Selfless Squire MTG Card


Card setsReleased in 5 setsSee all
Mana cost
Converted mana cost4
RarityRare
TypeCreature — Human Soldier
Abilities Flash
Power 1
Toughness 1

Key Takeaways

  1. Transforms prevented damage into a powerful tactical advantage, bolstering board state.
  2. Brings unique versatility with its flash ability, ideal for surprise defense.
  3. Restrictive mana cost and strategy commitment could limit deck integration.
Flash card art

Guide to Flash card ability

Explore the dynamic Flash ability in Magic: The Gathering (MTG), a feature that allows you to cast spells at lightning speed, often leaving your opponents reeling and your strategy several steps ahead. This versatile ability can turn the tide of a game, providing the element of surprise and tactical advantage. It places a premium on timing and foresight, transforming an ordinary deck into a formidable arsenal of instant threats and responses.

Text of card

Flash When Selfless Squire enters the battlefield, prevent all damage that would be dealt to you this turn. Whenever damage that would be dealt to you is prevented, put that many +1/+1 counters on Selfless Squire.


Card Pros

Card Advantage: Selfless Squire’s ability to prevent damage not only negates a potentially game-ending blow but also turns that prevention into power, increasing your board presence significantly. This can translate directly into card advantage as you maintain your creatures while opponents lose theirs.

Resource Acceleration: Though not directly adding mana, Selfless Squire can be considered a resource accelerator by its capacity to save your mana investments. Preserving key creatures allows you to allocate mana towards other spells and abilities, effectively speeding up your game plan.

Instant Speed: The flash mechanic gives Selfless Squire an edge, offering the versatility to be played at instant speed. This means you can wait until the last moment before an opponent’s attack lands, catching them by surprise and effectively countering what could have been a devastating turn for you.


Card Cons

Discard Requirement: While the Selfless Squire does not require you to discard a card, it does ask for a commitment to a particular game strategy that can put you in a bind if your hand is already running thin on options.

Specific Mana Cost: The casting requirement of Selfless Squire’s white mana cost can limit its inclusion to decks heavy in that color, possibly stifling deck diversity and flexibility in your game plan.

Comparatively High Mana Cost: With a four-mana investment needed to bring this creature onto the battlefield, it can be argued that there might be alternative cards with lower costs that can provide comparable, if not better, protection or utility within your deck.


Reasons to Include in Your Collection

Versatility: Selfless Squire offers a unique utility for Commander decks, allowing players to flash it in response to an overwhelming attack. As a protectant for both life totals and important creatures, it serves as an adaptable defensive tool that can fit into various deck archetypes.

Combo Potential: With its ability to accumulate counters based upon damage prevented, Selfless Squire has combo potential with cards that can reuse or multiply its effect. Manipulating counters or repeatedly bouncing it back to hand allows for sustained board protection and a steadily growing threat.

Meta-Relevance: In competitive circles where large swings of combat damage or combo finishes are prevalent, Selfless Squire’s preemptive damage prevention can be a game-changer. It’s particularly relevant in metas heavy with aggro strategies, where it can nullify a critical turn and give you the upper hand.


How to beat

Selfless Squire is a unique creature in MTG that can be a real game-changer on the battlefield. It excels due to its Flash ability, enabling you to cast it at a time most advantageous to you, often when your opponent least expects it. Not only does it prevent the damage that would be dealt to you this turn, but it also adds that much power to itself in the form of +1/+1 counters.

To effectively counteract Selfless Squire, it is critical to anticipate its arrival. Hold onto removal spells or counter it directly as it triggers its Flash ability. Cards with Split Second can be particularly useful as they prevent your opponent from responding while the spell is on the stack. Additionally, employing strategies that limit the squire’s effect, like reducing the number of creatures that are attacking you or manipulating combat outcomes, can diminish its power boost.

Ultimately, Selfless Squire demands a strategic approach to defeat. Managing your resources to have an answer ready for its surprise deployment is fundamental. Keep those counterspells, instant-speed removals, and combat tricks handy to maintain control over the duel and prevent your opponent from leveraging Selfless Squire’s protective prowess.


BurnMana Recommendations

Selfless Squire is a valuable ally on the battlefield, offering a strategic edge with its Flash ability and damage prevention. Its potential to turn the tide of combat and enhance your board state makes it a worthy addition to any Commander deck. For players aiming to thwart aggressive opponents and preserve pivotal creatures, this card is a fantastic tool that also doubles as an offensive advantage post-combat. Looking to bolster your MTG arsenal with this versatile creature or find similar tactical game-changers? Dive deeper into strategy with us and discover how to maximize your gameplay with Selfless Squire.


Exploring the Characteristics of Selfless Squire

The standout trait of Selfless Squire in MTG is its unique Flash ability coupled with a defensive mechanic that not only prevents damage but also converts it into a boon. This capacity for emergency defense distinguishes it from other creatures typically found on the battlefield. As a part of the Commander set, Selfless Squire offers both surprise and turning the tides of combat in your favor, making it a particularly strategic inclusion in decks built for resilience and protection.

Cards like Selfless Squire

Selfless Squire sits in a niche category of creatures that function as instant-speed combat tricks. It’s often weighed against cards like Stonehorn Dignitary, which also disrupts combat but lacks the Flash mechanic, making Selfless Squire the superior choice for sudden impact. Guardian of the Gateless is another related card, offering a wall against multiple creatures while supporting a player’s life total, though it doesn’t provide the same offensive advantage of converting prevented damage into power like Selfless Squire.

