1. What is it?
2. Release date
3. Products
4. Mechanics
5. Story
6. Spoilers
7. Deals
War never changes, but Magic does thanks to expansions like MTG Fallout.
You might know New California like the back of your hand or simply recognize the friendly face of Vault Boy. Either way, you’re probably familiar with the super popular Fallout series. That makes it all the more surprising it took this long to see an MTG Fallout crossover. One of the most beloved video game franchises meeting one of the best card games? That's got to be good news.
Even if you’re already sold on the concept, you’ll still want to consider what cards are in the MTG Fallout set and what product(s) you’re planning on picking up. You may also want to pre-order it at a good value. Thankfully, we’ve got the full lowdown on everything you need to know about Magic: The Gathering Fallout including its release date, story, and the best deals.
What is MTG Fallout?
- MTG meets the post-apocalyptic world of Fallout
- Four Commander decks & collector boosters
- 2024's second Universes Beyond release
Magic may be better known for its fantasy universe of Planeswalkers and sorcery (as seen in MTG Murders at Karlov Manor), but it also shakes things up with collaborations from time to time. These are known as 'Universes Beyond,' and the team-ups range from Warhammer 40,000 to Lord of the Rings.
MTG Fallout is the latest addition to that Universes Beyond label. It draws on every entry in the video game series, but with particular emphasis on more recent entries (Fallouts 3, New Vegas, 4, and 76). That means you'll see characters like Nick Valentine rubbing shoulders with Dogmeat and Caesar.
We hope to pay homage to Fallout's high-energy, high-action, post-nuclear RPG roots
Billie Kaplan, Wizards of the Coast
This isn't a 'normal' Magic set, though. Like most Universes Beyond releases, it's limited to Commander decks and Collector Booster packs.
Regardless, we can't believe it's taken this long to happen. Fallout and MTG have a surprising history, you see; Fallout 2 references 'Tragic the Garnering,' a pre-apocalypse card game that's an obvious nod to Magic.
MTG Fallout release date
If you’re like me, you’re likely on the edge of your seat waiting for a full MTG Fallout list. We should expect to see that really soon. In fact, the debut and previews are slated to begin as early as February 20. However, you will have to wait a little longer to add MTG Fallout to your collection, as the set’s global release is March 8.
The drop coincides well with the release of the Fallout TV show coming to Amazon Prime Video the month after and will likely serve as another hype-builder for diehard Fallout fans.
Here's the exact schedule.
- Previews: February 20
- Global release: March 8
- Commander launch party: March 8 - 10
MTG Fallout products
- A smaller range of products overall
- Four Commander decks
- Collector booster boxes
This Fallout adaptation is smaller-scale than other MTG sets; it doesn't offer as much as a core release like Murders at Karlov Manor. However, there's still plenty of variety on offer here thanks to four unique Commander decks. Plus, it differs from most Universes Beyond releases by launching with collector boosters as well.
Here's a breakdown of exactly what you'll find in the MTG Fallout range.
Commander decks (x4)
If you’re keen to take the pick-up-and-play approach to the MTG Fallout set, it’s best to dive straight in with a preconstructed Commander deck. The four pre-con decks available are Scrappy Survivors, Mutant Menace, Science!, and Hail, Caesar. Each deck contains 100 cards and features an average of 38 totally new cards. Of course, they’ll feature familiar cards too, but these have hit with retro-futuristic flavor to fit in with the Fallout setting.
It’s not all about how flashy they look, though. Based on each deck’s face Commanders, they also represent a welcome variety of fun play styles and mechanics.
Collector boosters
The collector boosters provide players with the opportunity to draw rare variants of MTG Fallout cards. These include borderless Vault Boy treatments, Pip-Boy HUD treatments, and serialized versions of Vault Boy bobbleheads for each S.P.E.C.I.A.L. stat. There are even a few cards that are entirely collector booster exclusive. A 12-pack collector booster box is definitely worth picking up if you want to find some real gems to add to your collection.
MTG Fallout mechanics
- Introduces 'Radiation' mechanic
- Adds 'Junk' & 'Bobblehead' artifacts
- Brings back 'Energy' & 'Proliferate'
While the core Magic mechanics are still intact with this spin-off, MTG Fallout introduces a couple of ideas that are very in-keeping with the post-apocalyptic franchise. The biggest would have to be 'Radiation.' This twist revolves around 'rad counters' that are placed on players rather than cards. You'll run into problems if these start building up. To be precise:
"At the beginning of your precombat main phase, if you have any rad counters, mill that many cards. For each nonland card milled this way, you lose 1 life and a rad counter."
There are a couple of other on-theme gameplay tweaks too. The first comes in the form of Bobbleheads. Although there's a different design for each of the franchise's seven S.P.E.C.I.A.L stats, we think they do the same thing - they provide a mana of any color if tapped. In addition, paying an extra five mana on your turn allows you to draw a number of cards equal to the number of Bobbleheads you have.
If you have any rad counters, mill that many cards. For each nonland card milled this way, you lose 1 life and a rad counter
Radiation card rules
Similarly, 'Junk' (which you spend a lot of time collecting the series) allows you to exile the top card of your library. You can then "play that card this turn. Activate only as a sorcery." This ties into the Scrappy Survivors Commander deck and Dogmeat, who finds you junk just like in the video game.
MTG Fallout brings back a couple of familiar mechanics, too. As an example, 'Energy' is making its return to the game via this set. It's represented by counters that, much like rads, are put on players rather than a card. These are then used to power certain abilities instead of mana, and can be found primarily in the Science! Commander deck. Considering how the franchise loves to make us cobble together generators that can run our settlements (and how obsessed the universe's pre-war civilizations were with energy, mainly of a nuclear kind), this mechanic's encore is fitting.
'Proliferate' makes a comeback in MTG Fallout as well. This lets players choose someone else with counters on them - be it Energy or rads - and add one more to the pile.
MTG Fallout story
- There isn't a tie-in narrative for this set
- Draws on all Fallout games...
- ...especially newer ones
Not only has the Fallout universe been expanded through six mainline games, but it’s also seen spin-offs across various formats, including the upcoming Fallout wargame. From the lights of New Vegas to the shantytown of Megaton, there are a wealth of story beats likely to be referenced in this MTG set.
However, don't expect a specific and original narrative to go along with the release. Unlike standard Magic sets, Universes Beyond collaborations don't tend to feature a plot of their own. Instead,
Tragic the Garnering isn’t just a game – it’s an obsession
Wooz, Fallout 2
The good news is that Wizards of the Coast have confirmed that the release will celebrate "elements of all Fallout games," so even longtime fans should see nods to their favorite in-game moments. In particular, you can expect to see some of the fascinating stories from Vault-Tec vaults adapted to Saga cards. Your birthday party in the third Fallout is also referenced, as are the infamous Gary clones.
MTG Fallout: Spoilers
Best MTG Fallout deals
You can get your hands on pre-orders for all MTG Fallout packs now ahead of launch this March. To help you find the best prices, we've got our bargain-hunting software on the lookout for discounts. If any are available, you'll see them displayed below.
Just don't hang about. Some Commander decks are already selling out, so consider yourself warned. We'd be surprised if the Scrappy Survivors deck was still available closer to launch, for example. Who could resist that adorable Dogmeat?
You might have plans for Friday Night Magic, but what about the other six days of the week? Fill them with more tabletop fun by picking up one of our choices for the best board games. Alternatively, if you prefer your games to require a few more dice, check out the best tabletop RPGs.
