A video decoder determines whether the current block is coded by using intra block copy mode. The video decoder identifies a list of one or more prediction candidates for the current block. When the current block is not coded by using intra block copy mode, one or more spatial neighbors of the current block that are positioned in a same MER as the current block are excluded from the list of prediction candidates. When the current block is coded by using intra block copy mode and the list of prediction candidates belongs to a predefined subset of multiple different candidate lists, at least one of the identified prediction candidates is a spatial neighbor of the current block that is positioned in the MER. The video decoder reconstructs the current block by using a prediction candidate selected from the list of prediction candidates to generate a prediction of the current block.