In 2013, I saw some card sleeves for Game of Thrones, HBO's adaptation of George R. R. Martin's A Song of Ice and Fire series. Although I'd no prior plans to do so, I immediately built a deck each for House Stark and House Lannister.
The BATMAN vsduel multiplayer decks presented here have a similar genesis. My friendly local game store was selling card sleeves with a creative representation of the Joker on them (with the Joker's face made up by a colony of bats in flight) and I thought, "Huh, maybe I'll make a Joker deck."
DECK CREATION
After a few days idly thinking about the right commander to represent the Joker, I decided to go by the colors of the Joker's color palette, G and v. Um... Oh, that's right, there's no violet in Magic. Quickly, I thought back to preschool: What colors mixed together create violet? And with that, I'd found my second and third colors, R and U. That left one choice for a commander, really, Riku of Two Reflections.
I do a fair amount of research for all of my theme decks. Delving deeper into the Batman mythos, there were plenty of references to the yin and yang relationship between the Joker and Batman. That got me thinking even more. Why don't I create a deck for Batman, too? Riku's colors, my own penchant for puns, and the codependent hero-villain relationship between Batman and the Joker made Vish Kal, Blood Arbiter a shoo-in to represent the Dark Knight. W and B complete the Magic color pie and nothing says, "Batman" like a brooding vampire.
I heavily referenced Nolan's The Dark Knight for the Joker deck. So, I figured I'd make a deck for Two-Face as well, given that the character has enmity toward both Batman and the Joker. Given Two-Face's noble origins, I elected to have the character's Magic analogue share the color W with Batman. Between Harvey Dent's legal expertise and training from Batman, U was an easy choice to reflect (heh) the character's sharp mind. Of course, R was an absolute must with all the coin flipping. There's currently only one commander that embodies how Two-Face makes their decisions: Ruhan of the Fomori.
Now that I had my commanders, I had to think of the mechanics to go with the flavor of each deck. Ironically, although I first thought to do a Joker deck, I started and completed the Batman deck first. Batman's utility belt and all of Batman's other gadgets are iconic emblems of the franchise. Gadgets, gadgets, hmmm. Equipment! Yup, the Batman deck would be straight up VOLTRON. I only chose equipment that matched up with actual tools used by Batman in the comics, television series and cartoons, and films, such as the Batmobile, their grappling hook, and the Batwing. (Why give Vish Kal flying? 'Cos their armor's really heavy.)
Again, thinking about Batman and the Joker as both reflections (heh) and opposites of one another, I concluded that the Joker deck would also be commander-centric, but focused on nonpermanent spells. Can we say, "SPELLSLINGER!"? But, which spells to sling? Since there are no violet spells in the game, I elected to go with as many cards as possible. That got me thinking about going all in on a multicolor mechanical subtheme. So I did, with spells like Cloven Casting, Pyroconvergence, and Urza's Filter (a great card to reduce commander tax). The Joker deck multiplies the mayhem, with many Fork effects.
Whereas the Joker deck is all about copying spells, I built the Two-Face deck to be all about doubling the damage and card advantage, with many rebound and double strike effects. Like the Batman deck, it too would be VOLTRON, but reliant on instant and sorcery spells instead of equipment. I also played up the duality theme, with several cards requiring coin flips. Even the number of spells in each nonland category mattered, with 11 artifact, 11 enchantment, 11 instant, 22 sorcery, 2 (noncommander) creature, and 2 planeswalker spells in the deck.
Other flavorful details taken into consideration for the decks include the following. Each deck has the ability to shuffle its graveyard into the library to symbolize the never ending stories. Since our hero and villains are not invulnerable, there are no cards to grant them hexproof, indestructible, protection, or anything of the like. Likewise, no vigilance. Crimefighting and wanton destruction are exhausting! Also, with Batman wanting to clean up Gotham, their deck gets Ghost Quarter, whereas the Two-Face and Joker decks get Strip Mine.
BATMAN vs TWO-FACE: TWO-FACE
- STARRING RUHAN OF THE FOMORI -
DECK ORIGINS
The BATMAN vs
duelmultiplayer decks presented here have a similar genesis. My friendly local game store was selling card sleeves with a creative representation of the Joker on them (with the Joker's face made up by a colony of bats in flight) and I thought, "Huh, maybe I'll make a Joker deck."I do a fair amount of research for all of my theme decks. Delving deeper into the Batman mythos, there were plenty of references to the yin and yang relationship between the Joker and Batman. That got me thinking even more. Why don't I create a deck for Batman, too? Riku's colors, my own penchant for puns, and the codependent hero-villain relationship between Batman and the Joker made Vish Kal, Blood Arbiter a shoo-in to represent the Dark Knight. W and B complete the Magic color pie and nothing says, "Batman" like a brooding vampire.
