Mermail

Mermail
"Mermail Abysshilde", "Mermail Abyssgunde" and "Mermail Abysslinde" in the artwork of "Abyss-squall".
Japanese	水精鱗（マーメイル） 水精鱗 (base) マーメイル (ruby) Māmeiru (romanized)
French	Sirènemure Armed Siren (translated)
German	Nixenrüstung
Italian	Sirenide
Korean	머메일 Meomeil (romanized)
Portuguese	Sirena Siren (translated)
Spanish	Sirenarmada Armed Siren (translated)
Sets Abyss Rising Cosmo Blazer Lord of the Tachyon Galaxy Circuit Break Dark Neostorm TCG 2014 Mega-Tin Mega Pack Astral Pack Three Astral Pack Five Battle Pack 2: War of the Giants Battles of Legend: Light's Revenge Shadows in Valhalla OCG Extra Pack: Sword of Knights LINK VRAINS Pack Korean Advanced Event Pack 2013 Vol.1 Advanced Event Pack 2013 Vol.2 Spring Battle 2013 promotional cards
Anime appearances
Yu-Gi-Oh! ZEXAL
Manga appearances
Yu-Gi-Oh! D Team ZEXAL
Lists	Members Support

"Mermail" (水精鱗（マーメイル） Māmeiru) is an archetype of WATER Aqua, Fish and Sea Serpent monsters, used by Brooke Walker in the past, introduced in the Abyss Rising. These monsters are based on mermaids outfitted with armor, hence "mail". They are intimately related to the "Abyss-" archetype, as they all belong to the archetype. The Level 3 "Mermail" monsters are all Aqua monsters, Level 4 "Mermail" monsters are all Fish monsters and Level 7 "Mermail" monsters are all Sea Serpent monsters, except for the Aqua "Mermail Abyssbalaen" and "Mermail Abyssteus".

Design

Each "Mermail" monster is based on a real life aquatic animal. The original three Level 3 "Mermail" monsters released in Abyss Rising, "Mermail Abysslinde", "Mermail Abyssgunde", and "Mermail Abysshilde" have names coming from the Rhinemaidens (Woglinde, Wellgunde, Flosshilde) in the German opera Der Ring des Nibelungen (The Ring of the Nibelung) by Richard Wagner. The Level 7 "Mermail" monsters (excluding "Mermail Abyssbalaen)", "Mermail Abyssmegalo", "Mermail Abyssleed" and "Mermail Abyssteus" take inspiration from extinct aquatic species. The Xyz Monsters, "Mermail Abyssgaios" and "Mermail Abysstrite" take inspiration from Ancient Greek deities.

Main Deck members

Mermail	Level	Type	Origin
Abyssdine	3	Aqua	Sea angel
Abyssgunde			Wellgunde (Rhinemaiden) / Clown fish
Abysshilde			Flosshilde (Rhinemaiden) / Eel
Abysslinde			Woglinde (Rhinemaiden) / Koi
Abyssnerei‎			Nereid / Coelacanth
Abyssocea			Oceanid / Flying Fish
Abyssbalaen	7		Balaenoptera
Abyssteus			Dunkleosteus
Abyssleed		Sea Serpent	Leedsichthys
Abyssmegalo			Megalodon
Abysslung	4	Fish	Lungfish
Abyssmander			Giant salamander
Abyssnose			Elephantnose fish
Abysspike			Pike
Abyssturge			Sturgeon

Extra Deck members

Mermail	Rank/Link	Type	Origin
Abyssalacia	2	Sea Serpent	Salacia / Human
Abysstrite	3		Amphitrite / Dolphin
Abyssgaios	7	Aqua	Poseidon / Atlantean Dragon

Story

See also: Gagaga Academy Tospedia card storylines § "The Mermails and Atlanteans" Edition, Master Guide 4 card storylines § File No. 01: The Great Battle Raging between Fire and Water in the South Seas, and Master Duel card storylines § The Tribe of the Abyssal Waters

The "Mermails" used to peacefully live in their underwater city, "Lemuria", and albeit good in the arts of fighting, they would rarely use this ability. However, sudden changes in the earth's crust made "Lemuria" rise above the ocean, leaving the "Mermails" homeless. In that moment, the Emperor of the "Atlantean" army, "Poseidra", choose to let the "Mermails" live under his protection, but they would have to obey his orders. Using the great treasure of the "Mermails", the Golden Ring, to control the weather, "Poseidra" ordered an all-out attack against their archenemies, the "Fire Kings". Unfortunately, “Poseidra’s” body was taken over by the king residing in the Ring. The king eliminated the “Atlantean” army with ease. It appears that “Abysstrite” sealed the Ring away because the advent of the king required a sacrifice.

