Fate Reforged

Fate Reforged

 

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Fate Reforged
[[File:{{#setmainimage:Logo Fate Reforged.png}}|250px]]
Set Information
Set symbol
Design	Ken Nagle (lead) Jennifer Clarke Wilkes Ethan Fleischer David Humpherys Mark Rosewater Gavin Verhey
Development	David Humpherys (lead) Ian Duke Mark L. Gottlieb Ben Hayes Ryan Spain contributions from Matt Tabak
Release date	January 23, 2015
Plane	Tarkir
Themes and mechanics	Wedge clans, Hybrid mana, Dragon broods, Modal, Choice
Keywords/​ability words	Manifest, Bolster, Dash, Ferocious, Prowess, Delve
Set size	185 cards 70 Commons, 60 Uncommons, 35 Rares, 10 Mythic Rares, 10 Basic Land
Expansion code	FRF
Development codename	Dewey
Khans of Tarkir block
Khans of Tarkir Fate Reforged Dragons of Tarkir
Magic: The Gathering Chronology
Duel Decks Anthology Fate Reforged Duel Decks: Elspeth vs. Kiora

Fate Reforged is the 66th Magic expansion, and the second in the Khans of Tarkir block. It was released on January 23, 2015. Fate Reforged is a small expansion.

Set details

Fate Reforged was announced at the Wizards of the Coast panel at PAX Prime on August 31, 2014. It contains 185 cards (10 basic lands, 70 commons, 60 uncommons, 35 rares, 10 mythic rares) and includes randomly inserted premium versions of all cards. The expansion symbol of the set is a stylized representation of two opposing planes or realities because the large sets of the block represent alternative timelines. This middle set, representing the past, is the precursor to both. The set had to be designed so it worked mechanically with both Khans of Tarkir and Dragons of Tarkir. It is designed to be drafted with both large sets, while the large sets are never drafted together. Fate Reforged draft is one pack of Fate Reforged and then two packs of Khans of Tarkir.

Because the clans of Fate Reforged are less defined, the set does not contain many gold cards - a cycle of enemy color at common, and a cycle of allied color at rare. There are no three-color cards, with the spells that pull toward a particular clan names an enemy color and an allied color, either by controlling another permanent or by using hybrid color costs (for example, Yasova Dragonclaw and Temur Runemark, Temur cards with green mana costs, require blue/red to maximize them). This lets Sultai and Temur decks in the Fate Reforged draft and Gruul and Simic decks in Dragons of Tarkir draft play them. Like in Khans of Tarkir watermarks are used on the cards for the different clans, while adding slightly altered watermarks for the related dragon broods. The foil versions of the cycle of Sieges and Crux of Fate (all of which present a choice between Khans and Dragons) have a special overlay and finish which transitions seamlessly between the expansions symbols of Khans of Tarkir and Dragons of Tarkir.

Because mana fixing is very important in multicolor blocks, the basic land slot of Fate Reforged booster packs contains nonbasic lands instead. These are reprints of the ten common Khans of Tarkir taplands. They have new artwork and the Fate Reforged expansion symbol. Boosters may also include Khans of Tarkir fetch lands (in the same slot at a low frequency) which will have the Khans of Tarkir expansion symbol. The 10 Fate Reforged basic land cards can only be found in Ugin's Fate boosters, Fate Reforged Intro Pack decks, and Fate Reforged Fat Pack's land pack (apart from Korean, Portuguese, Chinese (Traditional), and Russian).

The set features the colorless planeswalker Ugin, the Spirit Dragon.

Storyline

Sarkhan Vol travels 1,280 years back in time, to change the moment that sealed Tarkir's fate: the battle between Nicol Bolas and Ugin, the demise of the latter and all the dragons of Tarkir (Crux of Fate). The clans still exist back in that time; they are not fighting each other, but are constantly fending off the hordes of dragons that are terrorizing their world. Sarkhan meets khans of the past, like Yasova Dragonclaw. The history of Tarkir is rewritten.