I heavily referenced Nolan's The Dark Knight for the Joker deck. So, I figured I'd make a deck for Two-Face as well, given that the character has enmity toward both Batman and the Joker. Given Two-Face's noble origins, I elected to have the character's Magic analogue share the color W with Batman. Between Harvey Dent's legal expertise and training from Batman, U was an easy choice to reflect (heh) the character's sharp mind. Of course, R was an absolute must with all the coin flipping. There's currently only one commander that embodies how Two-Face makes their decisions: Ruhan of the Fomori.
Now that I had my commanders, I had to think of the mechanics to go with the flavor of each deck. Ironically, although I first thought to do a Joker deck, I started and completed the Batman deck first. Batman's utility belt and all of Batman's other gadgets are iconic emblems of the franchise. Gadgets, gadgets, hmmm. Equipment! Yup, the Batman deck would be straight up VOLTRON. I only chose equipment that matched up with actual tools used by Batman in the comics, television series and cartoons, and films, such as the Batmobile, their grappling hook, and the Batwing. (Why give Vish Kal flying? 'Cos their armor's really heavy.)
Again, thinking about Batman and the Joker as both reflections (heh) and opposites of one another, I concluded that the Joker deck would also be commander-centric, but focused on nonpermanent spells. Can we say, "SPELLSLINGER!"? But, which spells to sling? Since there are no violet spells in the game, I elected to go with as many cards as possible. That got me thinking about going all in on a multicolor mechanical subtheme. So I did, with spells like Cloven Casting, Pyroconvergence, and Urza's Filter (a great card to reduce commander tax). The Joker deck multiplies the mayhem, with many Fork effects.
Whereas the Joker deck is all about copying spells, I built the Two-Face deck to be all about doubling the damage and card advantage, with many rebound and double strike effects. Like the Batman deck, it too would be VOLTRON, but reliant on instant and sorcery spells instead of equipment. I also played up the duality theme, with several cards requiring coin flips. Even the number of spells in each nonland category mattered, with 11 artifact, 11 enchantment, 11 instant, 22 sorcery, 2 (noncommander) creature, and 2 planeswalker spells in the deck.
Other flavorful details taken into consideration for the decks include the following. Each deck has the ability to shuffle its graveyard into the library to symbolize the never ending stories. Since our hero and villains are not invulnerable, there are no cards to grant them hexproof, indestructible, protection, or anything of the like. Likewise, no vigilance. Crimefighting and wanton destruction are exhausting! Also, with Batman wanting to clean up Gotham, their deck gets Ghost Quarter, whereas the Two-Face and Joker decks get Strip Mine.
1x Ruhan of the Fomori
"FAIR'S FAIR..."
1x Fiery Gambit
1x Chance Encounter
1x Goblin Bomb
CHARGING DOWN
THE CRIMINALS
1x Fervor
1x In the Web of War
"IF YOU WANT TO KILL
A PUBLIC SERVANT,
I RECOMMEND YOU
BUY AMERICAN!"
1x Gisela, Blade of Goldnight
"BUT, I'M NOT DONE..."
1x Savage Beating
1x Fury of the Horde
1x World at War
NOT AFRAID TO
PULL STRINGS
1x Distortion Strike
1x Taigam's Strike
LEGAL RESEARCH
1x Recurring Insight
"EVERYTHING'S GOING
TO BE JUST FINE..."
1x Idyllic Tutor
1x Enlightened Tutor
1x Land Tax
SECOND TIME'S
THE CHARM
1x Call to Mind
1x Surreal Memoir
1x Learn from the Past
1x Cast Through Time
1x Narset Transcendent
"IT'S THE SCHEMERS
WHO PUT YOU
WHERE YOU ARE..."
1x Tormenting Voice
1x Careful Study
1x Preordain
1x See Beyond
1x Sight Beyond Sight
1x Sleight of Hand
1x Stitch in Time
1x Time Stretch
1x Ral Zarek
"I THOUGHT YOU WAS...
DEAD."
1x Profound Journey
BECOMING
THE VILLAIN
1x Assault Strobe
1x Boros Charm
1x Temur Battle Rage
1x Berserkers' Onslaught
1x Curse of Bloodletting
1x Gratuitous Violence
1x Rage Reflection
"...THE ONLY MORALITY
IN A CRUEL WORLD
IS CHANCE."
