Merfolk Windrobber MTG Card


Grants card advantage and applies pressure by drawing cards when opponents have sizeable graveyards. Offers versatility and combo potential in decks that exploit graveyard strategies for an edge. Needs strategy consideration due to the discard requirement and specific blue mana cost.
Merfolk Windrobber - Zendikar Rising
Mana cost
Converted mana cost1
RarityUncommon
TypeCreature — Merfolk Rogue
Abilities Flying,Mill
Released2020-09-25
Set symbol
Set nameZendikar Rising
Set codeZNR
Power 1
Toughness 1
Number70
Frame2015
LayoutNormal
BorderBlack
Illustred byColin Boyer

Text of card

Flying Whenever Merfolk Windrobber deals combat damage to a player, that player mills a card. (They put the top card of their library into their graveyard.) Sacrifice Merfolk Windrobber: Draw a card. Activate only if an opponent has eight or more cards in their graveyard.


Cards like Merfolk Windrobber

Merfolk Windrobber earns its place in the pantheon of flying creatures within MTG. It shares the airspace with cards like Faerie Seer. Both boast a low casting cost and the ability to fly, but Merfolk Windrobber offers a unique advantage – each time it deals damage to a player, you may draw a card if that player has eight or more cards in their graveyard. This adds not just damage but a potential boost in card advantage as well.

There’s also Spectral Sailor, another one-mana flyer with card draw potential. Unlike Merfolk Windrobber, the Sailor allows direct card draw at the cost of mana without any prerequisite on an opponent’s graveyard. Then we find Mausoleum Wanderer, which can also fly and gets stronger whenever you play a Spirit or an Arcane spell. While it doesn’t provide card draw, it can counter spells if sacrificed.

Analyzing these cards side by side, Merfolk Windrobber stands out for its synergy in decks focused on milling opponents, offering tactical benefits that extend beyond just being a mere flying creature. Its ability to disrupt and benefit from the opponent’s graveyard size can be a crucial factor in numerous MTG games.

Faerie Seer - MTG Card versions
Spectral Sailor - MTG Card versions
Mausoleum Wanderer - MTG Card versions
Faerie Seer - MTG Card versions
Spectral Sailor - MTG Card versions
Mausoleum Wanderer - MTG Card versions

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

Merfolk of the Pearl Trident - MTG Card versions
Flying Men - MTG Card versions
Shrieking Drake - MTG Card versions
Cloud Pirates - MTG Card versions
Rootwater Diver - MTG Card versions
Fledgling Osprey - MTG Card versions
Manta Riders - MTG Card versions
Faerie Squadron - MTG Card versions
Faerie Seer - MTG Card versions
Ruin Crab - MTG Card versions
Fugitive Wizard - MTG Card versions
Wandering Ones - MTG Card versions
Teardrop Kami - MTG Card versions
Dreamcatcher - MTG Card versions
Trusted Advisor - MTG Card versions
Drifter il-Dal - MTG Card versions
Sage of Epityr - MTG Card versions
Screeching Sliver - MTG Card versions
Timebender - MTG Card versions
Cloud Sprite - MTG Card versions
Merfolk of the Pearl Trident - MTG Card versions
Flying Men - MTG Card versions
Shrieking Drake - MTG Card versions
Cloud Pirates - MTG Card versions
Rootwater Diver - MTG Card versions
Fledgling Osprey - MTG Card versions
Manta Riders - MTG Card versions
Faerie Squadron - MTG Card versions
Faerie Seer - MTG Card versions
Ruin Crab - MTG Card versions
Fugitive Wizard - MTG Card versions
Wandering Ones - MTG Card versions
Teardrop Kami - MTG Card versions
Dreamcatcher - MTG Card versions
Trusted Advisor - MTG Card versions
Drifter il-Dal - MTG Card versions
Sage of Epityr - MTG Card versions
Screeching Sliver - MTG Card versions
Timebender - MTG Card versions
Cloud Sprite - MTG Card versions

Decks using this card

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

#NameFormatArchetypeEvent
RoguesRogues PioneerRoguesPioneer League 2023-11-02
Simic TempoSimic Tempo GladiatorSword and Sandals Showdown: AM Week 10 2024
Dimir RoguesDimir Rogues PioneerRoguesSat. 9:30 AM U.S. Regional Championship - Dreamhack Atlanta 2023

Card Pros

Card Advantage: The allure of Merfolk Windrobber is its subtle ability to chip away at an opponent’s library while simultaneously lining your hand with additional options. Each strike draws a card when the opponent has eight or more cards in their graveyard, offering you a consistent flow of resources and maintaining pressure.

