New Outlaws of Thunder Junction Standard Decks for Day 1
Discover how the new OTJ cards are going to impact the new Standard format. Let's bring some light to new archetypes and theorycraft with cards that are new options for established strategies.
And here we are again, dear readers. A new set is on the horizon or probably already out when you’re reading this and with it, Standard will have many new interesting and funny cards to work with.
What should we do with them? Well, it’s time for decklists! I will share with you some decklists with cards from the new set that existing archetypes can incorporate and as some of you asked for in our MKM article, new strategies for the format centered around OTJ cards.
If there’s one card I’m excited to have back in Standard, it is Terror of the Peaks. This dragon has been part of a variety of archetypes in the past. From midrange to full combo, you name it.
First, I want to let you know that this is my first approach and can be refined over time. However, many things are possible with this creature.
My initial thought was Mono Red and, also something well-known by Commander players; the combination of Solphim, Mayhem Dominus, and Terror of the Peak. These two creatures together can make you win the game by playing one big creature.
Plot cards like Stingerback Terror are fantastic for Terror of the Peak. You can save those for when Terror is already on the field leading to explosive results.
I was also tinkering with Smuggler's Surprise and Storm the Festival. But I don’t want to make an article of new decks exclusively talking about Terror or do I? Let’s continue!
Gruul is an archetype that has the tools to compete. Looking carefully, many players have had good results with the archetype during the last two months.
I have believed in this archetype for a long time, and with each new set, there are always some tools to try. In our last Day 1 article about MKM, I suggested Fugitive Codebreaker working amazingly well which is now a staple that you must play four copies in the archetype.
Outlaws of Thunder Junction brings a new creature that can easily occupy four slots in our lists, Slickshot Show-Off. This bird doesn’t gain +3 like the old Kiln Fiend, however, Flying and Haste are abilities we take gladly. Plot is also something we have to take into consideration. Most of the time we cast it and attack, but against removal we could put this card on exile, and the next turn when we have our mana open, attack with it having something to protect it.
Thrashthe Town and Great Train Heist open a multitude of scenarios, however, drawing with Thrashthe Town and having an extra combat phase with Great Train Heist is what caught my attention.
Thank god Snakeskin Veil is back on Standard. Nevertheless, let’s see how much protection we need after the first days of the new format to decide whether we want it on our mainboard.
With this in mind, the deck has many cards that reward us for being the bad guys. Forsaken Miner can return from our graveyard to the battlefield, Magda, the Hoardmaster creates treasures that can make scorpion dragons! I’m still amazed by that new kind of creature. Vadmir, New Blood goes big and Kaervek, the Punisher lets us rebuy any black card in our graveyard.
It’s clear how many interactions and synergies are behind this new mechanic. However, it is also logical that the best possible build is still yet to be discovered. Meanwhile, this is an amazing starting point.
UW Control is an archetype that has been fighting to be on the top for a few sets now. The release of No More Lies seemed to be the missing piece, but even with this amazing counter, UW still struggles to be one of the best 2 or 3 decks of the format.
Don’t get me wrong, this doesn’t mean the archetype is bad, on the contrary. It has the tools to fight against anyone and with the new Stoic Sphinx, this could be the true iteration of the old “Draw-Go” style of Control.
The flexibility of Three Steps Aheadis formidable. I think 4 copies are the best option for this new card. However, testing is required to know precisely what we can cut for the other two copies.
The new set is supposed to have a Wild West theme. Well, I’m not the one questioning this because I like pirates, Argh! but we got interesting new pirates in Outlaws at Thunder Junction.
Breeches, the Blastmaker looks hilarious. I wonder about playing Magmatic Galleon because of how much damage this combination can cause. In any case, It’s a 3/3 with evasion that can make more pirates or deal more damage.
Speaking about creatures, now the deck has 12 drop-one, 10 drop-two, and 9 drop-three. If we add that now we have the best dual lands for aggressive decks in Spirebluff Canal, the list looks extremely consistent.
I will board a ship instead of riding a horse during the first days of testing. 🏴☠️
Another deck with some cards to test is Temur Ramp.
Goldvein Hydra seems not very different from Shivan Devastatorand that could be a reason for not playing the card, however, Goldvein Hydra has a big upside in comparison. If we face a removal, this creature will return its power as treasure tokens. This means the card will hit or give us our mana back for another explosive play the turn afterward.
