With the focus on a handful of specific Creature types in the original Ixalan block, such as Pirates and Dinosaurs, it’s not surprising that multiple of The Lost Caverns of Ixalan spoilers are typal payoffs. This goes for both cards from the Commander decks as well as cards from the main set. The emphasis on typal synergies is part of what makes the Ixalan plane so unique.
While there are still plenty of spoilers that have yet to be revealed, one of these synergistic cards has already gotten our attention. This card is none other than Deeproot Pilgrimage.
Deeproot Pilgrimage has the capability of producing a great deal of Merfolk tokens with Hexproof, so long as you have enough Merfolk to support it. The key is finding the best ways to maximize the card, as well as finding the best Merfolk to use alongside it. Deeproot Pilgrimage has multi-format potential, but the place it seems destined to shine the most in is Commander. That is, so long as you put the right pieces around it.
“One or More”
Deeproot Pilgrimage is a cheap Enchantment that provides you with a flow of Merfolk tokens whenever non-token Merfolk you control become tapped. Clearly, you want to have a deck full of Merfolk to make use of this, and typically, you would simply want to be attacking to make use of an effect like this. The issue is that the ability on the Enchantment specifically states that you get a 1/1 Merfolk Creature token with Hexproof whenever one OR MORE Merfolk you control become tapped.
As a result, even if you attack with three Merfolk Creatures at once, you will only generate one token out of the deal. The same is true when utilizing something like the Convoke mechanic to cast a big spell. This may still be good enough at face value to see play in Constructed, but in order to actually abuse the card in Commander, we need to dig deeper.
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Tapping Merfolk One by One
The absolute best way to abuse Deeproot Pilgrimage is by having ways to tap Merfolk one at a time. For that reason, Kumena, Tyrant of Orazca works exceptionally well as a Commander with the powerful Enchantment. Every turn cycle, you can tap every non-token Merfolk you control individually to Kumena’s first ability and get that many Merfolk tokens out of the deal. Even if Kumena has Summoning Sickness, you can still use its first ability to tap itself to get a token.
Beyond just Kumena, there are other ways to get extra value out of Deeproot Pilgrimage. For instance,
Cryptolith Rite
Cryptolith Rite
Creatures you control have "{T}: Add one mana of any color."
allows you to tap your Merfolk individually for mana. By producing a bunch of tokens in the process, you also thereby generate a ton of extra mana for your next turn once the tokens aren’t Summoning Sick. Throw in ways to untap your permanents, such as
Seedborn Muse
Seedborn Muse
Untap all permanents you control during each other player's untap step.
, and things get out of hand pretty quickly.
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Deeproot Pilgrimage in Modern
Nikachu, one of MTG’s most renowned Merfolk personalities, has also talked about the card’s potential in Modern. I am certainly skeptical; especially given the high density of two-drops the deck has access to. However, there are some solid interactions that could earn Deeproot Pilgrimage a slot in Modern Merfolk in specific metagames. Where Deeproot Pilgrimage appears to shine best in Modern is in grindier matchups. After all, it can take a bit of time to get going, but the ability to create multiple Hexproof Merfolk bodies can be strong against opposing midrange decks.
One of the neatest interactions in Modern is to activate
Mutavault
Mutavault
{T}: Add {C}.
{1}: This land becomes a 2/2 creature with all creature types until end of turn. It's still a land.
, then tap it for mana, netting a 1/1 Hexproof token in the process. Cards like
Rishadan Dockhand
Rishadan Dockhand
Islandwalk (This creature can't be blocked as long as defending player controls an Island.)
{1}, {T}: Tap target land.
go up in value immensely with Deeproot Pilgrimage in play, too. Being able to stunt your opponent’s development while simultaneously building out your board to pressure them can be quite strong.
While each individual token is small, Modern Merfolk already plays
Lord of Atlantis
Lord of Atlantis
Other Merfolk get +1/+1 and have islandwalk. (They can't be blocked as long as defending player controls an Island.)
and
Master of the Pearl Trident
Master of the Pearl Trident
Other Merfolk creatures you control get +1/+1 and have islandwalk. (They can't be blocked as long as defending player controls an Island.)
, providing a buff and potential evasion to your squad. Not to mention, having Hexproof helps protect your tokens against the likes of
Wrenn and Six
Wrenn and Six
+1: Return up to one target land card from your graveyard to your hand.
−1: Wrenn and Six deals 1 damage to any target.
−7: You get an emblem with "Instant and sorcery cards in your graveyard have retrace." (You may cast instant and sorcery cards from your graveyard by discarding a land card in addition to paying their other costs.)
and
Orcish Bowmasters
Orcish Bowmasters
Flash
When this creature enters and whenever an opponent draws a card except the first one they draw in each of their draw steps, this creature deals 1 damage to any target. Then amass Orcs 1.
. These tokens work well in conjunction with
Vodalian Hexcatcher
Vodalian Hexcatcher
Flash
Other Merfolk you control get +1/+1.
Sacrifice a Merfolk: Counter target noncreature spell unless its controller pays {1}.
too, helping to counter otherwise problematic non-Creature spells such as
Living End
Living End
Suspend 3—{2}{B}{B}
Each player exiles all creature cards from their graveyard, then sacrifices all creatures they control, then puts all cards they exiled this way onto the battlefield.
at minimal cost.
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Deeproot Pilgrimage in Standard
Speaking of Vodalian Hexcatcher, this powerful Merfolk Lord is also legal in Standard. Up until this point, there simply haven’t been enough playable Merfolk for quite some time for the archetype to succeed in a Standard environment. Vodalian Hexcatcher and
Deeproot Wayfinder
Deeproot Wayfinder
Whenever this creature deals combat damage to a player or battle, surveil 1, then you may return a land card from your graveyard to the battlefield tapped. (To surveil 1, look at the top card of your library. You may put that card into your graveyard.)
are decent cards, but the Merfolk archetype needs some added redundancy and power to make waves in the format.
Luckily, we have already seen some decent cheap Merfolk spoiled that could help make both the Merfolk archetype and Deeproot Pilgrimage better. Cards like
Jadelight Spelunker
Jadelight Spelunker
When this creature enters, it explores X times. (To have it explore, reveal the top card of your library. Put that card into your hand if it's a land. Otherwise, put a +1/+1 counter on that creature, then put the card back or put it into your graveyard.)
and
Cenote Scout
Cenote Scout
When this creature enters, it explores. (Reveal the top card of your library. Put that card into your hand if it's a land. Otherwise, put a +1/+1 counter on this creature, then put the card back or put it into your graveyard.)
are efficient additions to the format. Cenote Scout, in particular, is solid because, as a one-drop, you can play Deeproot Pilgrimage turn two and get to attack on the same turn, gaining a 1/1 token. The addition of
Cavern of Souls
Cavern of Souls
As this land enters, choose a creature type.
{T}: Add {C}.
{T}: Add one mana of any color. Spend this mana only to cast a creature spell of the chosen type, and that spell can't be countered.
to Standard and Pioneer is also a huge boon for typal decks.
There are certainly less synergies to be had in Standard, but if there are enough solid Merfolk in Standard with the release of The Lost Caverns of Ixalan, simply turning Merfolk sideways might be good enough. Deeproot Pilgrimage has a lot of potential, and it’s worth monitoring future spoilers to see if newer synergies arise.
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