For the most part, the cEDH metagame is pretty fixed. Between powerful Partners and the same selection of combo Commanders, breaking into the format is extremely difficult. Even Stax decks, as a whole, have not been performing as well lately, but one overlooked Final Fantasy Commander may give the archetype a new home. Frankly, it’s surprising it took this long for Squall, SeeD Mercenary to top eight a 101-player event.
MTG Squall, SeeD Mercenary in cEDH
Thanks to resurrecting two different permanents by dealing Double-Striking damage, Squall is great at keeping around Stax pieces to stop opposing combo decks. The deck is absolutely chock-filled with these, with everything from Archon of Emeria to Ranger-Captain of Eos. While this can easily outlast cEDH’s limited creature removal, Squall can also resurrect noncreature Stax pieces, like Tangle Wire and Vexing Bauble.
Squall amplifies these stax elements further by rolling them into an aristocrat shell. Sacrifice engines like Umbral Collar Zealot and Hammerhead, Maggia Boss can recur powerful enters effects with ease. This allows Skyclave Apparition or Leonin Relic-Warder to repeatedly remove high-pressure staples like Rhystic Study.
These aristocrat tools can all sacrifice artifacts as well, allowing Squall to recur Mana Vault without paying to untap it, or Wishclaw Talisman without giving it to an opponent. To ensure Squall can resurrect these without resistance, multiple cards like Wedding Invitation, Shizo, Death’s Storehouse, and The Black Gate can make him unblockable.
While Squall can play the beatdown plan, he does have access to an infinite combo using Phyrexian Altar, Forsaken Miner, and Sephiroth, Fabled SOLDIER. Since Sephiroth’s trigger commits a Crime, you can resurrect the Miner endlessly by using the mana from the Altar to pay the cost. On top of sidestepping all of your Stax pieces, this combo has replacements like Warren Soultrader to make it more consistent.
While these cards can be a bit awkward outside of their combo roles, Squall can use graveyard tutors like Buried Alive, Entomb, and Lively Dirge to find them when needed. Of course, this also means you have access to staples like Reanimate and Animate Dead, giving Squall a way to get specific Stax pieces out fast before your Commander enters play.
Slowing Down the Game Fast
Considering how much Squall amplifies the value of Stax cEDH staples in general, it’s shocking that we haven’t seen more of this Commander in the format. By resurrecting all of your Stax and combo pieces via damage triggers, Squall can dodge counterspells entirely. The format isn’t really focused on combat, either, allowing Squall to easily create value or knock out your opponent’s key creatures.
All of that said, Squall’s success in cEDH does revolve around one Stax card or another hitting the board immediately, which you sometimes won’t have time for. Opponents can occasionally counter them, but you can’t stop early wins from Etali, Primal Conqueror, or various Underworld Breach piles.
Even with this in mind, however, Squall, SeeD Mercenary seems like a fantastic Commander to try if you’re looking for something different. If you’re already running Stax in cEDH, Squall might be an even better alternative to what you’re currently trying.
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