10 Most Valuable Merfolk Cards

Deeproot Pilgrimage | Illustrated by Rémi Jacquot

Merfolk originated all the way back in Magic’s first set, Alpha, in 1993. Not only is it one of the game’s original creature types, it also represents the founding of the “lord” subtype of creatures – or a creature that boosts other creatures that share its creature type(s) – with the venerable and iconic Lord of Atlantis.

With well over 30 years of Merfolk cards across the game’s history, just what are the most valuable finned humanoid cards? Let’s dive in, literally.

10. Kumena, Tyrant of Orazca (Foil) – Showcase: The Lost Caverns of Ixalan Secret Lair Drop

Market Price: $27.81

Originally printed in 2018’s Rivals of Ixalan, this Merfolk lord has three notable activated abilities, all of which require tapping other Merfolk you control. Of course, there is a subset of Merfolk cards that grant you benefits when you tap them, including a powerful enchantment, Deeproot Pilgrimage.

In fact, the legendary Kumena actually goes infinite with Deeproot Pilgrimage if you combine it with frequent combo collaborator, Intruder Alarm. Just tap some Merfolk for Kumena’s activated abilities, see some tokens enter from the Pilgrimage, which triggers you untapping all creatures via Intruder Alarm. Rinse and repeat for whatever infinite loop you want!

9. Merfolk of the Pearl Trident – Alpha

Market Price: $30.91

One of two first-ever Merfolk cards from Alpha is this vanilla 1/1 creature for , which holds a special place in my heart as a denizen of the Starter 2000 2-Player Starter Set’s Azorius () deck before that designation was even invented.

Though a measly vanilla 1/1 for a single-colored pip is eminently tame by today’s standards, the novelty of this being one of the first Merfolk cards combined with the “of its time” artwork by Jeff A. Menges means around $30 makes sense for this common card.

8. Thrasios, Triton Hero (Foil) – Commander 2016

Market Price: $33.97

This Simic () Merfolk Wizard is the second-most popular partner commander according to EDHREC, behind only Tymna the Weaver.

With a uniformly useful activated ability across the entire color spectrum that acts as an early-to-mid-game ramp effect and a late game mana sink, it’s understandable that this card would be worth a decent amount, especially via its debut printing in Commander 2016.

7. Kiora, Sovereign of the Deep (Planar Halo Foil) – March of the Machine: The Aftermath

Market Price: $56.53

While March of the Machine: The Aftermath remains one of the most despised Magic sets of all time, there were a few notable cards that retain impressive values a few years after that set’s debacle of a release.

Much like Calix, one of the most valuable Druid cards ever, the Kiora card from the set clocks in as one of the most valuable Merfolk cards, especially in her Planar Halo Foil treatment. This Merfolk Noble is an incredibly fun and potent build-around in “sea monster” Commander decks that are chock full of Kraken, Leviathan, Octopus, and Serpent creatures.

6. Namor the Sub-Mariner (Foil Borderless Classic Comic Card) – Marvel Super Heroes

Market Price: $62.13

The most recent card herein hails from 2026’s Marvel Super Heroes set and represents one of the most striking treatments from that release: Borderless Classic Comic Cards.

Featuring legendary, instantly recognizable artwork from Namor’s first-ever solo comic book, released in 1968, the text on this Mutant Merfolk Villain is, admittedly, a bit hard to read, but ultimately the gist is this: cast blue spells, create 1/1 Merfolk tokens, Namor grows, and you win.

5. Merfolk Looter (Foil) – Seventh Edition

Market Price: $71.95

Seventh Edition foils continue to be among the most coveted cards from any “Core” Magic set, Power Nine notwithstanding, of course. Even a card as commonplace and easily obtainable as Merfolk Looter is worth over $70 in its 7ED foil getup.

Of course, seeing as the Looter represents the progenitor of the now-commonplace unofficial “loot” mechanic (draw, then discard), perhaps that is why this black-bordered foil is worth such a hefty sum for a simple uncommon 1/1 Merfolk.

4. Thassa's Oracle – Cool Ocean Breeze Secret Lair Drop

Market Price: $121.25

Full disclosure, this Merfolk Wizard would actually take up three of the top 15 on a more in-depth most valuable Merfolk list, as well as four of the top 16… if I didn’t have a strict one-printing-per-card limit on these lists.

It’s understandable why this Merfolk is so pricey as it’s an easy game-winning combo-enabler, and it’s also a minuscule mana investment at only . Surprisingly, this gorgeous Secret Lair printing of the Oracle did not make the list of the most valuable Wizard cards of all time, but it easily slots into the top five among Merfolk.

3. Prime Speaker Zegana (Foil Retro Frame Serialized) – Ravnica Remastered

Market Price: $437.50 (via MTGStocks)

This Merfolk Wizard actually did make the list of most valuable Wizards cards, though its price has skyrocketed in the intervening months from above $150 to now above $430.

Of course, neither PriceCharting nor TCGPlayer actually had market prices for this eminently rare serialized retro frame release from Ravnica Remastered, but a nearly $300 increase in roughly three months is a pretty notable uptick. Serialized cards continue to be hot commodities on the secondary market, and these “lower-tier” ones should always stay on your radars if you’re looking to invest in high-end Magic collectibles.

2. Emry, Lurker of the Loch (Serialized Multiverse Legends) – March of the Machine

Market Price: $475.00

Speaking of serialized, this Multiverse Legends Emry from March of the Machine is the most valuable serialized Merfolk card of all time, and the artifact-enabling Emry remains a potent and reasonably popular commander option (#423 on EDHREC).

Of course, if you really want to show off your collecting chops, having this serialized rendition lead your 99 is a pretty boastful move befitting one who enjoys blinged-out bits of cardboard and exhibiting boundless swagger around the Commander table.

1. Lord of Atlantis – Alpha

Market Price: $950.00 (via PriceCharting)

As is often the case with these lists, the upper echelons of collectability and value for these cards remain serialized options and, where applicable, cards from Magic’s first set: Alpha.

Seeing as Lord of Atlantis remains not just one of the most iconic Merfolk ever, but also one of the most memorable creatures, full stop, it makes sense that this Melissa A. Benson-illustrated Merfolk tips the scales as the top Merfolk of all time, value-wise, with a price fit for a Lord.

Merfolk Murmurations

And there you have it. From the depths of the inky azure abyss to the shores of Dominaria, these Merfolk cards boast impressive price points, especially on the upper end. Either way, thanks for reading, and we’ll catch you next time. Happy collecting!