Table of Contents
If you’re looking for a control deck with strong board presence and an unconventional game plan that can disrupt your opponent’s plays, OP14-079-crocodile is a strong new leader in the OP14 format and a solid pick to invest in. While his power level is fair rather than overpowered, Crocodile’s unusual and underrated playstyle often catches opponents off guard, especially those unfamiliar with the matchup. He also has favorable matchups across the board, most notably against OP14-020-dracule-mihawk, one of the top decks in the OP14 meta, giving you a strong chance to win tournaments and steal games even in otherwise difficult matchups.
Introduction: The Desert King
Welcome to your comprehensive deckbuilding guide for OP14-079-crocodile, a strong new Black leader that introduces a unique approach to board control. This guide explores the core strategies, essential card choices, and flexible tech options that define Crocodile’s cost-reduction engine, built around Baroque Works sacrifice, debuffs, and trash synergy.
- Deck Core: Cards that are absolute must-includes or found in nearly every winning list.
- Adaptive Core: Strong cards commonly used but can be swapped based on the evolving meta.
- 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.
Black decks are traditionally known for their heavy-removal, board-control game plan, but OP14-079-crocodile introduces a completely different way to control the battlefield. His passive effect makes your opponent’s characters immune to being removed by effects, disrupting the standard Black deck playstyle and initially appearing as a major drawback. However, thanks to the strong synergy of {Baroque Works} support cards, this downside becomes largely negligible. Instead of relying on direct removal, the deck focuses on cost reduction and board freezing, slowly suffocating your opponent’s board presence and limiting their options over time.
The true reason OP14-079-crocodile is not only playable but competitive lies in his [Activate: Main][Once Per Turn] effect. By K.O.’ing one of your {Baroque Works} characters, you can give one of your opponent’s characters −10 cost for the turn, then trash the top two cards of your deck. In most Black decks, heavy cost manipulation is required to unlock powerful effects, and Crocodile provides this in a consistent and repeatable way. While his passive and active abilities may seem contradictory at first glance, they balance each other perfectly. The deck thrives on early trash setup, capitalizing on {Baroque Works} [On K.O.] effects, stabilizing the board in the midgame, and closing out games with reliable finishers.
What truly sets this deck apart is how well it excels in stalling and midrange grindy games. By freezing key threats, denying efficient trades, and forcing awkward sequencing from the opponent, Crocodile naturally drags the game into turns where resource management and incremental advantages decide the outcome. This play pattern allows the deck to perform exceptionally well against some of the most powerful OP14 leaders, including OP14-060-donquixote-doflamingo and OP14-040-jinbe, whose aggressive or tempo-based strategies struggle once their momentum is slowed. Most notably, it heavily pressures OP14-020-dracule-mihawk, as Crocodile’s cost reduction and board freeze mechanics directly interfere with Mihawk’s preferred pacing and board-centric win conditions.
If you enjoy an unconventional control deck that challenges opponents through unfamiliar lines of play, rewards precise sequencing and resource management, and dominates extended games through board presence, then OP14-079-crocodile is for you. Join Baroque Works, build the deck card by card, and turn your opponent’s game plan into dust.
Core Cards
Every strong OP14-079-crocodile deck starts with a reliable core. Based on tournament results and high-performing builds, these cards have consistently proven essential, enabling efficient cost reduction, consistent board control, and smooth resource management that allow Crocodile to fully capitalize on his disruptive, control-oriented playstyle.
Most of these cards—especially low-cost characters and those with powerful [On K.O.] effects—also serve as excellent sacrificial targets for OP14-079-crocodile’s [Activate: Main][Once Per Turn] effect, ensuring your Leader ability is consistently online. While many units can fulfill this role, there are a few notable go-to targets that define the deck’s engine. Without further ado, the following cards form the core pieces of the deck.
Low-cost Staples
The only searcher character in the deck, OP14-087-missvalentine-mikita is a 1-cost unit with a highly synergistic [On Play] effect that lets you look at the top four cards of your deck, reveal and add one to your hand, then trash the rest. This effectively feeds three cards into your trash pile, giving the card strong double utility in OP14-079-crocodile decks. It provides consistent searching to find key pieces at any stage of the game while simultaneously accelerating your trash setup to enable powerful effects, and it also serves as a clean, low-cost fodder target for your Leader’s [Activate: Main] effect.
