MTG: Secure the Big Score! – ‘Outlaws of Thunder Junction’ Draft Tips
Don’t get left out with the tumbleweeds when you draft the new set! This is the Outlaws of Thunder Junction draft guide you need when packs are passing.
Welcome in, Praetors, Planeswalkers, and Posse Members! Outlaws of Thunder Junction is in preview season, and it’s shaping up to be one of the best sets of 2024. With new and unique mechanics, an exciting new grouping of creatures, and the return of some fan-favorite characters, this is a set to dive into! However, as with any new set, you’ll want to go to Draft and Sealed events with a little info.
I was able to attend the Sealed Prerelease and had a fairly respectable placement, so I’m happy to share what I learned. Dust off your favorite pair of spurs and saddle up for this Don’t get left out with the tumbleweeds when you draft the new set! These are the Outlaws of Thunder Junction draft guide.
Mount Up
One of the coolest new things from OTJ is the “saddle” mechanic. Similar to vehicles and “crew”, it allows you to tap one or more of your creatures to try and rein in a Mount. While saddled, these creatures get powerful abilities, like the life drain effect on Caustic Bronco. Since a creature can saddle on the turn they enter the battlefield, you can get utility out of your creature even without haste. Draft and Limited are fast formats, so you’ll want your creatures working for you right away. Grab a few Mounts and trample your opponents with speed.
Outlaws are King in an Outlaws of Thunder Junction Draft
As you would expect from the titular new hotness, outlaws are the top contenders in this set. There are so many new cards that care about outlaws entering the battlefield or attacking, and a lot of cards give you outlaw tokens to benefit your board. The best part of all is that they aren’t a single creature type.
Since outlaws comprise five different types, you have more utility to craft your deck however you see fit. I had a lot of success with Blood Hustler and Forsaken Miner, but there are a lot of great cards you can snag to boost your deck. Just be aware that the opposite is true as well. Many cards will target outlaws specifically, so prepare to defend your claim.
Crime Pays
Another new mechanic from OTJ is “crime” which is anything that targets your opponent or any of their stuff. Some cards, like Murder, definitely fit that bill, but even beneficial effects that specifically target are counted as crimes. Several cards in the set activate when you commit a crime, so you’ll want to make sure you have plenty of interaction. Blood Hustler is another great grab. She grows when you commit a crime and has a crime effect baked in. You want to be interacting with your opponent’s stuff anyway; why not get rewarded for it?
What cards are you hoping to snag?
