Merlin

Merlin

Grimoire ice Grimoire Wand thunder Wand Staff fire Staff

Base Stats

Attack 250
Defense 200
HP 2000
Accuracy 80
Block 50
Crit Rate 10%
Crit Resist 3%
Crit Damage 25%
Crit DMG Resist 10%

Review

Merlin - Seven Deadly Sins Origin
Profile Update

Merlin is shaping up to be one of the most versatile and powerful SSR characters in Seven Deadly Sins Origin. Unlike many heroes who specialize in a single combat style, Merlin offers three distinct elemental builds—Ice, Lightning, and Fire—each providing a unique playstyle and role within a team. This flexibility alone makes her one of the most valuable long-term investments currently available.

The standout option is undoubtedly her Ice Grimoire build, which revolves around applying Frost Marks, freezing enemies, and rapidly charging devastating Tag Skills. By stacking Frost Marks through normal attacks and abilities, Merlin dramatically increases her Cold Attack power while enabling explosive Tag damage that can reach extraordinary numbers in optimized teams. Her gameplay feels smooth, rewarding, and highly interactive, especially when paired with Ice-focused allies capable of accelerating Frost Mark generation.

Her Lightning build focuses on continuous skill usage, cooldown reduction, and Overload effects. While slightly less flashy than the Ice variant, it offers consistent sustained DPS and allows Merlin to repeatedly pressure enemies with enhanced normal skills. Meanwhile, her Fire build transforms her into a powerful burst support, using decoys and Fire Burst mechanics to amplify team damage and create devastating combo opportunities alongside characters such as Escanor.

Merlin’s exclusive Grimoire weapon further enhances her performance, increasing Cold Attack, Tag Skill damage, and critical damage scaling. Combined with her strong elemental synergies and multiple viable builds, she feels designed to remain relevant across future content updates.

While her full potential requires proper team building and gear optimization, Merlin’s versatility, damage output, and utility place her among the strongest SSR units released so far. Whether you prefer control, sustained damage, or burst-oriented gameplay, Merlin delivers exceptional value and appears to be a near-essential summon for competitive players.

Pros

  • Three distinct elemental playstyles (Ice, Lightning, Fire)
  • Exceptional Frost Mark and freeze mechanics
  • Strong synergy with future and existing elemental teams
  • Powerful exclusive Grimoire weapon
  • Excellent scaling in endgame content
  • Can function as DPS, enabler, or burst support
  • She looks so hot.

Cons

  • Requires optimized teams to maximize effectiveness
  • Ice build currently outshines other variants
  • Exclusive weapon significantly boosts performance
  • Complex kit compared to beginner-friendly characters
  • Some mechanics depend heavily on elemental synergies

Recommended Weapons

Grimoire

Gluttonous Soul Grimoire Gluttonous Soul Grimoire
Breath of Glory Grimoire Breath of Glory Grimoire

Wand

Black Flame Wings Wand Black Flame Wings Wand
Jet-black Wand Jet-black Wand

Staff

Black Flame Wings Staff Black Flame Wings Staff
Jet-black Staff Jet-black Staff

Passive Skill

Elemental Harmony
Adventure Skill

Elemental Harmony

Fires a projectile infused with the power of 5 elements. The projectile can be manually controlled toward its target. Elements: Fire, Wind, Lightning, Earth, Cold.

Skills by Weapon

Passive

Infinite Frost

- When allied heroes land Normal Attacks 3 time(s) on an enemy without a Frost Mark, they are inflicted with one for 10 sec. (Max: 4 times) - When a Frost Mark is applied to an enemy who doesn't have one, the hero's Cold Attack increases by 40% for 15 sec, and damage increases by 50% when attacking an enemy with a Frost Mark. - ※ Frost Mark: Restores the caster's Tag Gauge by 150 when hit (Cooldown: 3 sec). When hit with a Tag Skill while this effect is at its max, it is removed after inflicting additional damage equal to 300% of Merlin's Attack.

Normal Attack

Spatial Freeze

- Inflicts damage equal to 150% of Attack. 1st hit: 21%, 2nd hit: 25%, 3rd hit: 39%, 4th hit: 65%.

Special Attack

Cold Intellect

- "Inflicts damage equal to 50% of Attack. - Replaces the Normal Attack with Special Attack: Glacial Pierce for 6 sec. - [Glacial Pierce] Inflicts damage equal to 6% of Attack, up to 312%, while the stance is maintained. Attacking the same enemy 15 times Freezes them for 6 sec. Attacking an enemy with a Frost Mark 8 times inflicts 1 additional Frost Mark(s) for 10 sec. (Max: 4 times) - ※ Freeze: Incapacitated. When hit with a skill, inflicts 80% of damage taken and removes Freeze. - ※ Frost Mark: Restores the caster's Tag Gauge by 150 when hit (Cooldown: 3 sec). When hit with a Tag Skill while this effect is at its max, it is removed after inflicting additional damage equal to 300% of Merlin's Attack."