Run 4 copies as recommended.
A reliable 2000 hand counter, OP14-083-ms-wednesday is a 1-cost character with an [Activate: Main] effect that gives a 0-cost character −3000 power for the turn, making it largely dependent on OP14-079-crocodile’s Leader effect to be relevant in certain situations. However, the primary role of Vivi in this deck is as a searchable 2000 counter for hand defense
Run 4 copies as recommended.
Another core searcher in the deck, OP14-099-disappointed, is a 1-cost Black Event card with a [Main] effect that lets you look at the top three cards of your deck, reveal and add one to your hand, then trash the remaining two. This not only improves consistency by finding key pieces, but also helps rapidly build your trash pile to enable Crocodile’s strongest effects.
In addition, this event has a powerful [Trigger] effect that activates its [Main] ability, allowing you to gain value for free when it appears from life. This makes OP14-099-disappointed impactful at every stage of the game and a solid core piece of the deck.
Run 4 copies as recommended.
One of the most versatile pieces in the deck, OP14-096-ground-death is a 1-cost event that effectively disrupts opposing mid-cost plays. By resting two of your DON!! cards, it negates the effect of up to one of your opponent’s Characters with a cost of 5 or less for the turn, making it a strong defensive and tempo-oriented option. In addition, once you have 10 or more cards in your trash, this card also functions as a solid 4000 hand counter—a condition easily met in OP14-079-crocodile decks—further reinforcing its value as a flexible tech choice.
Overall, it is a great card that gives you even more leverage in favorable matchups such as OP14-060-donquixote-doflamingo and OP14-020-dracule-mihawk.
Run 4 copies as recommended.
The Baroque Works
One of the core [Blockers] in the deck, OP14-093-mr4-babe provides much-needed defensive utility as a searchable [Blocker]. What truly cements him as a core piece, however, is his highly synergistic [On K.O.] effect, which allows you to add one {Baroque Works} character with a cost of 8 or less from your trash to your hand. This gives the deck strong flexibility at every stage of the game—you can recover a searcher like OP14-087-missvalentine-mikita to find key pieces, reuse a 2000 hand counter such as OP14-083-ms-wednesday, or even pick up a late-game threat like OP14-120-crocodile to reestablish board control and refill your hand.
Despite this powerful [On K.O.] effect, you will often avoid using Mr. 4 as fodder for your Leader effect, as his [Blocker] keyword is far more valuable and provides a more consistent way to naturally trigger his own [On K.O.] effect through combat.
Run 2-4 copies as recommended.
One of the key cards you actively look for alongside your searchers during the mulligan phase, OP14-091-mr2bonkurei-bentham delivers solid impact for a 4-cost character. As a 5000-power attacker, he applies meaningful early pressure against many decks, helping you chip in damage while developing your board.
The real strength of this card lies in its powerful [On K.O.] effect, which allows you to play a 5-cost or less character from your trash for free. This makes him exceptionally sticky in most scenarios, as opponents are often reluctant to attack into him—knowing he will simply replace himself with another body and maintain your offensive momentum.
However, when you need to cheat out key 5-cost threats like OP14-094-mr5-gem or OP14-090-mr1-dazbonez for superior board control, OP14-091-mr2bonkurei-bentham becomes a premium target for your Leader’s [Activate: Main] effect. By attacking first and then sacrificing him, you can maximize both value and tempo, turning a single card into a powerful swing in your favor.
Run 4 copies as recommended.
A reliable defensive and utility core piece in the deck, OP14-094-mr5-gem is a 5-cost, 6000-power [Blocker] that offers strong hand filtering through his [On Play] effect. As long as there is a character with 0 cost or 8 cost or higher, you can draw 2 cards and trash 1 from your hand, helping fix your hand resources while setting up for the late game. Combined with his solid body and [Blocker] keyword, Mr. 5 (Gem) stabilizes the board in the midgame while improving overall card quality, fully cementing his role as a core piece of the deck. This also makes him an excellent option to freely summon off the [On K.O.] effect of OP14-091-mr2bonkurei-bentham, allowing you to immediately establish defense while gaining additional value.
Run 2-4 copies as recommended.
