Outlaws of Thunder Junction is releasing in just over a month, and we are starting to receive some potent information about the set. This Wild West-themed set looks like it has a lot to offer at first glance. From a new Oko Planeswalker featuring a funky new mechanic to a cool Flier enshrining the recent World Champion, there’s plenty of unique cards to looks forward to.
Speaking of new cards, recently, a mythic rare legend from Outlaws of Thunder Junction was leaked. This card is quite intriguing, especially in a Commander environment. There’s a lot of build-around potential here, as well as plenty of infinite combos to be had with this card in play.
Notably, this card has only been leaked thus far, supposedly from a recent pack opening. Unfortunately, the card image quality is also quite poor. We covered a group of leaks in a similar situation earlier in the month, which you can check out here. As such, it is entirely possible that this card turns out to be fake, even if it looks real otherwise. Either way, consider this your spoiler warning as we take a deeper dive into what makes this card interesting.
Ghired, Mirror of the Wilds
The card that was leaked was Ghired, Mirror of the Wilds. As a Naya legend, this card joins the wide list of Commanders that care about tokens. However, Ghired puts a very different spin on how to maximize your Creature tokens. See, typically, token decks are designed to go as wide as possible with tokens themselves, then utilize ways to buff the team. Ghired incentivizes you to go wide, but with non-token Creatures instead.
From there, whenever you have a token enter the battlefield, you can tap any number of your other Creatures to make copies of that token. Importantly, these copies don’t go away at the end of the turn like you might expect. As a result, the best way to maximize Ghired is to not only play lots of Creatures, but also tons of ways to make highly impactful tokens.
For example, alongside
Feldon of the Third Path
Feldon of the Third Path
{2}{R}, {T}: Create a token that's a copy of target creature card in your graveyard, except it's an artifact in addition to its other types. It gains haste. Sacrifice it at the beginning of the next end step.
, you can create a bunch of copies of the best Creature in your graveyard. Even though the copy you make with Feldon gets sacrificed, all the others stick around. Other cards that simply make large tokens, such as
Urza’s Saga
Urza’s Saga
(As this Saga enters and after your draw step, add a lore counter. Sacrifice after III.)
I — This Saga gains "{T}: Add {C}."
II — This Saga gains "{2}, {T}: Create a 0/0 colorless Construct artifact creature token with 'This token gets +1/+1 for each artifact you control.'"
III — Search your library for an artifact card with mana cost {0} or {1}, put it onto the battlefield, then shuffle.
, are definitely welcome inclusions.
Of course, the tokens created don’t have to be Creatures, either. Let’s say you attack with
Magda, Brazen Outlaw
Magda, Brazen Outlaw
Other Dwarves you control get +1/+0.
Whenever a Dwarf you control becomes tapped, create a Treasure token.
Sacrifice five Treasures: Search your library for an artifact or Dragon card, put that card onto the battlefield, then shuffle.
. Now, you can tap your other Creatures to presumably make lots of Treasures, which you can then sacrifice to Magda’s ability. Ghired is a very powerful card, and we’re just getting started.
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Combo Engine
As you might expect, given that Ghired grants all of your non-token Creatures the ability to tap and make copies of a token, there are some interesting infinite combos that can be assembled. The cleanest combo definitely involves
Midnight Guard
Midnight Guard
Whenever another creature enters, untap this creature.
. Midnight Guard has a unique ability that allows it to untap every time another Creature enters play. Possibly the most famous way to abuse Midnight Guard is to Enchant it with
Presence of Gond
Presence of Gond
Enchant creature
Enchanted creature has "{T}: Create a 1/1 green Elf Warrior creature token."
and make infinite tokens. As a token enters, Midnight Guard untaps, allowing you to make another token, and so on.
Well, Midnight Guard and Ghired work similarly. With both cards in play, assuming Midnight Guard is not summoning sick, all you need to do is put any Creature token into play and you can make infinite copies of it.
