Objective of the Deck

This is a casual and fun deck which capitalizes on the tapping synergies well with Derevi, Empyrial Tactician and within the Merfolk tribe.

The deck aims to win in the following ways:

• The deck is primarily a combo deck with various lines to victory;
• We can also soft lock our opponents' board with Opposition, Surgespanner and the other Tap Shenanigans; or
• Let your opponents feel the tidal wrath of the merfolks

Why Derevi?

• While IXL and RIX feature mainly Simic Merfolks, going into Bant grants us access to many useful merfolks like Judge of Currents and Stonybrook Schoolmaster, awesome spells like Enlightened Tutor, Ghostly Prison and Teferi's ProtectionAuthority of the Consuls.
• Derevi, Empyrial Tactician's ability to tap/untap a permanent when our creatures connect and when she ETBs synergises well with the central theme of this deck too.
• The deck features the marriage of 2 tribal themes - Merfolk and Wizard, and Derevi, Empyrial Tactician fits well thematically as a wizard herself.

Combos

Intruder Alarm + Stonybrook Schoolmaster - Infinite Merfolk Tokens and untap's all your other creatures at the same time for other shenanigans!!

Card Breakdown

Here are the different Custom Categories and explanation of individual cards, as well as why certain popular cards were excluded.

• Tap Outlets

Azami, Lady of Scrolls - Merfolk Wizards are aplenty for us to profit from the extra card draw

Citanul Hierophants - Turn your creatures into "mana rocks"

Cryptolith Rite - Also...turn your creatures into "mana rocks"

Chord of Calling - Tutor with built-in cost reduction by tapping your creatures!

Drowner of Secrets - A possible Wincon by decking out your opponents

Earthcraft - One of the strongest tap outlets with its low CMC and ability to churn out mana via your newly summoned creatures/tokens

Mothdust Changeling - 1 CMC tap outlets are always welcomed

Opposition - Provides some soft lock and control when needed

Sigil Tracer - Unlike the other tap outlets who doesn't not require mana to activate, being able to copy an instant/sorcery spell is a powerful effect still

Smuggler's Copter - A flying tap outlet which provides a looting effect when it attacks, pretty sweet

When your creatures become tapped

Fallowsage - I want more MORE MORE cards!

Judge of Currents - I want more MORE MORE life!

Stonybrook Schoolmaster - I want more MORE MORE creatures!

Surgespanner - Awesome card to keep your opponents' threats in check or use to bounce your own permanents to milk Intruder Alarm or Paradox Engine effects for their worth.