All articles tagged with #deckbuilding
In Richmond, Christoffer Larsen defeated Toni Portolan in a dramatic five‑game final to win Pro Tour Lorwyn Eclipsed, piloting a Dimir deck built around Deceit and Superior Spider-Man to outpace Portolan’s disruption and mana problems, ultimately sealing the championship and hoisting the Black Lotus trophy.
This Dance of the Elements upgrade guide targets Ashling, the Limitless-based five-color EDH, proposing ten swap-ins (Sunderflock, Flamekin Harbinger, Cavalier of Dawn, Shinestriker, Urza’s Incubator, Solitude, Sneak Attack, Reflections of Littjara, Parallel Lives, and Ashling, Rekindled / Ashling, Rimebound) and ten swap-outs (Abundant Growth, Crib Swap, Distant Melody, Eclipsed Flamekin, Elemental Spectacle, Hoofprints of the Stag, Ingot Chewer, Shatter the Sky, Shimmercreep, Springleaf Parade) to boost ramp, removal, card advantage, and elemental synergy. It also covers mana-base tweaks (World Tree, shock lands, fetches) and offers bonus options like Doubling Season, Panharmonicon, and other synergies for broader playstyle flexibility. The guide emphasizes tailoring the changes to your preferences while highlighting how these swaps interact with the deck’s token and evoke tactics.
Over 1,500 players competed in Magic Spotlight: The Avatar in Lyon and Atlanta, earning 16 Pro Tour invites and $100k. Simon Nielsen won Lyon with Simic Ouroboroid, while Kye Nelson won Atlanta with Bant Airbending, and six Top 8s went to Ouroboroid across the events. Mono-Green Landfall posted the highest win rate (about 58%), Badgermole Cub decks around 56%, and Izzet Lessons remained a top archetype (~52–54%). Jeskai Control offers a viable answer to Ouroboroid, Boros Aggro showed gains with white splash, and Esper Pixie/Dimir Bounce were present in the mix. The piece emphasizes Standard’s fluid meta and tees up Pro Tour Lorwyn Eclipsed and RCQs as the next big tests.
Wizards of Magic: The Gathering are experimenting with alternatives to fetch lands, such as land tokens and top-of-library reveals, to reduce shuffling time and improve gameplay flow, though these methods have their own challenges and are still in testing phases.
Quantic Dream is developing Spellcasters Chronicles, a multiplayer game blending deckbuilding, real-time strategy, and third-person action, featuring diverse magic user characters and large-scale summons, with gameplay focused on team battles to destroy opponent lifestones. The game shows promise with its mechanics and lore, but its success will depend on gameplay feel and balance, with beta sessions upcoming for further testing.
The article highlights eight innovative Modern decks from Pro Tour Edge of Eternities, showcasing unique strategies and card combinations like Azorius Blink, Jeskai Blink, Eldrazi Tron, Samwise Gamgee Combo, Belcher Control, Izzet Affinity, Jeskai Chant, and Golgari Broodscale, offering exciting options for players seeking new deck ideas.
9 Kings is an early access roguelike kingdom builder that combines deckbuilding, city management, and auto-battler elements, featuring diverse factions and dynamic gameplay with high replayability, despite some missing features.
Steam is offering "WildFront," a free roguelike deckbuilding game developed by Ethereal Games, which has received positive reviews for its engaging gameplay and charming art style. Players collect cards, relics, and monsters to protect their loot, with no microtransactions involved. This game is praised as an underrated gem and is available for free on Steam, making it a great option for weekend gaming.
The surge in roguelike deckbuilder games on Steam has led to 861 titles tagged as "roguelike deckbuilder," prompting developers and players to explore the appeal of single-player card games made for screens. Slay the Spire is credited as a major influence in this trend, with its success inspiring other developers and contributing to the genre's growth. The game's unique combination of combat-oriented deckbuilding and procedural generation has set a new standard for the genre, leading to a crowded but competitive field of indie games.
The creator of the poker-themed deckbuilder game Balatro intentionally avoided playing similar roguelike games in order to engineer a unique experience, with the biggest influence being Luck Be A Landlord. Despite comparisons to Slay the Spire, the developer had never played or seen footage of it until much later. Balatro achieved over 500,000 sales in 10 days, but faced a setback when a rating board accused the game of promoting gambling.
Balatro is a mesmerizing poker roguelike game where players navigate through stages made up of blinds by playing different poker hands to reach high scores. The game's focus is on using joker cards to manipulate and maximize points, with 150 cards to collect and strategize with. Balatro's end-of-round shop offers consumable cards and booster packs to enhance gameplay, while its dreamy electronic lounge music and visually satisfying design add to the game's appeal. Despite potential initial setbacks, the game's relaxed nature and lack of wagering make it an inviting and devious puzzle box that celebrates the joy of mastering a system gamed around impossible odds.
The article provides a comprehensive guide for Magic: The Gathering players preparing for the early 2024 Standard Regional Championship Qualifiers (RCQs). It analyzes the Magic Online Standard metagame, highlighting the top eight archetypes, with Domain Ramp emerging as the dominant strategy. Key cards like Deep-Cavern Bat and strategies to counter the top decks are discussed. The article also notes the importance of adapting decklists to beat popular strategies, particularly Domain Ramp, and offers insights into the evolving nature of the Standard metagame. Players are encouraged to choose and tune their decks with the goal of overcoming the current top contenders in the Standard format.
Cobalt Core is a turn-based, deckbuilding strategy game that combines elements of bullet hell shooters and roguelikes. Players control two spaceships engaged in a duel, using a randomized deck of cards to dodge attacks and unravel a timeloop. The game features witty dialogue, comic-book-like bosses, and a variety of crew members with unique playstyles. While the end-of-solar-system bosses can become repetitive, Cobalt Core offers engaging gameplay and is highly addictive for fans of the genre.
One of the creepiest games on Steam, Inscryption, is currently free to download for PlayStation Plus subscribers. Described as a unique blend of deckbuilding roguelike, escape room puzzle adventure, and interactive Blair Witch, the game is best experienced with little prior knowledge. Praised for its disturbing yet engaging gameplay, Inscryption pushes the boundaries of storytelling in video games and offers a refreshing break from traditional open world formulas and first-person shooters.