The Tides of Woe by Ebonheart7

Format: Commander

Commander: Hakbal of the Surging Soul

Bracket: 3

DeckCheck Threat Index: 43

Deck overview

This deck is a high-synergy Simic Merfolk typal build commanded by Hakbal of the Surging Soul. It curves low-cost Merfolk into an early Hakbal deployment, utilizing Hakbal's explore triggers to rapidly filter draws, fill the hand with lands, and grow the team with +1/+1 counters. Combat damage is converted into an inevitable finish via mass evasion enablers like Herald of Secret Streams, islandwalk lords paired with Tidal Warrior, or asymmetric resets such as Raise the Palisade. The deck boasts exceptional card flow and mana velocity through natural land drops and explore triggers, backed by a protective shell featuring Heroic Intervention, Ripples of Potential, and efficient counterspells. While vulnerable to early wipes if protection mana is not held up, the list features resilient alternate commanders like Kumena, Tyrant of Orazca and Emperor Mihail II that maintain board pressure even in Hakbal's absence.

Decklist (100 cards)

  • 1 Alandra, Sky Dreamer
  • 1 Arcane Denial
  • 1 Arcane Heist
  • 1 Arcane Signet
  • 1 Asceticism
  • 1 Atlantean Cavalry
  • 1 Attuma, Atlantean Warlord
  • 1 Banner of Kinship
  • 1 Blockade Runner
  • 1 Breeding Pool
  • 1 Coastal Piracy
  • 1 Cold-Eyed Selkie
  • 1 Combine Guildmage
  • 1 Command Tower
  • 1 Coralhelm Commander
  • 1 Cosi's Trickster
  • 1 Counterspell
  • 1 Cultivate
  • 1 Curiosity
  • 1 Daughter of the Deep
  • 1 Doubling Season
  • 1 Dreamroot Cascade
  • 1 Emerald Medallion
  • 1 Emperor Mihail II
  • 1 Explosive Vegetation
  • 1 Fallowsage
  • 1 Farseek
  • 4 Forest
  • 1 Hakbal of the Surging Soul
  • 1 Herald of Secret Streams
  • 1 Heroic Intervention
  • 1 Hinterland Harbor
  • 18 Island
  • 1 Kindred Summons
  • 1 Kiora's Follower
  • 1 Kodama's Reach
  • 1 Kopala, Warden of Waves
  • 1 Kumena, Tyrant of Orazca
  • 1 Mana Drain
  • 1 Master of the Pearl Trident
  • 1 Meat Locker // Drowned Diner
  • 1 Merfolk Mistbinder
  • 1 Merfolk Skydiver
  • 1 Merfolk Sovereign
  • 1 Merfolk of the Pearl Trident
  • 1 Merrow Harbinger
  • 1 Misty Rainforest
  • 1 Mystic Remora
  • 1 Mystic Sanctuary
  • 1 Namor the Sub-Mariner
  • 1 Nature's Lore
  • 1 Nicanzil, Current Conductor
  • 1 Prime Speaker Zegana
  • 1 Raise the Palisade
  • 1 Reef Shaman
  • 1 Reflections of Littjara
  • 1 Rejuvenating Springs
  • 1 Reliquary Tower
  • 1 Ripples of Potential
  • 1 Sapphire Medallion
  • 1 Selkie Hedge-Mage
  • 1 Singer of Swift Rivers
  • 1 Slip Out the Back
  • 1 Sodden Verdure
  • 1 Sol Ring
  • 1 Svyelun of Sea and Sky
  • 1 Swan Song
  • 1 Talrand, Sky Summoner
  • 1 Tatyova, Benthic Druid
  • 1 Tempest Caller
  • 1 Three Steps Ahead
  • 1 Tidal Warrior
  • 1 Tishana, Voice of Thunder
  • 1 Tropical Island
  • 1 Vorel of the Hull Clade
  • 1 Wilderness Reclamation
  • 1 Willowrush Verge
  • 1 Wistful Selkie
  • 1 Yavimaya Coast
  • 1 Zegana, Utopian Speaker