Table of Contents
If you’re looking for an OP14 leader with strong slashing power that can take over games through pure deck efficiency, then OP14-020-dracule-mihawk is one of the best picks in the set. Despite OP14 being a fresh format, many players already see Mihawk as one of the strongest leaders thanks to his straightforward yet highly effective game plan and flexible deckbuilding options. His kit lets him stand toe-to-toe with OP13 giants like OP13-079-imu and OP13-002-portgasdace, making him a serious contender right out of the gate.
The Strongest Swordsman
Welcome to your all-in-one deckbuilding guide for OP14-020-dracule-mihawk, one of the standout Green leaders in the OP14 format. In this breakdown, we’ll cover his core game plan, key card selections, and the flexible tech options that shape this tempo-focused deck built to apply constant pressure across matchups, excelling even more against Slash-attribute leaders like OP12-020-roronoa-zoro and EB03-001-nefeltari-vivi.
- Deck Core: Cards that are absolute must-includes or found in nearly every winning list.
- Tech Cards: Specialized options for fine-tuning your deck against specific matchups or for personal playstyle and surprise factor.
- Sample Decklists: Practical examples of how the cards are integrated, showcasing various builds optimized for different meta considerations and playstyles.
OP14-020-dracule-mihawk is a surprisingly durable leader, starting with 5 life cards and a passive ability that grants +1000 power against Slash-attribute leaders. This effectively makes him a 6000-power threat against decks like OP12-020-roronoa-zoro and EB03-001-nefeltari-vivi. While some players have mixed feelings about how this effect might influence future formats, there’s no denying it’s one of the most oppressive leader abilities printed so far.
What truly elevates Mihawk is how consistently he can generate explosive swing turns once his key pieces are in place. His [Activate: Main] [Once Per Turn] lets you Rest 1 of your cards: If you have a 5+ cost Character, activate up to 3 DON!!. Then, you cannot play Character cards during this turn. This ability gives you remarkable tempo flexibility—allowing you to either spread pressure across multiple attackers or pour all the free DON!! into a single unit for a decisive push. The result is one of the most efficient and well-rounded game plans.
The “Rest 1 of your cards” requirement is also extremely flexible. Because it doesn’t specify a card type, you can rest DON!! card or any active character on the field—including low-cost units like OP12-034-perona. However, the ideal target is his stage card OP14-039-coffin-boat, a 1-cost engine that boosts deck consistency while enabling Mihawk’s leader effect for smooth, uninterrupted turns.
If OP14-020-dracule-mihawk’s tempo-driven playstyle catches your attention, now’s a great time to explore him. In this guide, we’ll build the strongest version of his deck—from core cards that benefit from being rested, to tech choices that enhance matchups or create surprising, game-ending openings. Sharpen your focus and see firsthand why Mihawk stands as the strongest swordsman of the current format.
Core Cards
Every strong OP14-020-dracule-mihawk deck starts with a dependable core, even if the OP14 format is still taking shape. From early testing and standout tournament results, these key cards have proven essential—they stabilize your board, maintain steady pressure, and allow Mihawk to fully leverage his efficient, tempo-driven effects.
Low-cost Utility Cards
The universal searcher that gives this deck the consistency it needs, OP12-034-perona is a 1-cost unit with a powerful [On Play] effect that lets you look at the top 5 cards of your deck; reveal up to 1 Slash card or Green Event, and add it to your hand as long as your leader has the Slash attribute. This effect rarely whiffs, since the core deck is built around Slash-attribute units and impactful event cards that cover a wide range of situations—whether it’s OP12-037-demon-aura-nine-sword-style-asura-blades-drawn-dead-mans-game for a surprise lethal, OP14-029-tashigi if you need a mid-game high power attacker, or OP14-119-dracule-mihawk to secure the late-game value and board control.
Beyond removing opposing low-power engines, OP12-034-perona also serves as an excellent rest target for OP14-020-dracule-mihawk’s leader effect, as well as for cards like OP14-029-tashigi that require resting a unit to activate their abilities. This added utility further reinforces her importance as a reliable and highly efficient piece of the deck.
Run 4 copies as recommended.
