Merfolk Falconer MTG Card


Merfolk Falconer enhances gameplay by providing card advantage through scry and potential draws. It offers a unique combo potential within blue-green decks, elevating strategic plays. Despite a high mana cost, its versatility and meta relevance make it a worthy inclusion.
Merfolk Falconer - Zendikar Rising
Mana cost
Converted mana cost5
RarityUncommon
TypeCreature — Merfolk Wizard
Abilities Flying,Scry
Released2020-09-25
Set symbol
Set nameZendikar Rising
Set codeZNR
Power 4
Toughness 4
Number69
Frame2015
LayoutNormal
BorderBlack
Illustred byBrian Valeza

Text of card

Flying Whenever you cast a kicked spell, scry 2.

"For generations, we have bred and trained falcons for expeditions into Emeria. Now more sky ruins open themselves to those with the means to reach the heights!"


Cards like Merfolk Falconer

Diving into the deep waters of creature cards within Magic: The Gathering, Merfolk Falconer stands out for its ability to synergize with a player’s strategy of manipulating the top of their library. Comparable cards like Augur of Bolas and Sea Gate Oracle also give a nod towards manipulating or benefiting from the library, yet Merfolk Falconer offers the added advantage of scaling with spells through its Prowess-like ability, allowing you to put +1/+1 counters on it.

Affinity to the high seas and spell-casting is well-represented by cards such as Harbinger of the Tides and Master of the Pearl Trident, which bolster other Merfolk and create tactical advantages. But Merfolk Falconer doesn’t provide such tribal buffs; instead, it grants players the unique boon of scrying and potentially netting free spells. This creates a new layer of depth for deck builders who want to fine-tune the top of their decks and capitalize on the Falconer’s abilities.

Ultimately, when compared to its kin in the realm of MTG card synergies, Merfolk Falconer presents a dual threat, not only with its creature strength but also by becoming a consistent source of library control and potential card advantage, offering a distinct role within the Merfolk suite.

Augur of Bolas - MTG Card versions
Sea Gate Oracle - MTG Card versions
Harbinger of the Tides - MTG Card versions
Master of the Pearl Trident - MTG Card versions
Augur of Bolas - MTG Card versions
Sea Gate Oracle - MTG Card versions
Harbinger of the Tides - MTG Card versions
Master of the Pearl Trident - MTG Card versions

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

Vesuvan Doppelganger - MTG Card versions
Water Elemental - MTG Card versions
Air Elemental - MTG Card versions
Pirate Ship - MTG Card versions
Sandbar Crocodile - MTG Card versions
Segovian Leviathan - MTG Card versions
Psionic Entity - MTG Card versions
Taniwha - MTG Card versions
Sun Ce, Young Conquerer - MTG Card versions
Wu Admiral - MTG Card versions
Mawcor - MTG Card versions
Timin, Youthful Geist - MTG Card versions
Geology Enthusiast - MTG Card versions
Dreamtail Heron - MTG Card versions
Coastal Hornclaw - MTG Card versions
Meloku the Clouded Mirror - MTG Card versions
Azami, Lady of Scrolls - MTG Card versions
Richard Garfield, Ph.D. - MTG Card versions
Cloudhoof Kirin - MTG Card versions
Tidewater Minion - MTG Card versions
Vesuvan Doppelganger - MTG Card versions
Water Elemental - MTG Card versions
Air Elemental - MTG Card versions
Pirate Ship - MTG Card versions
Sandbar Crocodile - MTG Card versions
Segovian Leviathan - MTG Card versions
Psionic Entity - MTG Card versions
Taniwha - MTG Card versions
Sun Ce, Young Conquerer - MTG Card versions
Wu Admiral - MTG Card versions
Mawcor - MTG Card versions
Timin, Youthful Geist - MTG Card versions
Geology Enthusiast - MTG Card versions
Dreamtail Heron - MTG Card versions
Coastal Hornclaw - MTG Card versions
Meloku the Clouded Mirror - MTG Card versions
Azami, Lady of Scrolls - MTG Card versions
Richard Garfield, Ph.D. - MTG Card versions
Cloudhoof Kirin - MTG Card versions
Tidewater Minion - MTG Card versions

Card Pros

Card Advantage: Merfolk Falconer shines by allowing you to scry and potentially draw a card whenever you cast a kicked spell, keeping your hand replenished and enhancing your strategic options.

Resource Acceleration: Among its benefits, Merfolk Falconer offers a form of indirect resource acceleration by potentially filtering the top of your library, ensuring you access higher-quality cards more consistently and maintain a flow of play.

Instant Speed: While not an instant itself, Merfolk Falconer can synergize with instant-speed kicked spells in your deck, giving you the flexibility to make pivotal decisions at a moment’s notice, whether it’s during your turn or in response to your opponent’s actions.


Card Cons

Discard Requirement: Merfolk Falconer necessitates the shedding of a valuable card to activate its ability. This can create a setback, especially when your hand is brimming with cards crucial for maintaining your board presence or countering your opponent’s moves.

Specific Mana Cost: This aquatic spell-caster requires a mix of generic and specifically blue mana, which can prove challenging if your mana pool is not adequately prepared to accommodate such demands, possibly causing a delay in its deployment.

Comparatively High Mana Cost: Commanding a total of five mana to call upon the Merfolk Falconer, it stands at a higher echelon of cost, potentially slowing your game pace in comparison to other creature cards that could be cast for less and still produce a considerable impact on the battlefield.


Reasons to Include in Your Collection

Versatility: Merfolk Falconer stands out for its ability to adapt to various strategies within blue and green-based decks. Its creature type is well-supported within the MTG universe, often serving as an enhancement to Merfolk synergies or as a dependable standalone creature.

Combo Potential: With its inherent Scry ability, Merfolk Falconer synergizes well with spells and creatures that care about the top of your library or pulling off spell-based combos. Each time you cast a kicked spell, it lets you look ahead and plan your moves, giving you a strategic edge over your opponents.

Meta-Relevance: In an environment where knowledge of the next draw is paramount, Merfolk Falconer offers consistent card quality control. Moreover, its flying ability gives it an edge in many matchups, providing both a respectable body in the air and the potential to sway the game’s tide with its spell-focused abilities.


How to beat

Merfolk Falconer stands out in MTG as an intriguing creature that elevates the strategy around casting noncreature spells. Its ability to scry and potentially draw a card can quickly turn the tide of a game in favor of the player controlling it. As such, it is crucial to approach this card with a well-thought-out strategy to mitigate its advantages.

One effective tactic is to preemptively remove the Falconer before it can generate value through its abilities. Instant speed removal spells that can target creatures, such as Fatal Push or Path to Exile, are great options to keep the Falconer from ever taking flight. Counter spells also serve as an excellent line of defense by stopping the Falconer from entering the battlefield in the first place. Additionally, implementing pressure through aggressive creatures can overwhelm your opponent, forcing them to defend rather than utilizing the scry and draw benefits of their Merfolk Falconer.

Ultimately, your aim should be to restrict the card’s impact through timely disruption, keeping a vigilant eye on your opponent’s mana availability and potential countermeasures. By staying one step ahead, you can ensure that Merfolk Falconer’s potential is not fully realized on the battlefield, keeping the game within your grasp.


Where to buy

If you're looking to purchase Merfolk Falconer MTG card by a specific set like Zendikar Rising, 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 Falconer and other MTG cards:

TCGPlayerBUY NOW
BurnMana is an official partner of TCGPlayer
Continue exploring other sealed products in Amazon
See MTG Products

Legalities

Magic the Gathering formats where Merfolk Falconer has restrictions

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