1x Game of Chaos
1x Planar Chaos
1x Karplusan Minotaur
PLAYING THE ODDS
1x Goblin Charbelcher
CLEAN STREETS
1x Austere Command
1x Cryptic Command
1x Incendiary Command
1x Oblation
1x Ojutai's Breath
1x Path to Exile
1x Return to Dust
1x Swords to Plowshares
THE D.A.'S
BENEFIT PACKAGE
1x Azorius Signet
1x Boros Signet
1x Chromatic Lantern
1x Coalition Relic
1x Darksteel Ingot
1x Doubling Cube
1x Grim Monolith
1x Izzet Signet
1x Mana Vault
1x Sol Ring
1x Ancient Tomb
1x Boseiju, Who Shelters All
1x Cascade Bluffs
1x Cavern of Souls
1x Command Tower
1x Hall of the Bandit Lord
1x Hallowed Fountain
8x Island
1x Miren, the Moaning Well
10x Mountain
1x Myriad Landscape
1x Mystic Gate
6x Plains
1x Reliquary Tower
1x Rugged Prairie
1x Sacred Foundry
1x Steam Vents
1x Strip Mine
1x Sunhome, Fortress of the Legion
1x Ruhan of the Fomori
Sorcery (22)
1x Assault Strobe
1x Austere Command
1x Call to Mind
1x Careful Study
1x Distortion Strike
1x Fiery Gambit
1x Fury of the Horde
1x Game of Chaos
1x Idyllic Tutor
1x Incendiary Command
1x Preordain
1x Profound Journey
1x Recurring Insight
1x See Beyond
1x Sight Beyond Sight
1x Sleight of Hand
1x Stitch in Time
1x Surreal Memoir
1x Taigam's Strike
1x Time Stretch
1x Tormenting Voice
1x World at War
Instant (11)
1x Boros Charm
1x Cryptic Command
1x Enlightened Tutor
1x Learn from the Past
1x Oblation
1x Ojutai's Breath
1x Path to Exile
1x Return to Dust
1x Savage Beating
1x Swords to Plowshares
1x Temur Battle Rage
1x Berserkers' Onslaught
1x Cast Through Time
1x Chance Encounter
1x Curse of Bloodletting
1x Fervor
1x Goblin Bomb
1x Gratuitous Violence
1x In the Web of War
1x Land Tax
1x Planar Chaos
1x Rage Reflection
Planeswalker (2)
1x Narset Transcendent
1x Ral Zarek
Creature (2)
1x Gisela, Blade of Goldnight
1x Karplusan Minotaur
Artifact (11)
1x Azorius Signet
1x Boros Signet
1x Chromatic Lantern
1x Coalition Relic
1x Darksteel Ingot
1x Doubling Cube
1x Goblin Charbelcher
1x Grim Monolith
1x Izzet Signet
1x Mana Vault
1x Sol Ring
1x Ancient Tomb
1x Boseiju, Who Shelters All
1x Cascade Bluffs
1x Cavern of Souls
1x Command Tower
1x Hall of the Bandit Lord
1x Hallowed Fountain
8x Island
1x Miren, the Moaning Well
10x Mountain
1x Myriad Landscape
1x Mystic Gate
6x Plains
1x Reliquary Tower
1x Rugged Prairie
1x Sacred Foundry
1x Steam Vents
1x Strip Mine
1x Sunhome, Fortress of the Legion
BATMAN VS JOKER: BATMAN
1x Vish Kal, Blood Arbiter
BATMAN'S UNDYING GRIEF...
1x Mikaeus, the Unhallowed
...FUELS HIS VIGILANTE
CRUSADE AGAINST CRIME
1x Bitter Ordeal
RETROACTIVE CONTINUITY
1x Kozilek, Butcher of Truth
THE STORY NEVER ENDS,
1x Ulamog, the Infinite Gyre
AND THE BAT-SIGNAL
SHINES ON!
1x Reito Lantern
WHATEVER WILL
LUCIUS THINK OF NEXT?
1x Masterwork of Ingenuity
OH, THAT...
