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Sand Squid

Creature — Squid Beast

Islandwalk (This creature can't be blocked as long as defending player controls an Island.)
You may choose not to untap this creature during your untap step.
{T}: Tap target creature. That creature doesn't untap during its controller's untap step for as long as this creature remains tapped.

CMC
4
Mana cost
{3}{U}
Color identity
U
Rarity
rare
Set
Mercadian Masques
Price
$0.61
EDHREC rank
#24767
Buy on TCGplayer
Sand Squid card art
Sand Squid taps a creature on attack and keeps it tapped during its controller's untap step — soft lock material when you can swing repeatedly. The payoff is real, but five mana for a 1/1 means it earns its slot only in decks that can abuse the tap trigger, most cleanly alongside Intruder Alarm.

Format Analysis

Where it lives, where it can’t

FormatVerdict
commander legal
legacy legal
modern not legal
pioneer not legal
standard not legal
vintage legal
pauper not legal
oathbreaker legal

Sand Squid is a Commander card through and through — the tap-lock effect is slow enough that it needs the longer game and the untap-denial payoff is most punishing in multiplayer, where locking down one player's key creature matters across multiple turns. Legacy and Vintage legality is technically there, but a five-mana 1/1 with no immediate board impact has no place in those formats. Sand Squid sits in a narrow Commander niche: dedicated tap-abuse or creature-control builds that can protect it long enough to matter.

Key Combos

Combo lines featuring this card

1 decks
Intruder AlarmStonybrook SchoolmasterSand Squid

Intruder AlarmStonybrook SchoolmasterSand Squid

Infinite creature tokens; Infinite ETB; Infinite mana creatures you control can produce; Infinite untap of creatures; Infinite untap of creatures you control

View on Commander Spellbook ↗

Price Context

Current price

$0.61 bulk tier

At $0.61, Sand Squid is firmly bulk — low supply pressure and a narrow use case keep it there. It's a safe pickup if you want it, and there's no meaningful upside pressure to expect the price to move.

Explore

Sources

Mentioned

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Updated . Data from Scryfall, EDHREC, and Commander Spellbook.