Playing Style

The "Mermail" archetype focuses on discarding or tributing WATER monsters to Special Summon "Mermail" monsters and activate their effects, and triggering additional effects off of these discards or tributes to generate advantage. They secondarily focus on interacting with the "Abyss-" archetype of Spell/Trap cards to support their strategy. Most Level 3 "Mermail" monsters (excluding "Abyssdine" and "Abyssocea") have similar Trigger Effects that are triggered when they are sent to the Graveyard, which usually Special Summons another "Mermail".

Level 3 Mermail Summary
Mermail	Trigger Conditions (If/When this card is...)	Triggered Effect
Abyssgunde	Discarded to GY	Special Summon 1 "Mermail" monster from GY, except "Abyssgunde".
Abysshilde	Sent to GY	Special Summon 1 "Mermail" monster from hand, except "Abysshilde".
Abysslinde	Destroyed and sent from field to GY	Special Summon 1 "Mermail" monster from Deck, except "Abysslinde".
Abyssnerei‎	Sent from field to GY	Draw 1 card, then discard 1 card.

Most Level 4 "Mermail" monsters (excluding "Abysslung" and "Abyssmander") have Trigger Effects that can be activated when they are Normal or Special Summoned, and their effects involve discarding a WATER monster, which will trigger the above Level 3 monsters' effects.

Level 4 Mermail Summary
Mermail	Trigger Conditions (If/When this card [is]...)	Triggered Effect
Abyssnose	Destroys an opponent's monster by battle and sends it to the GY	Discard 1 WATER monster to GY, Special Summon 1 "Mermail" monster from Deck (in Defense).
Abysspike	Normal or Special Summoned	Discard 1 WATER monster to GY, add 1 Level 3 WATER monster from Deck to hand.
Abyssturge	Normal or Special Summoned	Discard 1 WATER monster to GY, add 1 Level ≤3 WATER monster from GY to hand.

The Level 7 "Mermail" monsters each share two effects with a common effect pattern.

1. "You can discard [Discard Cost] to the GY; Special Summon this card from your hand. When Summoned this way: You can [Effect 1]"
2. "You can Tribute [Tribute Cost]; [Effect 2]"

These effects will further trigger the Level 3 "Mermail" monsters' effects, and can also trigger some the ones that only trigger when sent from the field to GY via Tributing.

Level 7 Mermail Summary
Mermail	Effect 1 Details		Effect 2 Details
	Discard Cost	Effect 1	Tribute Cost	Effect 2
Abyssteus	1 WATER	Add 1 Level ≤4 "Mermail" monster from Deck to hand.	N/A
Abyssmegalo	2 WATER	Add 1 "Abyss-" Spell/Trap from Deck to hand.	1 WATER	It can make a second attack this turn.
Abyssleed	3 WATER	Add 1 "Abyss-" Spell/Trap from GY to hand.	1 "Mermail"	Send 1 random card from the opponent's hand to the GY.
Abyssbalaen	4 "Mermail"	It gains 500 ATK. Target opposing cards, up to the number of "Mermail" monsters in the GY, and destroy them.	1 "Mermail"	It gains: "At the start of the Damage Step, if it battles a Defense Position monster: Destroy that monster."

The boss monster of the archetype, "Mermail Abyssgaios", is a Rank 7 Xyz monster that can prevent Level 5 or higher monsters from attacking, and negate the effects of opposing monsters with less ATK than it.

