Magic Duels

For other uses, see Duels.

Magic Duels was a digital free-to-play Magic game that was first released in July, 2015 on Xbox One, iOS, and PC via Steam. It was the successor to, and evolution of, the Duels of the Planeswalkers series. Unlike the Duels of the Planeswalkers-series, which were unconnected annual releases, Magic Duels didn't get replaced each year. Lead designer was Drew Nolosco. A PlayStation 4 port was in-development after launch but was cancelled in August 2016. Updates were cancelled in June 2017, to make way for Magic Digital Next. Digital support was ended on November 26, 2019.

Description

Magic Duels was free to download and free to play. The game focused on bringing in newcomers to Magic. Most of the learning came through situational tips as you played. As you played the game, you earned gold which you traded in for booster packs. If you wanted to get cards quicker, you could also buy gold, but all gameplay content was earnable just by playing.

Editions

Magic Duels launched with the new storyline featured in the Magic Origins set and Magic Origins boosters available in the store. It continued to expand with regular downloadable content that reflected the latest sets. Four times a year, Magic: The Gathering released a block booster set; two sets per block, two blocks a year. Four times a year, those block booster sets would push down to Magic Duels as a huge card content update. All the cards stayed in the player's cardpool and all the boosters of earlier sets would be kept available in the shop.

• Magic Duels: Origins (July 2015). Players experience the origin stories of five iconic Planeswalkers through immersive gameplay.
• Magic Duels: Battle for Zendikar (November / December 2015). Return to the wild plane of Zendikar where the monstrous Eldrazi threaten the entire world with destruction. The plane's inhabitants, and even the land itself, stand united to oppose them. Answer the call and join the Battle for Zendikar! The update features over 150 new cards to collect, a new story campaign, and fixes for platform-specific issues.
• Magic Duels: Oath of the Gatewatch (April 2016). Instead of the Oath of the Gatewatch update being available in January, the release was suspended until April.
• Magic Duels: Shadows over Innistrad (April 6, 2016). Added 170 new cards. Released together with Oath of the Gatewatch.
• Magic Duels: Eldritch Moon (July 20, 2016). Added 131 new cards.
• Magic Duels: Kaladesh (September 28/29, 2016). Added 167 new cards.
• Magic Duels: Aether Revolt (January 18/19, 2017). Added 138 new cards.
• Magic Duels: Amonkhet (April 26/27, 2017). Added 169 new cards.
• Magic Duels: Hour of Devastation (July 2017). Cancelled.

Features

• 1,000+ unique, earnable Magic cards;
• 50+ free story-driven Campaign Missions;
• Full Deck Builder, Improved card filter and options;
• Deck Wizard — a step-by-step assistant which make building popular deck archetypes quick and easy;
• First-ever playable Planeswalker cards;
• Solo Battle mode featuring virtually endless AI opponents;
• Expanded multiplayer options, including Two-Headed Giant mode;
• Quest system with new individual and community challenges every week;
• Limitless Free-to-Play with 100% earnable content;
• All-new Skill Quest tutorial system;
• Purchasable Avatars/Personas;
• New customizable card sleeves and full-art lands

Currency

Coin

Coins, initially known as Gold, were introduced in the Magic Duels: Origins expansion to buy booster packs. With the release of the Magic Duels: Kaladesh expansion, items also became available to buy with coins.

• Completing skill, daily and community quests,
• Finishing single-player missions in story mode,
• Playing single duels in certain the Solo battle, Versus battle or Two-Headed Giant game modes.
• Purchased with real money in the ingame-store.