Squad Captain MTG Card
Text of card
Vigilance (Attacking doesn't cause this creature to tap.) Squad Captain enters the battlefield with a +1/+1 counter on it for each other creature you control.
The strength of the one is the strength of the many.
Cards like Squad Captain
Squad Captain is a versatile creature card within Magic: The Gathering, sharing some familiarity with others in the ‘grows with your team’ category. Like the well-regarded Cathars’ Crusade, where each creature entering under your control puts a +1/+1 counter on creatures you control, Squad Captain arrives with a potentially significant boost. While Cathars’ Crusade affects multiple creatures and can exponentially grow your board presence, Squad Captain concentrates its power boost on itself, gaining +1/+1 for each other creature you control at the time of entry.
Unleashed potential is also evident in Wayfaring Temple, a card that like our Captain, gets stronger with a large army, its power and toughness each equal to the number of creatures you control. However, Squad Captain holds an advantage with its baseline toughness that provides staying power regardless of your creature count, unlike the Temple.
Analyzing the dynamics, Squad Captain holds its place as a card capable of instantly becoming a substantial threat, particularly in decks that flood the board with tokens or a multitude of creatures, forging a path to victory through sheer force bolstered by its comrades in arms.
Card Pros
Card Advantage: Squad Captain arrives on the battlefield with a power-up for each other creature you control, instantly boosting your presence without necessitating additional cards. This synergizes well in decks that amass a large number of creatures, providing not just an imposing creature but also the benefit of scaling power and toughness without depleting your hand.
Resource Acceleration: Although Squad Captain doesn’t directly provide mana or treasure tokens, its formidable presence can deter opponents from attacking, indirectly preserving your life and resources. This allows you to accelerate your game plan by focusing your mana on other spells and abilities while maintaining a robust defense.
Instant Speed: Despite Squad Captain being a creature that you can’t cast at instant speed, it fits into a strategy where you can deploy other instant speed spells until the moment is ripe to cast it, prepping the board to maximize its entrance effect. Managing your resources to ensure you can summon the Captain at a pivotal moment can turn the tide with its considerable battlefield impact.
Card Cons
Discard Requirement: Despite its potential to become a formidable force on the battlefield, the Squad Captain requires you to already have a substantial board presence. Without a number of creatures at your disposal, the value you get from the card is significantly diminished, making it less advantageous in the early game or in moments where you’re trying to come back from being behind.
Specific Mana Cost: The casting cost of Squad Captain relies heavily on generic mana, which, while flexible, includes a single green mana. This specificity can hinder its inclusion in multicolored decks that may not always have the green mana source readily available at the crucial moment of casting.
Comparatively High Mana Cost: Five mana to summon Squad Captain can be quite steep, especially considering it is a creature card that requires a wide board to be effective. In formats where the game pace is quick and efficient, spending this amount of mana on a card that does not provide an immediate impact can put you at a disadvantage against decks with lower curves that deliver faster results.
Reasons to Include in Your Collection
Versatility: Squad Captain is a flexible addition to decks seeking to capitalize on creature numbers. Its power and toughness can scale significantly in strategies that amass a large army, making it a sturdy threat in both offensive and defensive positions.
Combo Potential: This card excels in synergizing with effects that multiply creature presence, like token generation or flicker mechanics. With each entry or return to the battlefield, Squad Captain’s might is enhanced, aligning well with go-wide strategies.
Meta-Relevance: Considering the adaptability of Squad Captain in go-wide creature decks, it holds its ground in a variety of metagames. As creature-based strategies often surface across formats, this card can provide a substantial presence on the board, pivotal for turning the tide of battle.
How to beat
Squad Captain is a card worthy of note for its ability to make an immediate impact on the board state in Magic: The Gathering. The card thrives in creature-heavy decks, gaining a +1/+1 counter for each other creature you control at the time it enters the battlefield—potentially making it a sizable threat. The key to dismantling this strategy lies in keeping your opponent’s battlefield clear of creatures. Utilize removal spells or board wipes before the Squad Captain is played to minimize its power and toughness upon arrival.
Taking a proactive approach against decks that favor the Squad Captain is beneficial. This can be achieved by frequently disrupting opponent’s plays and maintaining control over the tempo of the game. Employ targeted removal spells like Path to Exile or Doom Blade, and for broader control, consider spells like Wrath of God or Damnation to clear multiple creatures at once. This denies the Squad Captain the opportunity to grow into a formidable force upon entering the battlefield.
Ultimately, defeating Squad Captain involves a blend of timing and control. By preemptively weakening your opponent’s creature base or responding promptly with removal, you nullify the advantage Squad Captain provides, keeping you one step ahead in the match.
Where to buy
If you're looking to purchase Squad Captain MTG card by a specific set like Core Set 2020 and Commander Legends, 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 Squad Captain and other MTG cards:
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- eBay
- 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
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Printings
The Squad Captain Magic the Gathering card was released in 2 different sets between 2019-07-12 and 2020-11-20. Illustrated by Cristi Balanescu.
| # | Released | Name | Code | Symbol | Number | Frame | Layout | Border | Artist |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 2019-07-12 | Core Set 2020 | M20 | 38 | 2015 | Normal | Black | Cristi Balanescu | |
| 2 | 2020-11-20 | Commander Legends | CMR | 51 | 2015 | Normal | Black | Cristi Balanescu |
Legalities
Magic the Gathering formats where Squad Captain 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 |
| Penny | Legal |
| Timeless | Legal |
Rules and information
The reference guide for Magic: The Gathering Squad Captain card rulings provides official rulings, any errata issued, as well as a record of all the functional modifications that have occurred.
| Date | Text |
|---|---|
| 2019-07-12 | If Squad Captain somehow enters the battlefield at the same time as another creature you control, it doesn't count that other creature. It counts only creatures that are already on the battlefield. |
Guide to Vigilance card ability
In the strategic universe of Magic: The Gathering (MTG), the vigilance ability stands out as a powerful tool for players. This potent keyword allows creatures to attack without tapping, keeping them ready and alert to defend against incoming threats. It represents a perfect balance between aggression and defense, offering a dynamic approach to gameplay. Lets dive deeper into how vigilance shapes the battlefield.