
- BGG rank
- BGG #16,244
- BGG rating
- 7.4
Magic: The Gathering – Duel Decks: Elves vs. Inventors
- 2 players
- 30 min
- 2018

2017
Rules assistance for Magic: The Gathering – Duel Decks: Merfolk vs. Goblins
Plain-language explanations of turns, card effects and disputed situations, with official source references and saved question history.
For 2 players

What would you like to know?
Answers come from the official rulebook, with the page to check.
Magic: The Gathering – Duel Decks: Merfolk vs. Goblins is a board game released in 2017 for 2 players and ages 13 and up. It was designed by Chris Millar, Sam Stoddard, and Adam Prosak and its main mechanics are Hand Management, Player Elimination, and Campaign / Battle Card Driven.
Merfolk vs. Goblins pits two of the most recognizable tribes in the history of Magic against one another. Will you side with the reckless and wily goblins or the graceful and cunning merfolk? Each card in these two decks is black-bordered and tournament-legal. They were designed to be played right out of the box, with no deckbuilding required. —description from the publisher
Magic: The Gathering – Duel Decks: Merfolk vs. Goblins supports 2 players according to the catalogue. This is the publisher’s listed player count, so the game is designed for exactly that number of participants. Variants for other group sizes, if any, are described in the rulebook of your edition, so check it before setting up a different configuration.
The catalogue lists Magic: The Gathering – Duel Decks: Merfolk vs. Goblins for ages 13 and up. This is the publisher’s recommendation and reflects reading demands, rule complexity and small components rather than theme alone. Younger players can often join with help from an adult, so check the age guidance on your edition and consider your group’s experience with board games.
Magic: The Gathering – Duel Decks: Merfolk vs. Goblins has a complexity rating of 3.0 out of 5 from BoardGameGeek players, which makes it a medium-weight game. The rating reflects how much rules knowledge, planning and decision-making a typical game demands. Expect a longer first teach for heavier games, and use a preparation guide before game night.
Magic: The Gathering – Duel Decks: Merfolk vs. Goblins belongs to these categories: Card Game, Fantasy, and Fighting. Its main mechanics are Hand Management, Player Elimination, and Campaign / Battle Card Driven. Categories describe the theme and setting of a game, while mechanics describe what players actually do on their turns. Each mechanic links to a catalogue hub with similar games, which helps when you want something comparable.
The credited designers of Magic: The Gathering – Duel Decks: Merfolk vs. Goblins are: Chris Millar, Sam Stoddard, and Adam Prosak. These credits come from the published game data and name the people responsible for the game’s design, not its illustrators or publishers. Designer pages on MeepleRules collect other titles by the same designers, which helps when you enjoy a game and want to find similar ones.
The catalogue lists Magic: The Gathering – Duel Decks: Merfolk vs. Goblins as a base game. It can be played on its own with the components in the box and does not require any other title. Expansions, if any exist, add new content or rules on top of it and are listed separately in the catalogue with a link back to this base game.