Magic Story

Title	Author	Release Date	Setting (plane)	Featuring
A New Tarkir of Old	Kimberly J. Kreines	2014-12-31	Tarkir	Sarkhan Vol, Ugin, Zurgo, Narset, Yasova Dragonclaw, Atarka
Unwritten	Kelly Digges	2015-01-14	Tarkir	Sarkhan Vol, Yasova Dragonclaw, Ugin, Zurgo, Nicol Bolas, Narset
The Reforged Chain	Doug Beyer	2015-01-21	Tarkir	Sarkhan Vol, Ugin, Nicol Bolas, Yasova Dragonclaw
The Truth of Names	James Wyatt	2015-01-28	Tarkir	Alesha, Kolaghan, Jagun Wingmate, Gedruk Wingbreaker, Headsmasher, Skullcleaver, Fangbreaker, Cliffleaper, Barzeel, Tailrider, Turuk, Vallash, Kuru Vashar, Magran Backbreaker, Jalasha Impaler
The Doom of the Golden Fang	James Wyatt	2015-02-04	Tarkir	Tasigur, Yala, Khudal, Ikra Shidiqi, Silumgar
No End and No Beginning	Nik Davidson	2015-02-11	Tarkir	Daghatar, Dromoka, Korolar, Reyhan, Merel, Sohemus
Khanfall	Kelly Digges	2015-02-18	Tarkir	Shu Yun, Quan, Alesha, Reyhan, Daghatar, Yasova Dragonclaw, Tasigur, Ugin, Sarkhan Vol, Silumgar, Ojutai, Ikra Shidiqi, Beril, Jagun Wingmate, Doshiyn Eye-Piercer, Kolaghan, Anchin, Atarka, Yeran

Marketing

Fate Reforged is sold in 16-card boosters (the 16th card being a marketing card), five intro packs, a clash pack and a fat pack. The boosters feature artwork from Ugin, the Spirit Dragon, Temporal Trespass and Vaultbreaker. Korean, Portuguese, Chinese (Traditional), and Russian boosters contain basic lands at a high frequency alongside nonbasic lands, as Fate Reforged basic lands were not otherwise printed in those languages. Those languages do not have Intro Pack releases and Fat Pack releases which is where these basic lands predominantly appear in other languages.

Prerelease

Special "Ugin's Fate" booster pack

At the Fate Reforged prerelease on January 17/18, 2015, players chose their clan. While they completed three achievements, they follow in Sarkhan's footsteps to attempt to alter fate; they get to "Heal Ugin" and "Gain a glimpse of the future". The latter comes in the form of a special "Ugin's Fate" booster pack containing two alternate art cards that show how the world has changed in the new timeline, a Manifest token (with a different advert back than regular manifest tokens found in Fate Reforged booster packs) and one of 10 Fate Reforged basic land cards. There's a pool of 26 alternate art cards - 13 from Khans of Tarkir and 13 from Fate Reforged - all with a holofoil stamp. Art on the reprints from Khans of Tarkir were dragonified to show off the alternative timeline where Ugin was saved by Sarkhan Vol. Art on the "reprints" from Fate Reforged was Ugin-ified by featuring Ugin in some form in their artwork. A comparison of the normal and promo cards can be seen here.

&
Ugin, the Spirit Dragon Mastery of the Unseen Jeskai Infiltrator Wildcall	Reality Shift Arashin War Beast Hewed Stone Retainers Ugin's Construct	Soul Summons Write into Being Sultai Emissary Fierce Invocation Formless Nurturing
Grim Haruspex Jeering Instigator Altar of the Brood Ghostfire Blade	Watcher of the Roost Ruthless Ripper Arc Lightning Briber's Purse	Smite the Monstrous Mystic of the Hidden Way Debilitating Injury Ainok Tracker Dragonscale Boon

Promotional cards

• Launch promo: Sandsteppe Mastodon
• Game Day: full-art Mardu Shadowspear
• Game Day (Top 8): full-art Supplant Form
• Buy-a-Box: Shamanic Revelation
• Prerelease, one of thirty according to the chosen clan:

Abzan

Daghatar the Adamant Dromoka, the Eternal Dragonscale General Rally the Ancestors Sandsteppe Mastodon Warden of the First Tree

Jeskai

Shu Yun, the Silent Tempest Ojutai, Soul of Winter Jeskai Infiltrator Mastery of the Unseen Sage-Eye Avengers Soulfire Grand Master

Sultai

Tasigur, the Golden Fang Silumgar, the Drifting Death Archfiend of Depravity Soulflayer Supplant Form Torrent Elemental

Mardu

Alesha, Who Smiles at Death Kolaghan, the Storm’s Fury Brutal Hordechief Flamerush Rider Arcbond Mardu Strike leader

Temur

Yasova Dragonclaw Atarka, World Render Flamewake Phoenix Shaman of the Great Hunt Shamanic Revelation Wildcall

Tokens / Overlay

The sixteenth card in the boosters can be a token or overlay card, with an advertisement on the backside. The overlay card can be used on face-down Manifest cards to remind players of their power and toughness and it can be turned face-up for its casting cost, or Morph cost if it is a Morph creature.

1. 1/1 Monk with prowess for Monastery Mentor
2. 1/1 Spirit with flying for Sandsteppe Outcast
3. 2/1 Warrior for Mardu Strike Leader
4. Manifest overlay card

Themes and mechanics

Fate Reforged manifest overlay card.

