Mastering the Dimir Murktide Deck in Modern MTG

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Dimir Murktide Regent Deck Overview

Since its release in Modern Horizons 2, Murktide Regent has been a vital component of Magic: The Gathering’s Izzet (blue/red) archetype in the Modern format. However, it has also become a key card in a modern Dimir (blue/black) deck, which leans towards a more control-oriented gameplay.

In Dimir Murktide Regent decks, players utilize an array of low-cost instants and sorceries to manage the game effectively. By filling the graveyard and then exiling these cards, you can unleash a massive dragon that can often catch your opponent off guard, even if they have seen it coming.

Sample Decklist

Creatures (14)

Brazen Borrower (1)
Harbinger of the Seas (1)
Murktide Regent (4)
Orcish Bowmasters (4)
Psychic Frog (4)

Instants (24)

Cling to Dust (2)
Consider (3)
Counterspell (4)
Fatal Push (4)
Force of Negation (3)
Long Goodbye (1)
Sink into Stupor // Soporific Springs (2)
Spell Snare (3)
Stern Scolding (2)

Sorceries (4)

Preordain (4)

Lands (18)

Gloomlake Verge (2)
Island (2)
Otawara, Soaring City (1)
Polluted Delta (4)
Scalding Tarn (3)
Steam Vents (1)
Swamp (1)
Undercity Sewers (2)
Watery Grave (2)

Sideboard (15)

Consign to Memory (4)
Ghost Vacuum (1)
Harbinger of the Seas (1)
Meltdown (3)
Mystical Dispute (2)
Nihil Spellbomb (1)
Pyroclasm (2)
Stern Scolding (1)

Key Cards

Murktide Regent
Murktide Regent is essential for the deck. While it’s possible to win without it, the most effective strategy often involves using this powerful blue dragon as your primary attacker. Each instant and sorcery you exile from your graveyard using its delve ability not only increases its size, making it a formidable 8/8 with flying as early as turn three. Typically, the control aspect of your game plan will help populate your graveyard more gradually while neutralizing threats from your opponent.

Psychic Frog
As a powerful card in Modern, Psychic Frog excels alongside Murktide Regent. It’s an affordable draw engine that avoids many common forms of removal and provides you with a discard outlet to get Murktide into play faster. It can even boost Murktide Regent while granting itself flying. However, using Psychic Frog effectively involves weighing when to play it against when to conserve your resources.

Counterspell
Counterspell stands out as a quintessential control card. The deck from this archetype features multiple variations of it, making countering important spells a key part of strategy. The ability to identify which threats to allow and which to counter substantially influences how well you can control the game.

Dimir Murktide Deck Strategy

At first glance, the Dimir Murktide deck may seem straightforward: counter your opponent’s spells, fill your graveyard with instants and sorceries, and then unleash a huge Murktide Regent. However, the strategy is nuanced and requires a deep understanding of your opponent’s deck to avoid misusing your resources.

Carefully knowing your opponent’s strategy can help you take advantage of opportune moments, such as when they are unlikely to advance their game plan. In such instances, dropping Murktide can be highly effective. Additionally, you can bluff having a counter ready, encouraging your opponent to play a critical spell when you’re tapped out.

Make early plays with cards like Psychic Frog and Orcish Bowmasters, as they can help maintain card advantage while setting up for Murktide. Utilizing cards like Consider and Preordain allows you to manipulate your graveyard while drawing into answers, keeping your deck’s flow efficient.

Sideboard Options

The sideboard should include answers to various threats and archetypes encountered in the meta. Including additional copies of key spells like Stern Scolding and Pyroclasm can be beneficial against aggressive decks. Conversely, you have the flexibility to swap these out for more targeted blue control cards against creatureless strategies.

Consign to Memory is especially effective against certain deck types, like Eldrazi or combo decks, providing you with options to disrupt your opponent’s game plan decisively.

In summary, mastering the Dimir Murktide deck requires both strategic foresight and adaptability to navigate different matchups effectively.