Magic’s Most Expensive Banned Card Is Officially Coming Back, but There’s a Catch
Magic: The Gathering’s most expensive banned card is making a comeback in the upcoming Reality Fracture set, though with significant conditions attached. Principal designer Mark Rosewater has already begun teasing the new set through his traditional early hints on his blog, which historically mark the unofficial start of preview season ahead of official previews beginning September 8th. Rosewater shared 40 cryptic hints in the form of rules text snippets, creature type lines, and card names, offering the community an early glimpse of what’s to come.
Among the intriguing teases are hints of an instant that can be included in unlimited copies in decks, a new cycle of dual lands with novel tapping restrictions, and references to new mechanics. The return of this previously banned card represents a significant moment for the Magic community, as permanently banned cards are rarely reinstated in competitive play. The emphasis on “a catch” in the title indicates the card is likely returning in a modified form or with restrictions specifically designed to prevent the balance issues that originally led to its ban.
Magic’s design philosophy involves careful reconsideration of banned cards, and the fact that Rosewater is teasing this return through his customary early preview process suggests the comeback has been thoughtfully planned for the Reality Fracture set.