Magic: The Gathering - Duels of the Planeswalkers 2013 cover art
Systems & Chaosdigital card game

Magic: The Gathering - Duels of the Planeswalkers 2013

A streamlined digital Magic experience with preconstructed decks and an AI campaign.

On Steam โ†—
Here's the argument for where this game sits - disagree freely.
Match your experience?
EXECUTION1 /10READS4 /10VARIANCE6 /10OPTIMIZATION7 /10

the cheat-test profile

The four axes - the argument

Each axis is rated on its own - how far one cheat would trivialize the game here. They don't trade off; low on all four means the game is an experience, not a contest.

  1. Execution

    cheat: Aimbot - perfect inputs

    1/10

    Simple interface play.

  2. Reads

    cheat: Out-predict an adaptive opponent

    4/10

    Scripted AI campaign; multiplayer adds some human bluffing.

  3. Variance

    cheat: See what's hidden / map the RNG

    6/10

    Draw order and hidden hands matter.

  4. Optimization

    cheat: A perfect solver / coach

    7/10

    Sequencing and combat math with preconstructed decks.

How to read this

Each axis is named by the cheat that would break the game along it. Execution is the hands. Reads is out-thinking an adaptive opponent. Variance is hidden information & RNG. Optimization is the solvable systems layer. A game's region is the top one or two axes.

These four aren't one rating split four ways - they're independent 0-10 questions. A 9 on one axis takes nothing from the others, and a game low on all four isn't missing data: it's telling you there's no skill here to cheat.

The basis is how the majority actually plays this game - not a niche mode or a personal run. For a game with very different modes (a story campaign versus ranked multiplayer), that's the version most people mean.

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Game details

Released
2012
Developer
Stainless Games Ltd.
Franchise
Magic: The Gathering
Platforms
PS3, PC, iOS, X360
Modes
Single player, Multiplayer, Co-operative
IGDB critics
80/100
IGDB users
72/100
StrategyTurn-based strategy (TBS)TacticalCard & Board GameFantasy