EDH Optimizer
Squall, Gunblade Duelist
Legendary Creature — Human Mercenary · RWB
Color identity: Black · Red · White · Mardu
Squall, Gunblade Duelist is Mardu (black, red and white): its deck can only run cards of those colors plus colorless ones.
Rules text:
First strike
As Squall enters, choose a number.
Whenever one or more creatures attack one of your opponents, if any of those creatures have power or toughness equal to the chosen number, Squall deals damage equal to its power to defending player.
Reference price of the card: €3.67
Average lands in decks for Squall, Gunblade Duelist: 36
Forced CombatTokensBurnAggroEquipmentAttack TriggersGroup SlugVoltron
Build your Squall, Gunblade Duelist deck step by step, with in-depth analysis and AI optimization of your list.
🛠️ Build a deck for Squall, Gunblade Duelist 📥 Analyze my deck🎲 How the average Squall, Gunblade Duelist deck starts over 4,000 games
The list people actually play (the 99 most-included cards, with its average land count), simulated with the EDH Optimizer engine: hands, mulligans, lands, curve and commander. It does not model opponents; it measures whether the plan gets going.
Deck health of the average list: B (66/100)
- Consistency37
- Speed54
- Interaction63
- Resilience79
- Closing90
See the cards of the average deck · 99 cards, 36 lands (26 nonbasic, 4 Plains, 2 Swamp, 4 Mountain)
Arcane Signet · Sol Ring · Isshin, Two Heavens as One · Windcrag Siege · Swords to Plowshares · Seifer, Balamb Rival · Breena, the Demagogue · Kardur, Doomscourge · Talisman of Conviction · Path to Exile · Disrupt Decorum · Talisman of Hierarchy · Taunt from the Rampart · Talisman of Indulgence · Swiftfoot Boots · Take the Bait · Nelly Borca, Impulsive Accuser · Curse of Opulence · Ruinous Ultimatum · Goblin Spymaster · Adeline, Resplendent Cathar · Anguished Unmaking · Morbid Opportunist · Skullclamp · Bastion Protector · Life of the Party · Lightning, Army of One · Rinoa, Angel Wing · Rite of the Raging Storm · Karazikar, the Eye Tyrant · Professional Face-Breaker · Vengeful Ancestor · Boros Charm · Fated Clash · Fellwar Stone · Inkshield · Lightning Greaves · Maha, Its Feathers Night · Blackblade Reforged · Duelist's Flame · Ghostly Prison · Squall, SeeD Mercenary · Blasphemous Act · Aurelia, the Law Above · Deflecting Palm · Chainsaw · Loyal Apprentice · Bothersome Quasit · Loran of the Third Path · Reconnaissance · Stroke of Midnight · Anim Pakal, Thousandth Moon · Baeloth Barrityl, Entertainer · Grenzo, Havoc Raiser · Legion Leadership // Legion Stronghold · Esper Sentinel · Spectacular Showdown · Gix, Yawgmoth Praetor · Basilisk Collar · Duelist's Heritage · Fast Forward · Voice of Victory · Zurgo Stormrender · Command Tower · Exotic Orchard · Clifftop Retreat · Dragonskull Summit · Isolated Chapel · Nomad Outpost · Godless Shrine · Sacred Foundry · Blood Crypt · Battlefield Forge · Caves of Koilos · Savai Triome · Spectator Seating · Luxury Suite · Vault of Champions · Smoldering Marsh · Bloodstained Mire · Shattered Sanctum · Marsh Flats · Sulfurous Springs · Arid Mesa · Sundown Pass · Rugged Prairie · Path of Ancestry · Rogue's Passage · Vault of the Archangel
🃏 Recommended cards for Squall, Gunblade Duelist
The highest-synergy cards in decks for Squall, Gunblade Duelist, with their inclusion rate.
| Card | Inclusion | Synergy |
|---|---|---|
| Seifer, Balamb Rival | 61% | +60% |
| Isshin, Two Heavens as One | 76% | +58% |
| Windcrag Siege | 70% | +52% |
| Breena, the Demagogue | 57% | +49% |
| Kardur, Doomscourge | 55% | +48% |
| Disrupt Decorum | 50% | +46% |
| Taunt from the Rampart | 46% | +42% |
| Nelly Borca, Impulsive Accuser | 43% | +41% |
| Take the Bait | 44% | +40% |
| Goblin Spymaster | 39% | +38% |
| Curse of Opulence | 42% | +36% |
| Life of the Party | 35% | +35% |
| Rite of the Raging Storm | 35% | +34% |
| Rinoa, Angel Wing | 35% | +34% |
| Bastion Protector | 35% | +34% |
| Vengeful Ancestor | 34% | +33% |
| Fated Clash | 33% | +32% |
| Lightning, Army of One | 35% | +32% |
| Maha, Its Feathers Night | 32% | +31% |
| Karazikar, the Eye Tyrant | 34% | +30% |
| Duelist's Flame | 30% | +29% |
| Chainsaw | 27% | +27% |
| Blackblade Reforged | 30% | +26% |
| Squall, SeeD Mercenary | 30% | +26% |
💰 The best cards for your Squall, Gunblade Duelist deck, by budget
Three tiers based on the maximum price PER CARD you are willing to pay. Paste your list and hit Optimize: you pick that cap and the AI only suggests swaps that fit under it.
