Squirrel Wrangler MTG Card
2000-06-05 - Number 127
2019-11-07 - Number 1340
2021-08-26 - Number 647
2019-12-02 - Number 198
2020-09-26 - Number PCY-127
| Card sets | Released in 5 setsSee all |
| Mana cost | |
| Converted mana cost | 4 |
| Rarity | Rare |
| Type | Creature — Human Druid |
| Power | 2 |
| Toughness | 2 |
Key Takeaways
- Generates two Squirrel tokens per land, significantly increasing board presence and creature count.
- Instant speed abilities add strategic depth and flexibility to gameplay, enhancing tactical plays.
- Demands careful resource management due to land sacrifice, shaping its role in deck building.
Text of card
o1o G, Sacrifice a land: Put two 1/1 green Squirrel creature tokens into play. o1o G, Sacrifice a land: All Squirrels get +1/+1 until end of turn.
"Gnawed to death. Bad way to go."
Card Pros
Card Advantage: Squirrel Wrangler provides a unique edge in the form of generating creatures. This means that with enough resources at your disposal, you can expand your board presence significantly. For each land you sacrifice, you get not one, but two Squirrel tokens, potentially doubling your on-field assets and overwhelming your opponent with sheer numbers.
Resource Acceleration: While the Squirrel Wrangler itself doesn’t directly produce additional mana or lands, the Squirrels created can be pivotal in strategies that benefit from having numerous creatures on the field. These creatures can then be utilized in various ways to ramp up your resources through other card interactions, making it a versatile tool for building momentum.
Instant Speed: The abilities of Squirrel Wrangler can be used at instant speed, giving you the flexibility to create Squirrels or pump them up at the most opportune moments. Whether you’re thwarting an attacker with an unexpected block or enhancing your creatures right before damage is dealt, this card adds a layer of strategy and unpredictability to your game.
Card Cons
Discard Requirement: As a Squirrel Wrangler player, you might find yourself in a bind when the card asks for a sacrifice not just in terms of creatures but also potential land resources. This trade-off can put you at a disadvantage, especially when the game board state necessitates a strong land presence.
Specific Mana Cost: Squirrel Wrangler’s demand for both green mana sources can be restrictive. It’s tailored for a mono-green or heavily green-centric deck, which might not fit into more versatile or multi-colored deck strategies where mana colors are more balanced or varied.
Comparatively High Mana Cost: When you assess the mana investment to summon Squirrel Wrangler, it might deter many players, given that four mana may be allocated to more impactful creatures or game-changing spells. The cost efficiency is a crucial consideration, making it less desirable when faster or more powerful options are on the table.
Reasons to Include Squirrel Wrangler in Your Collection
Versatility: Squirrel Wrangler is not just a powerful card for creature-based decks; it can adapt to various strategies. It can enhance land-based strategies and synergize with effects that value creatures entering or leaving the battlefield.
Combo Potential: This card opens up numerous combo possibilities, interacting with cards that benefit from sacrificing lands or creating numerous tokens. It’s a perfect match for decks looking to exploit such synergies for a game-winning advantage.
Meta-Relevance: With an increasing number of decks that can be overrun by a wide board presence, Squirrel Wrangler can be a crucial addition. It can generate a significant number of creature tokens quickly, which is especially relevant in a meta with fewer board wipes.
How to beat
Squirrel Wrangler is a unique card in Magic: The Gathering with a quirky yet potent ability to transform your land resources into armies of Squirrels. To effectively counter this card, players need to adopt strategies that can deal with numerous small creatures quickly or prevent these creatures from being created in the first place. Cards with “sweepers” or mass removal effects, such as Wrath of God or Pyroclasm, can clear the board of pesky Squirrels in one fell swoop.
Alternatively, spot removal like Path to Exile or Fatal Push may not be as efficient due to the sheer number of creatures Squirrel Wrangler can produce. A more subtle approach might involve land interaction; preventing your opponent from sacrificing lands with cards like Leonin Arbiter or Aven Mindcensor, which limits their ability to search for lands, can be pivotal in stopping the Wrangler’s onslaught.
The key lies in anticipating the swarm of Squirrels and having the right answers ready in your deck. Preventative measures or board-clearing cards can ensure that the Squirrel Wrangler doesn’t overrun you with a fuzzy, toothy legion.
Cards like Squirrel Wrangler
Exploring the world of thematic deck building in MTG, Squirrel Wrangler presents a unique twist on creature play. It shares its space with cards like Deranged Hermit, which also centers around generating squirrel tokens. Squirrel Wrangler, however, offers more direct control by sacrificing land to bolster your squirrel army or hamper an opponent’s defense. Deranged Hermit brings squirrels into play with echo costs for sustained board presence.
Alternatively, we have Nut Collector, another card that thrives in a squirrel-focused deck. It automatically produces squirrel tokens every upkeep, which is less resource-intensive compared to the Wrangler’s land sacrifice. Yet it lacks the Wrangler’s immediate impact on the board state.
It is key to understand that Squirrel Wrangler requires a strategic resource commitment but provides flexible tactical options in return. Assessing its side-by-side with its squirrel-centric counterparts, the card stands out for MTG players who enjoy an interactive and adaptive gameplay approach.
Cards similar to Squirrel Wrangler by color, type and mana cost
Where to buy
If you're looking to purchase Squirrel Wrangler MTG card by a specific set like Prophecy and Mystery Booster, 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 Squirrel Wrangler and other MTG cards:
- eBay
- TCG Player
- 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
See MTG Products
Printings
The Squirrel Wrangler Magic the Gathering card was released in 5 different sets between 2000-06-05 and 2021-08-26. Illustrated by 2 different artists.
| # | Released | Name | Code | Symbol | Number | Frame | Layout | Border | Artist |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 2000-06-05 | Prophecy | PCY | 127 | 1997 | Normal | Black | Carl Critchlow | |
| 2 | 2019-11-07 | Mystery Booster | MB1 | 1340 | 1997 | Normal | Black | Carl Critchlow | |
| 3 | Secret Lair Drop | SLD | 198 | 2015 | Normal | Black | Joy Ang | ||
| 4 | The List | PLST | PCY-127 | 1997 | Normal | Black | Carl Critchlow | ||
| 5 | 2021-08-26 | Jumpstart: Historic Horizons | J21 | 647 | 2015 | Normal | Black | Carl Critchlow |
Legalities
Magic the Gathering formats where Squirrel Wrangler has restrictions
| Format | Legality |
|---|---|
| Historicbrawl | Legal |
| Commander | Legal |
| Historic | Legal |
| Legacy | Legal |
| Oathbreaker | Legal |
| Premodern | Legal |
| Vintage | Legal |
| Duel | Legal |
| Predh | Legal |
| Gladiator | Legal |
| Timeless | Legal |
Rules and information
The reference guide for Magic: The Gathering Squirrel Wrangler card rulings provides official rulings, any errata issued, as well as a record of all the functional modifications that have occurred.
| Date | Text |
|---|---|
| 2004-10-04 | Only affects Squirrels on the battlefield when the ability resolves. |