Comparably, Knight-Captain of Eos delivers a protective offering through soldier token generation and a tactical sacrifice ability to prevent combat damage. Although it presents a different angle of control, it doesn’t match the immediate and direct damage prevention that Selfless Squire can deploy. This emphasis on timing and versatility makes Selfless Squire an essential card for players seeking a counterbalance to aggressive strategies while providing a potential swing in power during pivotal moments in the game.

Stonehorn Dignitary - MTG Card versions
Guardian of the Gateless - MTG Card versions
Knight-Captain of Eos - MTG Card versions
Stonehorn Dignitary - Magic 2012 (M12)
Guardian of the Gateless - Gatecrash (GTC)
Knight-Captain of Eos - Shards of Alara (ALA)

Cards similar to Selfless Squire by color, type and mana cost

Northern Paladin - MTG Card versions
Moorish Cavalry - MTG Card versions
Witch Hunter - MTG Card versions
Carrier Pigeons - MTG Card versions
Tormented Angel - MTG Card versions
Seasoned Marshal - MTG Card versions
Coalition Honor Guard - MTG Card versions
Teroh's Vanguard - MTG Card versions
Mangara, the Diplomat - MTG Card versions
Akroma's Devoted - MTG Card versions
Leonin Abunas - MTG Card versions
Kami of Old Stone - MTG Card versions
Aven Cloudchaser - MTG Card versions
Blinking Spirit - MTG Card versions
Seht's Tiger - MTG Card versions
Valor - MTG Card versions
Guardian Seraph - MTG Card versions
Lightkeeper of Emeria - MTG Card versions
Cho-Manno, Revolutionary - MTG Card versions
Hero of Bladehold - MTG Card versions
Northern Paladin - Revised Edition (3ED)
Moorish Cavalry - Arabian Nights (ARN)
Witch Hunter - Chronicles (CHR)
Carrier Pigeons - Alliances (ALL)
Tormented Angel - Urza's Destiny (UDS)
Seasoned Marshal - Battle Royale Box Set (BRB)
Coalition Honor Guard - Apocalypse (APC)
Teroh's Vanguard - Torment (TOR)
Mangara, the Diplomat - Magic Online Promos (PRM)
Akroma's Devoted - Legions (LGN)
Leonin Abunas - Mirrodin (MRD)
Kami of Old Stone - Champions of Kamigawa (CHK)
Aven Cloudchaser - Ninth Edition (9ED)
Blinking Spirit - Ninth Edition (9ED)
Seht's Tiger - Salvat 2005 (PSAL)
Valor - Time Spiral Timeshifted (TSB)
Guardian Seraph - Magic 2010 (M10)
Lightkeeper of Emeria - Worldwake (WWK)
Cho-Manno, Revolutionary - Salvat 2011 (PS11)
Hero of Bladehold - Mirrodin Besieged (MBS)

Where to buy

If you're looking to purchase Selfless Squire MTG card by a specific set like Commander 2016 and Treasure Chest, there are several reliable options to consider. One of the primary sources is your local game store, where you can often find booster packs, individual cards, and preconstructed decks from current and some past sets. They often offer the added benefit of a community where you can trade with other players.

For a broader inventory, particularly of older sets, online marketplaces like TCGPlayer, Card Kingdom and Card Market offer extensive selections and allow you to search for cards from specific sets. Larger e-commerce platforms like eBay and Amazon also have listings from various sellers, which can be a good place to look for sealed product and rare finds.

Additionally, Magic’s official site often has a store locator and retailer lists for finding Wizards of the Coast licensed products. Remember to check for authenticity and the condition of the cards when purchasing, especially from individual sellers on larger marketplaces.

Below is a list of some store websites where you can buy the Selfless Squire and other MTG cards:

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Printings

The Selfless Squire Magic the Gathering card was released in 5 different sets between 2016-11-11 and 2024-02-09. Illustrated by 2 different artists.

#ReleaseNameCodeSymbolNumberFrameLayoutBorderArtist
12016-11-11Commander 2016C16 42015normalblackTony Foti
22016-11-16Treasure ChestPZ2 72015normalblackTony Foti
32021-04-23Commander 2021C21 1032015normalblackTony Foti
42023-06-23Tales of Middle-earth CommanderLTC 1762015normalblackKim Sokol
52024-02-09Murders at Karlov Manor CommanderMKC 822015normalblackTony Foti

Legalities

Magic the Gathering formats where Selfless Squire has restrictions

FormatLegality
CommanderLegal
LegacyLegal
OathbreakerLegal
VintageLegal
DuelLegal

Rules and information

The reference guide for Magic: The Gathering Selfless Squire card rulings provides official rulings, any errata issued, as well as a record of all the functional modifications that have occurred.

DateText
2016-11-08 Selfless Squire's first triggered ability prevents all damage that would be dealt to you this turn after the triggered ability resolves, even if Selfless Squire leaves the battlefield.
2016-11-08 Selfless Squire's second triggered ability doesn't trigger only when damage is prevented by its first triggered ability's effect. Any effect that uses the word "prevent" will cause it to trigger.

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