Reality Fracture Hits MTG Arena September 29, After Your Prerelease. Here Is How to Use Both.
Reality Fracture reaches MTG Arena on September 29, four days after in-store prereleases start and three days before the October 2 tabletop release. Here is the full date list, what is in the three $49.99 Arena bundles, and how paper players can use Arena to get better at the set.
Paper Comes First This Time
Magic's release calendar usually lets digital players see a set first. Reality Fracture flips that. Prerelease events at local game stores run September 25 through October 1, the set arrives on MTG Arena on Tuesday, September 29, and the tabletop release follows on Friday, October 2. That means most players will open their first Reality Fracture cards at a store, not on a screen.
Wizards laid out the digital side in its September 21 MTG Arena announcements. Here is what matters and how to use it.
Key Dates
- Today, September 23: an early-access stream on YouTube and Twitch, with Magic streamers and competitive players playing the set before release.
- September 25 to October 1: in-store prerelease events.
- September 25 to 27: an Arena Direct on MTG Arena, but for March of the Machine, not Reality Fracture.
- September 29: Reality Fracture goes live on MTG Arena, starting an event schedule that runs into early November.
- September 30: Arena's September ranked season ends at 12:05 p.m. Pacific, and rewards are paid out as The Hobbit packs.
- October 2: tabletop release.
- October 25: a bonus Qualifier Play-In on Arena using Reality Fracture Sealed.
The Three Arena Preorder Bundles
All three cost $49.99 and are available until the set launches on the 29th:
- Pack Bundle: 45 Reality Fracture packs, 5 mythic packs, 5 Golden packs, plus both Chandra cards (Chandra, Torch of Defiance and Chandra, Chill of Compliance) with depth-art styles.
- Pass Bundle: the Set Mastery Pass with 10 bonus levels, one Sealed token, 20 packs, 2 Golden packs, and The Theorist, Jace Beleren with depth art.
- Play Bundle: 4 Draft tokens, 2 Sealed tokens, 20 Play-In Points, and two Liliana cards (Liliana, the Faultless and Liliana, the Repentant) with depth art.
The paired Chandra and Liliana cards reflect the set's big idea: Jace's Echoverse produces two versions of familiar characters, and both show up on the checklist.
How to Use Arena if You Play Paper
Before your prerelease
You will not be able to draft the set on Arena before your prerelease, but you can still prepare. Watch today's early-access stream to see which commons and uncommons are pulling their weight in Limited. The full card image gallery is up on the Magic website, and the whole ten-episode story is published, which helps if you want to know why two Chandras exist.
After your prerelease
Once Arena opens on the 29th, it is the cheapest way to practice Limited before you spend money on a paper draft. If your store runs weekly Reality Fracture drafts after October 2, a few Arena drafts on your own time will make those nights a lot more fun.
Which bundle, if any
If you already know you will play mostly paper, the Play Bundle is the most useful: the Draft and Sealed tokens let you practice the format without grinding gold. The Pack Bundle is for Constructed players who want to build decks on day one. Skip all three if you only play Commander around a kitchen table.
A Supply Note
Wizards has had a rough fall on physical supply, with shortages around The Hobbit and Reality Fracture and the cancellation of the Star Trek Beginner Box. If you want sealed Reality Fracture product at your store, confirm your preorder or prerelease seat this week rather than walking in on release day.
Prereleases only happen at Wizards Play Network stores. Use The Card Shop Finder to find a local game store near you that runs Magic events, then call ahead to reserve a seat.