The new mechanic Empower Jace, featured prominently in Magic: The Gathering's upcoming set Reality Fracture, is proving to be a surprisingly powerful and defining element of the Limited format. Initial impressions from early access gameplay on Magic Arena suggest that the ability to create or enhance a Jace Planeswalker token fundamentally alters the strategic landscape of the game.
The Jace Token's Ubiquitous Influence
The Empower Jace mechanic is integrated across all colors in Reality Fracture, appearing on a variety of card types including creatures, removal spells, counterspells, and larger threats. This widespread inclusion means that a Jace token can enter play at almost any stage of a match, impacting gameplay from the outset.
At its core, the Jace token helps to mitigate common issues in Limited play, such as mana flood or screw, and card advantage through its Surveil and card draw abilities. However, its true strength lies in its synergy with other cards and its ability to alter game states in more complex ways.
Cards like Mindseeker Oculus, a three-mana creature, not only provide a decent body but also generate a Jace token that can immediately draw a card and surveil on the following turn, effectively acting as a form of life gain if it avoids immediate removal. The set also introduces legendary enchantments for each color, with Empower Jace integrated into their design. These enchantments can grant additional loyalty abilities to existing Planeswalkers or further enhance the Jace token's capabilities, significantly amplifying their strategic value.
Strategic Depth of Empower Jace
The nuanced impact of Empower Jace cards requires players to re-evaluate traditional Limited strategies. For instance, Way of the Pyromancer, a two-mana spell, functions as a "ramp spell" that also provides a Jace token. This token can be activated for further ramp or card draw on subsequent turns, offering more value than a typical ramp spell.
Similarly, Way of the Paradox, another three-mana enchantment, offers ramp, card draw, life gain, and a persistent Jace token. Even cards that have a direct impact on the board state, such as Way of the Wildspeaker or Way of the Healer, are enhanced by the accompanying Jace token, providing long-term advantage.
This interconnectedness rewards players for building synergistic decks that leverage multiple Empower Jace cards. A surprising seven-win Draft deck, initially appearing as a standard midrange pile, achieved success due to the cohesive power of cards like Way of the Pyromancer and Way of the Paradox, which ensured card flow and access to larger threats. The presence of Jace, even as a token, was instrumental in its performance.
Players must also consider how to best respond to the Jace token. Utilizing removal spells on the token is generally ill-advised, as it negates the card advantage gained by the opponent. Creatures, especially flyers, are often a better answer, or prioritizing board pressure and attacking life points may be more effective if the opponent is already presenting a strong board presence.
While Magic's design has generally trended towards fewer Planeswalkers per set, Reality Fracture notably includes a higher density, featuring powerful options like The Theorist, Jace Beleren, Ajani Unrelenting, and Chandra, Torch of Defiance alongside the Empower Jace mechanic. This strategic shift, centered around the versatile Jace token, positions Reality Fracture as a potentially standout Limited set and raises intriguing possibilities for future Magic: The Gathering designs.
