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Magic this time worked with Netmarble to create a tower defense and collectible card game hybrid, Magic: Mana Strike. This game features a tower defense game that lets you utilize summoning Mtg creatures and planeswalkers within its universe. This game will also be brought to G-Star 2019 by Netmarble and we will make sure to try it out their newer functions there for you!
Magic: the Gathering(MtG) is one of the oldest and most popular Trading Card Game that last the longest in history of card games. Personally, I’m a big fan of Magic: the Gathering and when there’s a soft launch of a MtG related game, I get really hyped. Mtg itself highlights a lot of different variety in playing the card game, or players call it format. There has been a small number of video games surrounding MtG and finally we had a game published by one of the giants, Netmarble.
In terms of gameplay, Magic: Mana strike is strategy game where you have to utilize a mana bar that allows you to summon units to kill off your opponent. Each statues on the map that’s destroyed will grant you a match point.
You will have 3 different ways of winning,
- Kill of the player’s legendary status at the back
- Destroy more statues than your opponent
- If it’s a draw when the time countdown ends, the first to destroy another statue will be the winner
Before you battle, you will need to create a loadout/deck. Each decks consist of one planeswalker and a lineup of 7 units. The units consist of cards from the different expansions from Amonkhet and above. As for planeswalker, as far as I’ve been playing, there’s only 5 planeswalker given free.
- Jace Beleren
- Liliana Vess
- Chandra Nalaar
- Ajani Goldmane
- Nissa Ravane
All units equipped must consist of the same colour identity as the planeswalker.
Each planeswalker have their respective mastery levels and you can earn rewards by playing them.
Mastery levels are like ranking, if you are above Challenger, you will lose points as normal. But if you are in Challenger, you will only lose half of your points and if you are a beginner, you will not lose any points if you lose. Other than the few planeswalker mentioned, there are a some that requires you to purchase it.
- Dovin Baan
- Tezzeret
- Domri Rade
- Vraska
- Nahiri
- Rowan & Will Kenrith
- Garruk (Through Magic Pass)
Units can be leveled as well. Each unit has a maximum of 9 levels, each level requires copies of the card and an in-game currency. You can also acquire units from the daily shop for a price.
Within the Shop, there are Daily shop, Planswalker, Gold, Gem and Package.
Gems and package are purchased through real money.
Planeswalker and Daily shop are purchasing with in-game currency
Gold is purchased by using Gems
After playing some time, you will unlock “Team”. This allows you to join a team to have a casual match or request cards to gain the ones you need.
Other than that, you will also be rewarded when you rank up. The rewards are cards and gold. These rewards can be found in ranking up, Magic Pass ranked up and daily wins.
As of now, I couldn’t access to any event related content. It might be the game has not included any, or there’s just another progress to be completed.
A few things I would remark if you are going to try the game.
- There’s no show of when you will unlock certain functionality like Shop or Team. I just play the game enough to get to there.
- Don’t simply upgrade unneeded units. You will use up a lot of unnecessary gold this way
Other than that, the game is pretty fun if you enjoyed games like Clash Royale. It might take you some time to come up with a strategy and win constantly until you hit a wall.
Would like to try the game out? I would not play Magic: Mana Strike as my main game but I would still enjoy it. It would still be in my top 5 list of strategy game in mobile. Enough of what I’m saying, what do you think?
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