The "Mermail" archetype supports, and is supported by, the "Abyss-" archetype of Spell/Traps. The "Abyss-" Traps provide some temporary power boosts or temporary Special Summons of "Mermail" monsters. The "Abyss-" Spells meanwhile are far more interesting: all the "Abyss-" Spells, the "Abyss-scale", are Equip Spells that can only be equipped to "Mermail" monsters, and both boost the equipped monster's attack and provide 1 negation to an opponent's effect; "Kraken" negates a Monster, "Mizuchi" negates a Spell, and "Cetus" negates a Trap. These negations are mandatorily applied to the first applicable effect they face, and they will immediately send themselves to the GY after negating one effect. Despite these drawbacks, the "Abyss-scale" cards are still searchable negates can significantly disrupt the opponent's plays. The main "Mermail" playstyle thus involves swarming "Mermail" monsters with Special Summoning effects, gaining advantage off of their own discards and tributes, and ultimately either beatdown the opponent by summoning several Level 7 beaters or controlling the field with "Abyssgaios" and the "Abyss-scale" Spells. "Abyssmegalo" is thus vitally important for each of the three components of this strategy; it is a Level 7 beatstick that can Special Summon itself, discard other "Mermail" monsters, and search "Abyss-" Spell/Traps.

The "Abyss-" trap card "Abyss-strom" connects the archetype to the "Umi" series of Field Spells, and the archetype does thematically have its own "archetypal Umi" in the form of "Lemuria, the Forgotten City". Though "Lemuria" is generic and does not specifically support "Mermail", it does support the "Mermail" playstyle of swarming monsters and making Xyz plays, enabling Xyz Monsters of other Ranks to be made.

The "Mermail" archetype synergizes especially well with the "Atlantean" archetype, since their effects are activated when sent to the graveyard to activate a WATER monsters effect. By discarding "Atlantean Heavy Infantry", "Atlantean Marksman" or "Atlantean Dragoons", to activate the "Mermails" effects you can destroy a card on the field ("Heavy Infantry" and "Marksman") or search your Deck for any Sea Serpent monster ("Dragoons"), such as "Abyssmegalo", while also gaining the "Mermail" effects.

Recommended cards

Recommended cards

Main Deck Monster Cards Effect Monsters Mermail Abyssdine Mermail Abyssgunde Mermail Abysshilde Mermail Abysslinde Mermail Abyssmegalo Mermail Abysspike Mermail Abyssteus Mermail Abyssturge Atlantean Dragoons Atlantean Heavy Infantry Atlantean Marksman Silent Sea Nettle Citadel Whale Supreme Sea Mare Aqua Spirit Ice Knight Therion "Reaper" Fum White Stingray Tuner monsters Deep Sea Diva Fishborg Harpooner Fishborg Launcher Gluttonous Reptolphin Greethys Icejade Ran Aegirine Spell Cards Normal Spells Deep Sea Aria Aqua Jet Salvage Surface Terraforming Ties of the Brethren Foolish Burial Foolish Burial Goods Ready Fusion Moray of Greed Field Spells Lemuria, the Forgotten City Trap Cards Normal Traps Abyss-squall White Howling Ice Barrier Counter Traps Oh F!sh! Continuous Traps Abyss-sphere Bubble Bringer Gozen Match Extra Deck Fusion Monsters Targets for "Ready Fusion" Sea Monster of Theseus Rare Fish Aqua Dragon Man-eating Black Shark Synchro Monsters Coral Dragon Brionac, Dragon of the Ice Barrier Gungnir, Dragon of the Ice Barrier Adamancipator Risen - Dragite Icejade Gymir Aegirine Swordsoul Supreme Sovereign - Chengying Xyz Monsters Mermail Abyssgaios Mermail Abysstrite Abyss Dweller Bahamut Shark Toadally Awesome Number 4: Stealth Kragen Stealth Kragen Spawn Mecha Phantom Beast Dracossack Number 11: Big Eye Link Monsters Mermail Abyssalacia Mistar Boy Eria the Water Charmer, Gentle Marincess Coral Anemone

Merlantean

Main article: Merlantean

From "Atlantean" & "Mermail" Deck recipes sample/Deck recipe PDF version (December 2012)

