Merfolk Branchwalker
~$0.23 low · ~$1.06 high
Green. Creature — Merfolk Scout
Foundations Jumpstart #688 · Illustrated by Kieran Yanner
Foundations Jumpstart #688 · Illustrated by Kieran YannerWhat is Merfolk Branchwalker worth?
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TCGplayer market prices in USD, updated October 14, 2026. Each price is for one printing and one finish.
Oracle text
When this creature enters, it explores. (Reveal the top card of your library. Put that card into your hand if it's a land. Otherwise, put a +1/+1 counter on this creature, then put the card back or put it into your graveyard.)
2/1
Format legality
All 2 printings of Merfolk Branchwalker
| Printing | Rarity | Non-foil | Foil | Cardmarket (EUR) | My collection |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
 Foundations Jumpstart j25 #688· 2024uncommon· Cardmarket €0.18 | uncommon | $0.28 | No foil printing | €0.18 | |
 Ixalan xln #197· 2017uncommon· Cardmarket €0.17 · €0.63 foil | uncommon | $0.23 | $1.06 | €0.17€0.63 foil |
Prices are TCGplayer market prices in USD for each printing and finish, via Scryfall. They are a guide, not an appraisal.
Where to buy Merfolk Branchwalker
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Card details
- First printed
- 2017
- Printings
- 2
- Mana value
- 2
- EDHREC rank
- #16,972 on EDHREC (Commander popularity)
- Keywords
- Explore
- Artist
- Kieran Yanner
What the codes mean
The small print at the bottom of the Foundations Jumpstart card (#688).
0688 · J25 · U · EN
- 0688Collector number: this card's place in the set list.
- J25Set code for Foundations Jumpstart
- UUncommon
- ENPrinted in English
How to read a Magic card: every part and code, on real cards.
Card breakdown
The parts of Merfolk Branchwalker, read from the Foundations Jumpstart printing. Tap a label to highlight its line. How to read any Magic card.
- Top: name and cost
- Art and type line
- Text box
- Bottom: stats and the info line
The info line, magnified
Swipe to see the whole line.
Top: name and cost
Art and type line
Text box
Bottom: stats and the info line
Keywords
- ExploreCR 701.44
- Reveal the top card of your library. A land goes to your hand; otherwise put a +1/+1 counter on this creature, and you may put the card into your graveyard.
Rule numbers from the Magic Comprehensive Rules, version of September 25, 2026.
Rulings (7)
2018-01-19
If a resolving spell or ability instructs a specific creature to explore but that creature has left the battlefield, the creature still explores. If you reveal a nonland card this way, you won't put a +1/+1 counter on anything, but you may put the revealed card into your graveyard. Effects that trigger "whenever a creature you control explores" trigger if appropriate.
2018-01-19
Once an ability that causes a creature to explore begins to resolve, no player may take any other actions until it's done. Notably, opponents can't try to remove the exploring creature after you reveal a nonland card but before it receives a counter.
2018-01-19
In some unusual cases, noncreature permanents may explore. For example, if the creature card returned by Defossilize is somehow not a creature once it's on the battlefield, it can still explore. You'll take all the same actions, and you may end up putting a +1/+1 counter on the permanent. (Note that some effects target a creature, and those effects would still require a legal target to have it explore.)
2018-01-19
Some spells or abilities might cause a creature to explore multiple times in a row. If you reveal a nonland card when a creature explores and leave it on top of your library, then the creature explores again immediately afterwards, you'll reveal the same card again.
2018-01-19
If an ability instructs a creature to explore, its controller reveals the top card of their library. If it's a land card, they'll put it into their hand. Otherwise, they'll put a +1/+1 counter on that creature, then choose to either leave that card on top of their library or put it into their graveyard.
2018-01-19
If no card is revealed, most likely because that player's library is empty, the exploring creature receives a +1/+1 counter.
2018-01-19
If a resolving spell or ability instructs a specific creature to explore but that creature has left the battlefield, the creature still explores. If you reveal a nonland card this way, you won't put a +1/+1 counter on anything, but you may put the revealed card into your graveyard. Effects that trigger "whenever a creature explores" trigger as appropriate.
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