Squirrel FarmHow it works & interactions with other cards

Identifying the Artist

When you activate the ability of Squirrel Farm, you pay the mana cost and choose a card from your hand. You must reveal this card to a target opponent while physically covering the artist credit—the text at the bottom left of the card next to the paintbrush icon. The opponent then makes one guess as to who the artist is. If their guess is incorrect, the ability succeeds and you create a 1/1 green Squirrel creature token.

Resolution Step-by-Step

First, you pay one generic and one green mana to put the ability on the stack. Second, you choose a target opponent. Third, upon resolution, you reveal a card from your hand while hiding the artist's name. Fourth, the opponent names an artist. Finally, you reveal the name; if they were wrong, the 1/1 Squirrel token is placed onto the battlefield under your control.

Common Mistakes

The most common mistake is not covering the credit before showing the card, which ruins the mini-game. Additionally, remember that this is a targeted ability; if your opponent has hexproof, you cannot target them to make the guess. Lastly, the card remains in your hand throughout the process; it is revealed, not discarded or played.

Strategic Selection

To maximize your Squirrel production, choose cards with obscure artists or cards where the art style is deceptive. Using cards from older sets or promotional printings can often confuse opponents who are only familiar with modern digital art styles.

Interaction examples

Building the Horde

Squirrel

With Squirrel Farm on the battlefield, you pay two mana and reveal a card. Your opponent guesses 'John Avon' but the artist is actually 'Christopher Rush'. Because they guessed wrong, you put a 1/1 Squirrel token onto the battlefield.

Refilling the Hand for More Guesses

Sylvan Library

Use Sylvan Library during your draw step to draw two extra cards. This gives you a wider variety of artists to choose from when you activate Squirrel Farm later in the turn, increasing the chances your opponent will guess incorrectly.

Trampling Squirrels

Garruk's Uprising

While Squirrel Farm creates 1/1 Squirrels, Garruk's Uprising gives all your creatures trample. If you have other ways to buff your Squirrel tokens' power to 4 or greater, Garruk's Uprising will also let you draw a card whenever a new Squirrel is created by a failed artist guess.