always want to play Meren instead. That leaves a turn 5 play or later, which often feels underwhelming compared to your opponents turn 5 plays. I think if Meren was a 5 CMC commander, sad robot would automatically feel more valuable as a result.
Second, sad robot is dependent on your board state, requiring a sac outlet to become a value engine of any kind. If you aren’t fortunate enough to have drawn into one at this point, he’s a nearly worthless board presence. In the majority of scenarios, you’d almost always prefer self-sacrifice options that impact the board state of your opponents, like spore frog, caustic caterpillar, fleshbag, merciless executioner, etc.
When you combine both of these issues, sad robot looks more like a win-more option with a great board state and a trying but failing to catch up option with a weak board state, neither of which will immediately effect your opponents. In most cases I’d rather just have a sign in blood or other lower CMC draw option.
September 14, 2018 12:55 a.m.
bushido_man96 says... #4
I have a Meren list, and I run the sad robot, too, but mainly as a redundant value creature. Enters play, he's value. Leaving play, he's value. Hard to beat, even at the 4 drop spot.
But, I do have others I prefer. At the three drop, I like Yavimaya Elder. There are some drawbacks he had in comparison to Solemn, but what he does have that Solemn doesn't is the ability to sac himself and net cards. The self-sac ability is great for Meren decks, like Sakura-Tribe Elder offers. Solemn is great, but you have to figure out another way to get him into the graveyard.
September 14, 2018 2:33 a.m.
I do run the boi, however I do completely agree with Azdranax re: the CMC, he's only there for redundancy of value and you'd almost always want to get Meren down asagdmfp.
I second the inclusion of Yav Elder as bushido_man96 mentioned, he's ahead of Meren on the curve and doesn't rely on existing board state to sac. Good instead of Sad Robot if you're finding cuts tough but I'd happily go with both.
September 14, 2018 4:58 a.m.
I do not run our sad robot for the CMC mostly. I'm more interested in ramping with a Wood Elves or a Farhaven Elf at 3 CMC. The card draw doesn't always mean a whole lot either cause I play Dredge.
September 14, 2018 2:47 p.m.
I'm not a fan in my particular Meren build, it's a high CMC for good value, but i have other things I want to be doing turn 4. I agree that it would be better if Meren was 5 cmc, but she isn't, so moot point. :)
September 14, 2018 3:16 p.m.
i see people who do not play sad robot have the same concerns i have, he competes with meren for 4 cmc. i think ill actually try playesting without him for a while.
LordBlackblade says... #2
Personally I run him. I consider him more of a redundancy card. Three points:
I would rather have Sakura-Tribe Elder most of the time, but I'm not going to see him every game. Redundancy is a big part of an effective EDH deck.
Solemn Simulacrum is colorless. Not usually a problem with a well-tuned EDH mana base; however, every deck has a bad mana draw every once in a while. He'll help keep you from getting locked out forever.
Don't underestimate him also drawing you a card. Playing and saccing him all in one turn while Meren of Clan Nel Toth is out will net you: one land, one card, and one experience counter. Using the right sacrifice outlet further increases this value.
September 13, 2018 11:33 p.m.