Alchemy: Outlaws of Thunder Junction Spoilers and Set Information

Last updated on May 7, 2024

Rattleback Apothecary | Illustration by Loïc Canavaggia

Alchemy sets are like Thanos: They’re inevitable. With some exceptions like March of the Machine, each Standard MTG set has its Alchemy counterpart.

Today, you can play Alchemy: Outlaws of Thunder Junction, or simply Alchemy: Thunder Junction. This set continues the theme of scoring big with stolen treasure. The dust from solidifying in Alchemy: Thunder Junction settled in and you might find some powerful rocks popping up in your Arena.

Let’s go!

Alchemy: Outlaws of Thunder Junction: Basic Information

Requisition Raid | Illustration by Viko Menezes

Set Details

Set Symbol
Set Code	A24, Y24, YOTJ
Hashtag	#AlchemyOTJ
Number of Cards	30
Rarities	10 uncommons, 15 rares, 5 mythic rares
Mechanics	Heist, Crime, Outlaw, Plot, Saddle, Spree, Conjure, Perpetually, Spellbook, Seek

Important Dates

About the Set: The Story

The flavor comes out in full force on Alchemy sets and lets Wizards really get into some fun designs. It's like the dawning of a new day, or a stranger trotting into the sleepy mining town. There are really strong legendary creatures many of which have familiar names, but these sets are more about mechanics than lore, so look out for some outlandish cards if you play Arena formats: Alchemy, Brawl, Historic, or Timeless.

Set Mechanics

Alchemy: Thunder Junction introduced heist as the one new digital-only mechanic from Standard OTJ (Outlaws of Thunder Junction). Alchemy cards usually mix and match mechanics in single card designs – for example, a card that cares about crime and outlaws at the same time.

Heist

Heist is a crime that looks at three randomized nonlands in your opponent's library and you can eventually cast one of those cards. You exile the card face down and mana of any type can be spent to cast it.

Crime

To commit a crime in MTG, target your opponent or any permanent controlled by them. You can also commit a crime by targeting their libraries or cards in their graveyards. In Alchemy: Thunder Junction the main crimes committed are heightened to heists.

Outlaw

Like crime, outlaw isn’t a new mechanic but a generalization. Outlaws in MTG are assassins, mercenaries, pirates, rogues, and warlocks. OTJ has some outlaw-matters cards and outlaw typal interactions. Nashi, Illusion Gadgeteer is an upgraded gravedigger with stats that are a reward you for branching into green and blue.

Cards like At Knifepoint and Back in Town reward you nicely for having many outlaw creatures in your deck.

Plot

Plot is a complicated mechanic. A spell with plot can be exiled face-up by paying the plot cost only at sorcery speed – that's to say, in your main phase when the stack is empty. In a later turn, you may cast the spell for free at sorcery speed (even if it’s a plotted instant card). There are some interesting things to be done with plot. For example, Beastbond Outcaster is a 3/3 creature, but if you plot it for , you can cast it for free at a later turn when you also control a creature with power 4 or greater and draw a card.

Saddle

Saddle X is a mechanic only found on mount creatures. To saddle X, you need to tap creatures with power X or less before the combat phase. If you do, you or your mount creature get an advantage. Switchgrass Grazer is a card that requires one power to saddle, and if you do, you get to mark permanent damage on creatures while making them falter at the same time. Some bonuses are powerful like the free 3/3 Angel token with flying when Seraphic Steed attacks. 

Spree

Spells with spree are modal spells, and you can choose between two or three spell modes, but each mode has a different cost. You can pay for just one mode, for two modes, or for all three of them. For example, Requisition Raid is a card that can destroy an artifact, kill an enchantment, or put a +1/+1 counter on each creature a player controls. Each individual mode costs , but you can combine the costs and have the spell cost with two modes or with all three modes selected.

Conjure

Some Alchemy cards allow you to conjure a card, that is, to make a digital copy of a given card into your hand, onto the battlefield, or into your library. It’s like a token, except that it behaves like a card in other zones. For example, Sapphire Collector is a mercenary that can conjure a Mox Sapphire into your hand.

Perpetually

Perpetually is a permanent alteration to a card or a set of cards. The most common is to alter the mana value of the cards or the power and toughness of a set of creatures. Blooming Cactusfolk gives a permanently growing discount to cards in your hand at each of your end steps.

This mechanic seems to show up often in Alchemy because effects like this would hurt player's brains to remember on paper. For example, Alchemy: Karlov Manor has 10 cards that alter something perpetually, so I for one am glad to handle these digitally.

Spellbook

Some Alchemy cards let you draft a spell from a spellbook in certain situations, like when a creature attacks or ETBs. A spellbook is a limited number of cards tied thematically with that card. For example, Saint Elenda is a white card and powerful lifelinker that allows you to conjure a lifegain spell, either Faith's Fetters, Invoke the Divine, Ritual of Rejuvenation or Inspiring Cleric.

Seek

Seek is a digital-only mechanic that allows you to pull a random card from your deck that meets the requirements. So with Silent Extraction, you get a Quench, care about threshold, and may be able to put a creature card with the same mana cost as the countered card into your hand.

Full Card Gallery

White

Blue

Black

Red

Green

Multicolored

Colorless

Notable Cards

Collector Cycle

The Moxes are certifiable collectibles. Emerald Collector, Jet Collector, Pearl Collector, Ruby Collector, and Sapphire Collector each have a pretty trival way to conjure the Mox into your hand. Though the activated abilities on the Collectors are a touch overpriced, the Mox is sure to offset your investment before the game is over.

Sapphire Collector has a couple of great traits, working with a powerful Mox card and prowess, both of which are constructed favorites, then it's a repeatable Snapcaster Mage for . If Oracle of the Alpha was any indication of Arena players thirsting for the Power 9, you'll see quite a few Collectors on Arena.

Available Products

Alchemy: Outlaws of Thunder Junction doesn’t have a physical release, because it only exists on MTG Arena. Alchemy products are sold mainly via Alchemy boosters in the MTG Arena store. They cost the same as regular Standard boosters, so 1,000 gold/200 gems for a normal booster. Players can also draft the set on MTG Arena mixed with the main Outlaws of Thunder Junction set.

Round Up

Peerless Ropemaster | Illustration by Wayne Wu

Alchemy sets are an important source of new cards for MTG Arena, be it Historic Brawl, Alchemy, Historic, or Timeless. Alchemy is a slightly more powerful format than Standard, with cards from The Lord of the Rings and some juiced-up cards. And if you’re into Limited, the best way to collect these cards is to draft them besides OTJ.

Do you play digital-only cards regularly? Or do you ignore them and stick to Standard or Explorer? Let me know in the comments, or over at the Draftsim Discord.

Thanks for reading folks, and stay safe out there!