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Merlin Prismriver

1063fx
Poltergeist Trumpeter

Stats

Health
6400
Agility
1170
Yang ATK
1450
Yang DEF
850
Yin ATK
1000
Yin DEF
700

Races

Element Type Chart

Ondan-zensen
Expand
Ondan-zensen (a Touhou LW original) refers to warm fronts―the leading edge of a mass of warmer air that moves in and replaces a mass of colder air. This temperament matches Merlin's heated and energetic music. Merlin is endowed with Metal Phase, as the trumpet is her instrument of choice, and Sun Essence, with her cheerful nature.

The cold and silent Metal Phase resists Earth Phase, because earth bears metal, but it is weak to Fire Phase, because fire refines metal.

The alluring and arrogant Sun Essence resists the diverse and uncooperative Star Essence, but it is weak to the cooperative and indecisive Moon Essence.
sun_neutral
Sun
moon_strong
Moon
fire_strong
Fire
water_neutral
Water
wood_neutral
Wood
metal_neutral
Metal
earth_weak
Earth
star_weak
Star

Character Shots

Merlin Prismriver's Spread Shot. She attacks with cheerful melodic notes in a cross pattern. Due to how rivers are formed by nature, the land next to them is often wide and flat―Perfect for performances of all kinds. Perhaps the Prismriver Ensemble also has some concerts down by the river.
Solo
Brass Ensemble Performance
x8 Yang
Solo
Trumpet Music Bullet
x3 Yin 1
Solo
Horn Music Bullet
x3 Yin 1
Solo
Trombone Music Bullet
x3 Yang 2
Solo
Tuba Music Bullet
x3 Yang 2
Solo
Euphonium Music Bullet
x3 Yin 3
Merlin Prismriver's Focus Shot. She attacks with the cheerful music played from her trumpet spirit. The notes played by Merlin are maniac notes―notes that excite and motivate all who hear them. Fitting for a trumpeter, as they are often considered the star of the orchestra.
All
Brass Instrument Spirits
x4 Yang
All
Trumpet Spirit
x2 Yin 1
All
Horn Spirit
x2 Yin 1
All
Trombone Spirit
x2 Yang 2
All
Tuba Spirit
x2 Yang 2
All
Euphonium Spirit
x2 Yin 3

Character Spell Cards

Available
Available
Limit Break 1
Limit Break 2
Limit Break 3
Merlin Prismriver's Spell Card. She attacks with music reminiscent of the legendary jazz trumpeter. It seems that quite a few musicians of relatively modern music such as jazz and rock have passed away under unfortunate circumstances. No... perhaps the same could be said of musicians from the classical era of music too.
*Pre- and Post- effects assume max level. Effects per level can be viewed here.
Pre-Attack Spell Card Effects
Target's Evasion 2 level(s) DOWN (3 turns).
Target's Agility 2 level(s) DOWN (3 turns).
Post-Attack Spell Card Effects
None
Solo
Cheerful Jazz
x15 Yang
Solo
Intense Trumpet Spirit
x3 Yin 1
Solo
Hard Bop
x3 Yin 1
Solo
Happy Trumpet Spirit
x2 Yin 1
Solo
Cheerful Bebop
x2 Yang 2
Solo
Jaunty Trumpet Spirit
x1 Yin 3
Merlin Prismriver's Spell Card. This attack is made up of the notes played in Merlin's solo composition and predominantly features trumpets. It's happy, a very happy attack. But what is happiness? Most likely, it's not something that can just be given to you or that comes to you out of nowhere, but something that you yourself find in your everyday life. Merlin's fans are surely reflecting on the happiness that they have found when listening to this song.
*Pre- and Post- effects assume max level. Effects per level can be viewed here.
Pre-Attack Spell Card Effects
Inflicts 2 layer(s) of Barrier Status: Freeze to target (3 turns).
Target's Evasion 2 level(s) DOWN (3 turns).
Post-Attack Spell Card Effects
None
Solo
Energetic Music Bullet
x7 Yang
Solo
Maniac Music Bullet
x2 Yin 1
Solo
Energetic Sound Bullet
x2 Yin 1
Solo
Maniac Sound Bullet
x2 Yin 1
Solo
Energetic Melody Bullet
x2 Yang 2
Solo
Maniac Melody Bullet
x2 Yin 3
Merlin Prismriver's Last Word (a Touhou LW original). Due to popular demand, the Prismriver Ensemble hold many musical events throughout the year. The encore on the last day of these events is always the climax. Merlin's solo portion of the song provides even more excitement to the already exciting occasion, so the audience must be careful not to faint from the frenzy... Though that may be difficult as concerts, by their very nature, are exciting.
*Pre- and Post- effects assume max level. Effects per level can be viewed here.
Pre-Attack Spell Card Effects
Target's Yang ATK 3 level(s) DOWN (2 turns).
Target's Yang DEF 3 level(s) DOWN (2 turns).
Post-Attack Spell Card Effects
None
Solo
Bouncing Tremolo
x19 Yang
Solo
Inspiring Trumpet
x4 Yin 1
Solo
Emotive Trumpet
x4 Yin 1
Solo
Impulsive Trumpet
x3 Yin 1
Solo
Lively Tremolo
x2 Yang 2
Solo
Poignant Trumpet
x1 Yin 3

