When it was first announced, Magic: The Gathering, Outlaws of Thunder Junction was met with mixed reactions. “Cowboys and magic together? Really?” some would exclaim. However, in this review, we were actually quite fond of what we discovered with MTG Outlaws of Thunder Junction. It’s surprisingly a good set in both mechanics and in terms of value. Should you buy it though? Let’s find out in this review!
Since we’re in the wild west in Outlaws of Thunder Junction, expect thematic mechanics that show it. In comparison with previous decks, the mechanics in this set are far simpler and easier to understand. They are not complex mechanics that deals with things such as graveyard sifting and rotation but are more streamlined for better access. If you’re a beginner, this is one set that I can recommend to start with.
Outlaws are a group of creature type designated in this set. This list includes the following types:
Some cards in this set benefit or target these types of creatures so best memorize them!
Commit A Crime is a general term that activates certain spells or abilities if you targeted anything of the opponent. For more specifics, see the list below:
As mentioned, this is just a blanket flavor term for Outlaws of Thunder Junction. Just remember the above conditions if you use cards that require you to “commit a crime”.
Saddle can be thought of as something similar to the Crew mechanic. However, unlike Crew, the “Mounts” can move on their own without having to be manned. However, getting something or someone to “saddle” them activates certain abilities that may reward you for the trouble of tapping an additional creature. Watch out for these creatures as some are extremely valuable when mounted!
Spree is similar to a Kicker card as you can activate additional effects depending on how much you paid for the card. However, unlike the Kicker mechanic, you can select from different effects and choose one, or combine several ones, or activate all at the same time. Imagine having a card that can do three things at one? Ain’t it fun?
Spree cards are designated with a plus sign on the upper right of their mana cost.
As the mechanic itself implies, you can pay the card’s Plot mana cost now to reap its benefits later. Similar to the Foretell mechanic, this is a more simplified version given that you can cast the card without having to hide it or go through the additional 2 colorless casting cost. In addition, you can only cast Plot cards as Sorcery. While not new, Plot makes things interesting in a battle as you need to carefully plan on when you get the effect. However, this also means that the opponent can see what you intend to do and do some adjustments to prepare for it.
We have four commander decks for Outlaws of Thunder Junction. Each deck contains the following items:
While not the cup of tea for some, Outlaws of Thunder Junction managed to carefully mix the themes of US frontier culture that we often see in movies and MTG lore. While not perfect, I can say that it was successfully pulled off. The cards themselves are aesthetically pleasing and the included flavor texts are back doing what they actually do: add flavor to the card lore.
One thing that surprised me was that the set has quite a lot of value in it compared to previous sets. A single play booster box, in my case, contained double the value of what you would find in a booster box of previous sets. This makes Outlaws of Thunder Junction a great set if you’re collecting and/or looking to turn the set for selling valuable cards.
Outlaws of Thunder Junction may have ruffled some feathers when it comes to its theme being introduced to MTG lore. However, it is undeniable that there are a lot of good cards in this set. Furthermore, the value of this set is better compared to previous ones, making this a good set for collectors. With all that said, Outlaws of Thunder Junction is a recommended must-buy set for us.
The Outlaws of Thunder Junction is now available and can be bought either online or in local hobby shops and toy stores. You can buy the boosters as packs or even the commander decks to kick start your adventure in the game mode.
For our review of the previous set, read our review of the Murders at Karlov Manor. For more info on this set, check out the official page here.
