Squealing Devil MTG Card
| Mana cost | |
| Converted mana cost | 2 |
| Rarity | Uncommon |
| Type | Creature — Devil |
| Abilities | Fear |
| Released | 2006-05-05 |
| Set symbol | |
| Set name | Dissension |
| Set code | DIS |
| Power | 2 |
| Toughness | 1 |
| Number | 72 |
| Frame | 2003 |
| Layout | Normal |
| Border | Black |
| Illustred by | Matt Cavotta |
Key Takeaways
- Squealing Devil provides indirect card advantage with a strong board presence requiring immediate opponent response.
- The card’s flexibility can disrupt opponents’ plans, but it demands a specific mana combination.
- Although it presents combo potential, it has a high mana cost which may affect its efficiency.
Text of card
Fear When Squealing Devil comes into play, you may pay . If you do, target creature gets +X/+0 until end of turn. When Squealing Devil comes into play, sacrifice it unless was spent to play it.
Card Pros
Card Advantage: While Squealing Devil does not allow you to draw cards directly, it creates a significant impact on the field by providing you with a strong aggressive option. The card has the potential to turn the tide by offering an immediate threat that must be dealt with, which could lead to your opponent using up resources, subsequently generating indirect card advantage for you.
Resource Acceleration: As part of the card’s flexible nature, Squealing Devil does not inherently accelerate your resources. However, the fear factor it introduces may force opponents to react prematurely, potentially disrupting their mana curve and allowing you to stay ahead in the resource race.
Instant Speed: Although Squealing Devil is a sorcery speed creature, the flexibility in its payment cost and the sacrifice mechanic enable you to make decisive plays on your turn. Playing Squealing Devil with the right amount of mana can yield immediate board presence and pressure, akin to the advantages instant speed interactions provide during critical junctures in a match.
Card Cons
Discard Requirement: Squealing Devil’s potential to amp up the intensity of your game comes with a discard stipulation. This necessity to discard another card for its powerful effect can be a double-edged sword. Should your hand be already running on empty, the requirement becomes a steep price to pay, potentially leaving you at a tactical disadvantage.
Specific Mana Cost: As with many creatures that ooze power and versatility, Squealing Devil demands a very specific mana combination to hit the battlefield. The requirement for both black and red mana makes it a less flexible option in multi-colored decks that may not always have the necessary resources at the ready.
Comparatively High Mana Cost: The cost efficiency of Squealing Devil could be called into question when examining the broader scope of available cards. With a casting and additional ability cost that can tally up, one might wonder if the mana investment outweighs the benefits, especially when other cards could offer similar enhancements without such a heavy toll on your mana pool.
Reasons to Include in Your Collection
Versatility: Squealing Devil offers dynamic play options, capable of fitting into aggressive decks that thrive on fast-paced, creature-centric strategies. Its ability to boost itself or other creatures temporarily allows for sudden and unexpected shifts in battlefield power.
Combo Potential: With its unique ability to pay life and return to your hand, Squealing Devil has the potential to create synergies with life-gain strategies or cards that benefit from creature casts. This provides opportunities for inventive combos that can outmaneuver opponents.
Meta-Relevance: In environments where tempo plays a crucial role, Squealing Devil can adapt to either press the advantage or serve as a surprise blocker. Its relevance in the meta can shift with the rise of strategies where timing and creature-based interactions are key.
How to beat
Squealing Devil is a unique card within the realm of Magic the Gathering, providing a flexible power boost in exchange for life points. It stands out due to its ability to swing games with its surprise offensive capability. As a creature that can give itself or another creature a potential +X/+0 until end of turn where X is the amount of life you pay, it’s crucial to manage your life total prudently when employing this card.
To tackle Squealing Devil effectively, consider utilizing removal spells before it can activate its power-enhancing ability. This preemptive strategy can disrupt your opponent’s plan, removing the threat without the loss of life points. Remember, timing is key; instant speed removals like Fatal Push or Path to Exile could be particularly effective when cast in response to Squealing Devil’s ability being activated. Countermeasures such as life gain strategies and preventative cards also reduce the impact Squealing Devil can have on the game.
Ultimately, understanding the mechanics and timings involved with Squealing Devil is essential for any MTG player seeking to counter this deceptively dangerous card effectively. Properly countering this card relies on both strategic play and an awareness of the cards that can diminish its potential impact on the match.
Cards like Squealing Devil
Squealing Devil is a unique creature within the scope of MTG, reminiscent of others that can amplify their impact through additional mana investment. Such mechanics echo the dynamics of Firebreathing, which also allows players to pay more mana to increase a creature’s power. Although Firebreathing solely boosts power without affecting toughness, Squealing Devil offers the flexibility to temporarily buff both power and toughness with its entwine cost.
Comparably, there’s the fervent Rush of Blood. This instant spell doubles a creature’s power until the end of turn for a moderate mana cost. Despite the potentially more significant boost, Squealing Devil’s effect includes a toughness increase and the creature itself can immediately impact the board. Then, delve into the realm of Skirk Prospector, a creature that can be sacrificed for a quick mana surge, somewhat analogous to Squealing Devil’s sacrifice feature, however, the latter offers an added offensive bonus.
In sum, while analyzing creature abilities and their strategic utility in MTG, Squealing Devil emerges as a tactically versatile option, especially when quick power and toughness enhancements are required. Its ability to impact the game both as a creature and an effect echoes its duality and potential for gameplay manipulation.
Cards similar to Squealing Devil by color, type and mana cost
Where to buy
If you're looking to purchase Squealing Devil MTG card by a specific set like Dissension, 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 Squealing Devil and other MTG cards:
- eBay
- TCG Player
- Card Kingdom
- Card Market
- Star City Games
- CoolStuffInc
- MTG Mint Card
- Hareruya
- Troll and Toad
- ABU Games
- Card Hoarder Magic Online
- MTGO Traders Magic Online
See MTG Products
Legalities
Magic the Gathering formats where Squealing Devil has restrictions
| Format | Legality |
|---|---|
| Commander | Legal |
| Legacy | Legal |
| Paupercommander | Restricted |
| Modern | Legal |
| Oathbreaker | Legal |
| Vintage | Legal |
| Duel | Legal |
| Predh | Legal |
Rules and information
The reference guide for Magic: The Gathering Squealing Devil card rulings provides official rulings, any errata issued, as well as a record of all the functional modifications that have occurred.
| Date | Text |
|---|---|
| 2006-05-01 | For this creature to not be sacrificed, must have been spent on the mana cost. It doesn’t matter if is spent on . |
| 2006-05-01 | If this enters the battlefield in a way other than announcing it as a spell, then the appropriate mana can’t have been paid, and you’ll have to sacrifice it. |
| 2006-05-01 | You choose the value of X as Squealing Devil’s ability resolves. X can be 0. |
