IntroductionThe last MTG set in 2026, Reality Fracture, comes out next week and brings the current story arc to a close. It's a farewell to Jace Beleren, who has been one of MTG's "poster children" for the past two decades.In regard to Pauper, we have to start with the most anticipated card from this set:Reality Fracture will bring to Pauper its first Planeswalker through the Empower Jace mechanic. Cards with this ability create a Jace token and add loyalty counters to it, or add counters to a Jace already in play. The only way to have a Jace in Pauper today is through this mechanic, so when you use this ability for the first time each game, you'll always create one.For Jace to be viable in Pauper, the common cards available in the format had to be a bit better, and they're actually not up to the standards. You need multiple copies of them to filter cards and create card advantage with him effectively, and, even if you play lots of cards with high Empower (not the case), you would still need to invest a lot to get more out of him than from mechanics such as Monarch.WhiteDestroying a Myr Enforcer, Cryptic Serpent, or Annoyed Altisaur / Maelstrom Colossus with a card that gives you life and replaces itself in the worst-case scenario is enough for us to consider playing Surgical Precision in competitive decks. This is perhaps the most important card in the set.Ajani's Pridemate with Ward was not something we expected to see as a common card, but it seems life gain has been getting more and more support in Pauper. Because it is white, cheap, and shares a color with Battle Screech and Lunarch Veteran, Unflinching Hortimancer deserves a mention.BlueEssentially, Protege's Awakening draws 3 cards for 4 mana spread over 2 turns. It also has the highest Empower Jace value out of all the common cards in this set. Most late-game lists will test this card first as they try out the new Planeswalker.BlackSharing the damage with your opponent means you can use Cast Away Doubt as a win condition or even an effective backup plan for decks centered around attrition. There is no obvious home for it today, but it is a good addition to slower strategies.This is an honorable mention. Spy Combo is quite solid right now, so it does not need to turn to Balustrade Spy with Theoretical Necromancer, but this new card allows us to set up combos directly from the graveyard in self-mill strategies.RedNo Admittance is the perfect example of how careful the design team was when they created a common Planeswalker: when a card is almost good enough by Pauper standards, its Empower value is so low that it does not make up for its cost and speed.GreenBestial Incursion offers 8 power for 10 mana, split across 2 bodies. It does not seem strong enough, but it deserves a mention, as you can use it in Monster Tron/Gruul Ramp.Ramp decks will probably prefer Jewel Thief or Eldrazi Repurposer as a 3-drop to set up the following turn, but I like including Budding Insurgent as an answer to artifacts attached to respectable bodies. It is not a Reclamation Sage, but it is close enough to be considered.MulticolorTwinned Vision is a Think Twice that turns into Abandon Attachments for 3 mana and can see play in red decks. It does not interact with Sneaky Snacker the first time you cast it, which probably makes it a lot less useful.ArtifactsLiving Library is a decent blocker and temporary or permanent removal, depending on the deck. Tron would be the best choice to use it, but Ghostly Flicker lists have better plays, and this creature does not seem like a good Cascade target.There may be something Murmuring Volume does better than Bonder's Ornament, but our first impressions are that it is one unbanning away from becoming a viable choice.LandsAs the commons that create Jace tokens are below the average power level in Pauper, I do not believe this is the time for consistently untapped dual lands in Pauper.ConclusionWhat do you think? Tell us your thoughts in our comment section below.Thank you for reading, and see you next time!
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