The Magic: The Gathering multiverse is about to get seriously weird.
Wizards of the Coast has launched Prerelease events for Magic: The Gathering - Reality Fracture, the latest set for the long-running trading card game. The set officially arrives on October 2, bringing an alternate version of the Multiverse into the game alongside some seriously strange twists on familiar characters, cards, and mechanics. At the centre of it all is Jace Beleren and his alternate reality, the Echoverse. And things definitely aren't going according to plan.
Welcome to the Echoverse!
Reality Fracture marks the conclusion of a three-year story arc in Magic: The Gathering, with Jace's alternate reality crashing into the Multiverse. Players will have the chance to explore this warped version of the world, where familiar characters and spells have been reimagined through Jace's vision. That means cards that have been part of Magic for decades can suddenly look very different. The set also introduces Echoed Pairs, which bring alternate versions of familiar characters together. These cards represent two different paths a character could have taken, with their counterparts appearing alongside each other. It's a fitting way to finish a story focused on a reality that has gone very, very wrong.
New ways to play
The strange setting isn't just being used for the artwork. Reality Fracture introduces new mechanics alongside returning ones, giving players some fresh tricks to experiment with. One of the headline mechanics is Empower Jace. Cards with this ability can create a Jace Planeswalker Token when the effect is triggered. If you already have one in play, the ability instead adds loyalty counters to it. Prepared Creatures are also returning after first appearing in Secrets of Strixhaven. These creatures come with an additional spell that can be cast while they're prepared, with the cards using a distinctive two-part layout to show both sides of their abilities. So, as well as looking different, Reality Fracture should give players plenty of new interactions to figure out.
A collector's dream
If you're more interested in collecting than battling across the Multiverse, there's plenty to get excited about too. The set contains a huge selection of special card treatments and alternate versions, with some particularly rare cards hiding inside Collector Boosters. One of the biggest prizes is Bloodline Recollector, a serialised card limited to just 500 copies across all realities. It features a double rainbow foil treatment and is exclusive to Collector Boosters. The card is also a twisted version of Emeritus of Ideation, the headliner from Secrets of Strixhaven, continuing the set's theme of taking familiar ideas and sending them through the Echoverse blender.
Mirrors, pairs, and plenty of chaos
Among the most distinctive additions are Shattered Mirror cards. These cards show a card's original inspiration alongside its Echoverse counterpart, effectively putting multiple realities onto the same piece of cardboard. There are 13 Shattered Mirror cards in total, with facet foil versions appearing in Collector Boosters and non-foil versions available in both Play Boosters and Collector Boosters. Then there are Borderless Echoed Pairs. There are 15 pairs in the set, featuring alternate versions of notable characters from the Magic story. The two cards in each pair share artwork that stretches across both cards, creating a larger image when they're placed together. Chandra gets one of these treatments, with her usual fire magic facing off against an alternate version wielding ice. Pretty chilly stuff for someone normally associated with setting everything on fire!
More special treatments
That's still not the end of the collecting madness. The Braintwister Series contains 23 card variants featuring some of the set's most eye-catching visual effects. Ten cards have also been reimagined as Japan Showcase cards, taking inspiration from Japanese hobby shops and giving them their own special frame. Meanwhile, the Secret Lair Bundle includes two Collector Boosters, six Play Boosters, traditional foil basic lands and two of ten possible Secret Lair Bundle promo cards. There are also rare Dual Lands returning as Portal Lands, with their designs tied to the colours of Hexhaven.
Build the Jace Tower
Even the basic lands are getting involved. Reality Fracture features 15 borderless basic land cards depicting Jace Tower, with three lands representing each colour. Put the full artwork together, and you'll get a rather impressive look at the impossibly tall structure at the heart of the Echoverse. You might want a bigger table for this one!
Reality Fracture lands October 2
With Prerelease events now underway at Wizards Play Network stores, players can get their first taste of the alternate reality before the full release. Magic: The Gathering - Reality Fracture launches on October 2 and will be available across a range of products, including Play Boosters, Collector Boosters, a Commander Deck, Prerelease Packs, Draft Night, Bundles and Secret Lair Bundles. After three years of storytelling, Jace's strange version of the Multiverse is finally colliding with reality. Whatever happens next, it's probably safe to say things won't look quite the same!