OP12-037-demon-aura-nine-sword-style-asura-blades-drawn-dead-mans-game is a standout 1-cost Green Event that has become a staple in many green strategies, including OP14-020-dracule-mihawk. For a total investment of 4 DON!! (1 to play the card + Rest 3 DON!! to activate its effect), it lets you rest up to 2 of your opponent’s Characters or DON!!, regardless of their cost. This makes it incredibly efficient for breaking through defensive setups—whether shutting down a large [Blocker] or tapping an active DON!! to prevent counterplay. Its flexibility as both removal and a searchable defensive option through OP12-034-perona keeps it relevant at every stage of the game, reinforcing its status as one of the strongest utility events green decks can run.
Run 2-4 copies as recommended.
A must-keep card in any mulligan, OP14-039-coffin-boat is a 1-cost Green Stage that functions as a dependable tempo engine for OP14-020-dracule-mihawk decks. Its [On Play] effect draws 1 card, and its [End of Your Turn] effect provides 1 Active DON!! for defensive turns as long as Mihawk is your leader. Having this Stage on the field dramatically improves the deck’s flow, as it becomes one of the safest and most efficient rest-targets for Mihawk’s leader effect—letting you activate 3 DON!! without risking a character. With its added draw, DON!! efficiency, and consistent utility, OP14-039-coffin-boat stands as an essential core piece of the deck.
Run 0-4 copies as recommended.
Versatile Hand Counters
The first staple counter card in the deck, OP14-023-kikunojo is a searchable 1-cost 2000-counter character that can reactivate herself through her [End of Your Turn] effect. While her utility contributes well to OP14-020-dracule-mihawk’s gameplan—especially in enabling the leader effect—her primary role is still being a reliable, searchable 2000 hand counter. This makes OP14-023-kikunojo a solid and essential core piece of the deck.
Run 0-4 copies as recommended.
The second core 2000 counter of the deck, OP14-032-humandrill is a 3-cost, 4000-power character with a valuable [Your Turn] effect that lets you rest up to 1 of your opponent’s Characters with a cost of 4 or less whenever you rest this card. This makes Humandrill an excellent rest-target for OP14-020-dracule-mihawk’s leader effect—especially when contesting the board or resting low-cost [Blocker] units like OP13-089-st-topman-warcury from OP13-079-imu decks. The synergy between Humandrill and Mihawk gives you a dependable way to break through strategies that rely on cheap blockers, helping you maintain pressure without losing board presence or life while setting up crucial swing turns. Still, in many games, OP14-032-humandrill primarily functions as another searchable 2000 counter for hand defense.
Run 0-4 copies as recommended.
Mid-game Power Plays
The deck’s primary searchable attacker, OP14-029-tashigi, is a 5-cost, 6000-power character with built-in removal protection and a self-sufficient power boost. Her first effect, [Opponent's Turn], lets you protect her from being removed by resting any 1 of your cards—including your Stage or even active DON!!—making this a fair but highly effective version of the Five Elders’ immunity. Her second effect, [Activate: Main] [Once Per Turn], requires you to rest any 2 of your cards to give her +2000 power until the end of your opponent’s next End Phase, turning her into an 8000-power threat that is difficult to remove through both effects and combat.
On top of that, Tashigi herself directly enables OP14-020-dracule-mihawk’s leader effect on curve by naturally being a 5-cost unit. Her built-in protection and self-sustaining power boost make her the ideal recipient of Mihawk’s additional DON!! cards, giving the deck a clean, reliable synergy loop that fuels both offense and survivability. This not only boosts her offensive pressure but also maximizes Mihawk’s core gameplan, resulting in top-tier synergy between the two.
Combined with the 3 activated DON!! from Mihawk’s leader effect, Tashigi becomes an 11000-power, highly resilient attacker that only a few decks can answer, firmly securing her role as one the deck’s strongest and most consistent primary heavy hitter.
Run 3-4 copies as recommended.
One of the core defensive pieces of the deck, OP12-118-jewelry-bonney is a 5-cost, 6000-power [Blocker] with a conditional but highly valuable [On Play] effect: draw 2, trash 1, then activate 1 DON!! if you have 8 or more rested cards. While the requirement may look strict at first, it becomes very manageable once you factor in rested DON!! cards and your Stage. This makes OP12-118-jewelry-bonney an excellent mid-game stabilizer—helping you defend the board and fix your hand in OP14-020-dracule-mihawk decks.
