Squall MTG Card


Squall offers a tactical edge against decks that utilize flying creatures, improving board control. Instant casting allows for strategic plays, making it a flexible disruption tool. Despite its power, its discard requirement and specific mana cost can be limiting factors.
Card setsReleased in 5 setsSee all
Mana cost
Converted mana cost3
RarityCommon
TypeSorcery

Text of card

Squall deals 2 damage to each creature with flying. (This includes your creatures.)

"To-night the winds begin to rise . . . The rooks are blown about the skies . . . ." —Alfred, Lord Tennyson, *In Memoriam*


Cards like Squall

Squall stands out in MTG as a classic example of an early game mass damage spell aimed at airborne creatures. It bears a resemblance to cards like Hurricane, which also deals damage to each creature with flying and each player. However, Squall brings a unique angle to the table by targeting only the opponents’ creatures, sparing the caster any direct life loss, unlike Hurricane that affects all players and flyers regardless of ownership.

Looking at other counterparts, we encounter Sandstorm, a similar direct-damage spell specifically designed to thwart flying creatures. Sandstorm is a quick and less expensive option, costing only one mana, but it delivers a lower damage output. Another spell that creates a parallel is Windstorm, which offers scalability in terms of damage, allowing players to tailor the damage output according to their mana availability, whereas Squall brings a flat, but consistent and considerable damage to the skyborne foes.

Assessing each card’s functionality, Squall’s role in providing reliable damage to flyers without the drawback of self-inflicted wounds places it in a unique niche within MTG’s pantheon of direct-damage spells tailored to disrupt strategies heavily reliant on flying creatures.

Hurricane - MTG Card versions
Sandstorm - MTG Card versions
Windstorm - MTG Card versions
Hurricane - MTG Card versions
Sandstorm - MTG Card versions
Windstorm - MTG Card versions

Cards similar to Squall by color, type and mana cost

Ice Storm - MTG Card versions
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Seeds of Innocence - MTG Card versions
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Lead the Stampede - MTG Card versions
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Nissa's Pilgrimage - MTG Card versions
Ice Storm - MTG Card versions
Tranquility - MTG Card versions
Seeds of Innocence - MTG Card versions
Untamed Wilds - MTG Card versions
Wing Snare - MTG Card versions
Fallow Earth - MTG Card versions
Deep Reconnaissance - MTG Card versions
Long Rest - MTG Card versions
Rosethorn Acolyte // Seasonal Ritual - MTG Card versions
Cultivate - MTG Card versions
Lovestruck Beast // Heart's Desire - MTG Card versions
Deconstruct - MTG Card versions
Gift of the Gargantuan - MTG Card versions
Kodama's Reach - MTG Card versions
Lair Delve - MTG Card versions
Search for Tomorrow - MTG Card versions
Culling Mark - MTG Card versions
Lead the Stampede - MTG Card versions
Roar of Challenge - MTG Card versions
Nissa's Pilgrimage - MTG Card versions

Card Pros

Card Advantage: As a sweeping effect, Squall can clear multiple flying creatures off an opponent’s board, potentially turning the tide in your favor by diminishing their aerial threats.

Resource Acceleration: While Squall itself doesn’t directly accelerate resources, its potential to remove mana-intensive flying creatures can indirectly boost your mana efficiency by negating the need for more costly creature removal spells.

Instant Speed: Squall’s castability at instant speed offers flexibility, allowing you to disrupt opponents’ strategies during their turn or right before your own, ensuring your battlefield position is assured.


Card Cons

Discard Requirement: One notable downside to the Squall card is the necessity for the player to sacrifice a card from their hand. In MTG, maintaining a healthy pool of cards is often crucial for keeping strategic options open, and thus being compelled to discard can place you at a disadvantage, especially if hand size is already compromised.

Specific Mana Cost: Squall requires a blend of mana, including both generic and green mana. This specificity demands that your deck be aligned with the color green, restricting the card’s versatility across various deck builds. Those not playing with green mana sources may find this card less accessible.

Comparatively High Mana Cost: The mana expenditure to cast Squall is relatively steep when considering the current pool of cards available in MTG. With the requirement of three mana — two of which must be green — players may find this cost somewhat disproportionate to the impact provided by the card’s effect, particularly when other cards could accomplish similar results for a lower investment.


Reasons to Include in Your Collection

Versatility: Squall, a flavorful spell from the rich archives of Magic, offers a flexible approach to disrupting flying creature strategies, which are common across numerous formats.

Combo Potential: This card has the potential to combine with damage amplifiers or cards that reward you for damaging multiple creatures, creating room for strategic plays that could turn the tide of a match.

Meta-Relevance: With flying creatures frequently soaring at the top of player’s deck choices, Squall finds its place as a relevant sideboard option that can clear the skies and give you a strategic edge.


How to beat

Squall, a spell in the Magic: The Gathering universe, is a unique green card that can catch opponents off guard with its ability to deal damage to all creatures with flying. However, it’s not unbeatable. Staying grounded is a key strategy when facing a player who uses Squall. This means relying on creatures without flying to avoid the damage Squall could potentially deal.

Flexibility in your deck design comes into play too. Incorporating cards that can remove Squall from the opponent’s hand through discard effects or counter it when cast are invaluable during play. Anticipating and negating this card with such strategies can significantly reduce the threat it poses. Additionally, enchantments like Asceticism can provide your creatures with hexproof, shielding them from Squall’s reach. Keep in mind that Squall deals damage, so boosting your creatures’ toughness can help in ensuring they survive the assault.

Furthermore, tactical elements such as instant-speed creature buffs can save your key creatures in a pinch. By carefully considering the timing of your plays and understanding the dynamics of your opponent’s deck, you will increase your odds of successfully navigating around Squall’s tempestuous nature and maintain a strong position in the game.


Where to buy

If you're looking to purchase Squall MTG card by a specific set like Starter 1999 and 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 Squall and other MTG cards:

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Printings

The Squall Magic the Gathering card was released in 4 different sets between 1999-07-01 and 2011-01-10. Illustrated by 3 different artists.

#ReleasedNameCodeSymbolNumberFrameLayoutBorderArtist
11999-07-01Starter 1999S99 1431997NormalWhiteCarl Critchlow
21999-10-04Mercadian MasquesMMQ 2751997NormalBlackVal Mayerik
32001-04-11Seventh Edition7ED 271★1997NormalBlackGreg Staples
42001-04-11Seventh Edition7ED 2711997NormalWhiteGreg Staples
52011-01-10Masters Edition IVME4 1681997NormalBlackCarl Critchlow

Legalities

Magic the Gathering formats where Squall has restrictions

FormatLegality
CommanderLegal
LegacyLegal
PaupercommanderLegal
OathbreakerLegal
PauperLegal
PremodernLegal
VintageLegal
DuelLegal
PredhLegal
PennyLegal