At this point, it’s become abundantly clear that Duskmourn is quite a powerful set. Many cards are seeing ample Constructed play beyond just in Standard. In Pioneer, Overlord of the Hauntwoods is a huge upgrade for Enigmatic Incarnation decks. In Modern, many players are utilizing Abhorrent Oculus in their Dimir decks.
Both of these mythic rares are insanely powerful, but what if I told you there’s an uncommon blue creature that is growing more popular in Pioneer and Modern. Now, what if I said that same creature made it to top four of a Magic Online Vintage Challenge. Are you intrigued, because you should be!
The card in question is none other than Floodpits Drowner. At first glance, this looks like nothing more than a solid Limited card. However, it’s proven to be much stronger than it looks.
A Powerful Merfolk
- Mana Value: 1U
- Rarity: Uncommon
- Stats: 2/1
- MTG Sets: Duskmourn
- Card Text: Flash. Vigilance. When Floodpits Drowner enters, tap target creature an opponent controls and put a stun counter on it. 1U, Tap: Shuffle Floodpits Drowner and target creature with a stun counter on it into their owner’s libraries.
The first style of deck Floodpits Drowner is starting to make a name for itself in is Merfolk. Merfolk isn’t an incredibly popular strategy at the moment, but it still has its moments. Floodpits Drowner is a natural fit into the deck.
In Modern, Floodpits Drowner acts as a big upgrade over Harbinger of the Tides. Getting to tap down large threats like Murktide Regent or Primeval Titan at instant speed is a huge deal. Floodpits Drowner obviously doesn’t bounce the opponent’s creature back to their hand, but tapping it and putting a stun counter on it on your opponent’s turn buys you a lot of time. You even have the luxury of shuffling the threat away if necessary.
Merfolk has a lot of disruption for the opponent’s mana (Tide Shaper) and noncreature spells they cast (Vodalian Hexcatcher and Force of Negation). Where it struggles is against decks that get ahead on board with creatures. Dismember helps, but it’s narrow and doesn’t kill big creatures. Floodpits Drowner solves this problem, adding pressure to the board while simultaneously locking down an opponent’s threat.
Even in Vintage where there aren’t a ton of creatures present, locking down a quick Psychic Frog can be the difference between winning and losing. The Vintage version of Merfolk, in particular, plays a lot of flash creatures. So, you can hold up Floodpits Drowner, Vodalian Hexcatcher, and Hullbreacher at once, and make your play based on how your opponent plays their turn. Floodpits Drowner’s success in a format that powerful is truly incredible to see.
Enabling Kaito in Pioneer
- Mana Value: 2UB
- Rarity: Mythic Rare
- Starting Loyalty: 4
- MTG Sets: Duskmourn
- Card Text: Ninjutsu 1UB (1UB, Return an unblocked attacker you control to hand: Put this card onto the battlefield from your hand tapped and attacking.) During your turn, as long as Kaito has one or more loyalty counters on him, he’s a 3/4 Ninja creature and has Hexproof. +1: You get an emblem with “Ninjas you control get +1/+1.” 0: Surveil 2. Then draw a card for each opponent who lost life this turn. −2: Tap target creature. Put two stun counters on it.
The other place where Floodpits Drowner is showing up is in Dimir tempo decks in Pioneer. This archetype emerged with the printing of Kaito, Bane of Nightmares. Floodpits Drowner may not be a Ninja, but it does a great job getting Kaito into play.
Once your opponent plays their two-drop, you simply flash in Floodpits Drowner, tap it down, and set up an attack. Not only does this help enable Ninjutsu, but Floodpits Drowner is the perfect card to return to your hand. Then, on a future turn, you can lock down another creature. This helps protect Kaito and sets up any other Ninjutsu shenanigans.
Floodpits Drowner does a lot for just two mana, and it has immense synergistic potential. The card is worth more than the sum of its parts. It shows that sometimes, even if a card doesn’t look flashy, it can still make a heck of an impact.
Another Elite Duskmourn Card: MTG Duskmourn Rare Revives Infamous Splinter Twin Combo
