Hey friends. Welcome back to EDHREC for our final precon guide for Outlaws of Thunder Junction. In the last article we looked at Most Wanted to see if the outlaw deck deserved our hard-earned (or stolen) coin. And now we’re gonna take that deck and give it a boost.

I gave the deck a good score based on the power of its commanders and its synergy. But it could use a bit more oomph when it comes to dealing out combat damage. And maybe a bit more Treasure too.

Let’s tune up.

What’s In the Original Deck?

This precon is red, white, and black, and the star of the show is Olivia, Opulent OutlawOlivia, Opulent Outlaw. She’s a 3/3 Vampire Assassin with flying and lifelink for four mana, and whenever one or more of our outlaws deal combat damage to an opponent, we make a Treasure. We can also pay three mana and sacrifice two Treasures to put two +1/+1 counters on each creature we control.

The understudy is Vihaan, GoldwakerVihaan, Goldwaker, a 3/3 Dwarf Warlock for three mana that gives other outlaws vigilance and haste, and at the beginning of our combats we can turn all our Treasures into 3/3 Assassins until end of turn. 

Here’s the original deck list:

What Budget Cards Can We Add to Most Wanted?

Let’s break this up into two parts, one for budget upgrades ($5 or less per card) and one non-budget (>$5).

We'll kick this off with our outlaws. Butch DeLoria, Tunnel SnakeButch DeLoria, Tunnel Snake, from Universes Beyond: Fallout has a lot of synergy with Rogue creatures, and can even turn a creature into a Rogue, which works great for the non-outlaw creatures in our deck. And menace is excellent evasion to make sure we’re getting in for damage. Also from Fallout is Kellogg, Dangerous MindKellogg, Dangerous Mind. This Mercenary makes a Treasure when he attacks, and can also steal a creature at the cost of five Treasures. This is a good way to get rid of some blockers.

Hellspur Posse BossHellspur Posse Boss from the main OTJ set gives our outlaws haste and creates two Mercenary tokens on entry that can either attack or grant a power boost. Port RazerPort Razer is a Pirate that can give us extra combat steps when it hits an opponent, which is exactly what this deck needs. Swashbuckler ExtraordinaireSwashbuckler Extraordinaire enters with a Treasure, and lets us spend Treasures to give our crew double strike. Since Olivia triggers off of combat damage, double strike is an absolute premium in this deck. So much so, that we’re also adding the non-outlaw Blade HistorianBlade Historian.

Tin Street DodgerTin Street Dodger is a cheap outlaw with an evasion ability, and Zagras, Thief of HeartbeatsZagras, Thief of Heartbeats is a Rogue that grants all of our creatures deathtouch. Folks ‘round here don’t much appreciate blocking creatures with deathtouch.

Some other creatures we’re adding are: Mirkwood BatsMirkwood Bats, which pings opponents when we make or sacrifice tokens; Reckless FireweaverReckless Fireweaver, which does the same when we drop an artifact; XornXorn increases our Treasure production; and Zirda, the DawnwakerZirda, the Dawnwaker makes Olivia’s ability much more affordable, in addition to dealing with a blocker each turn.

We’ve got a couple of enchantments too. At KnifepointAt Knifepoint gives our outlaws first strike, which, for combat damage triggers, is almost as good as double strike. It also makes us a Mercenary token whenever we commit a Crime, so it’s doing a lot of things we need. We’re also adding BedlamBedlam. Yes, Bedlam! What’s better than evasion? Completely doing away with blocking. Yes, it puts us in danger from other attacks, but I ain’t no coward. 

And our last budget addition is one of my all-time favorite Magic cards: Bond of DisciplineBond of Discipline. It’s just a beautiful card, and perfect when we need to get in for damage.

