Sony PlayStation 4 FREE-TO-PLAY Games List #13

Magic Duels: Origins

Magic Duels: Origins is a video game based on the popular collectible card game Magic: The Gathering, first published by Wizards of the Coast. The gameplay follows that of the card game, but includes a story mode that follows the origin story of five of the game's Planeswalkers. 

This is the first game in Stainless' series to feature free-form deck construction and the ability to build a card library using both in-game rewards and microtransactions to purchase new cards and boosters. The game includes single player modes and online battles with other players.

This game was released on July 29, 2015 for PC and XBOX version. PS4 version release date TBD.

The Field of Battle

1. Deck/Library – A set of 60 cards filled with Spells and the Land needed to cast them.

2. Graveyard – The discard pile. Instant and sorcery spells go here when they resolve.

3. Hand –Each player starts with seven cards in-hand. The maximum hand size is seven cards.

4. Avatar/Life – Each player starts with 20 life. When you reduce your opponent to 0 life, you win.

5. Game Phase Indicator –Phases occur in this order: Beginning, Main, Combat, Main (again), Ending.

6. Battlefield – The shared zone between players where spells are cast.

7. Stop Timer – Certain spells can be cast at any time, even during your opponent’s turn.

3 Ways to Play

Solo Battle: Play against thousands of AI opponent decks! Available both online and offline, you can earn coins with every win as you test and battle with your favorite decks against opponents of varying difficulty. This mode offers virtually endless gameplay for new and experienced Magic players alike.

Versus Battle: Are you ready to take on the world? Take your latest decks into battle against a friend or a randomly matched opponent. Earn coins for every win against a matched opponent.

Two-Headed Giant: Pair up with a friend, the AI or a randomly paired teammate in this fan-favorite format. No matter which type of teammate you choose, you’ll then face off against another human/AI or AI/AI team. Additionally, PC and console players can also be randomly paired against human/human teams.

How to Play

In a game of Magic, you and your opponent are Planeswalkers, powerful mages each armed with a deck of Magic cards representing lands, creatures and spells. Each player summons creatures and casts spells, trying to knock the other down from 20 to 0 life and win the game.

MANA
Mana is the resource that fuels all of your spells in Magic. Each deck has land cards which generate mana. As the game goes on, you'll put more and more lands into play from your deck, giving you access to more mana to summon bigger creatures and cast more powerful spells!



CREATURES
Creature cards are an essential part of your deck. They represent the wide variety of beings you'll encounter in the worlds of Magic. From angels, demons and dragons to human soldiers, merfolk wizards and goblin shamans, creatures range in size, speed, and power. Your army of creatures attack and defend at your command, helping you defeat your opponents.


SPELLS
The rest of your deck is made up of powerful spell cards. There are many different types of spells that do a myriad of things, from blocking incoming attacks, to healing damage, to killing your opponent's creatures, and much more. There are also spells that summon powerful artifacts, conjure mystical enchantments that change the battlefield, and even spells that call upon other powerful Planeswalkers!



COMBAT
The most direct way to defeat your opponent is to attack with your creatures. Once you declare which creatures are attacking, your opponent can decide which of their creatures will block, or if they block at all. Combat ensues, with players casting spells that may change the outcome. When the dust settles, damage is dealt to players and creatures. Some creatures may survive to fight another day, and some may die and enter the graveyard. In the end, you are hopefully one step closer to victory.




STRATEGY
How will you block? How will you attack? Do you spend your mana summoning more creatures, or casting spells to destroy your opponent's creatures? Do you cast a spell early on that changes the tide of combat? Or do you wait to see what your opponent has up their sleeve? Magic'sstrategy comes from the endless decisions, traps and surprises that you plan for your opponents. What will you do?

Here's the trailer!