Run 2-4 copies as recommended.
Another key defensive pillar for OP14-020-dracule-mihawk decks is OP14-027-shanks, a powerful 7-cost, 9000-power character with flexible effects that matter on both offense and defense. His [Your Turn] effect lets you rest up to 1 of your opponent’s Characters with 7000 base power or less whenever he becomes rested, making him an excellent optional rest-target for effects from OP14-020-dracule-mihawk or OP14-029-tashigi.
Optimal use of Shanks depends on when he enters the field. If you’ve just played him and he cannot attack yet, that’s the perfect moment to intentionally rest him through your own effects to trigger his board-control value immediately. But once Shanks is able to attack, it is almost always better to rest him by swinging naturally instead of using another card—this way you activate his effect and apply pressure, converting the rest into pure tempo gain.
What truly defines Shanks’ importance is his [Opponent’s Turn] effect, which gives all of your opponent’s Characters −1000 power as long as he is rested. This defensive aura activates whether he rested by attacking or via another effect, making enemy attacks weaker and significantly harder to convert into meaningful trades.
And when two or more copies of Shanks are on the field, the pressure becomes overwhelming. Stacking multiple −1000 debuffs compounds into a back-breaking defense that many decks simply cannot push through. This makes Shanks especially devastating against OP13-079-imu decks that rely on going wide, as their low- to mid-power boards crumble under layered power reduction.
With proactive control, defensive stabilization, and massive tempo swings all packed into one card, OP14-027-shanks stands as one of the searchable premium defensive core pieces of the Mihawk deck.
Run 0-4 copies as recommended.
Late-game Closers
A newly released Green boss unit, OP14-119-dracule-mihawk is a 9-cost, 10000-power character whose effects mirror Shanks in structure but offer a completely different level of control. Instead of applying a board-wide debuff, this 9-cost Mihawk focuses on locking down key enemy pieces while also providing top-tier defensive value for the deck. His [Your Turn] effect allows you to select 1 of your opponent’s Characters with a cost of 9 or less, and that Character cannot be rested until the end of your opponent’s next End Phase when 9-cost Mihawk becomes rested. This effectively shuts down major threats by preventing them from attacking, blocking, or activating effects that require self-rest—an incredibly strong answer to boss units like OP13-042-edwardnewgate from OP13-002-portgasdace decks.
The timing of when you rest 9-cost Mihawk is crucial. If you’ve just played him and he cannot attack yet, this is the ideal moment to rest him through your own effects to immediately lock a key opponent unit. However, once Mihawk is able to attack, it is almost always better to rest him by attacking naturally rather than using another card to rest him. This still triggers the lockdown while giving you extra pressure and tempo.
His second ability, [Your Opponent's Attack][Once Per Turn], further strengthens his defensive value by letting you discard 1 card to grant +2000 power to one of your character or Leader. This functions similarly to Portgas D. Ace’s defensive leader effect, but becomes even more flexible in OP14-020-dracule-mihawk decks thanks to the abundance of situational or bricky cards you can freely convert into defensive fodder. Between oppressive single-target lockdown, attack-driven tempo, and premium defensive utility, OP14-119-dracule-mihawk stands as a devastating searchable high-end finisher that can completely take over games once he hits the board.
Run 0-4 copies as recommended.
The final core card of the deck is ST24-004-law-bepo, a 10-cost, 11000-power finisher with one of the strongest immediate-impact effects available to Green. Its [On Play] allows you to rest 1 of your opponent’s Characters and prevent it from reactivating during their next Refresh Phase, effectively stunning a key boss unit for an entire turn cycle. Then, if your opponent already has 2 or more rested Characters, your Leader gains +2000 power until the end of their next End Phase—boosting OP14-020-dracule-mihawk from 5000 to 7000 and placing him above the power threshold most decks can efficiently attack and defend into. This combination of a guaranteed stun, a massive temporary leader buff, and being fully searchable makes ST24-004-law-bepo a reliable and threatening late-game closer that fits perfectly into OP14-020-dracule-mihawk’s control-tempo playstyle.
Run 4 copies as recommended.
Tech Cards
With the core of the OP14-020-dracule-mihawk deck set in place, we can now move into Tech Cards. Mihawk’s flexible game plan and access to strong Green tools give you plenty of options to adjust your build—letting you refine your strategy and respond to whatever threats the current meta brings.
