Subject: Pissed Off Fish Date: Thu, 19 Feb 1998 11:59:58 -0700 From: "Jon Kaus" To: "Sensei" It amazes me how many people will look at a deck and sum it up with a catchy phrase or disregard the entire deck because of particular card choices (whether or not they ACTUALLY work). This is such a deck. It doesn't look like much, but it's a blue whirlwind. It has amazing synergy. I was surprised as it got further and further tweaked. Several draws allow early control without counters, but as I've discovered playing it, you don't need God draws with this deck. What you need is one Island (hardly surprising, but this needs only one to get some serious pain to the other side of the table). Get out a Fish, and piss him off with Blue Poison (Unstable Mutation) then let him take a walk to the other side of the table. And there's more on the way. While the poison slowly kills him, keep the assault up with his friends. Entrancers are highly underrated. He's great by himself, but poison him and he's deadly. They don't want to block him and don't want to let him through. Waterspout cast while you have 5 lands (one being a Mine or Paradise) is prime. During your upkeep, return an Island to your hand, Geddon main phase, lay the Island and you're rocking again. I've had many comments from the play test group, and I'll explain reasons for some things: Magical Hack running main deck. Sure it's a combo, but with 4 Lords and 6 Fish (with some poison) it's too good to pass up. Also gives main deck defense to Boil/Choke. On the defensive side, it rocks against Quirion Ranger and other Waterspouts, both staples in their colors. Helm of Possession running in the deck at all. Diabolic Edict is rampant in Black or Splash decks. The way I see it, share the pain. I mean if you have to lose a creature, pay 2 colorless, tap the Helm, sac a creature (you were going to have to any way) and get a creature of his (the BIG ONE). Then the Edict resolves, and you sac his creature. Share the pain. But it goes further than that. You cast a 1/1, and sac it to get Maro. Fair trade? Not for your opponent. Unstable Mutation is a creature enchantment. Yeah, so? For speed it can't be beat. I've seen too many Giant Growths to discount them as a surprise card. But it's your main phase, when your opponent is tapped, it's a Blue Lightning Bolt. And it doesn't go away. It punishes your opponent for a few rounds before he says bye-bye. I've hit people with what they thought was a 1/1 coming next turn with a 10/10. Then next turn, it's a 7/7. All for 3 Blue? Sure Edict sucks rocks, but it's only one creature, and an enchantment or 2 out of your hand. Helps get to Scroll range quicker. And a 7/7 attacking on turn 2 can't be beat. Why not the Merfolk that allow casting the Unstable as an instant? Well, honestly, I don't need them. The Fish can hang with the big decks today. Playtesting both versions, and I found that I'd rather have the single blue cast cost Fish and play carefully than a 3rd turn helper who won't help until turn 4 when there's mana available again. Why not a Sapphire Medallion or 2? Too few Blue spells have colorless components to warrant them. Fish are U, Lords UU, Unstables U, Hack U, Legacy UU. Not enough to warrant the card slot. Earthquake will kill this deck. Yeah, mine along with about 50% of the current contenders as "Decks to Beat." I'll play carefully rather than trying to design an Earthquake-proof deck. Enough whoopla, here's the deck. Pissed off Fish 3 Manta Riders 3 Rootwater Diver 4 Tolarian Entrancer 4 Lord of Atlantis 2 Man 'O War 2 Waterspout Djinn 4 Unstable Mutation 3 Impulse 2 Armageddon 3 Legacy's Allure 2 Diabolic Edict 1 Magical Hack 1 Ray of Command 1 Kaervek's Torch 2 Cursed Scroll 1 Helm of Possession 16 Islands 3 Undiscovered Paradise 3 Gemstone Mine Sideboard 4 Chill 4 Mana Web 3 Light of Day 2 Bubble Matrix 2 Lifetap Break out the Lords of Atlantis you have waiting as trade bait, dig up your Tempest commons and kick some butt. If you play this deck, please e-mail me and tell me your experiences with it, good and bad. Opinions, flames, critiques and anything else you have can be sent as e-mail. Jon Kaus angoth@mailexcite.com Free web-based email, Forever, From anywhere! http://www.mailexcite.com