Let’s say you cast
Fable of the Mirror-Breaker
Fable of the Mirror-Breaker
(As this Saga enters and after your draw step, add a lore counter.)
I — Create a 2/2 red Goblin Shaman creature token with "Whenever this token attacks, create a Treasure token."
II — You may discard up to two cards. If you do, draw that many cards.
III — Exile this Saga, then return it to the battlefield transformed under your control.
, making a 2/2 Goblin Shaman. From there, you can tap Midnight Guard to make a token copy of the Goblin Shaman. This will untap Midnight Guard, and you can repeat the process. Throw in a Haste enabler or an effect like
Impact Tremors
Impact Tremors
Whenever a creature you control enters, this enchantment deals 1 damage to each opponent.
and you’ve got a gameplan!
If the token you are creating is an Artifact, you also open the door for
Battered Golem
Battered Golem
This creature doesn't untap during your untap step.
Whenever an artifact enters, you may untap this creature.
shenanigans. For instance, let’s say you make a Construct token from Urza’s Saga. Then, you use Battered Golem to copy the Construct token thanks to Ghired. Because the Construct is an Artifact token, you can untap Battered Golem when it enters and execute a similar combo as described above.
Battered Golem also opens the door for you to get infinite tokens of non-Creature Artifacts, too. For instance, if you make a Treasure, you can copy it with Battered Golem, untap Battered Golem when it enters, and net infinite Treasures.
With
Intruder Alarm
Intruder Alarm
Creatures don't untap during their controllers' untap steps.
Whenever a creature enters, untap all creatures.
in play, copying any Creature token with any non-token Creature will allow you to go infinite trivially. Unfortunately, Intruder Alarm is blue, so you can’t use it if Ghired is your Commander. Still, it’s a nice option to have otherwise.
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Constructed Potential
While this card clearly has Commander written all over it, it’s possible Ghired has some potential in Standard. As a three-mana 3/3 with Haste, the floor on this card is already decent, and there are a decent number of ways to maximize its textbox.
Decks like Boros Convoke already play a lot of non-token Creatures that make tokens when they enter the battlefield.
Novice Inspector
Novice Inspector
When this creature enters, investigate. (Create a Clue token. It's an artifact with "{2}, Sacrifice this token: Draw a card.")
,
Voldaren Epicure
Voldaren Epicure
When this creature enters, it deals 1 damage to each opponent. Create a Blood token. (It's an artifact with "{1}, {T}, Discard a card, Sacrifice this token: Draw a card.")
,
Resolute Reinforcements
Resolute Reinforcements
Flash (You may cast this spell any time you could cast an instant.)
When this creature enters, create a 1/1 white Soldier creature token.
, and
Sanguine Evangelist
Sanguine Evangelist
Battle cry (Whenever this creature attacks, each other attacking creature gets +1/+0 until end of turn.)
When this creature enters or dies, create a 1/1 black Bat creature token with flying.
all come to mind. Given the low curve of these Creatures, if you get to cast and untap with Ghired, it’s not unreasonable to have a wide board and start copying tokens you make from then on. Throw in
Warden of the Inner Sky
Warden of the Inner Sky
As long as this creature has three or more counters on it, it has flying and vigilance.
Tap three untapped artifacts and/or creatures you control: Put a +1/+1 counter on this creature. Scry 1. Activate only as a sorcery.
and
Warleader’s Call
Warleader’s Call
Creatures you control get +1/+1.
Whenever a creature you control enters, this enchantment deals 1 damage to each opponent.
, and you’ve got a lot of damage to send your opponent’s way.
Obviously, the competition is quite high for three-drops in Standard, so it’ll be tough for this card to make a real splash. Additionally, casting a Naya card reliably on turn three with the mana available in Standard isn’t exactly easy. Still, the card is strong enough to warrant consideration and can completely break board stalls wide open. Ghired is a sweet card and further highlights the wonders of Thunder Junction.
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