Resource Acceleration: While not directly ramping your mana, Merfolk Windrobber serves an acceleration purpose by potentially hitting those critical cards sooner. It is instrumental in decks that thrive on graveyard synergy or ones looking to accelerate their own strategy by sifting through the library rapidly.

Instant Speed: Flexibility is the name of the game, and Merfolk Windrobber is versatile. Its ability to sacrifice itself instantly to draw a card can be a quintessential trick up your sleeve. Easily disrupting opponents’ calculations, it can turn the tide by giving you the exact card you need, precisely when you need it.


Card Cons

Discard Requirement: While Merfolk Windrobber’s ability to draw a card upon hitting an opponent seems enticing, it obligates you to then discard a card if you have eight or more cards in your graveyard. This can be a setback, particularly in strategies that rely on specific combo pieces or when your hand is already optimized.

Specific Mana Cost: The necessity for a single blue mana to cast Merfolk Windrobber can constrain deck-building options. Blue mana typically requires a deck to be tailored towards islands or dual lands, which could restrict the card’s inclusion in more diverse mana base strategies.

Comparatively High Mana Cost: Despite its utility in milling strategies and serving as a one-drop creature, when evaluating the cost versus impact of Merfolk Windrobber within the greater context of the game, it may fall short. Easier mana-fixing options or other one-drop creatures might provide more immediate board presence or longer-term value.


Reasons to Include in Your Collection

Versatility: Merfolk Windrobber serves as a nimble addition to blue-oriented aggressive decks, skirting over ground-based defenses. Its flying trait allows it to be slotted into various strategies that value evasive creatures.

Combo Potential: This card has inherent synergy with mill strategies, enabling you to force an opponent to thin their deck while bolstering your board presence. The ability to sacrifice Merfolk Windrobber for card draw can be seamlessly integrated into turns where you plan to maximize your advantage.

Meta-Relevance: In a meta where the graveyard is a resource, this card shines by functioning as both an enabler and a payoff. Against slower, control-centric decks, the consistent chip damage and card draw endurance offer sustained pressure throughout the match.


How to Beat

Merfolk Windrobber is an agile inclusion in blue aggressive and rogue strategies within Magic: The Gathering. This card shines in decks that capitalize on milling the opponent, providing both an aerial threat and a source of deck disruption. Key to addressing the Windrobber’s strengths is disrupting its synergy. Removing the critical mass of rogues or cards in the opponent’s graveyard can blunt the Windrobber’s impact, denying both card draw and milling potential.

Direct removal spells quickly dispose of this one-mana creature and are smart inclusions in any deck. Playing cards with graveyard hate capabilities, such as Tormod’s Crypt or Grafdigger’s Cage, can be effective too, preventing the Windrobber from utilizing a full graveyard for its advantage. Furthermore, flexible counter spells that can deal with creatures, like Essence Scatter, ensure that this evasive threat never touches the battlefield.

Considering tempo, employ removal and counters at the right moment to maintain control. Deploying cards that offer multiple removal options can be a strategic advantage, keeping opponents guessing and resources flexible. Ultimately, by understanding the synergies Windrobber relies on, players can formulate a plan to mitigate its impact and stay ahead in their game.


BurnMana Recommendations

Understanding the role of Merfolk Windrobber in your MTG deck is key to harnessing its potential. As a player, infusing strategic depth and proactive plays into your games can transform the way you command the battlefield. By considering the pros and cons, reasons for inclusion, and how to beat it, you’re armed with the knowledge to optimize this card’s impact or counteract it effectively. Dive deeper into melding Merfolk Windrobber into your arsenal or strategizing against it, and elevate your gameplay to navigate the ebb and flow of competition. Let’s explore together, and master the intricacies of MTG.


Where to buy

If you're looking to purchase Merfolk Windrobber 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 Windrobber and other MTG cards:

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Legalities

Magic the Gathering formats where Merfolk Windrobber 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 Windrobber card rulings provides official rulings, any errata issued, as well as a record of all the functional modifications that have occurred.

Date Text
2020-09-25 An ability that offers a bonus if an opponent has eight or more cards in their graveyard won’t provide additional benefits if more than one opponent has eight or more cards in their graveyard. There are also no additional benefits no matter how many cards are in an opponent’s graveyard, as long as there are at least eight.
2020-09-25 In a multiplayer game, once an opponent leaves the game, they won’t be considered for such an effect, no matter how many cards they had in their graveyard before leaving the game.