Merfolk MTG Card
2009-10-02 - Number 5
2017-09-29 - Number 3
2022-09-09 - Number 5
2022-12-03 - Number 14
2023-11-17 - Number 5
2023-11-17 - Number 3
2024-02-09 - Number 3
2017-12-27 - Number 1
| Card sets | Released in 8 setsSee all |
| Type | Token Creature — Merfolk |
| Power | 1 |
| Toughness | 1 |
Key Takeaways
- Merfolk excel in card advantage and board manipulation, allowing for a consistent flow of strategic options.
- They require careful mana management and can burden players with higher costs or specific color needs.
- Despite drawbacks, their versatility and meta relevance make them a valuable addition to any collection.
Card Pros
Card Advantage: Merfolk cards often enable players to draw additional cards or selectively look at the top few cards of their deck, ensuring a steady flow of options and maintaining the upper hand against opponents.
Resource Acceleration: Several Merfolk cards are known to untap lands or provide other Merfolk with the ability to produce mana, fostering a faster deployment of threats and responses on the battlefield.
Instant Speed: A number of Merfolk spells can be cast at instant speed, allowing strategic players to react swiftly to an opponent’s moves or to create surprise advantages during combat or at the end of an opponent’s turn.
Card Cons
Discard Requirement: Merfolk cards often need you to discard, which can deplete your hand quickly, weakening your position especially if you haven’t established a solid board presence.
Specific Mana Cost: Many Merfolk cards require blue mana. While this aligns with the tribe’s identity, it can restrict deck building, requiring a heavy blue mana base and limiting cross-synergy with other tribes or colors.
Comparatively High Mana Cost: Some key Merfolk cards come at a higher mana cost compared to other tribal creatures. This can slow down your game, particularly when trying to outpace faster, more aggressive decks in the format.
Reasons to Include in Your Collection
Versatility: Merfolk cards are renowned for their ability to adapt to various play styles. They are a cornerstone in tribal decks, elevating both aggressive and tempo strategies with their synergistic abilities.
Combo Potential: Numerous Merfolk cards work harmoniously to unlock powerful combinations. They can manipulate the board state, offering both offensive and defensive plays that can turn the tide of the game.
Meta-Relevance: As the game evolves, so do the decks, and Merfolk remain a compelling choice. Their continuous presence in competitive formats is a testament to their enduring value and impact on the metagame, making them a wise investment for players looking to stay ahead.
How to beat
Merfolk cards have a well-earned reputation for creating synergistic tribal decks in MTG. With their abilities to buff each other and often make your opponent’s life difficult by tapping or un-tapping per their whimsical aquatic maneuvers, merfolk can quickly dominate the game board. Particularly, some merfolk grant each other +1/+1 counters or make them unblockable, which can be a slippery situation to navigate.
To counteract merfolk supremacy, removal spells are your lifeline. So consider packing your deck with board wipes that can clear multiple creatures at once, regardless of their size. Cards like Wrath of God or Damnation are excellent for dealing with a swarm of fishy foes. Single-target removals also come in handy for taking out key merfolk, like lords that boost others. Cards such as Doom Blade or Fatal Push can disrupt the flow of a merfolk strategy effectively. And don’t underestimate the power of counter spells; denying a merfolk spell from ever hitting the board is always a valid strategy in MTG.
Remember, the key to beating merfolk lies in staying one step ahead of their tidal wave. So plan your removals wisely, keep their board clear, and you’ll find your path to victory much clearer without the constant threat of an overwhelming merfolk presence.
Cards like Merfolk
Merfolk cards in Magic: The Gathering (MTG) hold a special place in the hearts of blue and sometimes green mana enthusiasts. When considering these underwater strategists, one should observe the close relationship they have with their kin, the Silvergill Adept. This card, much like other Merfolk, has the advantage of not only becoming a creature on the board but also allowing the player to draw a card, bringing both presence and potential to the table.
The Merfolk branch extends to explore the Lord of Atlantis, a classic that boosts other Merfolk creatures, effectively strengthening your watery army. Additionally, the synergy found in Merrow Reejerey can’t be overlooked, providing both a power increase and a potent tap or untap ability whenever you cast another Merfolk spell, mirroring the communal nature of these aquatic allies.
Analyzed carefully, Merfolk cards in MTG display a combination of swarming tactics and incremental advantages making them a formidable presence. With each card enhancing the others, they swim together in a powerful current that can sweep opponents away. Their unique abilities to combine creature effects with card advantage set them apart in the diverse ecosystem of Magic: The Gathering.
Where to buy
If you're looking to purchase Merfolk MTG card by a specific set like Zendikar and Ixalan, 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 and other MTG cards:
- eBay
- TCG Player
- Card Kingdom
- Card Market
- Star City Games
- CoolStuffInc
- MTG Mint Card
- Hareruya
- Troll and Toad
- ABU Games
- Card Hoarder Magic Online
- MTGO Traders Magic Online
See MTG Products
Printings
The Merfolk Magic the Gathering card was released in 8 different sets between 2009-10-02 and 2024-02-09. Illustrated by 6 different artists.
| # | Released | Name | Code | Symbol | Number | Frame | Layout | Border | Artist |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 2009-10-02 | Zendikar | ZEN | 5 | 2003 | Token | Black | Warren Mahy | |
| 2 | 2017-09-29 | Ixalan | XLN | 3 | 2015 | Token | Black | Randy Gallegos | |
| 3 | Friday Night Magic 2018 | F18 | 1 | 2015 | Double Faced Token | Black | Randy Gallegos | ||
| 4 | 2022-09-09 | Dominaria United | DMU | 5 | 2015 | Token | Black | PINDURSKI | |
| 5 | 2022-12-03 | Jumpstart 2022 Front Cards | FJ22 | 14 | 2015 | Token | Black | Sam Burley | |
| 6 | 2023-11-17 | The Lost Caverns of Ixalan | LCI | 5 | 2015 | Token | Black | Julio Reyna | |
| 7 | 2023-11-17 | The Lost Caverns of Ixalan Commander | LCC | 3 | 2015 | Token | Black | PINDURSKI | |
| 8 | 2024-02-09 | Murders at Karlov Manor | MKM | 3 | 2015 | Token | Black | Leesha Hannigan |
