Most of the reasons are just the Merfolk are very strong and also that Hakbal of the Surging Soul, the face card, allows you to use the explore mechanic a lot
One key detail is that the tokens enter attacking instead of being declared as attackers
It really doesnt take long to build up a formidable force in early turns, letting you get a head start while your opponents are scrambling to find blockers
Town and gate have no inherent rules text, and they just exist as land types for other cards to reference
P/T Number 542 Language English Legal Formats Alchemy, Brawl, Commander, Competitive Brawl, Historic, Legacy, Modern, Pioneer, Standard, Timeless, Vintage Rulings (6/6/2025) You can choose to discard no cards when Joshua's first ability resolves
Draft & Sealed : One of the most popular alternative ways to play Magic is in a "Limited" setting