Merfolk Skydiver MTG Card


Merfolk Skydiver offers card advantage by allowing proliferation to enhance board presence without drawing. It serves as a resource accelerator, hastening strategy execution by increasing +1/+1 counters on key permanents. With the ability to proliferate at instant speed, it grants players tactical flexibility during opponents’ turns.
Card setsReleased in 2 setsSee all
Mana cost
Converted mana cost2
RarityUncommon
TypeCreature — Merfolk Mutant
Abilities Flying,Proliferate
Power 1
Toughness 1

Text of card

Flying When Merfolk Skydiver enters the battlefield, put a +1/+1 counter on target creature you control. : Proliferate. (Choose any number of permanents and/or players, then give each another counter of each kind already there.)


Cards like Merfolk Skydiver

Merfolk Skydiver is a unique card in the world of Magic: The Gathering that blends creature benefits with +1/+1 counters strategies. Sharing the same space are cards like Proliferate creatures, such as Thrummingbird, which similarly offer the ability to increase the number of counters on your permanents. Where Merfolk Skydiver differs is its flexibility to target any permanent right when it enters the battlefield, not just on dealing combat damage.

A comparative card, Experiment One, also thrives on counters but leans on its Regenerate ability to maintain board presence rather than enhancing other permanents. Merfolk Skydiver not only provides immediate impact with its entering ability but also comes with a built-in mechanism to spread and accumulate counters at a steady rate. This contrasts with Gyre Sage, which also evolves but focuses on generating mana rather than manipulating counters across the field.

Evaluating side by side, Merfolk Skydiver stands out due to its synergy potential in +1/+1 counters decks, offering versatility and a consistent threat on the board that can progressively enhance your playing state, making it a prime choice for players crafting a counter-centric MTG deck.

Thrummingbird - MTG Card versions
Experiment One - MTG Card versions
Gyre Sage - MTG Card versions
Thrummingbird - MTG Card versions
Experiment One - MTG Card versions
Gyre Sage - MTG Card versions

Cards similar to Merfolk Skydiver by color, type and mana cost

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Kinnan, Bonder Prodigy - MTG Card versions
Coiling Oracle - MTG Card versions
Thrasios, Triton Hero - MTG Card versions
Kiora's Follower - MTG Card versions
Zameck Guildmage - MTG Card versions
Vedalken Heretic - MTG Card versions
Nimbus Swimmer - MTG Card versions
Frilled Oculus - MTG Card versions
Skyrider Elf - MTG Card versions
Plaxmanta - MTG Card versions
Merfolk Mistbinder - MTG Card versions
Hydroid Krasis - MTG Card versions
Biomancer's Familiar - MTG Card versions
Ice-Fang Coatl - MTG Card versions
Icefeather Aven - MTG Card versions
Verazol, the Split Current - MTG Card versions
River Hoopoe - MTG Card versions
Maraleaf Pixie - MTG Card versions
Quandrix Apprentice - MTG Card versions

Decks using this card

MTG decks using Merfolk Skydiver. Dig deeper into the strategy of decks, sideboard cards, list ideas and export to play in ARENA or MOL.

#NameFormatArchetypeEvent
Simic TempoSimic Tempo GladiatorSword and Sandals Showdown: AM Week 10 2024

Card Pros

Card Advantage: One of the standouts for the Merfolk Skydiver is its ability to proliferate upon entering the battlefield or via its activated ability. This can amass additional counters on your other permanents, essentially drawing you into more power and functionality on the board without drawing a card.

Resource Acceleration: Merfolk Skydiver can act as a resource accelerator by bolstering the number of +1/+1 counters on creatures that have abilities triggered by these counters or on lands enchanted to produce additional mana. This enables more potent plays earlier in the game, setting a quicker pace for your strategy.

Instant Speed: While the Merfolk Skydiver itself is not an instant, its activated ability can be used at instant speed. This allows strategic flexibility to proliferate during an opponent’s turn, after blockers are declared, or in response to an action that would remove the counters from your permanents, ensuring you always get the most value from your resources.


Card Cons

Discard Requirement: The Merfolk Skydiver doesn’t impose a direct discard cost, but engaging its proliferate ability might compel you to deplete your hand to maintain board presence, leading to a potential resource disadvantage over time.

Specific Mana Cost: This creature’s casting requirement of both green and blue mana can restrict its incorporation in decks that are not specifically tailored for the Simic (green/blue) combination, potentially reducing its versatility in diverse deck builds.

Comparatively High Mana Cost: While the initial cost for Merfolk Skydiver is low, consistently using its proliferate ability requires a significant mana investment. In comparison, other cards may offer more economical options for counter manipulation or board development with less strain on your mana resources.


Reasons to Include in Your Collection

Versatility: Merfolk Skydiver is an adaptable choice for any deck looking to capitalize on +1/+1 counters or proliferate mechanics. Its low mana cost means it can be played early, working well in both aggressive and long-game strategies.

Combo Potential: When paired with other cards that benefit from counters, such as those found in Simic or proliferate decks, Merfolk Skydiver can become a linchpin for powerful combos and synergies that can overwhelm opponents.

