Lord of AtlantisLord of Atlantis | Art by Greg Staples

We're diving right back into another tier list today, this time looking at every Merfolk commander. Merfolk have always been a really cool creature type to me, with support from two very different but equally fascinating planes, Lorwyn and Ixalan. They like to attack, they like to tap, and most importantly, they're very slick.

I think my favorite thing about these cards, however, is how different they are from each other. Each of the commanders on this list does something unique, and they're all - well, most of them - pretty interesting.

Criteria for Ranking Merfolk Commanders

Now before we get into it, let me explain my criteria for deciding who counts as a Merfolk commander. First of all, any commander that mentions only the creature type Merfolk in its text box is a Merfolk commander. That excludes Slinn Voda, the Rising DeepSlinn Voda, the Rising Deep because it's clearly a sea creature commander, not a Merfolk commander.

Then, I decided to include commanders with abilities that benefit specifically Merfolk. Those commanders are Derevi, Empyrial TacticianDerevi, Empyrial Tactician and Nicanzil, Current ConductorNicanzil, Current Conductor. While those two don't mention Merfolk in their text boxes at all, they synergize extremely well with the creature type because of recurring mechanics.

On the flip side, I excluded commanders like Chulane, Teller of TalesChulane, Teller of Tales, because while they might be extremely strong Merfolk commanders, they don't support Merfolk more than any other type.

Enough pedantry, let's see what these Merfolk (and one Bird) can do!

Attuma, Atlantean WarlordAttuma, Atlantean Warlord

Yikes, we're starting off with a real stinker. Attuma is the first of two Universes Beyond cards on this list, representing Namor the Sub-MarinerNamor the Sub-Mariner's arch nemesis. Unfortunately, he's not putting up much of a fight.

Ultimately Attuma is just a Merfolk lord, buffing them slightly and getting some card draw. Don't get me wrong, the card draw isn't bad, especially because it occurs on attack and not combat damage, but it's not exciting in the slightest. I get the feeling that Attuma was designed to be a card in Namor's deck, and that's absolutely where he belongs. Decent lord, lame commander.

Tier: C

Derevi, Empyrial TacticianDerevi, Empyrial Tactician

Derevi is a commander with a very small percentage of Merfolk decks, but she's on this list because those decks are really cool. Since Lorwyn, Merfolk have cared a lot about tapping. FallowsageFallowsage and Stonybrook SchoolmasterStonybrook Schoolmaster want to tap themselves, while Judge of CurrentsJudge of Currents wants every Merfolk to tap.

Since then, Wizards has only deepened the theme with commanders like Kumena, Tyrant of OrazcaKumena, Tyrant of Orazca, who provides a great way to tap those Merfolk safely. So you can see how Derevi is useful. Not only does she help tap and untap the more vulnerable Merfolk, she also incentivizes the many Merfolk who want to attack, like Cold-Eyed SelkieCold-Eyed Selkie or Wanderwine ProphetsWanderwine Prophets.

Plus, these Derevi decks are full of neat engines utilizing Seedborn MuseSeedborn Muse and DrumbellowerDrumbellower to get a million triggers from Champions of the ShoalChampions of the Shoal and the like.

Unfortunately, the issue with this deck is that the Merfolk who care about tapping are few and far between, and even the best of them don't do too much. Ultimately, this Merfolk deck's performance is pretty weak compared to other commanders. Still, it's a very fun and playful build.

Tier: B

Emperor Mihail IIEmperor Mihail II

Even though he's not the strongest, I like Emperor Mihail IIEmperor Mihail II a lot. He's cost effective, he gives great card advantage that's specific to Merfolk, and he supports the board well. It's nothing spectacular, but he does his job well. He's definitely better in the 99, however.

While it's true that he has the same flaws as Attuma, I think his abilities are a bit more fun and he's definitely stronger.

Tier: B

Hakbal of the Surging SoulHakbal of the Surging Soul

Welp, here's the Merfolk commander. Obviously, Hakbal was created to be the #1 Merfolk commander, leading the Merfolk precon from Lost Caverns of Ixalan, and he does this job exceptionally well. He's got the card advantage, he's got the ramp, he's got... Well yeah that's what he does. Basically he's every other Simic commander but he does it exclusively for Merfolk.

Clearly he's great at it, leading over 5,000 Merfolk decks, but my scoring is gonna pretty heavily affected by the second most played Merfolk commander, Kumena, Tyrant of OrazcaKumena, Tyrant of Orazca. Kumena just makes a Merfolk deck that's much more fun and unique. Hakbal is the best Merfolk commander, but in my opinion, he's not the commander that represents them best.

Tier: A

Kopala, Warden of WavesKopala, Warden of Waves

This is such an awkward card. Why does it exist? Ward had been around for two years when Kopala was released, and yet it simply makes spells and abilities cost two more. As far as I can tell, the only functional difference is that uncounterable cards like Void RendVoid Rend don't get around Kopala like they do ward. Cool?

