The Unbeatable Squirrel Girl: A Commander Analysis for Magic: The Gathering

• The Unbeatable Squirrel Girl is a unique mono-green Commander specializing in creating Squirrel tokens.
• Her ability to generate tokens on ETB and attack, as well as her activated ability to double the number of Squirrels, makes her a powerful token engine.
• In Marvel lore, Doreen Green, aka Squirrel Girl, is famous for her unexpected victories over powerful foes like Doctor Doom and Thanos.
• A deck built around The Unbeatable Squirrel Girl focuses on ramp, token doublers, and Overrun effects to quickly build an unstoppable army.
• She offers a fresh alternative to established token Commanders like Krenko, Mob Boss and Marrow-Gnawer, with her own strengths and thematic depth.

In the vast and diverse world of Magic: The Gathering Commander, players are constantly seeking unique and powerful strategies to surprise and defeat their opponents. One such strategy, which can be both humorous and devastating, revolves around the unassuming yet formidable Squirrels. With the release of The Unbeatable Squirrel Girl from the Marvel Super Heroes set, these nimble rodents finally get a Commander who can unleash their full potential. Let's dive into the world of Doreen Green and discover how to build a truly unbeatable deck with her furry friends.

Who is The Unbeatable Squirrel Girl?

Doreen Green, better known as the superhero Squirrel Girl, is a fascinating character from the Marvel Universe, distinguished by her unique abilities and surprising track record. She is a hero who can communicate with squirrels and possesses a powerful prehensile tail, giving her exceptional advantages in combat. Her powers, as her name suggests, are entirely focused on squirrels, making her one of the most unusual yet effective fighters in the Marvel cosmos.

Doreen's genetic peculiarity, which allows her to interact with squirrels, is not a mutation in the traditional sense, but a unique genetic anomaly. This connection to the animal kingdom is at the core of her identity and superpowers. Her ability to mobilize entire armies of squirrels, combined with her own agility and combat prowess, has made her a feared opponent for some of the universe's most powerful villains. Her story is proof that even the most unlikely heroes can achieve great things.

The Origins of Her 'Unbeatableness': Lore Background

The designation "unbeatable" is by no means an exaggeration for Squirrel Girl, but an apt description of her impressive track record in Marvel lore. Throughout her career, Doreen Green has defeated a number of villains far more powerful and threatening than herself, earning her a reputation as a hero who can overcome even the greatest threats. These victories are not only impressive but often surprising and humorous, which makes her character even more endearing.

One of her most famous triumphs was her victory over the notorious Doctor Doom. This feat was so extraordinary that even the brilliant Tony Stark (Iron Man), whom Doreen was trying to rescue at the time, was deeply impressed. She also convinced the world-devourer Galactus to spare Earth by forming an unusual friendship with him and persuading him to satisfy his appetite elsewhere. This diplomatic masterpiece demonstrates not only her persuasive power but also her ability to find unconventional solutions to cosmic problems. Along with her loyal squirrel sidekick Tippy-Toe, she also defeated the monstrous M.O.D.O.K. and even the mad titan Thanos. These victories, often achieved through cunning, unconventional tactics, and the sheer number of her squirrel allies, cemented her reputation as "unbeatable" and made her a cult figure among Marvel fans.

The Unbeatable Squirrel Girl as a Magic: The Gathering Commander

In Magic: The Gathering, the essence of The Unbeatable Squirrel Girl manifests as a mono-green Commander with the potential to flood the battlefield with an army of Squirrels. Her card perfectly reflects her abilities and reputation from the comics, representing a powerful token engine. As a creature, she is robust, and her abilities are designed to quickly build an overwhelming presence.

The Unbeatable Squirrel Girl is a 4/4 creature for GGG, making her a solidly sized threat that can appear early in the game. Her first ability is a double token generator: she creates a 1/1 green Squirrel creature token when she enters the battlefield (ETB) and each time she attacks. This means she immediately brings an ally and expands her army with every attack. The second, and arguably most explosive, ability is her activated ability: For GGG, you can double the number of all Squirrels you control. Since The Unbeatable Squirrel Girl herself is a Squirrel, she also benefits from this doubling. The first activation of this ability, while she and her initial token are on the field, would increase the count from two to four Squirrels – a quick start for an avalanche of small, furry creatures.

This combination of abilities makes her an ideal Commander for decks that rely on token strategies. Her mono-green identity allows access to the best ramp spells, token doublers, and Overrun effects Magic has to offer. Players can focus on generating mana quickly to frequently use her doubling ability while also playing other Squirrel generators and global buffs to make their army unstoppable.

Strategies for a Powerful Squirrel Token Deck

Building a deck around The Unbeatable Squirrel Girl requires a careful balance of mana acceleration, token generation, and global buffs. The goal is to produce an overwhelming number of Squirrel tokens in a short amount of time and then turn them into powerful attackers. Here are the key strategies you should pursue:

1. Mana Acceleration (Ramp): Since The Unbeatable Squirrel Girl herself costs GGG and her doubling ability also costs GGG, a solid mana base is crucial. Mono-green is the best color for ramp, so take full advantage of this.

