Nightsquad Commando MTG Card

Nightsquad Commando - Ikoria: Lair of Behemoths

Mana cost
Converted mana cost	3
Rarity	Common
Type	Creature — Human Soldier
Released	2020-04-24
Set symbol
Set name	Ikoria: Lair of Behemoths
Set code	IKO
Power	2
Toughness	3
Number	98
Frame	2015
Layout	Normal
Border	Black
Illustred by	Evyn Fong

Key Takeaways

Nightsquad Commando offers card advantage by generating extra value when entering the battlefield.
It can accelerate your gameplay by triggering chain reactions when coupled with other creatures.
Despite a restrictive mana cost, its value in creature-based strategies shouldn’t be underestimated.

Text of card

When Nightsquad Commando enters the battlefield, if you attacked this turn, create a 1/1 white Human Soldier creature token.

"The big fella sounds hungry. Let's send him to bed without his supper."

Card Pros

Card Advantage: Nightsquad Commando shines in its ability to generate additional value upon entering the battlefield, presenting an opportunity to scale up game resources as the match progresses. Whether it’s replacing itself in your hand or offering a strategic advantage, this card ensures that you’re not falling behind in the exchange of resources.

Resource Acceleration: The synergy with other cards that reward you for having a creature enter the battlefield could potentially spark a chain reaction of summons, escalating your presence on the board rapidly. This card sets up a platform for potential explosive turns, accelerating your game plan significantly.

Instant Speed: While Nightsquad Commando itself is not an instant, its interaction with cards that operate at instant speed can be pivotal. Providing a body on the battlefield on your turn, it can interact favorably with effects or spells your deck might harbor that are designed to be cast at instant speed, thus allowing for agile and dynamic playstyles.

Card Cons

Discard Requirement: Nightsquad Commando’s ability necessitates discarding a card, potentially diminishing your hand advantage and putting you at a strategic deficit, particularly in the later game when card resources become crucial.

Specific Mana Cost: The mana cost of Nightsquad Commando is narrowly defined, requiring black mana which may not be optimally aligned with deck strategies that do not heavily utilize this color or are more mana-diverse.

Comparatively High Mana Cost: With a mana value that is on the higher side for its abilities, Nightsquad Commando competes with other creatures and spells that may provide more value or impact on the game at the same or lower cost threshold.

Reasons to Include Nightsquad Commando in Your Collection

Versatility: Nightsquad Commando excels in its ability to adapt to an array of gameplans. As a creature card, it fits seamlessly into decks that are focused on creature synergies or those that want reliable board presence. The afterlife mechanic ensures that not only do you get a dependable blocker, but an additional token for your strategies post-mortem.

Combo Potential: The additional spirit token created by the afterlife ability provides excellent combo potential. It can be employed to empower sacrifice strategies, bolster the number of creatures for effects that count them, or simply to provide a flyer that can carry equipment or be enhanced by anthems.

Meta-Relevance: In a meta teeming with aggressive strategies, Nightsquad Commando serves as an obstacle to enemy attacks while continuously promoting your game state. Its ability to leave behind another creature upon death makes it a resilient choice, especially in metas where board wipes and creature removal are prevalent tools of the trade.

How to beat

Navigating the challenges presented by Nightsquad Commando in MTG requires strategic finesse and a good defense. One effective approach is to limit the card’s impact by controlling the board state. This means having removal spells ready to dispatch the Commando before its battalion ability can be triggered. The battalion effect only activates if the Commando and at least two other creatures attack, so maintaining board control is key.

Spot removal cards are particularly useful in this scenario. Spells like Doom Blade or Path to Exile can target and eliminate Nightsquad Commando without much fuss, preventing any additional soldier tokens from being created. It’s also beneficial to have creatures with higher toughness to block and withstand the Commando’s attacks. Another tactic is to use counterspells to stop Nightsquad Commando from ever entering the battlefield. This preemptive measure can save you the trouble of dealing with it later on in the game.

Preparation and anticipation are crucial when facing Nightsquad Commando. Building a deck with a combination of removal, counterspells, and sturdy blockers will significantly diminish the Commando’s impact and help you maintain the upper hand in your MTG matches.

Cards like Nightsquad Commando

Nightsquad Commando is a distinctive piece in the collection of creature cards within MTG. Its comparison brings to light others like Goblin Instigator, which also serves the purpose of generating additional creature tokens upon entering the battlefield. However, Goblin Instigator does not have the conditional requirement of attacking that Nightsquad Commando has, which triggers its ability to create a 1/1 black Human Soldier creature token with lifelink. While not bearing the lifelink perk, Goblin Instigator consistently offers a token without an attack requirement.

Another relative of Nightsquad Commando is Doomed Dissenter. It brings something slightly different to the table, contributing to board presence with a token upon death rather than on an attack. Nonetheless, both these cards are instrumental in strategies focused on overwhelming opponents with an army of tokens. The lifelink tokens from Nightsquad Commando grant it an edge in terms of life gain, yet Doomed Dissenter has a more reliable token generation mechanic since it doesn’t necessitate an attack.

Evaluating the synergy and the conditions attached to Nightsquad Commando and its kindreds offer players strategic depth in deck building. Its position in MTG is solidified through its unique balance of risk and potential reward, enhancing token-driven strategies.

Where to buy

If you're looking to purchase Nightsquad Commando MTG card by a specific set like Ikoria: Lair of Behemoths, 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 Nightsquad Commando and other MTG cards:

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Legalities

Magic the Gathering formats where Nightsquad Commando has restrictions

Format	Legality
Historicbrawl	Legal
Historic	Legal
Legacy	Legal
Paupercommander	Legal
Oathbreaker	Legal
Gladiator	Legal
Pioneer	Legal
Commander	Legal
Modern	Legal
Pauper	Legal
Vintage	Legal
Duel	Legal
Explorer	Legal
Timeless	Legal

Rules and information

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

Date	Text
2020-04-17	Nightsquad Commando’s ability checks only whether you declared an attacking creature during the turn. It doesn’t trigger once for each such creature, and it doesn’t check whether any attacking creatures dealt damage.