Normal Skill

Frost Seed

- Inflicts damage equal to 22% of Attack every 0.5 sec to enemies in range for 5 sec, also applying Frost Marks for 10 sec. - Attacking an enemy with max Frost Mark stacks increases the hero's Cold Attack by 10% of Attack for 20 sec. - ※ Frost Mark: Restores the caster's Tag Gauge by 150 when hit (Cooldown: 3 sec). When hit with a Tag Skill while this effect is at its max, it is removed after inflicting additional damage equal to 300% of Merlin's Attack.

Tag Skill

Frost Sweep

Every 1 Frost Mark(s) on the enemy increases the damage by 30%.

Ultimate Move

Iceberg Descent

Increases the hero's Crit Damage by 50% for 15 sec, then inflicts damage equal to 394% of Attack. When using a Combined Attack with the hero's Ultimate Move as the base, each hit of an element other than Physical inflicts additional damage equal to 10% of Attack and restores 1 Tag Point(s).

Passive

Circuit Break

- Using a Combined Attack with the hero's Ultimate Move as the base grants Overload for 25 sec. - While Overload is active, Normal Skill: Judgment of Thunder inflicts Vulnerable on the enemy for 10 sec. - ※ Overload: Increases Lightning damage by 50%. - ※ Vulnerable: Increases Defense Shatter from caster's attack by 30%.

Normal Attack

Electrostream

- "Inflicts damage equal to 154% of Attack. Each hit on an enemy with Lightning Burst activated decreases the Normal Skill cooldown by 1 sec." - 1st hit: 23% - 2nd hit: 25% - 3rd hit: 39% - 4th hit: 67%"

Special Attack

Electromagnetic Field

Grants Immunity to Reactions while casting the skill, inflicting damage equal to 16% of Attack to enemies in range every 0.5 sec for 5 sec. Each hit of the attack decreases the hero's Normal Skill cooldown by 1 sec and increases the Normal Skill damage by 10% for 20 sec. (Max: 5 times)

Normal Skill

Judgment of Thunder

- Inflicts damage equal to 159% of Attack. - Using this attack 2 time(s) within 7 sec allows the use of Normal Skill: Divine Judgment for 5 sec. - [Divine Judgment] Inflicts damage equal to 329% of Attack, with the final strike decreasing the cooldown by 5.

Tag Skill

Lightning Ray

Inflicts damage equal to 124% of Attack.

Ultimate Move

Plasma Dome: Overload

Using a Combined Attack with the hero's Ultimate Move as the base increases All Elemental Attack of the hero by 20% of Attack (Max: 5000) for 10 sec, and each hit of an element other than Physical inflicts additional damage equal to 10% of Attack.

Passive

Core Ignition

- When the hero activates a Fire Burst, the Special Attack and Normal Skill are replaced with the Ultimate Move which does not consume any Magic Points for 10 sec. (Cooldown: 10 sec) - The Ultimate Move can only be used once, does not trigger Combined Attacks, and inflicts 100% increased damage against enemies with Fire Burst activated.

Normal Attack

Ignition Calculation

- "Inflicts damage equal to 96% of Attack." - 1st hit: 15% - 2nd hit: 16% - 3rd hit: 26% - 4th hit: 39%

Special Attack

Illusory Heat

Creates a Decoy at the hero's location for 5 sec to Taunt enemies in range for 5 sec and decrease the enemy's Fire Burst Resistance by 20% for 30 sec every 1 sec. When the Decoy expires, it explodes to inflict damage equal to 100% of Attack.

Normal Skill

Seeking Crimson

Creates a zone which tracks enemies for 12 sec to inflict damage equal to 5% of Attack every 0.3 sec. Each hit of the attack decreases Fire Resistance by 1% for 30 sec (Max: 30 times) and increases the Burst Gauge by 1 + 0.1% of Attack (Max: 20).

Tag Skill

Infinite Deployment

Inflicts damage equal to 86% of Attack.

Ultimate Move

Celestial Collapse

The first hit inflicts damage equal to 196% of Attack. Enemies in range take damage equal to 8% of Attack every 1 sec for 10 sec. Against enemies with Fire Burst activated, this attack increases their Fire Weakness Damage by 10% for the duration of the Fire Burst. Using a Combined Attack with the hero's Ultimate Move as the base restores the Magic Gauge by 100 every 1 sec for 10 sec, each hit of an element other than Physical inflicting additional damage equal to 10% of Attack.

Merlin Potential

Tier 1

Increases Attack by 5%, Defense by 4%, and Max HP by 2%.

Tier 2

Amplifies Tag Skill skill power by 40%.

Tier 3

Increases Attack by 10%, Defense by 8%, and Max HP by 3%.

Tier 4

Amplifies Ultimate Move skill power by 20%.

