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Magic: The Gathering\u2019s<\/u> Reality Fracture set closes a saga in some style, with alternate-reality versions of iconic characters from Magic\u2019s past, and it\u2019s likely to go down as one of the best sets of a very busy 2026 schedule.<\/p>\n
Despite the sheer volume of great cards, however, Wizards of the Coast only designed a single preconstructed deck for Commander players, the same as it did for this year\u2019s Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles set.<\/p>\n
We asked Gavin Verhey, Game Designer on Magic: The Gathering, why we only got one precon – and how he feels about its power level.<\/p>\n
\u201cWe tend to run into problems when we release two Commander decks, and one is vastly more exciting than the other,\u201d Verhey admitted (this year\u2019s Lorwyn Eclipsed was the last set to introduce a pair of precons).<\/p>\n
\u201cFor example, stores end up with one on shelves while the other evaporates immediately. So we did talk about this, but it was harder to imagine [a deck] much cooler than the Jace Echoverse deck,\u201d he added, pointing to Multiverse Reforged.<\/p>\n
\u201cSo, instead, we decided we’d make one deck and give it some extra resources like new cards and a splashy theme with a four-color identity.\u201d<\/p>\n
Having played a few games with Multiverse Reforged, splashy might be selling it short. The deck is packed with great cards, both alternate versions of legendary creatures from Magic\u2019s past (The Ur-Sphinx, for example), plus a powerful Planeswalker Commander in Jace himself.<\/p>\n
As with Turtle Power, it feels a lot like it can be taken apart and rebuilt in a bunch of different ways, but Verhey confirms that the Wizards of the Coast team sees it as a powerhouse right out of the box.<\/p>\n
\u201cI think it’s kind of funny that people see it as a toolkit,\u201d Verhey says, \u201cbecause many internally believe this precon is among the most powerful we’ve ever released!\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cI do think that the deck theme lends itself well to a high quantity of individually cool legends, which gives it this toolbox feeling, and I could imagine doing more themes in the future that feature a bunch of new legends.\u201d<\/p>\n
Have you played with Multiverse Reforged yet, or against it? How did you find it? Let us know in the comments.<\/p>\n
For more on Magic: The Gathering\u2019s current set, check out Reality Fracture\u2019s most expensive cards<\/u>, as well as the most powerful precons of all time<\/u>.<\/p>\n