Choice is a major theme of Fate Reforged. That's why there are three cycles of modal cards in the set. The choice theme plays up the crossroads-of-history feel of the set. At higher rarities, abilities of choice are preceded by anchor words (namely, "Khans" and "Dragons") that give them a bit of flavor.

Fate Reforged sees the return of the wedge clans of Tarkir, in an altered form. Hybrid mana makes a return and appears in the cost of some card effects, notably the khans. Although morph does not return, a new, similar mechanic, manifest, can put into play any card as a face-down 2/2 creature. An overlay card may be used as a reminder.

Two of the clans from Khans of Tarkir receive a new mechanic (which will also be featured in Dragons of Tarkir ):

• Abzan - Bolster N - Choose a creature with the least toughness among the creatures you control. Put N +1/+1 counters on it.
• Mardu - Dash - You may cast this spell for its dash cost. If you do, it gains haste, and it's returned from the battlefield to its owner's hand at the beginning of the next end step.

The other three clans retain their original mechanic:

• Jeskai - Prowess
• Sultai - Delve
• Temur - Ferocious

The clans are juxtaposed with 5 dragon broods, which feature their watermarks.

Cycles

Fate Reforged has twelve cycles and one mini-cycle.

Cycle name
Hybrid-mana activation creatures	Soulfire Grand Master	Torrent Elemental	Brutal Hordechief	Shaman of the Great Hunt	Warden of the First Tree
	Five monocolored mythic rare creatures in each clan's allied color which have activated abilities costing and two hybrid mana of the clan's primary and enemy colors.
Khans	Daghatar the Adamant	Shu Yun, the Silent Tempest	Tasigur, the Golden Fang	Alesha, Who Smiles at Death	Yasova Dragonclaw
	Five rare legendary creatures with an activated ability that has a hybrid mana of the allied and enemy colors of the wedge in its cost.
Sieges	Citadel Siege	Monastery Siege	Palace Siege	Outpost Siege	Frontier Siege
	Five rare enchantments with a continuous modal ability.
Monocolored dragons	Wardscale Dragon	Mindscour Dragon	Noxious Dragon	Shockmaw Dragon	Destructor Dragon
	Five uncommon 4/4 dragons that cost MM, have flying and an additional in-color ability.
Clan matters creatures	Wandering Champion	Marang River Prowler	Battle Brawler	Hungering Yeti	Abzan Kin-Guard
	Five monocolored uncommon creatures of the clan's allied color that have abilities that become active if you control a permanent of the primary or the enemy color within the clan wedge.
Common manifest cards	Soul Summons	Write into Being	Sultai Emissary	Fierce Invocation	Formless Nurturing
	Five monocolored common spells that each manifest a card from the top of the library.
Modal creatures	Sandsteppe Outcast	Aven Surveyor	Hooded Assassin	Defiant Ogre	Ainok Guide
	Five common creatures with a modal enter-the-battlefield ability that either puts a +1/+1 counter on it, or has another effect.
Modal spells	Valorous Stance	Fascination	Crux of Fate	Mob Rule	Ruthless Instincts
	Five uncommon or rare modal spells.
Runemarks	Abzan Runemark	Jeskai Runemark	Sultai Runemark	Mardu Runemark	Temur Runemark
	Five common auras that each cost M and gives +2/+2, as well as a relevant ability if you also control a permanent of one other clan color.
Manifest Form mini-cycle	Lightform	Cloudform		Rageform
	Three uncommon auras in the Jeskai colors that cost XMM that manifest the top card of your library and attach themselves to them when they come into play, and then grant the enchanted creature one or two relevant abilities.
Cycle name
Allied-colored dragons	Ojutai, Soul of Winter	Silumgar, the Drifting Death	Kolaghan, the Storm's Fury	Atarka, World Render	Dromoka, the Eternal
	Five rare legendary dragons in each allied color pair, all of which have an ability that triggers whenever a dragon you control attacks.
Cycle name
Common enemy-colored instants	Harsh Sustenance	Cunning Strike	Grim Contest	War Flare	Ethereal Ambush
	Five common instants, one of each enemy color pair.

Cycle name
Life-gain Taplands	Tranquil Cove	Dismal Backwater	Bloodfell Caves	Rugged Highlands	Blossoming Sands	Scoured Barrens	Swiftwater Cliffs	Jungle Hollow	Wind-Scarred Crag	Thornwood Falls
	Ten common lands that enter the battlefield tapped, gain the controller one life and can tap for 2 different colors of mana. Reprints of the ten-card tapland cycle from Khans of Tarkir, with new artwork.