Top Tech Option
A newly released OP14 card and one of OP14-020-dracule-mihawk’s strongest support pieces, OP14-033-perona is a 5-cost, 6000-power character with an excellent pair of effects. Her [On Play] ability lets you choose up to 2 of your opponent’s Characters with a cost of 5 or less, and those targets cannot be rested until the end of their next end phase. This effectively shuts down any effects that require resting to activate, while also preventing those characters from attacking or blocking, since both actions require them to Rest. As a result, OP14-033-perona provides immediate and oppressive board control the moment she hits the field.
On top of this, she also offers a valuable recovery tool through her [On K.O.] effect, which allows you to play 1 Green 5-cost or less Character by simply Resting 1 of your cards. This gives the deck a reliable way to rebuild the board, whether by bringing in another key 5-cost unit or even chaining into another OP14-033-perona—perfectly aligning with Mihawk’s overall game plan.
With her ability to disable opposing threats, her built-in recovery that keeps your tempo going and synergy to enables Mihawk's 5-cost effect condition, Perona stands out as one of the best tech choices for the deck and a strong contender for core status in any OP14-020-dracule-mihawk build.
Run 0-4 copies depending on personal preference.
Defensive Options
If you feel the deck needs additional defensive support, this 4-cost PRB02-006-roronoa-zoro [Blocker] is an excellent tech option. His [Opponent’s Turn] effect provides innate self-protection by letting you rest one of your other characters instead of him, making Zoro a highly reliable blocker in the mirror match or against other Green decks.
On top of that, he doubles as a searchable 2000 Counter through OP12-034-perona, giving him both defensive presence and hand value. All of this makes him a strong and flexible tech choice for OP14-020-dracule-mihawk lists.
Run 0-4 copies depending on personal preference.
If your list needs another searchable 2000 counter, OP12-023-kawamatsu is a 5-cost vanilla unit commonly included for that exact purpose in OP14-020-dracule-mihawk builds. While he enables your Leader's effect by being a 5-cost unit, his value lies in consistency—being a reliable, OP12-034-perona-searchable 2000 counter that helps stabilize your defensive options without disrupting the deck’s overall tempo.
Run 0-4 copies depending on personal preference.
Utility Options
If you want an additional mid-game attacker, OP12-036-roronoa-zoro is a strong and reliable tech option for OP14-020-dracule-mihawk decks. As a 4-cost unit, this Zoro becomes a self-sufficient threat thanks to his ability to give himself +1000 power, turning him into a 6000-power attacker that can swing effectively without external buffs. On top of that, his built-in protection—being unkillable by Slash-attribute cards—makes him especially valuable in the mirror match and against decks that rely heavily on Slash-based archetypes.
Run 0-3 copies depending on personal preference.
A fellow newly released OP14 card that fits perfectly into Mihawk’s gameplan is OP14-036-strive-to-surpass-me-roronoa-zoro, a highly efficient 1-cost Event that strengthens both your defense and your reactive board control. Its [Counter] effect grants +4000 power to one of your Leader or Characters during a battle, as long as you Rest any 1 card—including your Stage or even your active DON!! cards—giving the deck a flexible and reliable defensive tool.
In addition, it features a threatening [Trigger] effect: by Resting any type of your card, you may Rest 1 of your opponent’s Characters with 7000 base power or less, allowing you to interrupt aggression, set up safe swings, or force inefficient lines from your opponent. Together, these dual defensive and control-oriented effects significantly enhance the overall resiliency of OP14-020-dracule-mihawk decks, making this Event one of the standout tech options from OP14.
Run 0-2 copies depending on personal preference.
Another staple defensive option for Green decks, OP06-038-the-billion-fold-world-trichiliocosm is a 1-cost event with a solid [Counter] effect that grants +2000 power to one of your Leader or Characters. If you have 8 or more rested cards—including your Stage and DON!!—that same card gains an additional +2000 power, making it a powerful defensive swing. Its situational [Trigger] also lets you K.O. up to one of your opponent’s rested Characters with a cost of 3 or less. With its flexibility and strong defensive value, this event stands as one of the best tech inclusions for OP14-020-dracule-mihawk decks.
Run 0-4 copies depending on personal preference.
