EDH Optimizer
Merfolk Commander decks
Merfolk is a kindred archetype: the deck is built around one creature type and the cards that pay you for having many of them. It is mostly played in blue and Simic. Its most characteristic cards are Deeproot Pilgrimage, Lord of Atlantis, Vodalian Hexcatcher: not the most-played cards in the format, but the ones that appear in these decks far above what is normal for the same colors.
Cards that define the archetype
Ranked by how much MORE they are played inside the archetype than in the rest of Commander. Generic staples (Sol Ring, Arcane Signet…) fall out for exactly that reason: they are played everywhere equally.
| Card | Commanders | Avg. inclusion | Excess |
|---|---|---|---|
| Deeproot Pilgrimage | 11 | 67% | +73 pts |
| Lord of Atlantis | 11 | 70% | +73 pts |
| Vodalian Hexcatcher | 11 | 73% | +73 pts |
| Svyelun of Sea and Sky | 11 | 73% | +73 pts |
| Deeproot Waters | 11 | 69% | +73 pts |
| Master of the Pearl Trident | 11 | 83% | +73 pts |
| Kopala, Warden of Waves | 11 | 70% | +73 pts |
| Merfolk Sovereign | 11 | 76% | +73 pts |
| Merrow Reejerey | 11 | 77% | +73 pts |
| Seafloor Oracle | 11 | 70% | +73 pts |
| Stonybrook Banneret | 11 | 72% | +73 pts |
| Emperor Mihail II | 10 | 69% | +66 pts |
| Kindred Discovery | 10 | 53% | +64 pts |
| Merrow Commerce | 9 | 59% | +60 pts |
| Lullmage Mentor | 8 | 58% | +53 pts |
| Mist Dancer | 7 | 63% | +47 pts |
| Bident of Thassa | 8 | 50% | +44 pts |
| Path of Ancestry | 7 | 52% | +40 pts |
| Distant Melody | 6 | 45% | +38 pts |
| Merrow Harbinger | 5 | 60% | +33 pts |
| Harbinger of the Seas | 5 | 48% | +33 pts |
| Aquitect's Will | 5 | 46% | +33 pts |
| Harmonized Crescendo | 5 | 57% | +33 pts |
| Thieving Skydiver | 5 | 57% | +32 pts |
| Wanderwine Prophets | 4 | 43% | +27 pts |
| River Sneak | 4 | 51% | +27 pts |
| Coralhelm Commander | 4 | 53% | +27 pts |
| Tide Shaper | 4 | 49% | +27 pts |
| Tishana's Tidebinder | 4 | 45% | +27 pts |
| Deepchannel Mentor | 4 | 56% | +26 pts |
Commanders for Merfolk
Ranked by how central this archetype is to their decks and by how played each commander is.
By color identity
Blue Best cards by color →
Blue · Green Best cards by color →
White · Blue Best cards by color →
Paste your list and we tell you whether the deck actually does what it wants to do: curve, ramp, interaction and a 10,000-game simulation.
🛠️ Build a deck like this 📥 Analyze my deckFrequently asked questions
What is the best commander for a Merfolk deck?
The most-built commanders for this archetype are Hakbal of the Surging Soul, Sygg, Wanderwine Wisdom // Sygg, Wanderbrine Shield, Kumena, Tyrant of Orazca. EDH Optimizer has the full list of 30 commanders with their recommended cards, ranked by how central Merfolk is to their decks.
Which cards are must-haves in a Merfolk deck?
The three most characteristic are Deeproot Pilgrimage, Lord of Atlantis, Vodalian Hexcatcher. They are not the most-played cards in the format, but the ones that appear far more inside this archetype than in the rest of Commander — which is what actually makes them essential here.
What colors is Merfolk played in?
The most common color identities are Blue, Blue · Green, White · Blue. The "By color identity" section groups the commanders and links to the best cards for each combination.
How much does a Merfolk deck cost?
It depends on the price cap PER CARD you set. Each commander page lists the best cards in three tiers (up to €2, up to €10 and no cap), and the optimizer only suggests swaps that fit the cap you pick.