Pairs

Fate Reforged has one mirrored pair.

Mirrored Pairs		Description
Pressure Point ()	Refocus ()	Common instants that either tap or untap a creature and draw a card.

Reprinted cards

The following cards have been reprinted from previous sets:

• Douse in Gloom, first seen in Guildpact
• Gainlands, first printed in Khans of Tarkir
  • Bloodfell Caves
  • Blossoming Sands
  • Dismal Backwater
  • Jungle Hollow
  • Rugged Highlands
  • Scoured Barrens
  • Swiftwater Cliffs
  • Thornwood Falls
  • Tranquil Cove
  • Wind-Scarred Crag
• Hunt the Weak, first printed in Magic 2014 and last seen in Magic 2015 and for the first time in an expert-level expansion
• Pyrotechnics, first printed in Legends and last seen in Planechase
• Typhoid Rats, first printed in Innistrad and last seen in Magic 2015

Note about fetchlands

As the fetch lands that appear in Fate Reforged boosters feature a Khans of Tarkir expansion symbol, they are technically not reprints.

Functional reprints

• Arashin Cleric is a functional reprint of Temple Acolyte.
• Aven Skirmisher is a functional reprint of Lantern Kami and Suntail Hawk save for creature types.
• Feral Krushok is a functional reprint of Spined Wurm save for creature types.
• Gore Swine is a functional reprint of Regathan Firecat save for creature types.
• Great-Horn Krushok is a functional reprint of Siege Mastodon and Thraben Purebloods save for creature types.
• Merciless Executioner is a functional reprint of Fleshbag Marauder save for creature types.
• Smoldering Efreet is a functional reprint of Sell-Sword Brute save for creature types.
• Sultai Skullkeeper is a functional reprint of Screeching Skaab save for creature types.

Notable cards

• Gurmag Angler and Tasigur, the Golden Fang are two staples in several formats thanks to their delve ability.
• Warden of the First Tree is inspired by Figure of Destiny.
• Temur Sabertooth is a heavily played card in the casual format Commander where it can be used to protect the titular legendary creatures and is also part of numerous infinite combos.
• Reality Shift is a premiere removal spell for blue decks in Commander which lack access to stronger removal from other colors.
• Normally, the rules prevent players from creating "shell games" with face-down creatures by having each one properly designated by casting time. Jeskai Infiltrator and Ghastly Conscription explicitly create this game by shuffling two face-down creatures.
• Crux of Fate saw heavy play in dragon-focused decks in Standard which could easily turn it into a one-sided boardwipe.
• Temur Battle Rage is among the most powerful combat tricks ever printed and is often used in a host of decks like Gruul Aggro in standard, Death Shadow in Modern, and Delver and Kiln Fiend decks in Pauper.
• Outpost Siege is a powerful card advantage engine using the new type of red card draw that saw substantial usage in Standard.
• Dark Deal is a rare wheel in black that also reduces the number of cards each player has in hand, rather than providing card advantage.
• Temporal Trespass serves as a win condition in Arclight Phoenix decks in Pioneer that can easily cast it for only 3 mana.
• Soulfire Grand Master was heavily played in Standard in various white-red-based control decks that could use its activated ability to great effect.
• Rally the Ancestors has seen minor amounts of play in various Modern and Pioneer combo decks as a way to reuse combo pieces after being disrupted.
• Mastery of the Unseen briefly dominated Standard due to the card advantage and life gain it could create.

Banned and restricted cards

• Ugin, the Spirit Dragon is the second colorless planeswalker after Karn Liberated and it is a powerful finisher in Tron decks in Modern. Its first ability is a reference to Ghostfire, which refers to Ugin in its flavor text. After being printed into Standard again in Core Set 2021, Ugin proved to be a powerful payoff in ramp decks and was even banned in Historic Brawl in 2021.
• Monastery Mentor saw tournament play in control decks (e.g. miracle decks) thanks to its ability to generate a powerful board advantage without much investment. It also became a powerful finisher in Vintage, ultimately becoming restricted in August 2017.

Preconstructed decks

Intro packs

Fate Reforged has five bicolored intro packs:

Intro pack name	Colors Included					Foil rare
Unflinching Assault	W		B			Dragonscale General
Cunning Plan		U		R		Sage-Eye Avengers
Grave Advantage			B		G	Archfiend of Depravity
Stampeding Hordes	W			R		Flamerush Rider
Surprise Attack		U			G	Temur War Shaman

Clash pack

Fate Reforged comes with a clash pack which contains a wedge-colored and a bicolored deck.

Clash pack deck name	Colors Included
Power		U	B		G
Profit			B		G

External links

• Fate Reforged official productpage