MODERN: MERFOLK

Modern FNM 

NG One Ayala

22 May 2025

RD 1 Mono Blue Belcher loss

RD 2 UW Scepter-Chant win

RD 3 Esper Blink win

   

- o - o - o - o - o - o - o - o - o - 

100k Modern

hosted by Infinity Hobbies

Makati City

24 May 2026

RD 1 Mono Black win

RD 2 Living End win

RD 3 Mardu Blink win

RD 4 UB Frog Riddler win

RD 5 Izzet Prowess 

RD 6 ID  

top 8 split

It has been a week since these two events happened. So before everything fades from memory, here are the things that I can still recall.   

Game two against the Mono Blue Belcher, both players were just in top decking mode until the opponent ripped a  Tezzeret the Seeker. Tapped the mana required, cast it; and the Blue planeswalker resolved. He wasted no time retrieving a Goblin Charbelcher off its ability. No Tishana on my last draw phase, he won the game a turn after. 

Harbinger of the Sea won me many games. Also, there was this situation where it survived a Galvanic Discharge because the opponent miscalculated its toughness. 

Since Umezawa's Jitte got unbanned, I decided to sleeve one in the main for the FNM. Unfortunately, it did not see daylight. After that, I removed the legendary artifact because of one reason: it is too slow. It is too slow because you''ll need to equip it to a creature; and that creature still needs to connect successfully before you get to enjoy its power. 

Speaking of unbanning, Living End and Rhinos are back thanks to the returning Violet Outburst. So with this, I think a set of Vodalian Hexcatcher in the main is better than just having two. Plus Hexcatcher has a very nice synergy with Silvergill Mentor. 

I think Chalice of the Void (for zero), or even Vexing Bauble, is not a good route to take versus Living End decks because of Wistfulness. 

The UB Frog-Riddler pilot was so good. Discard everything except one to the frog. Exile three cards off the graveyard to give it wings. And when it successfully connects, instead of draw one - draw two (4/6 Sphinx is in play). Wow.  

I was not that happy with two Mindspring Merfolk. Yes it draws but I'd rather have a defensive card that can help me win. Mistcaller (I think) is better because it can deal with Living End and blink decks.   

Gave the win to an opponent so that both of us will make it to top 8. 

All in all, I am so happy with the school's result. I hope to have the same success in the next modern events. 

Here is the seventy-five that I sleeved for the 100k modern event.    

This is all for now. Thank you for reading. 

Paeng   

MODERN: MERFOLK

Finally! Modern season is here. Here are the April events that I participated using Merfolk. 

 

Modern at Okada

hosted by Mana Underground

11 April 2026

RD 1 Boros Energy loss

RD 2 Blue Tron loss

RD 3 Mono Red Prison win

RD 4 Mono Blue Merfolk loss  

First round was a nightmare. 

I could have won game three versus Blue Tron but I opted to deploy my school instead of holding the mana open for Sink on Stupor or Flare of Denial. Also, I forgot that once Karn, The Great Creator hits the table, my artifacts stop from moving. I have an Aether Vial (on two) when I let Karn resolves. 

I did not expect a mirror match up. I went home after losing to it.

= o = o = o = o = o = o = o = o = o = 

Modern (RCQ June 7th feeder)

Hobby Kaikan, Festival Mall

12 April 2026 

RD 1 Titan Breach win

RD 2 Mono Blue Belcher win

RD 3 Grix Frog win

RD 4 Boros Burn win

RD 5 ID  

I used the same seventy-five from the yesterday's event.

 

The Titan-Breach opponent started drawing bricks mid-game of our game three. I had four (or five) mana open and I decided to keep them open because of the painful lesson from yesterday's event (against the Blue Tron). Tide Shaper and Harbinger of the Sea slowly got me there.  

The Belcher opponent was not able to find any pay spell in time. Lord of Atlantis and Master of the Pearl Trident led the school to victory. 

Counter spells protected the school from the opposing removal spells. Dismembers maimed Frogs and Sphinx. Svyelun of Sea and Sky was gas down the stretch refiling my hand with goodies to help me win the round.   

I had defensive key stops against Boros Burn during the rubber match. First, denied two Boros Charms. And second, Merfolk Trickster tapped Monastery Swiftspear, twice. 

Invite to Neutral Ground's June 7th modern RCQ is secured!   

= o = o = o = o = o = o = o = o = o = o = o =

Madcap Hobbies 

San Pedro, Laguna

17 April 2026

RD 1 Eldrazi loss

RD 2 Humans draw

RD 3 Domain Rhino win

RD 4 UR Cutter Prowess loss

I made a little adjustment in the sixty. I took out three (3) Rishadan Dockhands and Minamo, School at Water's Edge and replaced them with the following: an Island, the fourth Mindspring Merfolk, Glen Elendra Guardian, and Castle Vantress. The fifteen stayed the same.

