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Critical Role's Matt Mercer has an irrational fear of skiing

Critical Role's usual GM Mercer fears skiing because, in real life, failing an agility check can kill you

News by Grant DeArmitt, Staff Writer

Published on Thu Aug 27 2026

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There's a whole lot that Critical Role's Matt Mercer is not afraid of - perhaps the biggest thing is broadcasting a Dungeons & Dragons campaign to the world before it became cool. However, there is one thing that the creator of Exandria and DM for the stories that became The Legend of Vox Machina and The Mighty Nein is afraid of - skiing.

And it's because he's pretty sure it'll kill him.

The subject came up during Mercer's recent appearance on YouTube series String and Tell with Tawny Platis. The voice actor and host discussed Platis's own fear of camping (due to a very reasonable concern regarding rabies and agile bats), and when it came time for Mercer to share his own irrational fear, the first thing that came to mind were the slopes.

"I have never skied," the voice actor said, "Because there's a part of me that knows the minute I do I'm going to die. I have friends who are like, 'Come on, come up to Mammoth [Mountain, a skiing destination in California] and we'll snowboard or go ski. It's cross country.'"

"I'm like, 'No,'" Mercer continued, "I will find the wrong slope and I will lose control. I'm going to hit a tree over. I'm going to Sonny Bono this in a second. I know better. I've had multitudes of opportunities, and each time, went, 'No, I know this will be it, so I'm just going to stay home.'"

Well Matt, we're just happy to have you with us, and whatever keeps things that way, we're 100% behind. Maybe you can get Brennan to find a place on the Aramán slopes for Julien in the next Campaign 4 session, just to say you've gotten close.

With two animated series on Prime Video, Campaign 4 in full swing, and so much more Exandrian lore to come, Critical Role is showing no signs of slowing down. That's why the adventuring party at Popverse are here to bring you everything we can from those nerdy-ass voice actors & Bo., including:

...and much, much more. Roll initiative, player. Magic awaits.

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Grant DeArmitt: Grant DeArmitt (he/him) likes horror, comics, and the unholy union of the two. In the past, and despite their better judgment, he has written for Nightmare on Film Street and Newsarama. He lives in Brooklyn with his partner, Kingsley, and corgi, Legs.