Magic: The Gathering’s next expansion, Reality Fracture, introduces a fresh set of mechanics built around Jace’s alternate-reality Echoverse. With the set releasing October 2, here’s a breakdown of everything players need to know about how the new and returning mechanics work.
Empower Jace — The Marquee Mechanic
The signature mechanic of Reality Fracture is empower Jace, which brings versions of Jace to the battlefield. When instructed to empower Jace, players first check whether they control a Jace planeswalker token. If they do, they put the specified number of loyalty counters on it. If they don’t, they create a blue Jace planeswalker token with 0 loyalty, then immediately put the specified number of loyalty counters on it.
The Jace token comes with two loyalty abilities: “−1: Surveil 1” and “−3: Draw a card.” Notably, these tokens are not legendary, meaning players can control multiple copies without triggering the legend rule—though empower Jace itself won’t create a second token if one is already in play.
Prepare — A Returning Mechanic with a Twist
The prepare mechanic returns from Secrets of Strixhaven, offering additional spellcasting options. Preparation cards feature a two-part frame: the creature’s characteristics and abilities on the left, and a separate prepare spell on the right with its own name, mana cost, type line, and rules text.
Preparation cards always retain the characteristics of the creature no matter where they are. A prepared creature causes a copy of its prepare spell to appear in exile, which the player can then cast like any other spell. The copy ceases to exist if the creature leaves the battlefield or becomes unprepared.
If another player gains control of a prepared creature, that new controller becomes the one who can cast the copy from exile. A creature can’t become prepared again while it’s already prepared, so players must cast the spell before generating another copy.
Heartwood Tokens — New Mana Artifacts
Reality Fracture introduces a new predefined token to the game: Heartwood tokens. These red and green artifact tokens provide a steady mana boost with “Tap: Add red or green,” helping players ramp into the mid and late game. They’re also useful for increasing the number of artifacts a player controls, as demonstrated by Hexhaven’s Founder Sphinxes like Aerid Konstrari.
