diff --git a/tests/core/pyspec/eth2spec/test/altair/merkle/test_single_proof.py b/tests/core/pyspec/eth2spec/test/altair/merkle/test_single_proof.py
index f9aa68add..31cdd13bb 100644
--- a/tests/core/pyspec/eth2spec/test/altair/merkle/test_single_proof.py
+++ b/tests/core/pyspec/eth2spec/test/altair/merkle/test_single_proof.py
@@ -1,12 +1,11 @@
 from eth2spec.test.context import (
     spec_state_test,
-    with_phases,
+    with_altair_and_later,
 )
-from eth2spec.test.helpers.constants import ALTAIR
 from eth2spec.test.helpers.merkle import build_proof
 
 
-@with_phases([ALTAIR])
+@with_altair_and_later
 @spec_state_test
 def test_next_sync_committee_merkle_proof(spec, state):
     yield "state", state
@@ -25,7 +24,7 @@ def test_next_sync_committee_merkle_proof(spec, state):
     )
 
 
-@with_phases([ALTAIR])
+@with_altair_and_later
 @spec_state_test
 def test_finality_root_merkle_proof(spec, state):
     yield "state", state
diff --git a/tests/core/pyspec/eth2spec/test/altair/unittests/networking/test_networking.py b/tests/core/pyspec/eth2spec/test/altair/unittests/networking/test_networking.py
index 37d50611d..6d9dca523 100644
--- a/tests/core/pyspec/eth2spec/test/altair/unittests/networking/test_networking.py
+++ b/tests/core/pyspec/eth2spec/test/altair/unittests/networking/test_networking.py
@@ -1,6 +1,6 @@
 from eth2spec.test.context import (
-    with_altair_and_later,
     spec_state_test,
+    with_altair_and_later,
 )
 from eth2spec.test.helpers.state import (
     transition_to,
diff --git a/tests/core/pyspec/eth2spec/test/altair/unittests/test_config_invariants.py b/tests/core/pyspec/eth2spec/test/altair/unittests/test_config_invariants.py
index 4443f97e0..91be0a0a6 100644
--- a/tests/core/pyspec/eth2spec/test/altair/unittests/test_config_invariants.py
+++ b/tests/core/pyspec/eth2spec/test/altair/unittests/test_config_invariants.py
@@ -1,11 +1,10 @@
 from eth2spec.test.context import (
     spec_state_test,
-    with_phases,
+    with_altair_and_later,
 )
-from eth2spec.test.helpers.constants import ALTAIR
 
 
-@with_phases([ALTAIR])
+@with_altair_and_later
 @spec_state_test
 def test_weight_denominator(spec, state):
     assert (
@@ -17,7 +16,7 @@ def test_weight_denominator(spec, state):
     ) == spec.WEIGHT_DENOMINATOR
 
 
-@with_phases([ALTAIR])
+@with_altair_and_later
 @spec_state_test
 def test_inactivity_score(spec, state):
     assert spec.config.INACTIVITY_SCORE_BIAS <= spec.config.INACTIVITY_SCORE_RECOVERY_RATE
diff --git a/tests/core/pyspec/eth2spec/test/altair/unittests/test_sync_protocol.py b/tests/core/pyspec/eth2spec/test/altair/unittests/test_sync_protocol.py
index c69957de5..15444df81 100644
--- a/tests/core/pyspec/eth2spec/test/altair/unittests/test_sync_protocol.py
+++ b/tests/core/pyspec/eth2spec/test/altair/unittests/test_sync_protocol.py
@@ -1,17 +1,14 @@
 from eth2spec.test.context import (
     spec_state_test,
     with_presets,
-    with_phases,
+    with_altair_and_later,
 )
 from eth2spec.test.helpers.attestations import next_epoch_with_attestations
 from eth2spec.test.helpers.block import (
     build_empty_block,
     build_empty_block_for_next_slot,
 )
-from eth2spec.test.helpers.constants import (
-    ALTAIR,
-    MINIMAL,
-)
+from eth2spec.test.helpers.constants import MINIMAL
 from eth2spec.test.helpers.state import (
     next_slots,
     state_transition_and_sign_block,
@@ -22,7 +19,7 @@ from eth2spec.test.helpers.sync_committee import (
 from eth2spec.test.helpers.merkle import build_proof
 
 
-@with_phases([ALTAIR])
+@with_altair_and_later
 @spec_state_test
 def test_process_light_client_update_not_updated(spec, state):
     pre_snapshot = spec.LightClientSnapshot(
@@ -81,7 +78,7 @@ def test_process_light_client_update_not_updated(spec, state):
     assert store.snapshot == pre_snapshot
 
 
-@with_phases([ALTAIR])
+@with_altair_and_later
 @spec_state_test
 @with_presets([MINIMAL], reason="too slow")
 def test_process_light_client_update_timeout(spec, state):
@@ -147,7 +144,7 @@ def test_process_light_client_update_timeout(spec, state):
     assert store.snapshot.header == update.header
 
 
-@with_phases([ALTAIR])
+@with_altair_and_later
 @spec_state_test
 @with_presets([MINIMAL], reason="too slow")
 def test_process_light_client_update_finality_updated(spec, state):
diff --git a/tests/core/pyspec/eth2spec/test/context.py b/tests/core/pyspec/eth2spec/test/context.py
index ef92efade..6062648d6 100644
--- a/tests/core/pyspec/eth2spec/test/context.py
+++ b/tests/core/pyspec/eth2spec/test/context.py
@@ -463,8 +463,8 @@ def is_post_merge(spec):
     return spec.fork not in FORKS_BEFORE_MERGE
 
 
-with_altair_and_later = with_phases([ALTAIR, MERGE])
-with_merge_and_later = with_phases([MERGE])  # TODO: include sharding when spec stabilizes.
+with_altair_and_later = with_all_phases_except([PHASE0])
+with_merge_and_later = with_all_phases_except([PHASE0, ALTAIR])
 
 
 def only_generator(reason):
diff --git a/tests/generators/merkle/main.py b/tests/generators/merkle/main.py
index 7203c5f19..44fbec10c 100644
--- a/tests/generators/merkle/main.py
+++ b/tests/generators/merkle/main.py
@@ -1,4 +1,4 @@
-from eth2spec.test.helpers.constants import ALTAIR
+from eth2spec.test.helpers.constants import ALTAIR, MERGE
 from eth2spec.gen_helpers.gen_from_tests.gen import run_state_test_generators
 
 
@@ -6,9 +6,11 @@ if __name__ == "__main__":
     altair_mods = {key: 'eth2spec.test.altair.merkle.test_' + key for key in [
         'single_proof',
     ]}
+    merge_mods = altair_mods
 
     all_mods = {
-        ALTAIR: altair_mods
+        ALTAIR: altair_mods,
+        MERGE: merge_mods,
     }
 
     run_state_test_generators(runner_name="merkle", all_mods=all_mods)