Magic: The Gathering Outlaws of Thunder Junction release date, cards, mechanics & Commander Decks

Magic: The Gathering Outlaws of Thunder Junction release date, cards, mechanics & Commander Decks
Images via Wizards of the Coast

Written by 

Lloyd Coombes

Last updated 

26th Mar 2024 20:37

Contents

Just weeks after Universes Beyond: Fallout, it's already time for another expansion for Magic: The Gathering, and Outlaws of Thunder Junction is all about the baddies.

The expansion takes on a magical wild west theme with a whole host of the game's villains. There are fresh mechanics, too, including grouping existing ones together as 'Crimes', a long-requested option to saddle up on big beasts, and even the option to save a card for later.

If you want to know more about the release date, cards, new mechanics, and Commander Decks, read on below.

When is the Magic: The Gathering Outlaws of Thunder Junction release date?

Players can expect to get their hands on the new Outlaws of Thunder Junction set on April 19, 2024, making it the second premier set to release this year. 

The cards will also be available on MTG Arena just before the physical launch, arriving on April 16. As for in-store prerelease, you can expect to jump in on April 12 - 18.

Outlaws of Thunder Junction cards & mechanics

0000 OTJ Dualland Concealedcourtyard
0001 OTJ Dualland Botanical Sanctum
0002 Oko The Ringleader Mainset
0003 Jace Reawakened
0004 Fblthp Lost On The Range
0005 Commander Stella Lee Wild Card
0006 Vraska The Silencer
0007 Vaultborn Tyrant EN Main
0008 Unfortunate Accident
0009 Torpor Orb Vault
0010 Torpor Orb EN Main
0011 Token Zombie Rogue
0012 Token Scorpiondragon
0013 Token Mercenary
0014 Tinybones The Pickpocket Wantedposter
0015 Tinybones The Pickpocket Mainset
0016 Tinybones Joins Up
0017 Thoughtseize Breaking News
0018 The Gitrog Ravenous Ride
0019 Sword Of Wealth And Power Vaultframe
0020 Sword Of Wealth And Power Mainset
0021 Stoneforge Mystic Special Guest
0023 Rakdos The Muscle Wantedposter
0024 Rakdos The Muscle
0025 Plotmechanic Helper
0026 OTJ Land Swamp
0027 OTJ Land Plains
0028 OTJ Land Mountain
0029 OTJ Land Island
0030 OTJ Land Forest
0031 OTJ Dualland Inspiringvantage
0032 OTJ Dualland Bloomingmarsh
0033 OTJ Commander Bounties Back Of Card
0034 OTJ Desertland Forlornflats
0035 Oko, Thief Of Crowns Breakingnews
0036 Oko The Ringleader Wantedposter
0037 Oko The Ringleader Borderless
0038 Mana Drain Breakingnews
0040 Kellan The Kid
0041 Holy Cow
0042 Hardbristle Bandit
0043 Great Train Heist
0044 Gisa The Hellraiser
0045 Freestrider Lookout
0046 Commander Bounty The Outsider
0047 Commander Gonti Canny Acquisitor
0048 Commander Yuma Proud Protector
0049 Commander Olivia Opulent Outlaw
0050 Clear Shot Breakingnews
0051 Annie Flash The Veteran Wantedposter
0052 Annie Flash The Veteran
0053 Vaultborn Tyrant Vault
0054 Token Treasure
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Check out the cards we saw at a preview event, including the return of Jace as Jace Reawakened.

The Crimes mechanic is a big feature in this expansion. Essentially, any spell or ability that targets an opponent is considered a crime, and specific cards may punish or reward you for doing so. 

For example, with the new Duelist of the Mind card, if you commit a crime you can draw a card. As mentioned in our preview, that's going to incentivise interaction, even in the most shot-shy of Commander groups.

Slickshot Show-Off card from MTG Outlaws of Thunder Junction
Click to enlarge

There is also a Plot mechanic, which rewards forward-thinking. Take Slcikshot Show-Off, for example, as seen in above. You can play it as a creature, but you can also pay one colourless and one red mana to exile it and cast it later), giving you surprise reinforcements right when you need it.

Great Train Heist from MTG Outlaws of Thunder Junction
Click to enlarge

Spree offers customisable, modal functions that can be chosen from the card as and when they're required. Check out Great Train Heist above, which can untap all creatures, give them +1/+0 counters, or create Treasure depending on what you need in a specific situation.

The Gitrog, Ravenous Ride card in MTG Outlaws of Thunder Junction
Click to enlarge

Finally, it wouldn't be a Wild West-themed set without the opportunity to hop on a mount to make a daring escape. With that in mind, a new Saddle mechanic will let cards hop on board, as with The Gitrog card above. Wizards of the Coast says this feature has been requested for over a decade.

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All Magic: The Gathering Outlaws of Thunder Junction Commander Decks

Outlaws of Thunder Junction will see the arrival of four new precon Commander Decks.

Name Commander Colour
Desert Bloom Yuma, Proud Protector Red/Green/White
Quick Draw Stella Lee, Wild Card Blue/Red
Most Wanted Olivia, Opulent Outlaw Red/White/Black
Grand Larceny Gonti, Canny Acquisitor Black/Green/Blue

Perhaps my favourite feature this time around is that the featured Commanders will come with Showcase Art. Check them out below.

Commander Showcase 0000 Commander Gonti Canny Acquisitor
Commander Showcase 0001 Commander Yuma Proud Protector
Commander Showcase 0002 Commander Olivia Opulent Outlaw
Commander Showcase 0003 Commander Stella Lee Wild Card
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Lloyd Coombes
About the author
Lloyd Coombes
Lloyd is GGRecon's Editor-in-Chief, having previously worked at Dexerto and Gfinity, and occasionally appears in The Daily Star newspaper. A big fan of loot-based games including Destiny 2 and Diablo 4, when he's not working you'll find him at the gym or trying to play Magic The Gathering.
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