This event took me back to school for rules refreshing. (i) Cards from pre-release event are now legal in a constructed format even on the first day of the pre-release. (ii) The interaction between the Trinisphere and Consign to Memory's replicate. (iii) Chalice of the Void (set at one) versus Fire Magic (with Tiered for 2). (iv) Consign to Memory versus casting the suspended spell after the last time counter was removed. (v) Proper timing of when to summon Merfolk Trickster. (iv) stacking properly during combat (involving Aether Vial and flash merfolks). 

I had the opportunity to bring down Glen Elendra (via Aether Vial) and use its ability to counter a non creature spell, but I opted not to do it. 

Long time no see, Humans. Merfolk Tricksters and Tishana were great in this match up.  

= o= o = o = o = o = o = o = o = o = o = o =

Originally I was scheduled to attend High Market's (April 18th) and Regran's April 25th events but I was not able to because of personal errands.

This is all for now. 

 

I hope to see you everyJuan in my next in-store events.  

Thank you for reading. 

Paeng

P.S. 

MTGO, please bring PHL back in the loop. Thanks.

MODERN: MERFOLK

FNM @ Hobby Kaikan 

Festival Mall, Alabang

20 March 2026

RD 1 BR Reanimator win

RD 2 Boros Storm loss

RD 3 UW Control win 

Here are some of the things that I can still recall. 

 

The opposing team losses tempo each time Harbinger successfully hits play. 

I did not mull for any hate against the storm. 

Svyelun of Sea and Sky's indestructibility helped me win the round against multiple Supreme Verdicts.  

Flare of Denial and Force of Negation neutralized some of the opponents' key spells down the stretch. 

This is all for now. 

Thank you for reading! 

Paeng

2026 goals

Happy New Year to you!   

May the year 2026 bring you a plethora of prosperity, success, and happiness. 

One of my resolutions for this year is to lessen my playing time of paper magic. I can still enjoy MTG over at MTGO. I will try my very best to upload every game (especially those important ones) on my Youtube.

The reason for this is I'll be devoting most of my time and energy to my jobs [I have two: 1st in law firm and 2nd in a travel agency]. Plus kids are getting older and I think they'll be needing my presence more.

Cheers to 2026! 

Paeng  

LEGACY: THE EPIC STORM

Legacyfest

Hobby Kaikan

Festival Mall, Alabang 

I had a lot of hesitation moments. Most of it led to my demise.  

I also had missequenced cases. 

No turn one wins, unfortunately. 

Even though I had left and right misplays, I had two positive things from this experience. First, when I was able to perform the Iggy-Loop. And second, when I ended the day with a win before dropping out. 

Anyway, it still feels good to be back slinging instants and sorcery spells with The Epic Storm, and being in a "reunion", even if it was just for one day. Congratulations Ros, to the top 8, and all players for a successful Legacyfest event!  

This is all for now guys. Thank you for reading! 

My match-ups by the way.

UB Reanimator

Bant

Cloud Post

BG

Cloud Post

  

-Paeng 

MODERN: STORM

100k Modern

Mox & Lotus PH

One Ayala, Makati 

24 August 2025

RD 1 Boros Energy loss

RD 2 Izzet Storm win

RD 3 Boros Burn loss

RD 4 Domain Zoo loss

drop

Misplay:

I should have removed the opponent's Goblin Bombardment instead of summoning Ruby Medallion. I could have won my round two at one life point.

This is all for now. Thank you for reading. I hope to see you at the upcoming modern events. 

Paeng

MODERN: BOGLES

Regran Hobbies 

Quezon City

16 August 2025

RD 1: Tron

RD 2: UR Affinity

RD 3: UR Cutter Prowess 

Got a chance to play on paper after a month. Since I am not yet decided on what deck to play for the upcoming RC, I decided to sleeve Bogles. Unfortunately, the result was catastrophic for I failed to register a win. 

I think this is the only misplay I committed: I decided to keep this hand: 2 fetches, Temple Garden, Ethereal Armors, Spider Umbra, Hyena Umbra, and Sheltered by Ghost. No Bogle hand but I thought of this line of play: end of his turn crack fetch for Dryad  Arbor. Then Umbra for protection. Things immediately went south after learning I do not have the land creature in my sixty, Two turns after, I started picking up my cards because the opponent was already starting to have a very good board position from which I know I will not win.

Before ending this, sharing you guys a Youtube link. This is me on MTGO with bogles in  a 2-player queue battle. 

This is all for now. 

Thank you for reading. 

Paeng