<p style="text-align: right;"><em><span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Squall, Gunblade Duelist" href="#" target="_blank">Squall, Gunblade Duelist</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> | Art by <a href="https://lasahido.artstation.com/">Lius Lasahido</a></em></p>
<p>The holiday season is wrapping up, so if you were nice enough this year, you might have found the <a href="https://edhrec.com/articles/new-final-fantasy-releases-come-out-december-5th" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><em>Final Fantasy VIII Scene Box</em></a> under your tree. One great legend from that box is none other than <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Squall, Gunblade Duelist" href="#" target="_blank">Squall, Gunblade Duelist</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span>, who was one of my favorite characters when I was a kid.</p>
<p>So, join me, Tyler 'Savesya' Bucks, as we cover a full budget 99 that you can pick up for only $45. Warning: I take this deck in a pretty aggressive direction.</p>
<h2>What Does <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Squall, Gunblade Duelist" href="#" target="_blank">Squall, Gunblade Duelist</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> Do?</h2>
<div class="edhrecp__cards"><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Squall, Gunblade Duelist"></div></div>
<p>Something that makes <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Squall, Gunblade Duelist" href="#" target="_blank">Squall, Gunblade Duelist</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> such an interesting commander is the fact that you can choose any number for his ability. When it comes to this deck, I picked one as the number to choose when Squall enters. Not only is it a common power or toughness to assist with your opponents triggering your commander, but it also opened things up for a specific kind of creature.</p>
<p>The main engine of this deck is centered around creatures with a high power, but only one toughness. Let's get right into some key cards for this list to show you exactly what I mean!</p>
<h3>Hit the Ground Running</h3>
<div class="edhrecp__cards"><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Ball Lightning"></div><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Lightning Skelemental"></div><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Spark Trooper"></div></div>
<ul>
<li><span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Ball Lightning" href="#" target="_blank">Ball Lightning</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span>: Here's a prime example of a card that shows off this deck's game plan. Dropping this onto the battlefield and proceeding to have this creature deal six trample damage, while your commander punches in for even more pain is a nasty combo.</li>
<li><span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Lightning Skelemental" href="#" target="_blank">Lightning Skelemental</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span>: This is the first creature that came to mind when I thought of this strategy. It's just a powerful one-two punch, especially if you send it towards the archenemy at the table.</li>
<li><span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Spark Trooper" href="#" target="_blank">Spark Trooper</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span>: Time for a blast from the past for me, this card used to be the bane of my kitchen table games over a decade ago, and it fits in perfectly with this commander. Plus, it brings a little bit of life gain to the 99, which is always good for an aggressive game plan.</li>
</ul>
<div class="edhrecp__cards"><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Urabrask&#039;s Forge"></div><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Lagomos, Hand of Hatred"></div><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Rite of the Raging Storm"></div></div>
<ul>
<li><span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Urabrask&#039;s Forge" href="#" target="_blank">Urabrask&#039;s Forge</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span>: If you're planning to build Squall with this strategy in mind, then this is a must-have for the deck. It ensures that you're always dealing out extra damage with your commander turn after turn, while also having the tokens it makes scale with the game as it goes on.</li>
<li><span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Lagomos, Hand of Hatred" href="#" target="_blank">Lagomos, Hand of Hatred</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span>: Since the goal of this list is to send creatures into combat, without knowing if they'll come back, having a possible tutor to capitalize off of all that destruction could be what sets you up for a win.</li>
<li><span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Rite of the Raging Storm" href="#" target="_blank">Rite of the Raging Storm</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span>: A key part of this commander is the fact that it also triggers when your opponents' creatures attack each other. So, handing out some 5/1s to the board just ensures that maximum damage is being spread around the table during everyone's turn.</li>
</ul>
<h3>Card Advantage &amp; Recursion</h3>
<div class="edhrecp__cards"><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Breena, the Demagogue"></div><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Garna, Bloodfist of Keld"></div><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Doom Weaver"></div></div>
<ul>
<li><span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Breena, the Demagogue" href="#" target="_blank">Breena, the Demagogue</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span>: This creature is a slam-dunk in this deck, since it helps you in four different ways: It incentivizes your opponents to attack each other, triggers your commander when it swings in the air, draws you cards, and can put counters on Squall in order to escalate the damage he deals out.</li>
<li><span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Garna, Bloodfist of Keld" href="#" target="_blank">Garna, Bloodfist of Keld</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span>: Since a large portion of the creatures in your deck only have one toughness, there's a good chance they won't make it through combat. Garna will then swoop in to replace those creatures with some card draw in order to help you keep up with the table.</li>
<li><span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Doom Weaver" href="#" target="_blank">Doom Weaver</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span>: When I first came across this card, I said out loud to myself "This is so funny." When you cast a creature like <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Spark Trooper" href="#" target="_blank">Spark Trooper</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span>, you can soulbond it to the Doom Weaver, so that when the Trooper dies, you'll draw six cards. Doing that over and over again will make it hard for your opponents to keep up.</li>
</ul>
<div class="edhrecp__cards"><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Unearth"></div><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Call a Surprise Witness"></div><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Sevinne&#039;s Reclamation"></div></div>
<ul>
<li><span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Unearth" href="#" target="_blank">Unearth</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span>: Returning something with three mana value to play is great in this deck, since a lot of the creatures in the 99 meet that description, plus this can return Squall if he ends up in the bin. Costing only one mana is such a great rate for something that could just save you the game.</li>
<li><span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Call a Surprise Witness" href="#" target="_blank">Call a Surprise Witness</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span>: Not only does this card bring a creature back from your graveyard, but it also gives it an upgrade. Adding flying to some of your aggressive creatures could be just the thing you need to bust through someone's defenses.</li>
<li><span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Sevinne&#039;s Reclamation" href="#" target="_blank">Sevinne&#039;s Reclamation</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span>: This card is a great way to return something in the mid game, while sitting in your bin waiting for you to bring two permanents back to close things out later in a match.</li>
</ul>
<h3>Getting Tricky</h3>
<div class="edhrecp__cards"><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Goblin Spymaster"></div><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Nelly Borca, Impulsive Accuser"></div><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="RMS Titanic"></div></div>
<ul>
<li><span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Goblin Spymaster" href="#" target="_blank">Goblin Spymaster</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span>: Here's another card that'll make for some really funny moments during a game. It hands out 1/1 creatures to your opponents, in order to help your commander deal more damage, but they also come with the text "creatures you control attack each combat if able" which should lead to some truly chaotic moments.</li>
<li><span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Nelly Borca, Impulsive Accuser" href="#" target="_blank">Nelly Borca, Impulsive Accuser</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span>: This legend goads your opponents' creatures, while also giving you card advantage when your foes hit each other. That'll ensure you're spreading damage around the table, on top of refilling your hand.</li>
<li><span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="RMS Titanic" href="#" target="_blank">RMS Titanic</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span>: Squall having three power makes him perfect to jump behind the wheel of this ship. Once it hits another player, and you make all those Treasure tokens, that should propel you towards a winning position from there.</li>
</ul>
<h2>Squall, Gunblade Duelist Budget Commander Deck List</h2>
<div class="edhrecp__deck mtgh"><span class="edhrecp__deck-s" name="Squall, Gunblade Duelist - The Power of 1" site="edhrec" archidekt_link="" cards="[Commander]
*1 Squall, Gunblade Duelist
[/Commander]
[Enchantments]
*1 Curse of Opulence
*1 Duelist&#039;s Heritage
*1 Maximum Carnage
*1 Phyrexian Reclamation
*1 Rite of the Raging Storm
[/Enchantments]
[Sorceries]
*1 Call a Surprise Witness
*1 Disrupt Decorum
*1 Feed the Swarm
*1 Hungry for More
*1 Painful Truths
*1 Ruinous Ultimatum
*1 Sevinne&#039;s Reclamation
*1 Spectacular Showdown
*1 Unearth
[/Sorceries]
[Creatures]
*1 Arc Runner
*1 Ball Lightning
*1 Bloodsoaked Champion
*1 Breena, the Demagogue
*1 Cathar Commando
*1 Chandra&#039;s Spitfire
*1 Changeling Outcast
*1 Combat Celebrant
*1 Daring Fiendbonder
*1 Darkstar Augur
*1 Disciple of Bolas
*1 Doom Weaver
*1 Falkenrath Aristocrat
*1 Garna, Bloodfist of Keld
*1 Greven, Predator Captain
*1 Gingerbrute
*1 Goblin Spymaster
*1 Haktos the Unscarred
*1 Hellspark Elemental
*1 Impetuous Devils
*1 Kami of False Hope
*1 Kardur, Doomscourge
*1 Lagomos, Hand of Hatred
*1 Lightning Serpent
*1 Lightning Skelemental
*1 Loran of the Third Path
*1 Loyal Warhound
*1 Mirror Entity
*1 Morbid Opportunist
*1 Nelly Borca, Impulsive Accuser
*1 Nullpriest of Oblivion
*1 Phoenix Chick
*1 Scuttling Butler
*1 Selfless Savior
*1 Signal Pest
*1 Sister Repentia
*1 Spark Elemental
*1 Spark Trooper
*1 Sparkspitter
*1 The Jolly Balloon Man
*1 Tormented Soul
*1 Viashino Sandsprinter
[/Creatures]
[Instants]
*1 Deadly Dispute
*1 Force of Rage
*1 Legion Leadership // Legion Stronghold
*1 Mercadia&#039;s Downfall
[/Instants]
[Artifacts]
*1 RMS Titanic
*1 Urabrask&#039;s Forge
*1 Wayfarer&#039;s Bauble
[/Artifacts]
[Lands]
*1 Battlefield Forge
*1 Caves of Koilos
*1 Clifftop Retreat
*1 Command Tower
*1 Dragonskull Summit
*1 Exotic Orchard
*1 Foreboding Ruins
*1 Furycalm Snarl
*1 Nomad Outpost
*1 Path of Ancestry
*1 Promising Vein
*1 Restless Fortress
*1 Rugged Prairie
*1 Shadowblood Ridge
*1 Shattered Landscape
*1 Smoldering Marsh
*1 Sunscorched Divide
*1 Temple of Malice
*1 Temple of Triumph
*1 Vault of the Archangel
*9 Mountain
*6 Swamp
*1 Plains
[/Lands]"></span></div>
<h2>In Closing</h2>
<p>There you have it, a full budget 99 centered around <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Squall, Gunblade Duelist" href="#" target="_blank">Squall, Gunblade Duelist</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> that you could pick up for about $45. This deck is a whole lot of fun, and can truly make for a wild play experience. If you've been looking for a deck to make for faster games, then this just might be what your collection needs.</p>
<p>If you want to check out more budget decks, you can find them on my YouTube channel <a href="https://www.youtube.com/@ThePillowFort" target="_blank" rel="noopener">The Pillow Fort</a>, or right here on <a href="https://edhrec.com/articles/author/tyler-bucks" target="_blank" rel="noopener">EDHREC</a>!</p>


Squall, Gunblade Duelist Budget Deck Tech | The Power of 1

<h6 style="text-align: right;">Image credit: Wizards of the Coast and Square Enix</h6>
<p>&nbsp;</p>
<p>It's Wednesday, June 4th, which means it's time for the next entry in our <em>Final Fantasy</em> count-up series! Each day leading up to <a href="https://magic.wizards.com/en/products/final-fantasy">the release of the new <em>Universes Beyond</em> set</a>, I'm denoting my picks for the most powerful and flavorful cards from each game in the main series. Yesterday, we went over <em>FFVII</em>, and today marks Day 8 of our count-up, so naturally, we're covering <em>Final Fantasy VIII</em> today.</p>
<p>The criteria we're working with for this superlative list is as follows:</p>
<ul>
<li>Honorable Mention - These usually will be a cycle or group of cards that are great but don't quite measure up to the "best" in the categories we have chosen to cover. (Today's list will only have one card.)</li>
<li>Best as a Commander - This category covers, as advertised, the best commander to lead a deck in Commander, but may also look briefly at other Command Zone-driven formats.</li>
<li>Best in the 99 - This section discusses my choice for the best card in a given 99 of a deck. It may be a ubiquitous card, but it might also just be a card with a fair amount of utility.</li>
<li>Most Flavorful - The most fun to play card in a storytelling context will be deemed Most Flavorful. For example, we covered <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Town Greeter" href="#" target="_blank">Town Greeter</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> in our <em>FFI</em> list for its fun lore synergies with Towns, especially those with specific <em>Final Fantasy</em> town names.</li>
<li>Best In Show - The very best of these cards in a balance of the above categories.</li>
</ul>
<p>Furthermore, cards from the Commander precons, <em>Through the Ages</em>, and promotional/<em>Secret Lair</em> cards are ineligible for consideration. We want to keep this strictly from the main set.</p>
<p>With that, let's begin!</p>
<h2>Honorable Mention</h2>
<div class="edhrecp__cards"><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Rinoa Heartilly"></div></div>
<p><span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Rinoa Heartilly" href="#" target="_blank">Rinoa Heartilly</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> is our Honorable Mention in this list. She has a lot of cool, flavorful applications to her. Namely, Rinoa can create Angelo and then essentially launch him at opponents. This is more of a case for Angelo than Rinoa, as Angelo is <em>the</em> bestest boy in this game. However, as Angelo is a token and linked to Rinoa, we have to give this superlative to her.</p>
<h2>Best as a Commander</h2>
<div class="edhrecp__cards"><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Squall, SeeD Mercenary"></div></div>
<p>I've noticed that <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Squall, SeeD Mercenary" href="#" target="_blank">Squall, SeeD Mercenary</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> is practically identical to <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Seifer Almasy" href="#" target="_blank">Seifer Almasy</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> in many ways. Both are 4-mana 3/4 legendary creatures that can give double strike to a lone attacker. Plus, both have a trigger on dealing combat damage that recurs a card with a mana value of 3 or less. However, with this stiff competition, Squall beats out Seifer here in that Squall doesn't give the creature cards he recurs finality of any sort. Seifer effectively does, since he exiles the instants and sorceries he allows you to cast from your graveyard. Both are very powerful recursion engines, but Squall is a stronger card in this way. To this end, Squall, SeeD Mercenary is my pick for Best as a Commander.</p>
<h2>Best in the 99</h2>
<div class="edhrecp__cards"><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="PuPu UFO"></div></div>
<p>I'm a fan of <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Walking Atlas" href="#" target="_blank">Walking Atlas</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> effects. I think they're fantastic and have a lot of useful utility. As such, I will be giving the Best in the 99 superlative to <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="PuPu UFO" href="#" target="_blank">PuPu UFO</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span>, an even better Walking Atlas effect than Walking Atlas itself. Sure, Atlas has one more power in any normal situation, but PuPu UFO is a 0/4 flyer that can get huge in Limited. There are even some Commander decks that will synergize well with PuPu UFO, such as <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="The Wandering Minstrel" href="#" target="_blank">The Wandering Minstrel</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span>. Obviously, by the strictest definitions, it's not <em>strictly</em> better than Atlas, but it's certainly pushed and power crept.</p>
<h2>Most Flavorful</h2>
<div class="edhrecp__cards"><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Triple Triad"></div></div>
<p><a href="https://edhrec.com/articles/best-final-fantasy-spoilers-from-may-12th-15th">I've covered</a> <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Triple Triad" href="#" target="_blank">Triple Triad</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> in the past. I truly like the card. Put simply, it's a minigame that is heavily based on the card game minigame from <em>FFVIII</em> and beyond. There are a bunch of layers to this that we can unpack, but at the end of the day, it's just a really fun card that's bursting with flavor.</p>
<p>With that, we've gotten to our Best In Show for <em>Final Fantasy VIII</em>. Which card earned this superlative?</p>
<h2><em>Final Fantasy VIII</em> Best In Show</h2>
<div class="edhrecp__cards"><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Jumbo Cactuar"></div></div>
<p>It's <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Jumbo Cactuar" href="#" target="_blank">Jumbo Cactuar</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span>!</p>
<p>Jumbo Cactuar is a strong card with humorous flavor implications. It's probably the most memetic card in the set right now on social media. Since its reveal, people have been trying to find ways to adequately break the giant cactus monster, and many have succeeded. It's essentially the new "Congratulations, we finally broke _____" card, always funny to a fault.</p>
<p>Additionally, the card itself <em>is</em> disgustingly powerful. Give this thing trample, flying, or even haste against an unsuspecting board, and you have a card that will defeat opponents quickly and easily. 10,000 power is no joke, dear reader, but <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Fling" href="#" target="_blank">Fling</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span>ing 10,000 power is itself a power move. And let's not even talk about <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Rite of Consumption" href="#" target="_blank">Rite of Consumption</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span>. Defeating one opponent and gaining an unreasonably high amount of life is usually a way to end games outright. Plays like that are why Jumbo Cactuar is our Best In Show for this game.</p>
<p>That wraps up our coverage of <em>Final Fantasy VIII</em> for this count-up series! Do you think we missed any important points here? What are your picks for any of these superlatives? Sound off below! And, in the meantime, if you want to look at any of our previous entries, you can find them below as well.</p>
<p><strong><a href="https://edhrec.com/articles/final-fantasy-16-day-count-up-day-one-ffi?utm_source=edhrec" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">Day 1: <em>FFI</em></a> | <a href="https://edhrec.com/articles/final-fantasy-16-day-count-up-day-two-ffii?utm_source=edhrec" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">Day 2: <em>FFII</em></a> | <a href="https://edhrec.com/articles/final-fantasy-16-day-count-up-day-three-ffiii?utm_source=edhrec" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">Day 3: <em>FFIII</em></a> | <a href="https://edhrec.com/articles/final-fantasy-16-day-count-up-day-four-ffiv?utm_source=edhrec" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">Day 4: <em>FFIV</em></a> | <a href="https://edhrec.com/articles/final-fantasy-16-day-count-up-day-five-ffv?utm_source=edhrec" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">Day 5: <em>FFV</em></a> |</strong></p>
<p><a href="https://edhrec.com/articles/final-fantasy-16-day-count-up-day-six-ffvi?utm_source=edhrec" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer"><strong>Day 6: <em>FFVI</em></strong></a><strong> | <a href="https://edhrec.com/articles/final-fantasy-16-day-count-up-day-seven-ffvii">Day 7: <em>FFVII</em></a></strong></p>


final fantasy viii

Squall, Gunblade Duelist Budget Deck Tech | The Power of 1

Final Fantasy 16-Day Count-Up, Day Eight: FFVIII