Ninja of the Deep Waters

Faithless Brewing, Episode 58: Sea-Dasher Octopus

Is there anyone who doesn't love Sea-Dasher Octopus? When Ikoria was revealed, what feels like years ago, the Octopus was warmly embraced by players near and far. Part Curious Obsession, part Ninja of the Deep Waters, with a fail-safe mode of Ophidian with flash, it certainly seemed like the Octopus could do it all. And that's not even accounting for all of the nifty synergies with the Mutate mechanic, or even something as pedestrian as Flash tribal.

And yet, a few months later, here we are. Sea-Dasher has not a single 5-0 to its name in Modern, and only two half-hearted 5-0 results in Pioneer. It doesn't even see play in Standard, not even in the Flash decks. Was the Octopus simply a casualty of the Companion apocalypse? Or are there larger structural problems that we just didn't see?

Core Set 2021 previews are coming fast and furious, but we've got unfinished business with Ikoria and a certain eight-legged bandit. What mysteries will the deep waters reveal?

Roundup: M21 Previews, Week 1

Timestamps

14:55  Archfiend's Vessel

17:45  Village Rites

20:17  Selfless Savior

22:38  Chandra's Incinerator

25:00  Seasoned Hallowblade

26:59  Angelic Ascension

29:42  Eliminate

31:56  See the Truth

34:30  Stormwing Entity

37:45  Waker of Waves

40:37  Mazemind Tome

44:11  Volcanic Salvo

44:26  Pack Leader

46:22  Alpine Houndmaster

48:49  Sparkhunter Masticore

51:59  Gadrak, the Crown-Scourge

54:01  Bolt Hound

54:51  Basri Ket

56:31  Vito, Thorn of the Dusk Rose

57:47  Idol of Endurance

59:18  Teferi's Tutelage

1:01:18  Teferi, Master of Time

1:08:32  Liliana, Waker of the Dead

1:11:52  Carrion Grub

1:13:07  Basri's Lieutanant

1:14:58 Teferi's Ageless Insight

1:16:57  Chandra, Heart of Fire

1:20:02  Elder Gargaroth

1:22:46  Containment Priest

1:26:50  Fierce Empath

1:29:07  Massacre Wurm

1:29:13  Baneslayer Angel

1:29:22  Cultivate, Solemn Simulacrum

1:29:31  Azusa, Lost but Seeking

1:29:35  Runed Halo

1:29:56  Faith's Fetters

Brew Session: Sea-Dasher Octopus

Theorycraft: The Modes of Sea-Dasher Octopus

1:34:48  Octopus vs. Curious Obsession

1:36:10  Octopus vs. Ninja of the Deep Hours

1:39:08  Octopus vs. Ophidian

Pioneer

1:45:42  Sketch 1: Mono-Blue Tempo

1:54:50  Sketch 2: Bant Flash Company

1:59:02  Sketch 3: Bant "Metalcraft"

Modern

2:05:17  Bant OctoForm: 4-1 league

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