Hello again, precon pals! We’re back with another EDHREC precon guide. Today we’re upgrading the Squirreled Away precon from Bloomburrow. In case you missed it, go check out my review for the deck, where we went over what’s in the deck and how to play it.

This precon got an average review due to its conflicting desire to have an aggressive token army and also wanting to sacrifice its tokens for value. So let’s see if we can fix these flaws and give the deck more focus.

Time to tune up.

What’s in the Original Deck?

Squirreled Away is green and black, and led by Hazel of the RootbloomHazel of the Rootbloom, a 3/5 Squirrel Druid that can make us X mana of any color combo by tapping her, paying two life, and tapping X untapped tokens we control. She also makes us a token copy of a token we control on end step, or two of those tokens if it’s a Squirrel.

The backup commander is The Odd Acorn GangThe Odd Acorn Gang, a 5/5 Squirrel Warrior with menace, trample, and reach that gives our Squirrels the ability to tap themselves to give another Squirrel +2/+2 and trample until end of turn. It also gives us card draw when our Squirrels damage opponents in combat.

Here’s the original deck list:

What Budget Cards Can We Add to Squirreled Away?

As always, we’ll break our upgrade into two parts, one for budget cards (less than $5) and one for non-budget ($5 or more).

First things first, let’s make more tokens with this token deck. We all know about the power of Scute SwarmScute Swarm, but it’s even better when its Insect creature type matters, like with SwarmyardSwarmyard and Swarmyard MassacreSwarmyard Massacre. There's also Awakening ZoneAwakening Zone to give us an Eldrazi Spawn each turn. Bootleggers’ StashBootleggers’ Stash turns all of our lands into Treasure makers, which is triply potent with Academy ManufactorAcademy Manufactor on the board. FountainportFountainport can make us a Fish token for three mana and one life, or make a Treasure token for four mana, or even sacrifice a token to draw a card, which makes it a great mana sink for Hazel. Treasure VaultTreasure Vault can be sacrificed for a Treasure trove in the late game. Jaheira, Friend of the ForestJaheira, Friend of the Forest turns all of our tokens into green mana makers. And Peregrin TookPeregrin Took adds a Food token whenever we make tokens of any kind.

With all of this token making, Mirkwood BatsMirkwood Bats will be a powerhouse that brings games to a much quicker end. For more life drain, we’ll throw in a Valley RotcallerValley Rotcaller from the main Bloomburrow set. We’ve also got Marionette ApprenticeMarionette Apprentice hitting life totals when our artifacts and creatures go to the grave, and Champion of LambholtChampion of Lambholt turning our token army into an unblockable death machine.

The precon was missing some protection and recursion effects, so let’s add in Lightning GreavesLightning Greaves, Whisper, Blood LiturgistWhisper, Blood Liturgist, Phyrexian ReclamationPhyrexian Reclamation, and Mudflat VillageMudflat Village. And for one more finisher, or card draw if we prefer, we’ll add Return of the WildspeakerReturn of the Wildspeaker.

These cards are getting left on the forest floor: Casualties of WarCasualties of War, Evolving WildsEvolving Wilds, Haunted MireHaunted Mire, Haywire MiteHaywire Mite, Insatiable FrugivoreInsatiable Frugivore, Maelstrom PulseMaelstrom Pulse, Nested ShamblerNested Shambler, PlaguecrafterPlaguecrafter, Plumb the ForbiddenPlumb the Forbidden, Poison-Tip ArcherPoison-Tip Archer, Prosperous InnkeeperProsperous Innkeeper, Skyfisher SpiderSkyfisher Spider, Sword of the SqueakSword of the Squeak, Terramorphic ExpanseTerramorphic Expanse, Woe StriderWoe Strider, Zulaport CutthroatZulaport Cutthroat

Here’s the budget upgraded list:

Some other options to consider: ArachnogenesisArachnogenesis, Camellia, the SeedmiserCamellia, the Seedmiser, Cloakwood HermitCloakwood Hermit, Dockside ChefDockside Chef, Dreadfeast DemonDreadfeast Demon, Dreadhorde InvasionDreadhorde Invasion, Druid’s CallDruid’s Call, Gala GreetersGala Greeters, Geometric NexusGeometric Nexus, Slimefoot, the StowawaySlimefoot, the Stowaway, Squirrel MobSquirrel Mob, Syr Konrad, the GrimSyr Konrad, the Grim, Thornvault ForagerThornvault Forager, Trading PostTrading Post, Trailtracker ScoutTrailtracker Scout

How About Non-Budget Cards for Squirreled Away?

Hey, expensive cards like to make tokens too! Tevesh Szat, Doom of FoolsTevesh Szat, Doom of Fools can drop off two Thrulls tokens each of our turns, or provide some card draw. And if you manage to pull off the ultimate, it’s basically game over (I’ve done it; it’s amazing).

Tendershoot DryadTendershoot Dryad gives us a Saproling token on every upkeep, BitterblossomBitterblossom gives us a Faerie Rogue on our own upkeeps, and Black Market ConnectionsBlack Market Connections can give us both a Treasure and a Shapeshifter token. 

We’ve also got Old GnawboneOld Gnawbone to make Treasures whenever our Squirrels and other woodland creatures nibble on opponents’ faces. Revel in RichesRevel in Riches makes us a Treasure whenever opponents’ creatures die, which is amazing with its alternate win condition. And Parallel LivesParallel Lives doubles all of our tokens.

We’ll close out our upgrades with a bit of protection in Heroic InterventionHeroic Intervention, and the big bad boogeyman of Commander, the king of all finishers, Craterhoof BehemothCraterhoof Behemoth.

These critters can’t hang: Arasta of the Endless WebArasta of the Endless Web, Bastion of RemembranceBastion of Remembrance, Cache GrabCache Grab, End-Raze ForerunnersEnd-Raze Forerunners, Gourmand’s TalentGourmand’s Talent, Moldervine ReclamationMoldervine Reclamation, Squirrel SovereignSquirrel Sovereign, Whisper, Blood LiturgistWhisper, Blood Liturgist, Wolfwillow HavenWolfwillow Haven

Here’s our non-budget upgraded list for Squirreled Away:

And a few more cards to consider: Braids, Arisen NightmareBraids, Arisen Nightmare, Doubling SeasonDoubling Season, Unwinding ClockUnwinding Clock, Ygra, Eater of AllYgra, Eater of All

Rodent Ruination

That’s it for our Upgrade Guide for Squirreled Away. We focused the deck more on token creation and less on sacrifice, giving us the ability to go wide more reliably. 

What do you think? Did I make the deck better? Any cards I missed? Have you ever pet the squirrels in Boston? Hit me up in the comments or on Twitter and let me know. And keep your eyes peeled here on EDHREC for more precon guides.

Precon Party:

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Andy Zupke

Andy's been playing Magic on and off since Fallen Empires. He loves to travel, drink, eat, and spend time with family and friends.