Tier 5

Increases the hero's Cold Attack by 30%. Each hit of Special Attack: Glacial Pierce on an enemy with a Frost Mark restores the Tag Gauge by 15.

Tier 6

Increases Special Attack: Glacial Pierce power by 50% and additional Tag Skill damage power from Frost Mark by 15%.

Tier 7

Using the Special Attack increases the hero's Crit Chance by 20% for 12 sec. Landing Special Attack: Glacial Pierce on an enemy with a Frost Mark increases Crit Damage by 15% for every 1 stack(s).

Tier 8

Increases Attack by 15%, Defense by 12%, and Max HP by 5%.

Tier 9

Increases the additional Tag Skill damage power from Frost Mark by 55%.

Tier 10

Increases the Ultimate Move's Crit Damage boost by 100%. The final strike inflicts damage equal to 50% of Attack every 1 sec for 11 sec.

Tier 1

Increases Attack by 5%, Defense by 4%, and Max HP by 2%.

Tier 2

Amplifies Special Attack power by 30%

Tier 3

Increases Attack by 10%, Defense by 8%, and Max HP by 3%.

Tier 4

Amplifies Normal Skill power by 15%.

Tier 5

Decreases the hero's Normal Skill cooldown by 4 sec and slightly increases the skill's range. Landing the Normal Skill on an enemy with Lightning Burst activated decreases the hero's Dash Stamina Cost by 50% for 5 sec.

Tier 6

While Overload is active, Crit Chance increases by 30% and Normal Skill cooldown decreases by 2 sec every 1 sec.

Tier 7

Using Special Attack: Electromagnetic Field allows the use of Normal Skill: Divine Judgment for 7 sec. Landing Special Attack: Electromagnetic Field decreases enemies' Lightning Resistance by 30% for 20 sec and Stuns targets located in the central area.

Tier 8

Increases Attack by 15%, Defense by 12%, and Max HP by 5%.

Tier 9

Amplifies Normal Skill: Divine Judgment skill power by 70%.

Tier 10

Using the Ultimate Move, or a Combined Attack with the hero's Ultimate Move as the base, replaces the Special Attack with Normal Skill: Overdrive for 15 sec. [Overdrive] Inflicts damage equal to 26% of Attack, up to 416%. Each hit on an enemy with Lightning Burst activated decreases the Normal Skill cooldown by 1 sec.

Tier 1

Increases Attack by 5%, Defense by 4%, and Max HP by 2%.

Tier 2

Amplifies Ultimate Move skill power by 20%.

Tier 3

Increases Attack by 10%, Defense by 8%, and Max HP by 3%.

Tier 4

Amplifies Tag Skill skill power by 40%.

Tier 5

The Ultimate Move summons an additional meteorite which inflicts damage equal to 250% of Attack. Landing the Ultimate Move, or a Combined Attack with the hero's Ultimate Move as the base, on an enemy with Fire Burst activated increases all allied heroes' Max HP by 20% for 20 sec.

Tier 6

Increases the hero's Fire Burst Efficiency by 30%. Each hit of the Normal Attack additionally increases the Burst Gauge by 0.25% of Attack. (Max: 50).

Tier 7

Each hit of the Normal Skills additionally increases the Burst Gauge by 10, with the final strike inflicting damage equal to 180% of Attack and increasing the Burst Gauge by 1% of Attack. (Max: 200)

Tier 8

Increases Attack by 15%, Defense by 12%, and Max HP by 5%.

Tier 9

The Ultimate Move's meteorites inflict additional damage equal to 150% of Attack.

Tier 10

The Ultimate Move increases all allied Fire heroes' Crit Damage by 30% for 30 sec, and summons an additional meteorite inflicting damage equal to 380% of Attack.

Available Skins

Witch's Banquet Legendary

Witch's Banquet

Outfit
Equipment HP 14739
Passive

The Boar Sin of Gluttony Legendary

The Boar Sin of Gluttony

Outfit
Equipment HP 14739
Lightning Attack 956
Normal Skill Damage Increase 7.3%
Crit Damage 8.4%
Passive

Landing a Combined Attack increases Normal Skill damage by 24% and Cooldown Reduction by 12% for 25 sec. (Cooldown: 10 sec) Each time the Normal Skill is used, Crit Damage increases by 4% for 20 sec. (Max: 16%)

Light Formalwear Legendary

Light Formalwear

Outfit
Equipment HP 14739
Equipment Defense 5276
Cold Attack 1194
Crit Damage 9%
Passive

Increases Crit Damage by 24% for 15 sec each time a Cold Attack boost is gained. Each hit on an enemy affected by Frost Mark increases the additional damage dealt when the Frost Mark effect is removed by 3% for 15 sec. (Max: 60%, removed after inflicting additional damage)

Featured Teams

These are some recommended lineups. You can see a complete list for this character and more in the full Teams Guide page.