Magic: The Gathering‘s poster boy Blue Planeswalker Jace is back, as Wizards of the Coast drops new Outlaws of Thunder Junction details. The latest set for the main MTG expansions unveiled Jace, the enigmatic blue Planeswalker, survived and is masquerading as Ashiok, another iconic character in the MTG lore.
Outlaws of Thunder Junction opens a new chapter to the saga of the MTG multiverse following the March of the Machine storyline and expansion sets. The aftermath of the cataclysmic Phyrexian Invasion event birthed the Omen Pass, a rift facilitating interdimensional travel without the need to Planeswalk, thus setting the stage for the Wild Western-themed narrative in the upcoming set.
One surprising addition to the story and MTG metagame is the return of Jace Beleren, represented by the Jace Reawakened Planeswalker card. Fans of the most popular collectible card game (CCG) in the world last saw Jace being “compleated”, essentially being assimilated by the Phyrexian corruption (similar to the Borg from Star Trek).
Oh hey Ashi—Jace?
What are you doing here? #MTGThunder pic.twitter.com/TEEDexvqO6
— Magic: The Gathering (@wizards_magic) March 26, 2024
Although other Planeswalkers survived the ordeal, some lost their Spark from the process of having the Phyrexian taint removed. It seems the fan-favorite Blue Planeswalker not only survived the aftermath of the invasion, but also retained his Planeswalker Spark.
What sets Jace Reawakened apart is its astonishingly low mana cost of only two blue mana, a rarity among Planeswalkers. As for the visual representation, the art on the MTG cards depict a blend of Jace and the eerie persona of Ashiok, adding an intriguing layer to its mystique of where he has been and where the real Ashiok (who was last seen in Wilds of Eldraine) could be.
As far as the story goes, Episode 6 of Outlaws of Thunder Junction was released on the official Magic: The Gathering website. Oko and his accomplices schemed to raid the vault of Maag Taranau. However, a twist in the tale reveals that Ashiok is none other than Jace Beleren, collaborating with Vraska to outsmart Oko and his band of miscreants.
Examining the Jace Reawakened card’s mechanics, it can be deceptively powerful. While its static ability restricts casting during the first few turns, being able to use Jace’s Loyalty abilities offer compelling advantages and potential strategies.
The first ability is nothing to write home about. +1 Loyalty to draw, then discard a card. Kaito Shizuki from the Kamigawa Neon Dynasty set does that, too. However, Jace’s other +1 ability enables players to “plot” a card with three mana value or less, setting the stage for casting it for free in subsequent turns at sorcery speed.
Meanwhile, Jace Reawakened’s ultimate -6 loyalty ability truly lives up to the name of this class of effect, and lets the controlling player replicate all spells cast until the end of that turn, a potentially game-changing maneuver.
The artwork’s incorporation of Ashiok hints at a deeper narrative involving Jace and Vraska, adding an element of mystery to the unfolding storyline within Thunder Junction. Strategically, Jace Reawakened finds potential in Control decks, offering a resilient option against aggressive and midrange strategies prevalent in the current meta.
Despite the dominance of aggro and midrange strategies in the MTG Arena meta, Jace Reawakened presents a compelling prospect to reinvigorate Control archetypes. The card’s unique mechanics and low mana cost distinguish it from existing Planeswalkers, making it ideal for combo builds to take advantage of the draw and plot abilities before setting up his ultimate.
With only a handful of Planeswalkers boasting a two-mana cost, Jace Reawakened stands out for its formidable abilities, challenging conventional notions associated with Planeswalker cards. Although it cannot be cast on the first 3 turns, it does provide a setup for taking control of the tempo. And you would not want to cast it without counterspells and creature removal on hand anyway.
How will this unexpected twist of having Jace return and outmaneuver Oko and his crew from their big heist? With the release of Outlaws of Thunder Junction, what strategic innovations will Jace Reawakened inspire among Magic: The Gathering players and the current metagame? Could Jace Reawakened be appearing in this year’s Magic: The Gathering world championships?
Magic: The Gathering Outlaws of Thunder Junction is available for preorder. The new expansion will be launched on Magic: The Gathering Arena on April 16, with the physical release scheduled on April 19, 2024.