These cards are getting the boot: Captain Lannery StormCaptain Lannery Storm, Dead Before SunriseDead Before Sunrise, Dire Fleet DaredevilDire Fleet Daredevil, Dire Fleet RavagerDire Fleet Ravager, Graywater’s FixerGraywater’s Fixer, Kamber, the PlundererKamber, the Plunderer, Mass MutinyMass Mutiny, Misfortune TellerMisfortune Teller, Mistmeadow SkulkMistmeadow Skulk, Ogre SlumlordOgre Slumlord, Rain of RichesRain of Riches, Tenured InkcasterTenured Inkcaster, Trailblazer’s BootsTrailblazer’s Boots, Veinwitch CovenVeinwitch Coven, and Witch of the MoorsWitch of the Moors

Here’s the budget upgraded list:

And a few more cards to consider, depending on the direction you wanna go with the deck: Akki UnderminerAkki Underminer, Big ScoreBig Score, Bold PlagiaristBold Plagiarist, Breeches, Eager PillagerBreeches, Eager Pillager, Crime NovelistCrime Novelist, Headliner ScarlettHeadliner Scarlett, Hopeful InitiateHopeful Initiate, Lich-Knights’ ConquestLich-Knights’ Conquest, Marionette MasterMarionette Master, Moriok RiggerMoriok Rigger, Odric, Lunarch MarshalOdric, Lunarch Marshal, Royal AssassinRoyal Assassin, Ruinous UltimatumRuinous Ultimatum, Kambal, Profiteering MayorKambal, Profiteering Mayor, Great Train HeistGreat Train Heist

What Are Some Good Expensive Cards We Can Add to Most Wanted?

Got all that loot from the train robbery burning a hole in your britches? Let’s spend it here.

Of course, the big spending is all gonna happen on Treasure cards. And we can’t leave out the staples: Smothering TitheSmothering Tithe and Dockside ExtortionistDockside Extortionist. But those aren’t the only ones. We’ve also got Black Market ConnectionsBlack Market Connections, The Reaver CleaverThe Reaver Cleaver, and Goldspan DragonGoldspan Dragon. Grim HirelingGrim Hireling works great with our combat damage strategy. Anointed ProcessionAnointed Procession will double all our Treasures, as well as other tokens. And we’re even throwing in an alternate win condition with Revel in RichesRevel in Riches.

BitterblossomBitterblossom is perfect here, because it gives us an outlaw with evasion every turn. As is Uncivil UnrestUncivil Unrest which gives our nontoken creatures Riot (either haste or a +1/+1 counter) as well as doubling the damage dealt by our creatures with counters. Dauthi VoidwalkerDauthi Voidwalker gets in for damage, while also keeping opponents away from their precious graveyards.

For boosting our combat, we’ll throw in an Akroma’s WillAkroma’s Will. And, if we can make enough Treasure with Olivia in each combat, Aggravated AssaultAggravated Assault can be activated over and over so we can keep punching in.

These cards can’t hang with the opulent crowd: Reckless FireweaverReckless Fireweaver, Bounty BoardBounty Board, Glittering StockpileGlittering Stockpile, Laurine, the DiversionLaurine, the Diversion, Mari, the Killing QuillMari, the Killing Quill, Mirror EntityMirror Entity, We Ride at DawnWe Ride at Dawn, Zirda, the DawnwakerZirda, the Dawnwaker, Aetherborn MarauderAetherborn Marauder, Captivating CrewCaptivating Crew, Discreet RetreatDiscreet Retreat, Queen MarchesaQueen Marchesa, and Zagras, Thief of HeartbeatsZagras, Thief of Heartbeats

Here’s our non-budget upgraded list:

And a few more cards to consider: Professional Face-BreakerProfessional Face-Breaker, Forge, Neverwinter CharlatanForge, Neverwinter Charlatan, All Will Be OneAll Will Be One

So Which Creature Types are In-Laws?

That wraps up our precon guides for Outlaws of Thunder Junction! What did you think of this Upgrade Guide? Any cards I missed? What did you think of this set as a whole? Will it have a big impact on the Commander format? Let me know in the comments below. And don’t forget to check back soon for more precon guides for every set, here on EDHREC.

More Precon Fun:

Quick Draw - Thunder Junction Precon Upgrade Guide

Desert Bloom - Thunder Junction Precon Upgrade Guide

Grand Larceny - Thunder Junction Precon Upgrade Guide

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.