Magic: ManaStrike has been summoned and can now be downloaded to your mobile device.
Magic is invading the digital world. No, this isn’t the plot to the latest Magic: The Gathering video game--I mean literally invading. There are so many Magic-based games coming that it can be hard to keep track.
And now we have Magic: ManaStrike arriving on the Apple App Store and Google Play.
From Korean developer Netmarble, ManaStrike takes Magic's card-based gameplay and turns it into a PvP strategy tower game along the same lines as Clash of Clans. You have a mana bar that slowly fills up during the game which you can then spend to cast spells or summon creatures. The units you summon will slowly cross the board to attack your enemy's base while spells can help those units or have direct effects on the battlefield.
Although the core gameplay doesn't feature cards much, the creatures and spells you playing in-game are drawn from a deck of cards you create out of game. There's always some sort of card mechanic when it comes to anything Magic-related.
ManaStrike also takes a classic Magic villain and makes him central to the plot. "After losing a war with the Planeswalkers, Magic: The Gathering's most powerful villain Nicol Bolas creates a parallel universe to find the Planeswalkers' weaknesses. Players enter a contract with Nicol Bolas to provide combat data by controlling Planeswalkers and units in his universe."
Bolas isn't the only face you'll recognize in ManaStrike. The trailer features Liliana, Garruk, Chandra, Nissa, and Jace. Ajani is on the ManaStrike website but is not featured in the trailer for some reason. Guess they didn't want to give a giant lion-man too much screen time.
Purchasing other planeswalkers, such as Ob Nixilis or Calix, will unlock different decks and different play options. Monetization isn't clear from the website, but as with most mobile games of this nature, expect to spend real-world money on in-game cash for bonuses in battle and whatnot.
Source: Netmarble