Prismwake Merrow is one of those cards players keep asking about. Here is, in plain words, what its official text says, the rulings published by Wizards of the Coast, and the combos players actually run.
Official card text
Flash When this creature enters, target permanent becomes the color or colors of your choice until end of turn.
Complete guide
Prismwake Merrow is a versatile Merfolk Wizard that allows you to manipulate the very nature of magic on the battlefield. With its ability to change the color of any permanent at instant speed, it serves as a powerful utility tool for both offense and defense. Whether you need to bypass color-based protections or trigger specific synergies, this Merrow has you covered.
What It Does
Prismwake Merrow features Flash, meaning you can cast it at any time you could cast an instant. When it enters the battlefield, you target a permanent and choose any color or combination of colors for it to become until end of turn. Note that this effect completely overwrites the permanent's existing colors; it does not add to them. You may choose one color, like Blue, or multiple colors, like Red and Green, but you cannot choose 'colorless' as it is not a color.
How It Resolves Step by Step
First, cast Prismwake Merrow during any player's turn. When the spell resolves and the Merrow enters the battlefield, its triggered ability goes on the stack, and you choose a target permanent. As the ability resolves, you choose the color or colors. The target permanent immediately changes to those colors until the turn ends. This change does not affect the permanent's types—an artifact remains an artifact, and a creature keeps its creature types and text.
Common Mistakes
A frequent error is trying to make a permanent colorless; according to official rulings, 'colorless' is not a color option for this ability. Additionally, remember that changing a creature's color does not change the words in its text box. If a creature gives a bonus to 'Green creatures,' and you turn it Blue, it still gives that bonus to Green creatures, not Blue ones. Lastly, remember this effect is temporary and will wear off during the cleanup step.
When to Play It
Play Prismwake Merrow when you need to interact with color-specific effects. It can be used defensively to change a permanent's color so it is no longer a legal target for a spell like 'Destroy target non-Black creature,' or offensively to ensure your creatures can bypass a blocker with 'Protection from Green' by changing the attacker's color.
Interaction examples
Solemn SimulacrumYou have a Solemn Simulacrum on the battlefield, which is normally a colorless artifact creature. You cast Prismwake Merrow and target the Simulacrum. As the ability resolves, you choose Blue and Red. The Solemn Simulacrum is now a Blue and Red artifact creature until end of turn. It is still an artifact and still functions exactly the same, but it now interacts with effects that check for Blue or Red permanents.
Roaming ThroneYou control Roaming Throne, and you have chosen 'Merfolk' as its creature type. When Prismwake Merrow enters the battlefield, its ability triggers. Because the Merrow is a Merfolk and you control the Throne, the Throne causes the Merrow's 'enters' ability to trigger an additional time. You can now target two different permanents (or the same one twice) to change their colors until end of turn.
Guide written with AI from the official text and rulings. Official English text prevails.
How it works : Prismwake Merrow
Original English text — Wizards of the Coast / Scryfall
- #1· Wizards of the Coast
An effect that changes a permanent’s colors overwrites all its old colors unless it specifically says “in addition to its other colors.” For example, after Cerulean Wisps resolves, the affected creature will just be blue. It doesn’t matter what colors it used to be (even if, for example, it used to be blue and black).
No other card is named in this ruling.
- #2· Wizards of the Coast
Changing a permanent’s color won’t change its text. If you turn Wilt-Leaf Liege blue, it will still affect green creatures and white creatures.
No other card is named in this ruling.
- #3· Wizards of the Coast
Colorless is not a color.
No other card is named in this ruling.
- #4· Wizards of the Coast
You can choose any single color or any combination of more than one color. You can’t choose colorless.
No other card is named in this ruling.
- #5· Wizards of the Coast
This ability won’t make an artifact stop being an artifact. It’ll just be a colorful artifact.
No other card is named in this ruling.
Popular combos
Real combos played by the community, sorted by popularity.
Seedcradle Witch + Faeburrow Elder + Prismwake Merrow
- 1Cast Prismwake Merrow by paying
. - 2Prismwake Merrow enters the battlefield, triggering itself, making a permanent you control all colors until end of turn.
- 3Activate Faeburrow Elder by tapping it, adding
. - 4Activate Seedcradle Witch by paying , giving Faeburrow Elder +3/+3 until end of turn and untapping it.
- 5Repeat from step 3.
Seedcradle Witch + Bloom Tender + Prismwake Merrow
- 1Cast Prismwake Merrow by paying .
- 2Prismwake Merrow enters the battlefield, triggering itself, making a permanent you control all colors until end of turn.
- 3Activate Bloom Tender by tapping it, adding .
- 4Activate Seedcradle Witch by paying , giving Bloom Tender +3/+3 until end of turn and untapping it.
- 5Repeat from step 3.
Legal formats
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Meta decks with Prismwake Merrow
No archived Top 8 deck with this card yet.