Challenger Deck series
- Not to be confused with Challenge Deck.
The Challenger Deck series is a line of products of constructed competitive Magic: The Gathering deck sold by Wizards of the Coast. The first Challenger Decks were released in April, 2018.[1] This product line replaces the Duel Decks series, but is much closer in theme and power to the event decks that were discontinued after Battle for Zendikar.
Description
Like event decks before, challenger decks are built with more tournament-play competitive players in mind. The 75-card decks are geared toward Standard play for the Friday Night Magic player. They are intended to be playable and competitive at a local level right out of the box. All cards will have been previously printed in Standard and are Standard-legal.
These decks are intended to be very strong and feature many rares, as well as at least one mythic rare. For Challenger Decks, Magic R&D changed its design process so that they could build them close to release. The decks are available worldwide in English, with Japanese available in Japan.
The first series of Challenger decks sold well, and players loved them.[2] However, the series seems to have been discontinued in 2023. This may be related to the fact that Wizards of the Coast liked to include cards in the Challenger decks that were about to rotate and with Standard being extended to three years many of the candidates many cards wouldn't rotate for another year. On the other hand, Aaron Forsythe had admitted in a Q&A early that year that the product had been doing poorly.[3]
Contents
- a 60-card main deck
- a 15-card sideboard
- a spindown life counter
- a quick reference guide
- a box capable of holding 75 sleeved cards
Releases
2018
| Challenger deck name |
Colors Included | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
|
|
|
|
| |
| Hazoret Aggro | R | ||||
| Vehicle Rush | W | B | R | ||
| Second Sun Control | W | U | |||
| Counter Surge | B | G | |||
2019
| Challenger deck name |
Colors Included | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
|
|
|
|
|
| |
| United Assault | W | ||||
| Lightning Aggro | R | ||||
| Deadly Discovery | B | G | |||
| Arcane Tempo | U | R | |||
Japan
| Challenger deck name |
Colors Included | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
|
|
|
|
|
| |
| Awakening Earth | U | G | |||
| Song Dance | W | R | |||
2020
| Challenger deck name |
Colors Included | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
|
|
|
|
|
| |
| Allied Fires | W | U | R | ||
| Final Adventure | B | G | |||
| Cavalcade Charge | R | ||||
| Flash of Ferocity | U | G | |||
2021
| Challenger deck name |
Colors Included | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
|
|
|
|
|
| |
| Azorius Control | W | U | |||
| Dimir Rogues | U | B | |||
| Mono-Red Aggro | R | ||||
| Mono-Green Stompy | G | ||||
Pioneer
| Challenger deck name |
Colors Included | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
|
|
|
|
|
| |
| Azorius Spirits | W | U | |||
| Lotus Field Combo | U | G | |||
| Mono-Red Burn | R | ||||
| Orzhov Auras | W | B | |||
2022
| Challenger deck name |
Colors Included | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
|
|
|
|
|
| |
| Mono White Aggro | W | ||||
| Dimir Control | U | B | |||
| Rakdos Vampires | B | R | |||
| Gruul Stompy | R | G | |||
Pioneer
| Challenger deck name |
Colors Included | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
|
|
|
|
|
| |
| Orzhov Humans | W | B | |||
| Izzet Phoenix | U | R | |||
| Pioneer Gruul Stompy | R | G | |||
| Pioneer Dimir Control | U | B | |||
References
- ↑ Blake Rasmussen (December 18, 2017). "Challenger Decks and the Final Duel Decks". magicthegathering.com. Wizards of the Coast.
- ↑ Gavin Verhey (2019-02-05). "State of Product Design 2018". magicthegathering.com. Wizards of the Coast.
- ↑ WOTC Standard Discord Q/A Transcript; Plan to Plan Bannings, Short Rotation Biggest Feedback, Challenger decks Challenge WOTC, and more.... Reddit.com (April, 2023).