Merfolk Branchwalker MTG Card
| Mana cost | |
| Converted mana cost | 2 |
| Rarity | Uncommon |
| Type | Creature — Merfolk Scout |
| Abilities | Explore |
| Released | 2017-09-29 |
| Set symbol | |
| Set name | Ixalan |
| Set code | XLN |
| Power | 2 |
| Toughness | 1 |
| Number | 197 |
| Frame | 2015 |
| Layout | Normal |
| Border | Black |
| Illustred by | Kieran Yanner |
Text of card
When Merfolk Branchwalker enters the battlefield, it explores. (Reveal the top card of your library. Put that card into your hand if it's a land. Otherwise, put a +1/+1 counter on this creature, then put the card back or put it into your graveyard.)
Cards like Merfolk Branchwalker
Merfolk Branchwalker stands out as a versatile creature within the expansive universe of Magic: The Gathering. It draws a close parallel to cards like Elvish Visionary, which allows you to draw a card upon its entrance to the battlefield. Nevertheless, Merfolk Branchwalker offers a glimpse at the top card of your library and a choice: add that card to your hand if it’s a land or put a +1/+1 counter on the creature if it isn’t, effectively turning it into a potential 3/2 for two mana. This adaptability to bolster your hand or battlefield presence adds a layer of strategic depth.
Diving deeper into this sea of choices, we encounter Jadelight Ranger — another merfolk with the explore mechanic. Like its Branchwalker kin, the Ranger can also sift through the top cards of your library, but it can do so twice, further shaping your draw and board state. Although the Ranger is priced higher in mana, the double exploration can create a stronger immediate impact.
The essence of valuing Merfolk Branchwalker lies not just in its creature type synergy but also in its dual functionality that can either cushion your land drops or enhance your combat capabilities, a distinction that certainly earns its place in MTG decks favoring flexibility and adaptability.
Cards similar to Merfolk Branchwalker by color, type and mana cost
Decks using this card
MTG decks using Merfolk Branchwalker. Dig deeper into the strategy of decks, sideboard cards, list ideas and export to play in ARENA or MOL.
| # | Name | Format | Archetype | Event |
|---|---|---|---|---|
 | Simic Merfolk | Pioneer | Simic Merfolk | Pioneer Showcase Challenge 2024-04-14 |
 | Simic Tempo | Gladiator | Sword and Sandals Showdown: AM Week 10 2024 | |
 | Merfolk | Modern | Merfolk | Modern Challenge 96 2024-02-03 |
 | Abzan Combo | Gladiator | Gladiator Games: We're Back | |
| Abzan Amalia Combo | Pioneer | Abzan Amalia Combo | Pioneer Challenge 96 2023-12-09 |
Card Pros
Card Advantage: The Merfolk Branchwalker shines by offering a peek at the top card of your deck once it enters the battlefield. If it’s a land card, it immediately goes into your hand, potentially increasing your land drops and keeping card flow steady. Otherwise, you get a valuable scry effect to set up future turns.
Resource Acceleration: While not directly producing additional mana, the ability to potentially draw a land card does indirectly contribute to resource acceleration. It ensures that you’re more likely to make land drops consistently, aiding in ramping up to your bigger spells ahead of schedule.
Instant Speed: Although not an instant itself, the explore mechanic on the Merfolk Branchwalker works favorably with cards that operate at instant speed. By possibly clearing an unnecessary land from the top of your library, you can enhance the odds of drawing into instant speed interaction or threats during the course of the game.
Card Cons
Discard Requirement: One of the drawbacks of playing Merfolk Branchwalker could be facing a situation where you have to choose between valuable cards in your hand when interacting with effects that require you to discard.
Specific Mana Cost: Merfolk Branchwalker comes with a Green mana cost, making it less flexible for multi-colored decks that may not have easy access to Green mana sources or prefer not to include them.
Comparatively High Mana Cost: While a two-mana 2/1 creature with a potential upside is reasonable, there are times when the mana spent on Merfolk Branchwalker might not synergize well with the rest of your strategy, especially when you’re aiming for high-impact plays that call for more efficient mana expenditure.
Reasons to Include in Your Collection
Versatility: Merfolk Branchwalker is not only a solid addition to Merfolk tribal decks but also a flexible pick for any green or Simic (green-blue) strategy. Its Explore mechanic allows for deck manipulation and potential card draw, which is advantageous in multiple game scenarios.
Combo Potential: This card synergizes well with effects that care about counters or explore triggers. In decks that focus on +1/+1 counter strategies, Merfolk Branchwalker can serve as a critical piece, potentially growing stronger as the game progresses.
Meta-Relevance: Given its low casting cost and immediate board presence, the Merfolk Branchwalker aligns well with the tempo-driven nature of modern metas, where early board advantage can be key to victory. Its ability to adapt to the current play environment makes it a strategic choice for competitive players.
How to beat Merfolk Branchwalker
Merfolk Branchwalker stands out in the pantheon of explore creatures within Magic: The Gathering, offering a blend of deck manipulation and potential board presence enhancement. Understanding its dual nature is key to countering this versatile threat. Like its kin, this card straddles the line between a value creature and a potential aggressor. It cleverly combines the ability to refine the upcoming draws and beefing up itself if a land is revealed.
When faced with such a versatile threat, timing your removal is critical. The instant it hits the battlefield, you’re at a crossroads. If you let the explore ability resolve, you might be dealing with a larger creature or the opponent fixing their next draw. Hence, quick and efficient removal spells, like Fatal Push or Lightning Bolt, can effectively neutralize the Branchwalker before it asserts its value. Additionally, graveyard manipulation spells can mess with the deck’s explore strategy, ensuring that the synergy is disrupted, and you maintain control of the match with ease.
Ultimately, countering Merfolk Branchwalker boils down to preemptive disruption or prompt removal. By staying one step ahead, you can prevent the Merfolk menace from branching out of control.
Where to buy
If you're looking to purchase Merfolk Branchwalker MTG card by a specific set like 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 Branchwalker and other MTG cards:
BUY NOW BurnMana is an official partner of TCGPlayer
- eBay
- 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
Legalities
Magic the Gathering formats where Merfolk Branchwalker has restrictions
| Format | Legality |
|---|---|
| Historicbrawl | Legal |
| Historic | Legal |
| Legacy | Legal |
| Paupercommander | Restricted |
| Oathbreaker | Legal |
| Gladiator | Legal |
| Pioneer | Legal |
| Commander | Legal |
| Modern | Legal |
| Vintage | Legal |
| Duel | Legal |
| Explorer | Legal |
| Timeless | Legal |
Rules and information
The reference guide for Magic: The Gathering Merfolk Branchwalker card rulings provides official rulings, any errata issued, as well as a record of all the functional modifications that have occurred.
| Date | Text |
|---|---|
| 2018-01-19 | If a resolving spell or ability instructs a specific creature to explore but that creature has left the battlefield, the creature still explores. If you reveal a nonland card this way, you won’t put a +1/+1 counter on anything, but you may put the revealed card into your graveyard. Effects that trigger “whenever a creature you control explores” trigger if appropriate. |
| 2018-01-19 | If no card is revealed, most likely because that player’s library is empty, the exploring creature receives a +1/+1 counter. |
| 2018-01-19 | Once an ability that causes a creature to explore begins to resolve, no player may take any other actions until it’s done. Notably, opponents can’t try to remove the exploring creature after you reveal a nonland card but before it receives a counter. |