Sand Squid MTG Card

Mana cost
Converted mana cost	4
Rarity	Rare
Type	Creature — Squid Beast
Abilities	Islandwalk,Landwalk
Released	1999-10-04
Set symbol
Set name	Mercadian Masques
Set code	MMQ
Power	2
Toughness	2
Number	96
Frame	1997
Layout	Normal
Border	Black
Illustred by	Kev Walker

Key Takeaways

Sand Squid can be a continuous disruption, potentially leading to card advantage and stalling opponents.
Its ability for instant speed tapping adds flexible control, enhancing its tactical use.
Despite these strengths, its upkeep cost and specific mana requirements are notable drawbacks.

Text of card

Islandwalk (This creature is unblockable as long as defending player controls an island.) You may choose not to untap Sand Squid during your untap step. oc T: Tap target creature. That creature does not untap during its controller's untap step as long as Sand Squid remains tapped.

Card Pros

Card Advantage: Sand Squid offers the potential to lock down an opponent’s creature each turn, effectively serving as a continuous source of disruption. This capacity to hinder your opponent’s board can indirectly lead to card advantage as their creatures are rendered unusable, potentially stalling their strategy and preserving your hand.

Resource Acceleration: By controlling the board and keeping key threats at bay, Sand Squid may allow you to spend your mana more effectively elsewhere. Though not directly providing additional resources, it can contribute to a faster tempo, forcing your opponents to invest more into overcoming the obstacle it presents. This can translate to better resource allocation and acceleration of your own game plan.

Instant Speed: The ability to tap Sand Squid at instant speed to disable an opponent’s creature allows you to wait until the most opportune moment to disrupt their moves. Furthermore, this can be done at the end of their turn, making it a flexible control tool and a surprise element during combat or in response to certain spells and abilities.

Card Cons

Discard Requirement: Sand Squid’s upkeep cost requires players to discard a card, which could deplete hand advantage and be detrimental during a tightly contested matchup.

Specific Mana Cost: Requiring both blue and colorless mana, Sand Squid can be challenging to cast on curve, particularly in multicolor decks that might struggle with mana consistency.

Comparatively High Mana Cost: With a substantial mana investment needed to put the Sand Squid into play, it competes with other four-mana spells that might provide instant impact or more value over time.

Reasons to Include in Your Collection

Versatility: Sand Squid adds a unique dynamic to blue control decks with its ability to tap potential threats. Whether you’re facing aggressive creatures or need to disable an opponent’s strategy, this creature can adapt to various situations on the battlefield.

Combo Potential: Its ability to tap another creature when it becomes untapped opens doors for numerous combos, especially in formats that allow for untap shenanigans. Pairing Sand Squid with cards that untap creatures can create a soft lock on the opponent’s board.

Meta-Relevance: In a game where tempo plays a crucial role, having a persistent tap effect within blue’s control archetype can disrupt opponent strategies. As the meta fluctuates, Sand Squid can be especially relevant against decks that rely on key creatures to win.

How to Beat Sand Squid

Sand Squid presents a unique challenge in Magic: The Gathering due to its ability to tap down opposing creatures. This aquatic menace can hinder aggressive strategies by continuously incapacitating your most threatening creatures. However, there are efficient methods to overcome this particular roadblock. Removal spells are a decisive answer to the Sand Squid. Spells that can destroy or exile creatures bypass the Squid’s tapping ability altogether. Instant speed removals like Path to Exile or Fatal Push can deal with the Squid before it has a chance to lock down your team.

Alternatively, utilizing creature abilities that don’t rely on attacking can circumvent Sand Squid’s control. Activated abilities or effects from cards like Goblin Sharpshooter or Prodigal Sorcerer can apply pressure without entering the combat phase. Moreover, taking advantage of the Squid’s downside, which requires an island to untap during your untap step, strategically managing land play can leave the Squid vulnerable. Employing land destruction or land type alteration as part of your strategy adds another layer to overcoming the Sand Squid.

In essence, while Sand Squid can pose an annoying obstacle, a well-prepared deck with removals, alternate strategies, or land interaction can handle the threat effectively. It’s about adapting your tactics and maintaining flexibility in your plays.

Cards like Sand Squid

When delving into the realms of Magic: The Gathering creatures that control the battlefield, Sand Squid emerges as an intriguing utility monster. Its ability to tap down an opponent’s creature by sacrificing an Island stands in comparison with cards like Frost Titan. While Frost Titan taps a target when it attacks or enters the battlefield and prevents that permanent from untapping during the controller’s next untap step, Sand Squid offers more consistent, albeit costly, control.

Ice Floe shares a similar control concept with Sand Squid, but it does so without a cost, tapping creatures that it blocks or that attack you. On the flip side, Sand Squid can act proactively, tapping potential attackers or blockers during your turn. Another comparable control card is Tidal Warrior, which instead of tapping, changes targeted lands to Islands, which could indirectly control combat situations or mana availability.

Given these comparisons, it’s clear that Sand Squid can hold its place among creatures that dictate combat dynamics. The cost of maintaining its control on the field is a strategic decision thatsome decks will accommodate for the potential benefits Sand Squid brings to a match in Magic: The Gathering.

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Where to buy

If you're looking to purchase Sand Squid MTG card by a specific set like Mercadian Masques, 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 Sand Squid and other MTG cards: