Magic: The Gathering's Final Fantasy Universes Beyond set introduced Squall, SeeD Mercenary as a legendary creature, but his true potential as a Commander was unlocked by an unlikely ally from 1999: Bone Shredder. Released just four days after Final Fantasy VIII launched in Japan, this unassuming creature from Magic's Urza's Legacy expansion has become the secret weapon for a powerful and thematically resonant Commander deck.
At first glance, Squall, SeeD Mercenary appears to be a standard Voltron Commander, a strategy focused on empowering a single creature with equipment and buffs to win the game. For four mana, Squall is a 3/4 Human Knight Mercenary. His first ability grants double strike to any creature attacking alone, a nod to his Rough Divide Limit Break. His second ability, however, is where the true synergy lies: it allows Squall to return a permanent with mana value three or less from the graveyard to the battlefield whenever he deals combat damage to a player.
While many decks focus on Squall's Voltron capabilities, this approach often overlooks his recursion ability. A more interesting strategy emerges when prioritizing the graveyard interaction, a path illuminated by the discovery of Bone Shredder.
The Unlikely Synergy of Bone Shredder
Bone Shredder is a grotesque yet mechanically unique creature. Upon entering the battlefield, it destroys a nonartifact, nonblack creature. Its old mechanic, echo, requires an additional payment during the next upkeep or the creature is sacrificed. This seemingly detrimental ability becomes a key component of the Squall deck. By consistently triggering Squall's recursion, players can use Bone Shredder to destroy a creature each round before it's sacrificed due to echo, only to be brought back from the graveyard on a subsequent turn.
To facilitate this loop, cards like Buried Alive become essential. This sorcery allows players to search their library for three creature cards and place them directly into the graveyard, setting up targets like Bone Shredder and other useful creatures. For example, Mother of Runes can provide much-needed protection, while Fang, Fearless l’Cie enables card draw when creatures leave the graveyard. This enables Squall to potentially bring back two key cards by round five.
Squall's ability to return any permanent with mana value three or less also extends beyond creatures. This allows for the recovery of crucial artifacts, enchantments, auras, or even lands, ensuring that engines like Land Tax or Black Market Connections can be reanimated if destroyed. Removal spells in this deck can include enchantments such as Chains of Custody and Sheltered by Ghosts, which Squall can then retrieve from the graveyard.
The deck also features a robust artifact package, including equipment like Sword of Hearth and Home and Machinist’s Arsenal for increased power, and Swiftfoot Boots or Darksteel Plate for protection. Artifacts like Dispeller’s Capsule and Wayfarer’s Bauble gain consistent value when repeatedly returned to the battlefield by Squall. Cards like All That Glitters can significantly boost Squall's power, scaling with the number of artifacts and enchantments in play.
Reflecting Squall's Character Arc
Beyond its mechanical synergy, the deck's strategy deeply reflects Squall's character development in Final Fantasy VIII. His double strike ability directly mirrors the animation of his Rough Divide Limit Break. The requirement for Squall to attack alone also resonates with his initial characterization as an emotionally guarded and independent individual who struggles with relying on others.
As the game progresses, Squall evolves into a leader who strives to protect and reunite his companions. His recursion ability abstractly represents this arc, as he reaches into the graveyard—a metaphor for lost memories or companions—and brings them back into the present. This mirrors the game's themes of memory, relationships, and the effort to recover what has been lost, particularly in the face of the game's central conflict involving Time Compression and the sorceress Ultimecia.
While Squall, SeeD Mercenary may not be among the most powerful Commanders, his current popularity suggests a significant player interest. This particular deck build, however, deviates from common strategies by focusing on the graveyard recursion and the specific synergy with cards like Bone Shredder. The process of discovering forgotten cards like Bone Shredder and integrating them into a functional and thematic deck provides a deeply satisfying deck-building challenge. The confluence of a creature released four days apart from the game it represents, and a 27-year journey before they meet in a Commander deck, offers a unique connection between childhood obsessions and a beloved card game. Further refinements to the deck are planned, including incorporating cards from The Hobbit set.