• Mana Dorks: Creatures like Llanowar Elves, Elvish Mystic, and Fyndhorn Elves are essential for producing mana early.
• Land Ramp: Spells like Rampant Growth, Farseek, Three Visits, and Nature's Lore put lands directly into play, stabilizing and protecting your mana base.
• Artifacts: Sol Ring, Arcane Signet, and Thought Vessel are standard ramp artifacts that find a place in almost any Commander deck.
• High-End Ramp: Cards like Nykthos, Shrine to Nyx or Gaea's Cradle (if budget allows) can generate explosive amounts of mana in combination with many green permanents or creatures to activate Squirrel Girl's ability multiple times.

2. Additional Token Generators: Although The Unbeatable Squirrel Girl generates tokens herself, there are many other cards that can produce Squirrels or generic creature tokens to expand the army.

• Chatterfang, Squirrel General: This card is an absolute must-have. It not only generates Squirrels itself but also makes every other token you create produce an additional Squirrel. It also offers a powerful sacrifice engine.
• Deep Forest Hermit: Creates four 1/1 Squirrel tokens and gives them +1/+1.
• Squirrel Nest in combination with Earthcraft: A classic infinite combo that can generate an unlimited number of Squirrel tokens.
• Squirrel Mob: Gets stronger with each Squirrel on the field.
• Verdant Command: Can create Squirrels and have other useful effects simultaneously.
• Sylvan Anthem and Squirrel Sovereign: These cards are not only anthems but can also generate or strengthen Squirrels.

3. Token Doublers and Copiers: These cards are key to exponentially increasing the number of your Squirrels.

• Doubling Season: Doubles not only tokens but also counters. One of the most powerful cards for token decks.
• Parallel Lives: Doubles the number of creature tokens created.
• Primal Vigor: Similar to Doubling Season, but symmetrical, so opponents could also benefit. However, in a deck that produces more tokens than the opponent, the advantage is immense.
• Adrix and Nev, Twincasters (if Simic were possible, but not in mono-green): The mono-green player must focus on generic doublers.
• Vorinclex, Voice of Hunger (legendary): Doubles mana and reduces costs, but can also act as a token doubler when utilizing the counter ability of other cards.

4. Global Buffs (Anthems) and Overrun Effects: Individual 1/1 Squirrels are not very threatening. They need to be buffed to be lethal.

• Craterhoof Behemoth: The ultimate finisher in token decks. Grants all creatures massive power and trample damage.
• Finale of Devastation: Can search for Craterhoof Behemoth and provide an Overrun effect or any other creature you need.
• Beastmaster Ascension: Becomes active quickly and gives all creatures +5/+5 and trample damage.
• Overrun, Garruk Wildspeaker, Kamahl, Fist of Krosa: Temporary Overrun effects that are often enough to end the game.
• Gala Greeters: Generates life, Treasure tokens, or puts +1/+1 counters on creatures, which is a good way to strengthen your Squirrels.

5. Protection and Interaction: Protect your Commander and key cards and interact with your opponents' plans.

• Heroic Intervention, Swiftfoot Boots, Lightning Greaves: Protect The Unbeatable Squirrel Girl from removal.
• Krosan Grip, Beast Within, Nature's Claim: Remove threats like artifacts, enchantments, or troublesome creatures.

By combining these strategies, you can build a deck that is not only thematically unique but also a serious threat on the battlefield. Visit our Magic: The Gathering Commander Deck Selection to find more sources of inspiration.

Comparison with Other Token Commanders: Krenko and Marrow-Gnawer

To fully appreciate the strength and uniqueness of The Unbeatable Squirrel Girl, it is helpful to compare her with other established token Commanders who also rely on creating creature tokens. Two prominent examples are Krenko, Mob Boss and Marrow-Gnawer. Although all three Commanders pursue a similar basic strategy, they differ significantly in their mechanics, strengths, and weaknesses.

Krenko, Mob Boss: Krenko, Mob Boss is a feared mono-red Commander known for his explosive token generation. His ability to tap to create a number of 1/1 red Goblin tokens equal to the number of Goblins you control can quickly lead to an unmanageable army. Krenko decks are often designed for fast, aggressive wins or even infinite combos. However, he is more vulnerable to removal and generally requires a critical mass of Goblins to be truly effective. Compared to Squirrel Girl, Krenko is often faster and more explosive, but also more fragile, as he has no built-in way to double his tokens other than through his own ability, which depends on the number of Goblins.

Marrow-Gnawer: Marrow-Gnawer is a mono-black Commander from Champions of Kamigawa that focuses on Rat tokens. He creates a 1/1 black Rat token when he enters the battlefield and attacks. His activated ability allows you to sacrifice a Rat to grant all other Rats Fear. Marrow-Gnawer is significantly slower and less explosive compared to Squirrel Girl and Krenko. His tokens are also 1/1, but Fear can be a useful evasion ability. While Marrow-Gnawer is a solid option for Rat tribal decks, he lacks the built-in doubling ability that makes Squirrel Girl so powerful. He is more of a value Commander who slowly builds a threat.