An offensive board-control piece in the deck, OP14-090-mr1-dazbonez is a 5-cost, 6000-power character that applies immediate pressure through his pseudo-Rush passive. As long as there is a character with 0 cost or 8 cost or higher on the field, he can immediately attack a rested character, allowing him to impact the board the moment he is played. This passive synergizes perfectly with his own [On Play] effect, which rests one of your opponent’s 0-cost characters, giving Mr. 1 an immediate attack target.
In practice, OP14-090-mr1-dazbonez is often played after activating your Leader’s [Activate: Main] effect to apply a −10 cost reduction to an opposing unit. This sequencing lets you rest key characters regardless of their original cost, setting them up to be removed through combat or neutralized a [Blocker] during critical turns when you are pushing for lethal. Thanks to his immediate board impact and strong swing potential, he is also an excellent target to summon off the [On K.O.] effect of OP14-091-mr2bonkurei-bentham, further reinforcing the deck’s board-control game plan.
Run 4 copies as recommended.
End Game Closers
One of the deck’s reliable finishers, OP14-084-ms-all-sunday is a 7-cost, 8000-power character with a highly valuable [On Play] effect that lets you play one {Baroque Works} character with a cost of 4 or less and one 1-cost {Baroque Works} character from your trash. This immediately puts up to three bodies on the field, creating a massive tempo swing on entry.
While the effect can technically summon any eligible targets, the most impactful lines usually involve bringing back OP14-091-mr2bonkurei-bentham or OP14-093-mr4-babe as the 4-cost or less option, alongside OP14-087-missvalentine-mikita as the 1-cost unit. These choices maximize both tempo and resource advantage, giving you immediate board presence, strong follow-up value through [On K.O.] effects, and additional setup for your Leader’s game plan, making Ms. All Sunday a powerful and consistent late game unit.
Run 4 copies as recommended.
The deck’s primary closer, OP14-120-crocodile, is an 8-cost, 10000-power character with a devastating lockdown [On Play] effect that prevents one of your opponent’s characters from attacking until the end of their next End Phase. If your opponent has a character with 0 cost or 8 cost or higher, you also draw 1 card, combining strong board control with immediate value.
What truly makes this card oppressive is its notoriously frustrating [On K.O.] effect. As long as you have a spare card to trash from your hand, you can continuously resummon this 8c Crocodile from your trash, making him extremely difficult to deal with permanently. Each time he is replayed, his [On Play] effect triggers again, repeatedly shutting down key attackers. Paired with his massive 10000 power, this creates a lose-lose situation for your opponent: ignore him and risk taking repeated high-damage attacks, or remove him knowing he can simply come back and lock down another attacker on their next turn.
The sheer consistency, recursion, and pressure this card provides make OP14-120-crocodile the perfect game-ender for OP14-079-crocodile decks, fully embodying the deck’s grindy, control-oriented win condition.
Run 4 copies as recommended.
Tech Cards
With the core of OP14-079-crocodile established, it’s time to explore the Tech Cards. These flexible options let you fine-tune Crocodile’s control-oriented game plan, cover specific weaknesses, and answer key meta threats. The right tech choices help Crocodile stall the game, optimize sequencing, and fully capitalize on his cost-reduction engine and board-control potential.
Notable Tech Options
The most popular tech choice for OP14-079-crocodile decks is OP14-088-missmerrychristmas-drophy, a 1-cost character with a solid [On K.O.] effect that lets you draw 1 card and K.O. up to one of your opponent’s 1-cost Stages. While the Stage removal is situational and often secondary, the guaranteed draw gives Drophy real value and makes her a legitimate fodder target for Crocodile’s Leader effect. More importantly, her primary role in the deck is as a searchable, reliable 2000 hand counter, providing consistent defensive utility while contributing to the deck’s sacrifice-and-value engine.
Run 2-4 copies depending on personal preference.
Arguably the most successful and impactful tech choice among the available options, OP14-086-miss-doublefinger-zala shines if you’re looking for removal resistance and strong board presence. As a 5-cost, 6000-power character, she provides a powerful passive that gives all of your {Baroque Works} characters—including herself—+1000 power and +2 cost once your trash reaches 7 cards, a condition easily met through the deck’s natural discard engine. This boost significantly enhances both offensive pressure and defensive durability, making Zala a high-impact midgame threat and an excellent target to summon with OP14-091-mr2bonkurei-bentham’s [On K.O.] effect for optimal sequencing and board control.
