Second Look—Magic 2015

OK, so this Second Look is going to cover 2 items. First will be Magic 2015: Duels of the Planeswalkers. Second will be the actual, physical Magic 2015 release.

Now that we’ve got that out of the way…

I already posted a quick first impression of Duels of the Planeswalkers from PAX East. The build I played back then was mostly UI improvements over 2014 cards. The final release of the game far outshines anything I had seen previously. The UI is smoother, gameplay is smoother, and the storyline is a bit more involved. What really shines here is the Deck Builder, which is now a fully functional way to customize your deck as you play. This is what most players have been wanting, and it’s finally been delivered. The 2015 version of Duels of the Planeswalkers offers the most bang for you buck, and is a pretty large step up from the previous version. You know you can expect the 2016 version to come out next year, but this version is a pretty significant one if you haven’t upgraded in a while.

Onto the cards, themselves! Along with a stack of booster cards, I also received the Infernal Intervention Intro Deck. It’s Black and Red, and is really nasty. Though not as exciting as some of the Ravnica or Theros block Intro Decks, it’s solid, just like the core 2015 release in general. The new look of the 2015 cards is also impressive to see in person. While at a quick glance you may overlook the changes, the ones put in place really add something to not only the aesthetics of the card, but the functionality and information of the card. My favorite part about 2015? The packaging. The slight coloration added into the stark contrast of the inky black-on-white really makes the product stand out on shelves. I’ve actually opted not to open some of my booster packs just so I can have one of each design untarnished by my greedy little hands.

If you’re a Magic player, I don’t need to tell you 2015 is worth purchasing. You’re going to do it anyway.

If you’re a new player looking to get into the game, the Core Set is always the best way to do so. Magic 2015 is an pretty awesome Core Set to start with.

A copy of Magic 2015: Duels of the Planeswalkers and a Intro Deck with some booster packs were provided by Wizards of the Coast for review.