Its finally time for the four new Bloomburrow Commander decks to shine! Tons of new cards are hitting the scene today as all four decks are revealed via various channels. The Squirreled Away deck featuring a Golgari Squirrel and Foraging theme was unveiled by the Command Zone this afternoon. Here, we’ll discuss the new cards, the impressive reprint value in this deck, and what you want to do with it.
MTG Squirreled Away Commanders
- Mana value: 2BG
- Rarity: Mythic Rare
- Stats: 3/5
- Text on the card: (tap) Pay 2 life, Tap X untapped tokens you control: Add X mana in any combination of colors. At the beginning of your end step, create a token that’s a copy of target token you control If that token is a Squirrel, instead create two tokens that are copies of it.
Hazel of the Rootbloom sets the tone for Squirreled away. Create tokens so that Hazel can tap for boatloads of mana. Hopefully, you use that mana to create more tokens, so Hazel can create even more tokens for you! This deck seems to have major snowball potential. All you really need to accompany Hazel is some win conditions and some card draw to get you deeper into the game.
- Mana value: 3BG
- Rarity: Mythic Rare
- Stats: 5/5
- Text on the card: Menace, Trample, Reach, Squirrels you control have (tap): Target Squirrel gets +2/+2 and gains trample until end of turn. Activate only as a sorcery. Whenever one or more Squirrels you control deal combat damage to a player, draw a card.
Our secondary Commander, The Odd Acorn Gang, is the win condition that Hazel is looking for. If your plan is to create a lot of Squirrels, which makes sense considering the deck name, The Odd Acorn Gang can turn into a Voltron machine. You get to draw some cards, too.
MTG Squirreled Away New Cards
- Mana value: G
- Rarity: Rare
- Card Type: Enchantment – Class
- Text on the card: During your turn, artifacts you control are Foods ina addition to their other types and have “(2), (tap), Sacrifice this artifact: You gain 3 life.” (2G, Level 2) Whenever you gain life for the first time each turn, create a 3/3 green Raccoon creature token. (3G, Level 3) Whenever you gain life for the first time each turn, put a +1/+1 counter on each creature you control.
Gourmand’s Talent is an instant add to any decks that care about Food. Turning all of your artifacts into Food is a weird ability, but definitely one you can abuse. More importantly, This comes down for quite cheap and makes sacrificing your Foods a lot more powerful once upgraded. A big weakness that any Food deck has is trying to make sure the Food stays relevant towards the game. Gaining life just invites opponents to pummel you, but creating Racoons can deter from that. The final mode can be a sneaky win condition as well, since you can technically pump your team every turn.
- Mana value: 3B
- Rarity: Rare
- Stats: 3/4
- Text on the card: Menace, Whenever Hazel’s Brewmaster enters or attacks, exile up to one target card from a graveyard and create a Food token. Foods you control have all activated abilities of all creatures exiled with Hazel’s Brewmaster.
Leaked recently, Hazel’s Brewmaster creates some strange-looking Food. This card looks fantastic in any deck that can grant Food a bunch of activated abilities. Exiling a mana dork is particularly scary, essentially turning your Foods into Moxen.
- Mana value: 3B
- Rarity: Rare
- Stats: 2/4
- Text on the card: When Instiable Frugivore enters, create a Food token, then you may exile three cards from you graveyard. If you do, repeat this process. (3B), sacrifice X Foods: Creatures you control gain +X/+0 and gain menace until end of turn.
Insatiable Frugivore grants a quick burst of Food tokens as well as an alternate way to use them. Honestly, this creature seems mediocre at best, but granting your Food tokens another way to create value is important.
- Mana value: 3BB
- Rarity: Rare
- Stats: 4/4
- Text on the card: Flying, Whenever a creature an opponent controls dies, you create a Blood Token. Whenever you sacrifice an artifact, put a +1/+1 counter on Moonstone Eulogist and you gain 1 life.