Character Ability

Capable of performing maniac notes
Expand
Maniac notes are sounds that excite the listener. Listening to these notes in moderation can help cure depression, but overexposure can make the listener hysteric and aggressive. Like Lunasa, Merlin's solo performances can be dangerous, but similarly to Lunasa's music, the harmful effects are negated when the music is combined with Lyrica's illusionary notes. Merlin's maniac notes directly affect the listener's spirit to make them happy, which may explain why she is said to have the most fans out of the Prismriver Sisters. While there are many reasons to listen to music, it is safe to assume that most people listen to music for the joy it brings them.
Immune to Barrier Status: Paralyze.
DMG from resisted elements 25% DOWN.

Character Skills

CD 4
Inflicts 2 layer(s) of Barrier Status: Freeze to all targets (1 turn).
Grants Quick to self.
Info
Huh? What did you say? The music's too loud!
Skill Level 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10
Barrier Freeze
Value 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 2
Rate 0 10 20 30 40 50 60 70 80 0
Add 0 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 0
Quick
Value 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1
Rate 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0
Add 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0
CD 4 4 4 4 4 4 4 4 4 4
CD 4
All targets' Yang DEF 2 level(s) DOWN (1 turn).
All targets' Yang ATK 2 level(s) DOWN (2 turns).
Info
It can be used for communication and to increase morale. Too-to-toooot!
Skill Level 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10
Yang Defense Level Down
Value 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 2
Rate 10 20 30 40 50 60 80 80 0
Add 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 0
Yang Attack Level Down
Value 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 2
Rate 0 10 20 30 40 50 60 80 80 0
Add 0 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 0
CD 5 5 5 5 5 5 5 5 4 4
CD 4
All targets' Evasion 2 level(s) DOWN (2 turns).
All targets' Agility 2 level(s) DOWN (2 turns).
Info
The main characteristic of poltergeists is that they make noise. A certain girl projected the memories of her sisters onto the noises in her mansion.
Skill Level 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10
Evasion Level Down
Value 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 2
Rate 0 10 20 30 40 50 60 80 80 0
Add 0 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 0
Agility Level Down
Value 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 2
Rate 0 10 20 30 40 50 60 80 80 0
Add 0 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 0
CD 5 5 5 5 5 5 5 5 4 4

Character Characteristics

Flutter
When attacked, DMG from soul-like presences 20% DOWN. [Success rate 100%.]
Shake
When attacked, DMG from Energy Bullet 20% DOWN. [Success rate 100%.]
Ghost Note
When wave starts, inflicts 1 layer of Barrier Status: Freeze to target (3 turns). [Success rate 50%.]

Character Change Effect

Power Link
When switching places with a rear-guard unit, other unit's Spirit Power UP.
When switching places with a front-guard unit, front guard's Spirit Power UP.

