Magic: Legends Launches Into Open Beta In March, Previews Deckbuilding Mechanics

IGN also released an exclusive video where Principal Lead Designer Adam Hetenyi explains how decks tie in with the game’s ARPG mechanics.

“Magic: Legends is an online action RPG where you step into the role of a powerful, magic-wielding Planeswalker to take on the ancient forces of destruction threatening to tear the multiverse apart. In order to overcome these challenges, players will need to master deckbuilding to construct a deck of powerful, synergistic spells capable of standing up to these emerging threats to the multiverse.”

According to Hetenyi, players start the game by choosing one of five mana colors. Each color has a specific class and playstyle associated with it. White, for example, is represented by the Sanctifier and will give you access to the restorative power of light and order to cast healing spells while Black allows players to tap into Necromantic powers to reanimate the dead.

Once they’ve chosen their preferred mana color, players can then build a deck of 12 cards. Only four of these cards will be active at a time and will cycle randomly once they’re used. Aside from color, cards are also classified into Creature Spells, Enchantments, and Sorcery (Instant). They are also further divided into Common, Uncommon, Rare, and Mythic Rare just like the original CCG.

Players will also earn additional cards and unlock the ability to combine different mana colors as they progress through the game. They can then combine spells from two different colors to tailor-fit their Planeswalkers to their preferred playing style. Hetenyi says that players can even build a deck of two entirely different colors from their original choice and still be effective in combat.

You can watch the full Deckbuilding 101 video below and the dev update video just after that.