Merfolk Cave-Diver MTG Card
| Mana cost | |
| Converted mana cost | 3 |
| Rarity | Uncommon |
| Type | Creature — Merfolk Scout |
| Abilities | Explore |
| Released | 2023-11-17 |
| Set symbol | |
| Set name | The Lost Caverns of Ixalan |
| Set code | LCI |
| Power | 2 |
| Toughness | 4 |
| Number | 65 |
| Frame | 2015 |
| Layout | Normal |
| Border | Black |
| Illustred by | Fesbra |
Text of card
Whenever a creature you control explores, Merfolk Cave-Diver gets +1/+0 until end of turn and can't be blocked this turn.
"Learn all you can of this underground sea. I suspect more secrets of our ancestors lie waiting in its depths." —Tishana
Cards like Merfolk Cave-Diver
Merfolk Cave-Diver carves its niche in the realm of Magic: The Gathering’s underwater adventurers. This card shares parallels with other merfolk creatures, such as River Sneak and Merfolk Mistbinder. River Sneak, like Merfolk Cave-Diver, profits from other merfolk or Island cards being played, increasing its attack power, albeit without the card drawing capability. Merfolk Mistbinder does something different by boosting the strength and toughness of other merfolk, emphasizing a tribal synergy approach.
Another card worthy of mention is Silvergill Adept, a staple in merfolk decks that also lets you draw a card when played, provided you reveal a merfolk card from your hand or pay additional mana. This effect is akin to Merfolk Cave-Diver’s card drawing benefit but without the conditional requirement of having eight or more islands. Lastly, we see a comparison to Merfolk Looter, which doesn’t share the same stat boosting traits but facilitates repetitive card draw and selection through its tap ability. What sets Merfolk Cave-Diver apart is its potential to make every island play a small victory by advancing your card advantage on the battlefield.
Merfolk Cave-Diver may not turn the tide on its own, but in a deck brimming with islands and merfolk, it can be a consistent and valuable source of card advantage, ensuring it holds its own against these similar deep-sea denizens.
Cards similar to Merfolk Cave-Diver by color, type and mana cost
Decks using this card
MTG decks using Merfolk Cave-Diver. Dig deeper into the strategy of decks, sideboard cards, list ideas and export to play in ARENA or MOL.
| # | Name | Format | Archetype | Event |
|---|---|---|---|---|
 | Decklist | Free form | Torino Tournament - Lost Caverns of Ixalan | |
 | Simic Aggro | Standard | Simic Merfolk | Jaffer's Mini Mosh - Standard |
Card Pros
Card Advantage: The Merfolk Cave-Diver encourages strategic plays with its ability to provide card advantage. Engaging with library manipulation, it offers players the chance to dig deeper into their decks and fetch the spells or creatures most needed at any game moment.
Resource Acceleration: This card aligns with deck themes that capitalize on synergies with the Merfolk tribe or oceanic expeditions, potentially allowing you to hit your power plays ahead of schedule. Accelerating resource availability can tip the scales in your favor during tight matches.
Instant Speed: The Merfolk Cave-Diver can be played at instant speed, providing flexibility and versatility in gameplay. This quick deployment can be a boon during the late game, allowing you to adapt to rapidly changing board states while keeping your opponents on their toes.
Card Cons
Discard Requirement: Merfolk Cave-Diver’s ability to seek out another Merfolk or Island card from your deck is gated by a discard condition. This may prove detrimental if you’re in a situation where your hand size is already reduced and the resources you have are vital for your game strategy.
Specific Mana Cost: Being a blue-centric card, Merfolk Cave-Diver demands a dedicated source of blue mana. This stipulation can restrict deck building, particularly in formats that prize mana flexibility. Players might find their strategies compromised if they cannot consistently meet the blue mana requirement in multicolored decks.
Comparatively High Mana Cost: With a mana value that leans toward the higher end for its abilities, this card competes with others in the same slot. It’s imperative to evaluate whether its inclusion is justifiable over alternative options that may empower your board state or hand without incurring the discard cost.