Upgrade Costs

Rank Coins Materials
0 -> 1 1000
1 -> 2 2,000
2 -> 3 5,000
3 -> 4 10,000
4 -> 5 15,000

Character Analysis

Merlin Prismriver was released on December 6th, 2021 in "Prayer: The Prismriver Ensemble." For more up-to-date analysis, be sure to visit the Discord Official Discord Server.

Brought into existence by Layla Prismriver, Merlin performs in the Prismriver Ensemble along with her other sisters, Lunasa and Lyrica. To differentiate her notes from her siblings, Merlin's trumpet performs melodies that call toward listeners' emotions and amplifies their happiness to irregular levels until they cannot control themselves. She has an optimistic personality to match the happiness releases from her instrument's performance. Releasing music that makes the audience lose themselves would be dangerous for her own party, so instead Merlin specializes as a Debuff unit that turns the rhythm onto enemies.

The debuffs are the main appeal of Merlin's kit, seen from the affects of her spell cards and skills. She is not shy of applying Freeze to her enemies' barriers, either freezing 2 barriers with her second spell card, Noise Sign: Merlin Happy Live, or passing 2 Freeze barriers to all opponents with her first skill, Jamming Tube. While having no way to break these anomaly Barriers herself, another Friend with Melting bullets can easily synergize with Merlin and work toward Full Breaking the enemy. It helps that Merlin's other two skills, Military Bugle and All-Night Noise, target every opponent as well with the helpful debuffs of Yang DEF DOWN by 2 levels or Evasion DOWN by 2 levels respectively. Unlike her spell cards, her skills can be used repeatedly over longer battles, meaning Merlin can provide debuffs consistently throughout challenging content.

It helps that Merlin does not only weaken her opponents, but can crush them with heavy damage as well. Her Last Word, Final Encore - Merlin Solo, is frontloaded with a 3-1-1 spread so that most of the bullets only need 1 Spirit Power to access. Considering the target's Yang DEF decreases by 3 levels combined with the other Yang DEF and Evasion debuffs from her skills, Merlin's Last Word can serve as a helpful Solo nuke for many farming needs. 

Unfortunately, Merlin's performance contains a few low parts to prevent her from being at the top. Outside of her Last Word, she needs at least 1 Spirit Power to access any of her Wood or Water breaks on a basic shot or spell card. Even then, the amount of elemental breaks she has access to are rather low. Having a dual-element Last Word makes it difficult to maximize its damaging potential as well, especially considering how every bullet obtained from 1 Spirit Power is Water while the initial attack is only Wood. 

The values of her Last Word's scaling are as follows: 

Hard: 100%/0%/0%/0%/150%/150%

Slicing: 0%/100%/100%/100%/0%/0%

Story Card Recommendations

(Card recommendations last updated on March 12, 2024)

Spell Card

Yang ATK UP helps Merlin hit even harder, and as such it's greatly appreciated. Otherwise, Yang DEF UP goes well with the high Hard scaling (if a bit let down by her only decent base Yang DEF) on her Last Word, and she can make good use of Spirit Power UP for extra Breaks, as well as damage in the Arena.

Last Word

As Merlin already has Yang ATK UP and Accuracy covered, Energy DMG UP is her best bet, with Thunder Beat being a particularly great option. Otherwise, look to Wood DMG UP or Yang ATK UP.

Character Skill Level Up Recommendations

Military Bugle is her best skill, due to the Yang DEF DOWN, and should be leveled first. Secondly, All-Night Noise is great Accuracy support and should be raised next. Lastly, Jamming Tube can wait until you have need for Freeze (such as if you own Cirno with her Freeze Breaks). 

Character Strengths

+Can apply a decent amount of Freeze Barriers
+Very strong, frontloaded Solo targeting Last Word
+Solid amount of Yang DEF DOWN to all enemies
+Strong Accuracy support via Evasion DOWN to all enemies

Character Weaknesses

-Can't quite reach the highs of other nukers due to mixed scaling
-Breaks are just average