Meta-Relevance: Given its ability to interact with and enhance various counter-centric strategies, Merfolk Skydiver holds its value in a shifting meta. Its flexibility can help adapt to different types of decks you may face, maintaining its usefulness across various levels of play.


How to beat

Merfolk Skydiver is an intriguing creature in MTG, known for its adaptability and the ability to bolster other creatures by distributing +1/+1 counters. For savvy players looking to counter this card, the key lies in preventing its proliferation effects. Removal spells can be a straightforward strategy to remove it from the board before it begins to accumulate value.

Card choices such as Fatal Push or Path to Exile offer an efficient means of dispatching Merfolk Skydiver, taking advantage of its low initial toughness. Board wipes like Wrath of God or Damnation can clear the skydiver along with other threats that may have gained counters. Additionally, players should consider countering the Skydiver as it’s cast, using spells like Mana Leak or Dovin’s Veto.

Interrupting the Merfolk Skydiver’s synergy by targeting creatures it might pump with its ability is also a strategy. The objective is to undercut the card’s long-term potential and disrupt the synergistic plays that surround it. In essence, quick removal, strategic countering, and disruption are the pillars of toppling the threat posed by Merfolk Skydiver in MTG.


BurnMana Recommendations

Dive deep into the strategic currents of MTG with the Merfolk Skydiver. Whether you’re building a deck focused on +1/+1 counters or you’re looking to add a flexible piece to your Simic creations, the Merfolk Skydiver is a card worth considering. With the power to accelerate your resources and proliferate at instant speed, it opens doors to unexpected victories and robust board states. Embrace the potential to combo off and adapt to a shifting meta with this versatile creature. Wisdom lies in mastery, so continue to refine your strategies and expand your collection with pivotal cards like the Skydiver. Curious to maximize your deck’s performance? Join us to delve into more insights and strategies tailored to elevate your MTG experience.


Where to buy

If you're looking to purchase Merfolk Skydiver MTG card by a specific set like War of the Spark and The Lost Caverns of Ixalan Commander, there are several reliable options to consider. One of the primary sources is your local game store, where you can often find booster packs, individual cards, and preconstructed decks from current and some past sets. They often offer the added benefit of a community where you can trade with other players.

For a broader inventory, particularly of older sets, online marketplaces like TCGPlayer, Card Kingdom and Card Market offer extensive selections and allow you to search for cards from specific sets. Larger e-commerce platforms like eBay and Amazon also have listings from various sellers, which can be a good place to look for sealed product and rare finds.

Additionally, Magic’s official site often has a store locator and retailer lists for finding Wizards of the Coast licensed products. Remember to check for authenticity and the condition of the cards when purchasing, especially from individual sellers on larger marketplaces.

Below is a list of some store websites where you can buy the Merfolk Skydiver and other MTG cards:

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Printings

The Merfolk Skydiver Magic the Gathering card was released in 2 different sets between 2019-05-03 and 2023-11-17. Illustrated by Sara Winters.

#ReleasedNameCodeSymbolNumberFrameLayoutBorderArtist
12019-05-03War of the SparkWAR 2052015NormalBlackSara Winters
22023-11-17The Lost Caverns of Ixalan CommanderLCC 2772015NormalBlackSara Winters

Legalities

Magic the Gathering formats where Merfolk Skydiver has restrictions

FormatLegality
HistoricbrawlLegal
HistoricLegal
LegacyLegal
PaupercommanderRestricted
OathbreakerLegal
GladiatorLegal
PioneerLegal
CommanderLegal
ModernLegal
VintageLegal
DuelLegal
ExplorerLegal
TimelessLegal

Rules and information

The reference guide for Magic: The Gathering Merfolk Skydiver card rulings provides official rulings, any errata issued, as well as a record of all the functional modifications that have occurred.

Date Text
2019-05-03 You may choose Merfolk Skydiver as the target of its own ability.
2023-02-04 An ability that triggers "Whenever you proliferate" triggers even if you chose no permanents or players while doing so.
2023-02-04 If a permanent ever has both +1/+1 counters and -1/-1 counters on it at the same time, they're removed in pairs as a state-based action so that the permanent has only one of those kinds of counters on it.
2023-02-04 If a player or permanent has more than one kind of counter on it, and you choose for it to get additional counters, it must get one of each kind of counter it already has. You can't have it get just one kind of counter it already has and not the others.
2023-02-04 Players can respond to a spell or ability whose effect includes proliferating. Once that spell or ability starts to resolve, however, and its controller chooses which permanents and players will get new counters, it's too late for anyone to respond.
2023-02-04 To proliferate, you can choose any permanent that has a counter, including ones controlled by opponents. You can choose any player who has a counter, including opponents. You can't choose cards in any zone other than the battlefield, even if they have counters on them.
2023-02-04 You don't have to choose every permanent or player that has a counter, only the ones you want to add another counter to. Since "any number" includes zero, you don't have to choose any permanents at all, and you don't have to choose any players at all.