Bristly Bill, Spine Sower is another fantastic way of taking advantage of the huge amount of landfall triggers that this archetype generates. The number of +1/+1 counters this cactusfolk can put on one of our creatures could be enough for finishing many games on its own.
I can’t contain myself from trying Bonny Pall, Clearcutter. Finishing a game attacking with Beau an amazing name for an enormous ox is one of my personal goals. Beyond the meme, this ox can be big enough to finish the game with one hit, Bonny Pall is also a big attacker, its ability to draw cards and continue with our ramp plan looks fantastic. This card seems like one that could get more slots in this build. Let testing decide for us.
Plot lets us exile a card and cast it without paying its mana cost on a later turn. This enables Pia to let us make 1/1 thopters. If we face a game of attrition, Dust Animus and Stingerback Terror are incredible for their cost. Dust Animus as a 4/5, flying, and lifelink + a 1/1 token from Pia without spending mana sounds like a good turn 5. Also, playing a deck with a low curve like this one, Stingerback Terror could easily be a 5/5 or 6/6 most of the time.
If we want to be more aggressive, Slickshot Show-Off lets us curve during the early game as a turn two play or just by plotting it and enabling an explosive turn later in the game.
I firmly believe that this archetype has what it takes to shine, however, it lives in the shadow of Boros Convoke. Let’s see if these new plot cards are what it takes to bring this strategy to the next level.
Not long ago, one of the best decks in the format, Esper Legends, started a transformation to its present iteration, Esper Raffine; a build with fewer legendary creatures and more interaction.
This could happen because of the need for this kind of responsive spell against opponents’ strategies or the lack of new legendary creatures that can effectively fill the curve of Esper.
OTJ gives us many new legends in Black that can be at least good for testing this archetype in a way more similar to its past iteration. Tinybones, the Pickpocket and Tinybones Joins Up are very good at committing crimes every turn same as Lord Skitter, Sewer King. This enables Kaervek, the Punisher, and Vadmir, New Blood.
All these cards have the legendary type, making Plaza of Heroes viable again. This land + Concealed Courtyard let us curve aggressively during the first turns.
If this wasn’t enough, Duelist of the Mind works well with Raffine, Scheming Seer, making Nathan a relevant flyer attacker who can be untapped for blocking and looting cards.
I’m unsure about playing Dennick, Pious Apprentice in this iteration. It is one of the best cards in this archetype for playing against aggro. However, it’s a non-bo and unfavorable interaction making a “bad combo” for us with Lord Skitter, Sewer King. Nevertheless, with the proper testing, we can figure out what to do with those slots.
One mode of Rush of Dread makes an opponent lose half their life while Bloodletter of Aclazotz makes them lose double that amount killing the opponent.
Mono-Black has had some successful iterations for Standard in the Past. However, Mono-Black aggro seems like the most accurate to try this combo. I said this because Bloodletter of Aclazotz has seen some play in this archetype before so, making this card go to 4 copies + 4 Rush of Dread seems not complicated.
Boros Convoke is a deck that has solidified its position at the top of the pack as the best aggro deck in the format. After the Murders at Karlov Manor, Case of the Gateway Express is now considered a staple. Could Requisition Raid and Great Train Heist accomplish the same?
Both cards have their upsides for this archetype. Requisition Raid could mean a ton of damage by putting a +1/+1 counter in each of our creatures while allowing us to destroy a pesky enchantment or artifact.
An extra combat phase could be the difference between winning and losing in some games. Great Train Heist lets us attack twice during the same turn. The +1/+0 to our creatures could be useful from time to time, and the first strike can eliminate various blockers at the same time.
Will this be enough to solidify these two cards in the archetype? I believe that Requisition Raid has a good chance. Let the testing decide.
End Step
Outlaws at Thunder Junction bring us a wide variety of cards to cook amazing new decks and some wild cards to try on existing archetypes. These few decks are just the beginning of our journey through the Wild West at Thunder Junction.
Do you have any other interesting ideas? Let us know in this article’s comment section, in the MTG Arena Zone Community Discord, and on my Twitter.
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A full time MTG content creator. Started playing Magic in 99’ with the release of Urza’s Destiny, 3 times Grand Prix attendant (1 as a player ending #78 and 2 as a judge). Mexican, lover of coffee, Korean culture, languages and ex-LoL coach.
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