Bonny Pall, Clearcutter – Outlaws of Thunder Junction
Date Reviewed: May 1, 2024
Ratings:
Constructed: 3.13
Casual: 4.13
Limited: 4.50
Multiplayer: 3.50
Commander [EDH]: 4.00
Ratings are based on a 1 to 5 scale. 1 is bad. 3 is average. 5 is great.
Reviews Below:
I never knew I needed a set about American mythology until they made a card depicting Paul Bunyan with a slightly changed name. But now I know, and can only hope that Thunder Junction proves popular enough to get a sequel that really leans into that element of it. I’ve said it before, but it’s worth saying again that America has mythology which plays the same role it does in every other country, and tells us much the same things.
Getting back to Magic: the Gathering, though, it’s interesting to note that Bonny Pall subverts one of the “creature plus token” design conventions. The token often ends up being somewhat of an afterthought, or at least reliant on other cards to reach its maximum potential (cf. Blade Splicer). But here, Beau is the one who has the unbounded power and toughness, and is a major threat even when Bonny Pall isn’t on the table. In fact, he may go even better with the ramp spells your deck undoubtedly has when you’re these colors than with his giant companion. That’s not to say that Bonny Pall isn’t a threat – in fact, this is one of the few “creature plus token” cards where both halves of that phrase are threatening enough to demand an answer by opponents.
Constructed: 3
Casual: 4
Limited: 4.5
Multiplayer: 4
Commander [EDH]: 4
This set seems to be one that allows for a fair few American folklore stories to make their way into print, and Bonny Pall, Clearcutter is a pretty clear reference to the legends of Paul Bunyan, who was a giant lumberjack famous for his mythical prowess with construction and also for being accompanied by a blue ox named Babe. And, what do you know, Bonny Pall is a Giant who makes a blue Ox (named Beau) on entry. This is a bit on-the-nose, but sometimes those on-the-nose references can be fun.
As for Bonny Pall himself, he’s a pretty straightforward Simic legendary creature, which means that he draws cards and plays more lands. One note here is that his ability triggers when any creature attacks, not just himself, and so you can start swinging from the word “go”. Bonny Pall and Beau represent a fair few stats on their own, split over two bodies, and that can be a nice threat to push for lethal damage in a pinch.
I do think Bonny Pall’s mana value is a touch too high for Constructed stardom, but he’s a decent, value-oriented creature that can add a fun bit of flavor to a game. You can definitely do worse, but there might be better options for the more ruthless decks.
Constructed: 3.25
Casual: 4.25
Limited: 4.5 (on-curve, this is 12 power for 6 mana)
Multiplayer: 3
Commander [EDH]: 4
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