Reasons to Include Merfolk Cave-Diver in Your Collection
Versatility: Merfolk Cave-Diver slips seamlessly into various blue-based decks, particularly those that prioritize a strong early game presence with utility creatures. As a Merfolk, it synergizes well with tribal themes and can become a linchpin in decks that capitalize on the rich Merfolk lineage within the game.
Combo Potential: With its ability to interact with the top card of your library, Merfolk Cave-Diver can set up favorable draws or work in tandem with library manipulation strategies. This enables intricate combos that harness the full potential of knowing and preparing your next moves, keeping you one step ahead of the competition.
Meta-Relevance: In a meta that appreciates quick threats and consistent board presence, this mercurial Merfolk can become an under-the-radar threat that opponents must answer. It occupies an increasingly relevant role, with abilities that are well-suited to navigating the shifting tides of a dynamic competitive landscape.
How to Beat Merfolk Cave-Diver
Merfolk Cave-Diver sees play in Magic: The Gathering as a multi-faceted threat in blue-oriented decks. This creature’s strength lies in its ability to not only provide card advantage but also to filter through the deck efficiently. Dealing with this card often requires a timely response to prevent your opponent from pulling too far ahead in resources.
A sound strategy against Merfolk Cave-Diver is to remove it quickly before the card drawing engine comes online. Instant speed removal spells are particularly effective, allowing you to disrupt your opponent’s plans during their turn. If you’re in black, Fatal Push or Bloodchief’s Thirst offer cost-efficient answers. Red players can rely on Lightning Bolt or Abrade, which serve as swift answers to the diver’s moderate toughness.
Moreover, countering the Cave-Diver before it hits the battlefield is an excellent preemptive approach. This can be accomplished with spells like Counterspell or Mana Leak. Keep in mind that preserving your removal or counters for key creatures like Merfolk Cave-Diver can significantly reduce the card advantage your opponent gains, thereby maintaining parity or even giving you an edge in the matchup.
Where to buy
If you're looking to purchase Merfolk Cave-Diver MTG card by a specific set like The Lost Caverns of 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 Cave-Diver and other MTG cards:
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- eBay
- Card Kingdom
- Card Market
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- MTG Mint Card
- Hareruya
- Troll and Toad
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- Card Hoarder Magic Online
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Legalities
Magic the Gathering formats where Merfolk Cave-Diver has restrictions
| Format | Legality |
|---|---|
| Standard | Legal |
| Historicbrawl | Legal |
| Historic | Legal |
| Legacy | Legal |
| Paupercommander | Restricted |
| Oathbreaker | Legal |
| Gladiator | Legal |
| Alchemy | Legal |
| Pioneer | Legal |
| Commander | Legal |
| Modern | Legal |
| Future | Legal |
| Vintage | Legal |
| Duel | Legal |
| Explorer | Legal |
| Brawl | Legal |
| Penny | Legal |
| Timeless | Legal |
Rules and information
The reference guide for Magic: The Gathering Merfolk Cave-Diver card rulings provides official rulings, any errata issued, as well as a record of all the functional modifications that have occurred.
| Date | Text |
|---|---|
| 2023-11-10 | If a creature leaves the battlefield before an effect instructs it to explore, it still explores. Abilities like Merfolk Cave-Diver's that trigger whenever a creature you control explores will still trigger. |
| 2023-11-10 | 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 explores" trigger as appropriate. |
| 2023-11-10 | If an ability instructs a creature to explore, its controller reveals the top card of their library. If it's a land card, they'll put it into their hand. Otherwise, they'll put a +1/+1 counter on that creature, then choose to either leave that card on top of their library or put it into their graveyard. |
| 2023-11-10 | If no card is revealed, most likely because that player's library is empty, the exploring creature receives a +1/+1 counter. |
| 2023-11-10 | In some unusual cases, noncreature permanents may explore. For example, if the creature card returned by Defossilize is somehow not a creature once it's on the battlefield, it can still explore. You'll take all the same actions, and you may end up putting a +1/+1 counter on the permanent. (Note that some effects target a creature, and those effects would still require a legal target to have it explore.) |
| 2023-11-10 | 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. |
| 2023-11-10 | Some spells or abilities might cause a creature to explore multiple times in a row. If you reveal a nonland card when a creature explores and leave it on top of your library, then the creature explores again immediately afterwards, you'll reveal the same card again. |