Either way, Kopala doesn't do much. He makes your Merfolk slightly harder to remove, but if opponents want to remove a Hakbal, they're just gonna pay the two extra and it's not like they were gonna Doom BladeDoom Blade a Merfolk SecretkeeperMerfolk Secretkeeper anyways. I honestly don't know if I'd even put Kopala in the 99 of a Merfolk deck.

Tier: D

Kumena, Tyrant of OrazcaKumena, Tyrant of Orazca

Now we're talking. In my humble opinion, Kumena, Tyrant of OrazcaKumena, Tyrant of Orazca is a perfectly designed commander. The concept is simple, the effects are powerful but not overwhelmingly so, and there's strong synergy with other Merfolk, not just generic benefits.

The fact that Kumena taps your Merfolk is clearly a nod to the tapping abilities from Lorwyn that I talked about earlier, and means that Kumena's strength goes well beyond what the text says. On top of that, the tapping also encourages going wide, which Merfolk love to do already with tokens and low cost creatures.

Kumena's ability to make himself unblockable really helps get the combat damage triggers that Merfolk like Seafloor OracleSeafloor Oracle want. And in addition to all that lovely synergy, Kumena's effects scale really well, drawing cards when the board is small, adding +1/+1 counters to a team that's wide, and growing more and more powerful as you play late game cards like Seedborn MuseSeedborn Muse.

I really like this commander because, unlike Hakbal, Kumena provides value that's not generic. If you changed Hakbal's text to say Faeries, he'd be a powerful Faeries commander. If you changed Kumena to say Faeries, it would just be weird. But when Kumena's at the helm of a Merfolk army, he leads a deck that's far more than just a pile of one creature type.

Kumena is absolutely my favorite commander on this list and an easy S tier.

Tier: S

Namor the Sub-MarinerNamor the Sub-Mariner

In stark contrast to his rival, Attuma, Namor is a really awesome commander. He seems to support a rather underrated group of Merfolk, those from Theros, who cared about devotion and tokens. Well, there are only two Merfolk who actually care about devotion, but they're both from Theros, so my point stands.

Master of WavesMaster of Waves in particular is one of the coolest Magic cards ever, creating 1/0 tokens equal to your devotion to blue. That card is right at home with Namor, who also cares about devotion and going wide. Merfolk lords will be the name of the game for this deck, with creatures like Master of the Pearl TridentMaster of the Pearl Trident putting in a ton of work. Then, Nykthos, Shrine to NyxNykthos, Shrine to Nyx and Nyx LotusNyx Lotus will carry us home.

Overall, I really like this guy and I have to applaud his design.

Tier: A

Nicanzil, Current ConductorNicanzil, Current Conductor

Nicanzil almost failed to make this list as she's not really a Merfolk commander, but she's here because a good portion of the cards that explore are in fact Merfolk. There's not much to say other than that she does a good job as a commander supporting an under-supported mechanic.

There's no real reason to go the Merfolk direction though. If we're playing lords, they're just gonna push us in a combat direction that Nicanzil doesn't really care about, and our commander would rather us just play more than Merfolk.

Tier: C

Svyelun of Sea and SkySvyelun of Sea and Sky

Syvelun is such an interesting card, mostly because she was designed to be an homage to, or maybe an attempt to revitalize, Merfolk decks in Modern. She didn't really manage the latter, and she certainly didn't take the Commander Merfolk world by storm either.

I do actually like her in the 99, however. She's three mana and gives the team ward , making her similar to Kopala, Warden of WavesKopala, Warden of Waves, but she's also a decent attacker who can draw cards. I think that's worth a bit more than the extra mana Kopala makes opponents pay.

Still, not a great commander. But then again, she wasn't really meant to be.

Tier: C

Sygg, River GuideSygg, River Guide

We're ending this article off with the original Merfolk commander: Sygg, River Guide. I remember watching The Professor rock him in Game Knights, and I can't help but think of him fondly. Unfortunately, power creep hasn't been kind to this old general, who doesn't quite command a game the way Hakbal or Kumena do.

That being said, Sygg still has some tricks up his sleeve. Even without the help of a HeartstoneHeartstone, Sygg can hand out protection left and right, and that means unblockable, untouchable Merfolk. Merfolk strength is in their slippery nature, and their habit of wriggling through cracks to snatch a game. Sygg assists that mission with a deft hand, and still proves to be a tough catch. He may not draw a million cards, but we're in blue anyways.

Despite the power creep, Sygg River Guide is an excellent choice as a commander.

Tier: A

I didn't expect to like these Merfolk commanders as much as I do. Not all of them are great, but Sygg, River GuideSygg, River Guide, Kumena, Tyrant of OrazcaKumena, Tyrant of Orazca, and Namor the Sub-MarinerNamor the Sub-Mariner are all very cool cards. I'm tempted to pick up a deck and build them right now, I swear. But even cards like Svyelun of Sea and SkySvyelun of Sea and Sky still feel special, in a mystical, mysterious way.

I guess that comes with creatures that live under the sea. Merfolk are nostalgic, unique, and even powerful, with the right commander at the helm. Let me know what you think, and if there were any commanders I missed!