Squall Drifter MTG Card

Mana cost
Converted mana cost	2
Rarity	Common
Type	Snow Creature — Elemental
Abilities	Flying
Released	2006-07-21
Set symbol
Set name	Coldsnap
Set code	CSP
Power	1
Toughness	1
Number	17
Frame	2003
Layout	normal
Border	black
Illustred by	Joel Thomas

Key Takeaways

Card draw and mana ramp make Squall Drifter a strategic addition for maintaining resource superiority.
Playing at instant speed allows Squall Drifter to dynamically influence the game state.
Despite its versatility, the card’s specific mana colors and high cost may limit use.

Text of card

Flying , : Tap target creature.

"The scouts claim the cold has malice, and a mind. I begin to believe them. Impassable drifts seem to appear before us at every turn." —Aevar Borg, northern guide, journal entry

Card Pros

Card Advantage: Squall Drifter offers card draw, essential for outpacing opponents by having more options at your disposal.

Resource Acceleration: This card adeptly contributes to resource management by untapping two lands, effectively ramping up your mana availability.

Instant Speed: The ability to play Squall Drifter as an instant means you can adapt to the board state on the fly, often catching adversaries off-guard and optimizing your turn structure.

Card Cons

Discard Requirement: Squall Drifter’s ability is powerful, but it comes with the price of discarding a card. This can set you back if you don’t have an ample hand size or cards you’re willing to lose, negatively impacting your overall strategy.

Specific Mana Cost: This card’s casting and ability costs require both blue and red mana, which may not align smoothly with all deck compositions. It’s particularly limiting for players who aren’t running a deck specific to these mana colors.

Comparatively High Mana Cost: While Squall Drifter offers some strategic benefits, its collective mana cost is on the higher side when you factor in both casting and ability usage. This makes it less ideal when there are other lower-cost creatures that could potentially provide a similar impact on the game with fewer resources.

Reasons to Include in Your Collection

Versatility: Squall Drifter is a card that can easily find a home in various deck types. Its ability to manipulate both the board state and hand simultaneously makes it a unique pick for players seeking to maintain momentum in the game.

Combo Potential: This card has a synergistic edge, ready to be explored in decks that capitalize on its abilities. The flicker effect can be used in conjunction with enter-the-battlefield triggers, adding a layer of depth to combo interactions.

Meta-Relevance: As the game’s meta shifts, Squall Drifter holds its ground by offering both strategic flexibility and potential game-changing plays, adapting to an array of competitive environments.

How to Beat Squall Drifter in Gameplay

Squall Drifter may seem like a formidable force with its ability to disrupt your strategies by tapping potential attackers or blockers. As a seasoned MTG player, you might find Squall Drifter to be a bit tricky to handle due to its evasion skills and potentially game-altering impacts. Recognizing that it’s a creature that can manipulate combat phases makes it a target that requires a keen strategy to overcome.

One effective tactic is to implement instant-speed removal spells that can be cast before the creature has a chance to execute its tap-down effect. Consider using spells that can destroy or exile creatures regardless of their flying ability. Moreover, spells that counter creatures upon casting could nip the problem in the bud before Squall Drifter even touches the battlefield.

Alternatively, leveraging abilities that make your creatures untargetable will protect your side from becoming frozen in place by the Drifter’s ability. By adjusting your deck to prepare for interactions with such control elements, you can ensure that Squall Drifter won’t throw your game plan off course, helping you maintain the upper hand against opponents who rely on this icy tactic.

Cards like Squall Drifter

Squall Drifter is an intriguing creature card from Magic: The Gathering, showcasing abilities shared by others in its class. Its comparison with cards like Frost Lynx reveals that both have the ability to tap a target creature, with Frost Lynx doing so upon entering the battlefield. Squall Drifter, however, offers this effect with a twist, allowing the ability to be triggered every turn given its snow permanent requirement.

Additionally, we can look at Avalanche Caller as a similar card in the snow-synergy category. While Avalanche Caller doesn’t tap creatures, it excels in transforming snow lands into potential attacking creatures. Squall Drifter, in contrast, focuses on controlling the board by neutralizing opponent’s threats. Another card worth comparing is Ice-Fang Coatl, which not only taps creatures when it has enough snow permanents but also brings card draw and deathtouch to the table, offering a more versatile approach in the gameplay.

Considering such comparisons, Squall Drifter aligns well among creatures that influence battlefield conditions, contrasting others with its continuous potential to disrupt enemy strategies, positioning it as a strategic option in snow-centric decks in Magic: The Gathering.

Cards similar to Squall Drifter by color, type and mana cost

Voice of the Blessed - MTG Card versions

Silverflame Squire // On Alert - MTG Card versions

White Knight - Duel Decks: Knights vs. Dragons (DDG)

Angelic Page - Battle Royale Box Set (BRB)

Voice of the Blessed - Innistrad: Crimson Vow (VOW)

Stoneforge Mystic - Magic Online Promos (PRM)

Drannith Magistrate - Ikoria: Lair of Behemoths (IKO)

Leonin Lightscribe - Magic Online Promos (PRM)

Silver Knight - Magic Online Promos (PRM)

Longbow Archer - Magic Online Promos (PRM)

Silverflame Squire // On Alert - Magic Online Promos (PRM)

Soltari Priest - Tempest Remastered (TPR)

Luminarch Aspirant - Magic Online Promos (PRM)

Where to buy

If you're looking to purchase Squall Drifter MTG card by a specific set like Coldsnap, 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 Squall Drifter and other MTG cards: