Spiteful 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
Deathtouch This creature enters with two +1/+1 counters on it. When this creature dies, put its counters on target creature you control.
Complete guide
Spiteful Squad is a versatile Human Warlock that brings both immediate pressure and long-term value to the battlefield. With the ability to pass its power onto its allies upon death, it ensures that your momentum never truly fades. This guide explores how to maximize its triggered ability and its synergy with other powerful creatures.
What it Does
Spiteful Squad is a 0/0 creature that enters the battlefield with two +1/+1 counters, effectively making it a 2/2 with Deathtouch. Its most important feature is its 'dies' trigger, which targets another creature you control and gives that creature a copy of every counter Spiteful Squad had at the moment of its death.
How it Resolves Step by Step
First, when Spiteful Squad's toughness reaches 0 or it is destroyed, it is put into the graveyard. Second, the triggered ability goes on the stack, and you must choose a target creature you control. Finally, as the ability resolves, you count the number and types of counters Spiteful Squad had in the last moment it was on the battlefield and place that exact number of new counters on the target.
Common Mistakes
A common misconception is that the counters are 'moved' from the Squad to the target. In reality, the ability creates new counters based on what the Squad had. This means if an effect doubles the number of counters being put on a creature, the new target will receive twice as many as the Squad had. Additionally, remember that if the Squad had negative counters, like -1/-1 counters, those are also placed on your target creature.
When to Play it
Spiteful Squad is best played in aggressive or midrange decks that rely on keeping a presence on the board. Because it has Deathtouch, opponents are often reluctant to block it, allowing you to chip away at their life total or force them into an unfavorable trade that simply transfers the Squad's power elsewhere.
Interaction examples
Solemn SimulacrumIf Spiteful Squad dies while you control Solemn Simulacrum, you can target the Simulacrum with the Squad's triggered ability. The Simulacrum will receive two +1/+1 counters (assuming the Squad had its default amount), turning your 2/2 Golem into a 4/4 threat that still provides its own card-draw value when it eventually dies.
Roaming ThroneIf you have Roaming Throne on the battlefield and chose 'Human' or 'Warlock' as it entered, Spiteful Squad's death ability will trigger an additional time. You can choose the same target or two different targets. If the Squad had two +1/+1 counters, you will place two +1/+1 counters on the first target, and then two more +1/+1 counters on the second (or the same) target.
Guide written with AI from the official text and rulings. Official English text prevails.
How it works : Spiteful Squad
Original English text — Wizards of the Coast / Scryfall
- #1· Wizards of the Coast
Spiteful Squad's ability doesn't cause you to move counters from itself to the target creature. Rather, you put the same number of each kind of counter Spiteful Squad had when it died onto that creature.
No other card is named in this ruling.
- #2· Wizards of the Coast
In some unusual cases, you may end up putting the appropriate counters on more than one permanent. For example, if you control The Ozolith when Spiteful Squad dies, you will put the appropriate number of each kind of counter onto both The Ozolith and the target creature.
No other card is named in this ruling.
- #3· Wizards of the Coast
If Spiteful Squad has -1/-1 counters on it when it dies, the last ability will include those as well. This may result in the recipient also dying. Spiteful indeed.
No other card is named in this ruling.
Popular combos
Real combos played by the community, sorted by popularity.
Eirdu, Carrier of Dawn // Isilu, Carrier of Twilight + Spiteful Squad + Bartolomé del Presidio
- 1Activate Bartolomé del Presidio by sacrificing Spiteful Squad.
- 2When Spiteful Squad dies, its persist ability triggers, returning it from your graveyard to the battlefield without a -1/-1 counter on it due to its replacement effect.
- 3Resolve the Bartolomé del Presidio ability.
- 4Repeat.
Eirdu, Carrier of Dawn // Isilu, Carrier of Twilight + Spiteful Squad + Viscera Seer
- 1Activate Viscera Seer by sacrificing Spiteful Squad.
- 2When Spiteful Squad dies, its persist ability triggers, returning it from your graveyard to the battlefield without a -1/-1 counter on it due to its replacement effect.
- 3Resolve the Viscera Seer ability.
- 4Repeat.
Eirdu, Carrier of Dawn // Isilu, Carrier of Twilight + Ashnod's Altar + Spiteful Squad
- 1Activate Ashnod's Altar by sacrificing Spiteful Squad.
- 2When Spiteful Squad dies, its persist ability triggers, returning it from your graveyard to the battlefield without a -1/-1 counter on it due to its replacement effect.
- 3Repeat.
Eirdu, Carrier of Dawn // Isilu, Carrier of Twilight + Spiteful Squad + Umbral Collar Zealot
- 1Activate Umbral Collar Zealot by sacrificing Spiteful Squad.
- 2When Spiteful Squad dies, its persist ability triggers, returning it from your graveyard to the battlefield without a -1/-1 counter on it due to its replacement effect.
- 3Resolve the Umbral Collar Zealot ability.
- 4Repeat.
Eirdu, Carrier of Dawn // Isilu, Carrier of Twilight + Woe Strider + Spiteful Squad
- 1Activate Woe Strider by sacrificing Spiteful Squad.
- 2When Spiteful Squad dies, its persist ability triggers, returning it from your graveyard to the battlefield without a -1/-1 counter on it due to its replacement effect.
- 3Resolve the Woe Strider ability.
- 4Repeat.
Eirdu, Carrier of Dawn // Isilu, Carrier of Twilight + Spiteful Squad + Carrion Feeder
- 1Activate Carrion Feeder by sacrificing Spiteful Squad.
- 2When Spiteful Squad dies, its persist ability triggers, returning it from your graveyard to the battlefield without a -1/-1 counter on it due to its replacement effect.
- 3Resolve the Carrion Feeder ability.
- 4Repeat.
Eirdu, Carrier of Dawn // Isilu, Carrier of Twilight + Spiteful Squad + Yahenni, Undying Partisan
- 1Activate Yahenni by sacrificing Spiteful Squad.
- 2When Spiteful Squad dies, its persist ability triggers, returning it from your graveyard to the battlefield without a -1/-1 counter on it due to its replacement effect.
- 3Resolve the Yahenni ability.
- 4Repeat.
Eirdu, Carrier of Dawn // Isilu, Carrier of Twilight + Spiteful Squad + Phyrexian Altar
- 1Activate Phyrexian Altar by sacrificing Spiteful Squad.
- 2When Spiteful Squad dies, its persist ability triggers, returning it from your graveyard to the battlefield without a -1/-1 counter on it due to its replacement effect.
- 3Repeat.
Legal formats
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Meta decks with Spiteful Squad
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