Atlantean Mermail Deck (Ver. 1) 海皇水精鱗デッキ

Main Deck Monster Cards Effect Monsters Atlantean Dragoons x2 Atlantean Marksman x2 Atlantean Heavy Infantry Atlantean Attack Squad Deep Sea Diva x2 Mermail Abyssleed Mermail Abyssdine Mermail Abyssmegalo x2 Mermail Abysspike x3 Mermail Abyssturge Mermail Abysshilde x3 Mermail Abyssgunde Spell Cards Salvage x2 Moray of Greed x2 Dark Hole Pot of Duality Monster Reborn Mystical Space Typhoon Heavy Storm Trap Cards Abyss-scorn x2 Abyss-sphere x3 Torrential Tribute x2 Compulsory Evacuation Device Bottomless Trap Hole Dust Tornado Solemn Judgment Extra Deck Synchro Monsters Ally of Justice Catastor Gungnir, Dragon of the Ice Barrier Xyz Monsters Mermail Abysstrite Mermail Abyssgaios Snowdust Giant Gagagigo the Risen Wind-Up Zenmaines

Atlantean Mermail Deck (Ver. 2) 海皇水精鱗デッキ

Main Deck Monster Cards Effect Monsters Atlantean Dragoons x2 Atlantean Heavy Infantry Atlantean Marksman x2 Atlantean Attack Squad Deep Sea Diva x2 Mermail Abyssleed Mermail Abyssdine Mermail Abyssmegalo x2 Mermail Abysspike x3 Mermail Abysshilde x3 Mermail Abyssgunde Mermail Abyssturge Spell Cards Salvage x2 Moray of Greed x2 Dark Hole Pot of Duality Monster Reborn Mystical Space Typhoon Heavy Storm Trap Cards Abyss-scorn x2 Abyss-sphere x3 Torrential Tribute x2 Compulsory Evacuation Device Bottomless Trap Hole Solemn Judgment Dust Tornado Extra Deck Synchro Monsters Ally of Justice Catastor Xyz Monsters Mermail Abysstrite Mermail Abyssgaios Snowdust Giant Gagagigo the Risen Wind-Up Zenmaines

From Deck recipe PDF version (February 2013)

New Atlantean Mermail Deck 新・海皇水精鱗デッキ

Main Deck Monster Cards Effect Monsters Mermail Abyssocea x3 Mermail Abyssleed Mermail Abyssdine Mermail Abyssmegalo x2 Mermail Abysspike x2 Mermail Abysshilde x3 Mermail Abyssturge Atlantean Dragoons x2 Atlantean Heavy Infantry Atlantean Marksman x2 Atlantean Attack Squad Deep Sea Diva x2 Spell Cards Abyss-scale of the Mizuchi Salvage x2 Moray of Greed Mystical Space Typhoon Monster Reborn Heavy Storm Dark Hole Pot of Duality Trap Cards Abyss-scorn Abyss-sphere x3 Torrential Tribute x2 Mirror Force Bottomless Trap Hole Dust Tornado Solemn Judgment Extra Deck Synchro Monsters Black Rose Dragon Ally of Justice Catastor Gungnir, Dragon of the Ice Barrier Xyz Monsters Mermail Abysstrite Mermail Abyssgaios Snowdust Giant Gagagigo the Risen Wind-Up Zenmaines

Weaknesses

• Cards that prevent searching or Special Summoning from the Deck, such as "Thunder King Rai-Oh", "Mistake", or "Deck Lockdown", slows down the archetype significantly, as the archetype requires significant searching to make combo plays and maintain their grind game.
• Cards that negate card effect activations in the GY, such as "Debunk", "Silent Graveyard", "Necrovalley", "The End of Anubis", or "Soul Drain", halts many of the key GY monster effects the archetype.
• Cards that banish cards sent to the GY, such as "Macro Cosmos" and "Dimensional Fissure", also prevents the archetype from activating their GY effects. It can also prevent "Moulinglacia the Elemental Lord" from being Summoned.
• The archetype's need for discarding- and Tributing-friendly monsters means that it struggles to maintain its grind game if built or played poorly.