Moonstone Eulogist is another mediocre inclusion that, frankly, is probably not worth five mana. In the right deck, this card can grow to terrifying heights, but outside of offering some looting via Blood Tokens, there’s not a lot to be excited for. Unless you’re specifically trying to synergize with Blood Tokens, I might stay away from this.
- Mana value: 3G
- Rarity: Rare
- Card Type: Sorcery
- Text on the card: Choose three. You may choose the same mode more than once. (Mode 1) Put two +1/+1 counters on target creature. (Mode 2) Create a token that’s a copy of target token you control. (Mode 3) Target player creates a 1/1 green Squirrel creature token. (Mode 4) Target opponent sacrifices a nontoken artifact.
This card was leaked early, and we were rather unimpressed with it. Rootcast Apprenticeship has a lot of versatility, but none of its modes are particularly impressive. Forcing an opponent to sacrifice a nontoken artifact can make for some decent removal, but the other modes just aren’t interesting, with one exception. Creating a token copy of a token you control can be incredibly powerful with some setup. If you cannot abuse this mode, do not play this card.
- Mana value: 2G
- Rarity: Rare
- Stats: 2/2
- Text on the card: Myriad, myriad, Whenever Scurry of Squirrels deals combat damage to a player, put a +1/+2 counter on target creature you control.
Scurry of Squirrels, on the other hand, is fantastic. Double Myriad can be quite a beating, creating six Squirrels out of nowhere. If you can manage to cheat the end-of-turn triggers, you can create a massive Squirrel army with this little guy rather quickly. If you can keep your six tokens hanging around, you’ll create 20 tokens on your next turn for a total of 50 damage!
- Mana value: 3BB
- Rarity: Rare
- Card Type: Sorcery
- Text on the card: Create two 1/1 green Squirrel creature tokens. Then each create that isn’t an INsect, rat, Spider or Squirrel gets -1/-1 until end of turn for each creature you control that’s an Insect, Rat, Spider or Squirrel.
Swarmyard Massacre is a one-sided wipe, which is fantastic for any deck that can abuse it. The requirements on this card are rather strict. Basically, if you can abuse it, use it. This card notably takes a page from Swarmyard, a powerful reprint in this deck, by naming all of the affected creature types from that land.
- Mana value: 2
- Rarity: Rare
- Card Type: Artifact – Equipment
- Text on the card: Equipped creature gets +1/+1 for each creature you control with base power or toughness 1. Whenever a Hamster, Mouse Rat, or Squirrel you control enters, you may attach Sword of the Squeak to that creature. Equip (2)
Sword of the Squeak, an incredibly cute play on Sword of the Meek, is a powerful new piece of equipment that goes in any deck that synergizes with either of this card’s abilities. Sword of the Meek was a popular combo piece, and while this may be a bit more difficult to use in the same way, Sword of the Squeak can provide consistent buffs to your tiny creatures.
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Expensive Reprints!
There are some stellar reprints seen in the Squirreled Away deck! Multiple $17 reprints are appearing here, making this worth every cent.
Coming in at $17, Beledros Witherbloom and Saw in Half are two excellent reprints that see a heavy amount of play. Saw in Half, in particular, is sweet to see, considering how unpopular Unfinity was. There will be a lot more of these available for players who want them, which should cut prices.
Otherwise, we’re getting a Chatterfang, Squirrel General reprint! Considering that this card would be an auto-add to the deck if it weren’t in it, it’s nice to see the card simply being included instead. Other pricy reprints include Swarmyard, Skullclamp, Second Harvest, Toski, Bearer of Secrets, and Beastmaster Ascension.
For those curious about the Curious Critters Planeswalker popping up in this deck, it’s Garruk, Cursed Huntsman. Garruk is reimagined as a Badger on the plane of Bloomburrow. Initially released in Throne of Eldraine, Garruk synergizes quite well with a deck that cares about tokens. Copying Garruk’s Tokens created with his 0 can skyrocket his Loyalty.
If you’re interested in making a bunch of tokens, Squirrels, Food, or whatever else, this deck looks like a good time. We’ll be sure to get an upgrade guide on the way once we’ve had a chance to get our hands on these critters ourselves.
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