Run 2-4 copies depending on personal preference.
Utility Options
One of the Black deck tech options that has found its way into many newer builds, OP05-094-haute-couture-patchwork is a powerful 1-cost control Event card. Its [Main] effect allows you to reduce the cost of one of your Characters by 3 for the turn, then select another Character with a cost of 0 that will not become active during the next Refresh Phase. This makes Patchwork an effective disruption tool, combining cost manipulation with board freezing to punish key plays at critical moments.
In addition, the card’s [Trigger] effect provides valuable hand filtering by letting you draw 2 cards and trash 1 from your hand. While situational, this trigger can be highly impactful, helping smooth out resources and further fuel the deck’s trash-based engine. Overall, OP05-094-haute-couture-patchwork is a flexible and synergistic tech choice for OP14-079-crocodile decks, offering both play disruption and resource optimization.
Run 0-4 copies depending on personal preference.
Another reliable 2000 hand counter with added utility is OP14-085-missgoldenweek-marianne, a 1-cost character with an [On K.O.] effect that lets you draw 2 cards and trash 2 from your hand. While this effect can help smooth out poor early draws, Marianne is mainly included for her consistency as a searchable 2000 counter, and is typically played only when other options aren’t available.
Run 0-4 copies depending on personal preference.
If you’re lacking other strong tech 2000 hand counters, OP14-095-mr9 serves as a reasonable alternative. He’s a vanilla 5-cost, 6000-power character that can be played as an extra body when needed, but his primary value lies in being a searchable 2000 hand counter that helps round out the deck’s defensive options.
Run 0-2 copies depending on personal preference.
Sample Deck Lists
Decklist Placement: 1st Place (5-0) - Flagship Tournament (Ichiho)
This list went undefeated, proving the deck’s core cohesiveness can confidently compete in the current meta. The inclusion of OP14-088-missmerrychristmas-drophy and OP14-085-missgoldenweek-marianne adds valuable 2000 hand counters, while OP14-086-miss-doublefinger-zala significantly boosts overall board presence. Shoutout to Ichiho for piloting the deck to perfection.
Decklist Placement: Top 32 (8-1) - Area Qualifier (Nakamura)
This list by Nakamura posted an impressive Area Qualifier run with an 8–1 record, and its tech choices are clearly geared toward total board domination. By running a full set of OP05-094-haute-couture-patchwork alongside OP14-086-miss-doublefinger-zala, the build maximizes cost manipulation, disruption, and sustained board presence, allowing it to consistently control the pace of the game and overwhelm opponents.
Decklist Placement: 2nd Place (6-1) - Shop Event (Daichi)
The final showcased list, piloted by Daichi, delivered an excellent 6–1 run to secure a runner-up finish. The build emphasizes resilience by running a massive 14 total 2000 hand counters, paired with a full set of OP14-086-miss-doublefinger-zala to further bolster board presence and defensive stability throughout the game.
Conclusion
To close out, OP14-079-crocodile stands out as a uniquely oppressive Black control Leader in OP14, built around cost reduction, board lockdown, and deliberate use of the trash. Instead of relying on pure removal, the deck converts self-sacrifice into long-term advantage, forcing opponents into slow, inefficient games where every play is punished.
The deck’s strength lies in its tight core engine. Early-game searchers and fodder like OP14-087-missvalentine-mikita establish consistency and trash setup, while midgame staples such as OP14-091-mr2bonkurei-bentham, OP14-094-mr5-gem, and OP14-090-mr1-dazbonez generate steady value and board control. Finishers like OP14-084-ms-all-sunday and OP14-120-crocodile then seal games by locking attackers and overwhelming depleted opponents.
Overall, this deck excels in grindy matchups and performs especially well against OP14 threats like OP14-060-donquixote-doflamingo and OP14-020-dracule-mihawk. If you enjoy a control playstyle that rewards careful sequencing and long-term planning, master your sacrifices, manage your trash with intent, and let Baroque Works do the dirty work—because under Crocodile’s command, every grain of sand brings your opponent one step closer to being buried.
