Earwig Squad is one of those cards players keep asking about. Here is, in plain words, what its official text says, the rulings published by Wizards of the Coast, and the combos players actually run.
Official card text
Prowl(You may cast this for its prowl cost if you dealt combat damage to a player this turn with a Goblin or Rogue.) When this creature enters, if its prowl cost was paid, search target opponent's library for three cards and exile them. Then that player shuffles.
Complete guide
Earwig Squad is a devastating tactical tool for Goblin and Rogue decks, designed to dismantle your opponent's strategy before they even draw their key pieces. By utilizing its Prowl cost, you not only save mana but also gain the ability to surgically remove the most dangerous cards from an opponent's library. This creature represents a perfect blend of aggressive board presence and proactive disruption.
Understanding Prowl
Prowl is an alternative cost that becomes available if you have dealt combat damage to a player during the current turn using a creature that shares a subtype with Earwig Squad—specifically a Goblin or a Rogue. It is important to note that the damage must be combat damage; abilities that deal non-combat damage will not enable the Prowl cost. Once the condition is met, you may cast Earwig Squad for {2}{B} instead of its usual {3}{B}{B}.
Resolving the Search
When Earwig Squad enters the battlefield, its triggered ability checks if the Prowl cost was paid. If it was, you choose a target opponent and search their entire library for exactly three cards. These cards are exiled face-up, meaning all players can see which threats have been removed. After the cards are exiled, the opponent must shuffle their library. If you cast the creature for its normal mana cost, the ability does not trigger at all.
Strategic Timing
Because the ability targets an opponent, it is best used when you know your opponent relies on specific win conditions or limited copies of a card. Since the search happens upon entering the battlefield, you can use this to strip away answers to your board state or combo pieces. Remember that even if the creature is destroyed in response to the trigger, the search will still resolve as long as the Prowl cost was initially paid.
Interaction examples
Roaming ThroneIf you control Roaming Throne and chose 'Goblin' as its type, Earwig Squad's ability will trigger twice when it enters (provided the Prowl cost was paid). This allows you to search the opponent's library for a total of six cards, effectively gutting their deck of almost every major threat or utility piece.
Solemn SimulacrumIf you suspect your opponent is about to play Solemn Simulacrum to fix their mana, you can use Earwig Squad to exile their remaining basic lands. When Solemn Simulacrum eventually enters, the opponent will search their library and find nothing, wasting the search effect of the Golem.
Guide written with AI from the official text and rulings. Official English text prevails.
How it works : Earwig Squad
Original English text — Wizards of the Coast / Scryfall
- #1· Wizards of the Coast
The cards are exiled face up. All players will know what they are.
No other card is named in this ruling.
Legal formats
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Meta decks with Earwig Squad
No archived Top 8 deck with this card yet.