Magic: The Gathering is definitely on solid ground, but owner Hasbro wants it to be even bigger. It’s expanding Magic Arena’s presence to include consoles as well as PC via Steam, and now it’s further expanding its reach on mobile with a new digital collectible card game.
Well, not exactly new. Magic Spellslingers has been around since 2019 where it was first soft-launched in the Nordic region as Valor’s Reach. The game was initially inspired by the Kylem stadium of the same name, hence the trailer with a stadium full of goblins eager to see two Planeswalkers beat the crap out of each other. The game was rebranded as Magic Spellslingers in 2020 and has been in beta for the past two years.
Today, Wizards of the Coast has finally brought Magic Spellslingers to a worldwide audience. Available on mobile and PC via Steam, Spellslingers features 16 playable characters (most of which Magic fans will probably recognize) that each provide 30-card starter decks once unlocked. They also come with unique abilities, personality, and life totals.
Magic fans will definitely recognize the setting, but Hearthstone fans might recognize more of Spellslinger’s mechanics. Unlike Magic: The Gathering, there are no lands. Instead, players accumulate mana gems every turn. Each character’s unique abilities are also more reminiscent of Hearthstone than Magic, as are the combat steps and how damage stays in creatures even after the turn ends. Booster packs provide six cards rather than Magic’s usual 15, and cards can be broken down into crafting components to make entirely new cards.
It seems Spellslingers offers a faster-paced and more kid-friendly jumping-on point for the Magic franchise. The mechanics are simpler and the art style seems more cartoony than anything you’d find in Magic Arena. It’s also clearly intended for mobile, although a version of the game client is available on Steam.
You can download Spellslingers now on iOS, Android, and PC via Steam. And for those looking to celebrate Magic’s 30th anniversary, tickets are on sale for a huge party in Las Vegas later in October.