The Unbeatable Squirrel Girl in Comparison: Squirrel Girl positions herself as a mix of Krenko's robustness and Marrow-Gnawer's thematic depth, but with a unique and powerful doubling ability. She is less reliant on a specific tribal synergy than Krenko (although Squirrel tribal exists and is strong) and has a more direct and powerful token production method than Marrow-Gnawer. Her ability to double herself is a huge advantage, allowing her to quickly build a threat with less board presence. While she can be mana-intensive, Green offers the best ramp options to compensate for this. Overall, The Unbeatable Squirrel Girl offers a unique and competitive token strategy that can be both fun and extremely effective.

Build Your Unbeatable Squirrel Deck: Key Cards and Synergies

To construct a truly unbeatable Squirrel deck around The Unbeatable Squirrel Girl, you need to select the right cards that optimally complement and enhance her abilities. The deck should focus on mana acceleration, additional token generation, token doubling, and powerful finishers. Here is a selection of important cards and the synergies they create:

1. Mana Acceleration & Mana Fixing

• Llanowar Elves, Elvish Mystic, Fyndhorn Elves: These 1-mana elves are the cornerstone of any green ramp deck. They allow you to play The Unbeatable Squirrel Girl as early as turn 2 or 3.
• Sol Ring, Arcane Signet: Standard artifacts that provide fast mana advantages.
• Cultivate, Kodama's Reach: Put two lands into play (one to hand, one to battlefield), stabilizing the mana base.
• Three Visits, Nature's Lore: Search for a Forest land and put it onto the battlefield untapped.
• Nykthos, Shrine to Nyx: Can produce enormous amounts of mana if you have many green permanents on the field, ideal for Squirrel Girl's doubling ability.

2. Squirrel Generators & Token Enablers

• Chatterfang, Squirrel General: As mentioned, an absolute powerhouse. Not only generates additional Squirrels for every token, but can also sacrifice tokens to draw cards or remove threats. He is a must-have for any Squirrel deck.
• Deep Forest Hermit: Creates 4 1/1 Squirrel tokens and gives all your creatures +1/+1. An immediate board-state booster.
• Squirrel Nest + Earthcraft: A classic combination. If you have Earthcraft and Squirrel Nest on the field, you can tap a land to create a Squirrel, then tap the Squirrel (thanks to Earthcraft) to untap the land. This allows for infinite Squirrel tokens.
• Drey Keeper: Creates a Squirrel token on ETB and can be sacrificed for mana.
• Scurry Oak: An excellent token generator that synergizes with +1/+1 counters.
• Verdant Command: A flexible card that can create Squirrels, search for mana, or draw cards.

3. Token Doublers & Multipliers

• Doubling Season: The queen of token doublers. Doubles all tokens created and all counters placed on permanents.
• Parallel Lives: Another essential card that doubles the number of creature tokens created.
• Primal Vigor: Similar to Doubling Season and Parallel Lives, but symmetrical, meaning your opponents could also benefit. However, in a deck that produces more tokens than the opponent, the advantage is immense.
• Awaken the Woods: Creates X 1/1 green Forest Dryad creature tokens. While these are not Squirrels, they are green tokens that benefit from Chatterfang and can act as mana ramp.

4. Finishers & Anthems

• Craterhoof Behemoth: The absolute game-closer. If you have a large number of Squirrels, Craterhoof can secure victory in one turn.
• Finale of Devastation: A versatile tutor card that can find Craterhoof Behemoth and put it into play to end the game.
• Beastmaster Ascension: If you attack with 7 creatures, this enchantment grants all your creatures +5/+5 and trample damage. With a Squirrel army, this is quickly achieved.
• Overrun, Kamahl, Fist of Krosa: Temporary Overrun effects that are often enough to push through the final damage.
• Sylvan Anthem: Grants your creatures +1/+1 and can draw cards.
• Squirrel Sovereign: Gives other Squirrels +1/+1.
• Gala Greeters: An excellent value engine that generates life, Treasure tokens, or +1/+1 counters depending on the board state.

5. Protection & Interaction

• Heroic Intervention: Protects your key cards from mass removal or targeted spells.
• Swiftfoot Boots, Lightning Greaves: Grant your Commander haste and protection from targeted spells.
• Krosan Grip, Beast Within: Versatile removal spells that can eliminate almost any threat.

By skillfully combining these cards and understanding their synergies, you can create a deck that is not only thematically consistent but also a serious threat on the battlefield. Visit our Magic: The Gathering Collection to find the cards you need for your Squirrel deck. With The Unbeatable Squirrel Girl at the helm, your army of furry friends will soon sweep across the battlefield and show your opponents why Squirrels should never be underestimated.