Editing Mercane (section)

==Publication History==
Mercanes debuted as the Arcane in the original [[Spelljammer]] boxed set (specifically in the ''Lorebook of the Void'' portion, which had all the monsters in it). They subsequently reappeared with newer lore in the [[Planescape]] Monstrous Compendium Appendix II, and received a final writeup for [[Advanced Dungeons & Dragons]] 2nd edition in the Monstrous Manual.

In [[Dungeons & Dragons 3rd Edition]], the [[Manual of the Planes]] debuted the Mercane, who were clearly supposed to be the Arcane under a new name. They were subsequently reprinted for that edition in the Epic Level Handbook.

Finally, they returned in [[Dungeons & Dragons 5th Edition]] in the [[Spelljammer]] boxed set, specifically in ''Boo's Astral Menagerie'', once again sporting the Mercane name.

Nobody knows ''why'' WotC changed the name, but it's generally accepted that "Arcane" was either perceived as too stupid and/or was too hard to copyright.