Squallmonger MTG Card

Card Pros

Card Advantage: Squallmonger offers an intriguing card advantage by allowing players to deal damage to each creature and each player. This universal application can shift the balance of the game by clearing the board of smaller creatures or by whittling down opposing players’ life totals concurrently.

Resource Acceleration: While Squallmonger itself doesn’t directly produce mana, its ability to control the board can be seen as a form of resource acceleration. By eliminating key threats or deterring opponent plays due to the potential damage, Squallmonger can prolong your resources and strengthen your standing.

Instant Speed: Despite Squallmonger’s ability not having instant speed, its effect can be activated at any time you could cast an instant. This provides tactical flexibility, letting you wait until the most opportune moment during any player’s turn to unleash its power, be it during combat or in response to an opponent’s actions.

Card Cons

Discard Requirement: Players must be mindful of Squallmonger’s ability, as it requires you to have a steady flow of available cards. Utilizing its ability without a full grip can put you at a notable disadvantage, leaving you scrambling for card advantage.

Specific Mana Cost: Squallmonger may demand a heavy green mana investment. This specificity can be restrictive, limiting the card’s integration into multicolored or colorless decks that may not have consistent access to green mana.

Comparatively High Mana Cost: With its mana cost leaning on the higher side, Squallmonger might not be the first pick for players seeking cost-efficient creature cards. Other creatures or spells could offer similar or greater board impact with less mana investment, potentially making Squallmonger a less optimal choice in competitive environments.

Reasons to Include in Your Collection

Versatility: Squallmonger’s ability to damage each creature and each player makes it a dynamic tool in a variety of decks. Its utility in multiplayer games cannot be overstated, adapting fluidly to the changing board states common in formats like Commander.

Combo Potential: Within the right deck, this card shines by working in tandem with life-gain strategies or cards that benefit from damage being dealt. It can be a key piece in an intricate puzzle that leads to a game-winning combo.

Meta-Relevance: A meta filled with creature-heavy decks or where life totals are a constant battle could make Squallmonger particularly effective. Its impact is felt across the board, making it a timely addition to deal with a range of threats.

How to beat

Squallmonger presents a unique challenge on the battlefield, providing players with the ability to deal damage to each creature and each player at will. To effectively navigate around this card, it’s essential to disrupt the mana resources that fuel its ability. Cards that restrict or counter activations, such as Pithing Needle or Linvala, Keeper of Silence, can swiftly neutralize the threat posed. Additionally, taking advantage of Squallmonger’s symmetrical damage output is key. This can be through designing your deck to be less susceptible to damage or by using life-gain strategies to outpace the damage it deals.

Another successful tactic is to utilize creature removal spells. Since Squallmonger is a creature itself, it can be taken out of play with removal spells such as Fatal Push or Path to Exile. Thus, keeping these or similar instant-speed removal spells handy can be crucial once Squallmonger hits the table. Combining creature control with pressure and damage mitigation will ensure your deck remains competitive, even when facing the windy onslaught of the Squallmonger.