Tier 1 · Budget up to €2/card
The most value for almost nothing. Coming from a precon? Start here.
- Seifer, Balamb Rival
- Windcrag Siege
- Breena, the Demagogue
- Kardur, Doomscourge
- Disrupt Decorum
- Taunt from the Rampart
Tier 2 · Balanced up to €10/card
The real step up: pieces that are no longer cheap but still sensible.
- Isshin, Two Heavens as One
- Take the Bait
- Curse of Opulence
- Life of the Party
- Rinoa, Angel Wing
- Fated Clash
Tier 3 · No cap no cap
The cards your price cap was hiding from you.
- Maha, Its Feathers Night
- Karazikar, the Eye Tyrant
- Bothersome Quasit
- Baeloth Barrityl, Entertainer
- Excalibur, Sword of Eden
- Ellie, Brick Master
Reference prices (cheapest English printing). They change daily.
♾️ Known combos with Squall, Gunblade Duelist
- Sanguine Bond + Exquisite Blood → Infinite lifegain triggers, Infinite lifeloss, Infinite lifegain
- The Reaver Cleaver + Aggravated Assault → Infinite artifact ETB, Infinite artifact LTB, Infinite artifact sacrifice triggers, Infinite artifact tokens, Infinite colored mana, Infinite combat damage, Infinite combat phases, Infinite mana creatures you control can produce, Infinite Treasure tokens, Infinite untap of creatures you control
- Blasphemous Act + Repercussion → Near-infinite damage to all players
- Sword of Feast and Famine + Aggravated Assault → Infinite combat phases
- Aurelia, the Warleader + Helm of the Host → Infinite combat phases, Infinite creature tokens with haste, Infinite creature ETB, Infinite mana creatures you control can produce, Infinite untap of creatures you control
- Combat Celebrant + Helm of the Host → Infinite combat phases, Infinite creature ETB, Infinite mana creatures you control can produce, Infinite tapped creature tokens, Infinite untap of creatures you control
Other commanders
Frequently asked questions
What is Squall, Gunblade Duelist's color identity?
Squall, Gunblade Duelist is Mardu (black, red and white): its deck can only run cards of those colors plus colorless ones. Color identity comes from every mana symbol on the card, including those in the rules text, not just the casting cost.
What turn does Squall, Gunblade Duelist come down, and how often does the deck get stuck?
In the average Squall, Gunblade Duelist deck (the 99 cards most played with it, with 36 lands), simulated 4,000 times, the commander comes down on turn 3.2 on average and is on the battlefield before turn 7 in 98 % of games. It misses at least one land drop in the first six turns 34 % of the time and floods 19 %. Deck health: B (66/100).
How many lands should a Squall, Gunblade Duelist deck run?
Real Squall, Gunblade Duelist decks run 36 lands on average. That is a starting point, not a rule: a lower curve can shave one or two, big-mana builds want more. The EDH Optimizer simulator tells you, over 10,000 games, how often you get mana screwed or flooded with your exact count.
What are the best cards for Squall, Gunblade Duelist?
The three highest-synergy cards are Seifer, Balamb Rival, Isshin, Two Heavens as One, Windcrag Siege. This page lists the top 24 with their real inclusion rate in Squall, Gunblade Duelist decks.
What combos does Squall, Gunblade Duelist have?
Squall, Gunblade Duelist has 6 known combos. The most popular one is Sanguine Bond + Exquisite Blood. Note that two-card combos raise your deck's bracket, so it is worth knowing which ones you are running before you sit down.
How much does a Squall, Gunblade Duelist deck cost?
You can start cheap: Seifer, Balamb Rival, Windcrag Siege, Breena, the Demagogue are under €2 each. The "Level up" section on this page splits the best cards into three price caps PER CARD (up to €2, up to €10 and no cap), and the optimizer only suggests swaps that fit the cap you pick.