A flexible 0-cost counter event, OP05-037-because-the-side-of-justice-will-be-whichever-side-wins gives you +3000 power during battle by discarding a card you don’t need—turning bricks into real defensive value. It also comes with a solid [Trigger] that rests an opponent’s Character with a cost of 4 or less. Overall, it’s a reliable defensive option, especially in the late game when counter power in hand starts to run low.
Run 0-1 copies depending on personal preference.
Finisher Options
If your OP14-020-dracule-mihawk deck needs a searchable removal option that also doubles as a high-power boss unit, then ST16-004-shanks is the tech choice to consider. As a 9-cost, 11000-power character with a potent [On Play] removal effect that K.O.s one opponent’s rested Character, he slots perfectly into the deck’s core strategy of maintaining board control through selective, efficient trades.
Run 0-3 copies depending on personal preference.
Meanwhile, if you're looking for an alternative win condition that can completely shut down the opponent’s late-game options, OP04-031-donquixote-doflamingo is the deck’s premier finisher. As a 10-cost, 10000-power threat with a devastating [On Play] that prevents up to three rested Leaders/Characters from reactivating in the next Refresh Phase, he can single-handedly freeze your opponent’s board, sealing their momentum and giving you the window needed to close out the match.
Run 0-2 copies depending on personal preference.
Sample Deck Lists
Decklist Placement: HK1v1CS(6-1); Placement: Top 4 - Bandai(Hongkong) - Wasinha
This list by Wasinha focuses on leveraging Green’s powerhouse boss units to close out games more efficiently while consistently contesting the board against threats like OP13-079-imu and OP13-002-portgasdace. Heavy hitters such as ST16-004-shanks and OP04-031-donquixote-doflamingo give the deck strong finishing power and reliable board control. On top of that, the inclusion of PRB02-006-roronoa-zoro and OP14-033-perona enhances its ability to transition smoothly from mid-game development into late-game setups, making the overall game plan far more stable and threatening.
Decklist Placement: ShopEvent(8-2); Placement: 1st Place - ShumaiCup(80) - Kyohe
The most resilient build among the three showcased decklists by Kyohe, this version includes all core cards and supplements them with dependable tech options. Additions like PRB02-006-roronoa-zoro [Blocker] and the resilient attacker OP12-036-roronoa-zoro give you safe and consistent ways to contest the board. The list also incorporates key event cards such as OP14-036-strive-to-surpass-me-roronoa-zoro and OP06-038-the-billion-fold-world-trichiliocosm to secure crucial turns and maintain stability throughout the match.
Decklist Placement: 2v2(8-0); Placement: 1st Place - Pomeranian (JP) - Sirokkokun
This build by Sirokkokun is currently the closest contender for the standard build of OP14-020-dracule-mihawk decks. It runs several tech options to cover the deck’s main weaknesses—bricking and limited defensive capability—by including 11 total 2k counters and defensive cards such as OP06-038-the-billion-fold-world-trichiliocosm and OP05-037-because-the-side-of-justice-will-be-whichever-side-wins. The list also incorporates OP14-033-perona to strengthen board presence and maintain tempo, especially when recovering against effect-removal-heavy matchups.
Conclusion
In conclusion, OP14-020-dracule-mihawk stands as one of the most reliable and dominant Leaders for OP14, offering a linear yet highly efficient gameplan that rewards players who value board control, resource management, and well-timed pressure. His ability to consistently secure tempo while setting up explosive attacking turns with 3 extra active DON!! makes him a threat at any competitive level, from locals to full-scale regionals.
The deck is reinforced by powerful supporting units such as OP14-029-tashigi, your primary heavy hitter capable of trading into almost any character; OP14-027-shanks, a board-wide debuff tool that single-handedly shifts matchups against go-wide strategies like OP13-079-imu; and OP14-119-dracule-mihawk, a premium answer to deck that loves to play oppressive boss units such as OP13-042-edwardnewgate commonly found in OP13-002-portgasdace builds.
Whether you’re a new player or a seasoned veteran, this deck rewards calculated sequencing, precise timing, and disciplined planning — making OP14-020-dracule-mihawk arguably the strongest contender of the OP14 format.
Now step into the arena — and let the brave, the bold, and the foolish challenge you… if they dare to call themselves the strongest.