1x Clock of Omens
BATMAN'S GADGETS,
WEAPONS, & BAT-TECH
Smoke Pellets
1x Batwing Brume
1x Blinding Powder
Grapple Gun
1x Grappling Hook
Bolas
1x Leonin Bola
Net
1x Spidersilk Net
Batsuit Cowl
1x Cranial Plating
Starlight Night-
Vision Lenses
1x Explorer's Scope
1x Infiltration Lens
Gloves
1x Golem-Skin Gauntlets
1x Illusionist's Bracers
Batsuit Armor
1x Argentum Armor
1x Empyrial Plate
1x Magebane Armor
1x Slagwurm Armor
1x Umbral Mantle
1x Vulshok Battlegear
The Batmobile
1x Chariot of Victory
The Batwing
1x Neurok Hoversail
Cape
1x Cobbled Wings
1x Specter's Shroud
1x Scroll Rack
1x Necropotence
1x Phyrexian Arena
1x Phyrexian Etchings
TIPS FROM
COMMISSIONER
GORDON
1x Vampiric Tutor
1x Demonic Tutor
DO THE CRIME,
PAY THE TIME...
OF YOUR LIFE
1x Temporal Extortion
PNEUMATIC MANGLING
1x Return to Dust
BACK TO ARKHAM!
Possibility of Parole
1x Arrest
1x Flickerform
1x One Thousand Lashes
1x Prison Term
1x Oblation
Life Sentence
1x Path to Exile
1x Swords to Plowshares
1x Unmake
1x Utter End
1x Merciless Eviction
BRUCE WAYNE'S
INHERITANCE
1x Caged Sun
1x Chromatic Lantern
1x Coalition Relic
1x Darksteel Ingot
1x Everflowing Chalice
1x Gilded Lotus
1x Grim Monolith
1x Jet Medallion
1x Mana Vault
1x Orzhov Signet
1x Sol Ring
1x Thran Dynamo
ACCRUING INTEREST
1x Land Tax
REBUILDING GOTHAM
1x Crucible of Worlds
GOTHAM CITY
1x Bojuka Bog
1x Boseiju, Who Shelters All
1x Buried Ruin
1x Cabal Coffers
1x Cavern of Souls
1x Caves of Koilos
1x Command Tower
1x Fetid Heath
1x Ghost Quarter
1x Godless Shrine
1x Hall of the Bandit Lord
1x Isolated Chapel
1x Lake of the Dead
1x Miren, the Moaning Well
1x Opal Palace
1x Orzhov Basilica
1x Reliquary Tower
20x Swamp
1x Tainted Field
1x Urborg, Tomb of Yawgmoth
1x Volrath's Stronghold
By Card Type
1x Vish Kal, Blood Arbiter
Creature (3)
1x Kozilek, Butcher of Truth
1x Mikaeus, the Unhallowed
1x Ulamog, the Infinite Gyre
Enchantment (8)
1x Arrest
1x Flickerform
1x Land Tax
1x Necropotence
1x One Thousand Lashes
1x Phyrexian Arena
1x Phyrexian Etchings
1x Prison Term
Instant (8)
1x Batwing Brume
1x Oblation
1x Path to Exile
1x Return to Dust
1x Swords to Plowshares
1x Unmake
1x Utter End
1x Vampiric Tutor
Sorcery (4)
1x Bitter Ordeal
1x Demonic Tutor
1x Merciless Eviction
1x Temporal Extortion
Artifact (36)
Equipment (20)
1x Argentum Armor
1x Blinding Powder
1x Chariot of Victory
1x Cobbled Wings
1x Cranial Plating
1x Empyrial Plate
1x Explorer's Scope
1x Golem-Skin Gauntlets
1x Grappling Hook
1x Illusionist's Bracers
1x Infiltration Lens
1x Leonin Bola
1x Magebane Armor
1x Masterwork of Ingenuity
1x Neurok Hoversail
1x Slagwurm Armor
1x Specter's Shroud
1x Spidersilk Net
1x Umbral Mantle
1x Vulshok Battlegear
1x Clock of Omens
1x Crucible of Worlds
1x Reito Lantern
1x Scroll Rack
Mana Ramp (12)
1x Caged Sun
1x Chromatic Lantern
1x Coalition Relic
1x Darksteel Ingot
1x Everflowing Chalice
1x Gilded Lotus
1x Grim Monolith
1x Jet Medallion
1x Mana Vault
1x Orzhov Signet
1x Sol Ring
1x Thran Dynamo
Land (40)
1x Buried Ruin
1x Ghost Quarter
1x Boseiju, Who Shelters All
1x Cavern of Souls
1x Hall of the Bandit Lord
1x Miren, the Moaning Well
1x Reliquary Tower
1x Volrath's Stronghold
1x Opal Palace
1x Lake of the Dead
1x Urborg, Tomb of Yawgmoth
1x Cabal Coffers
1x Bojuka Bog
20x Swamp
1x Caves of Koilos
1x Command Tower
1x Fetid Heath
1x Godless Shrine
1x Isolated Chapel
1x Orzhov Basilica
1x Tainted Field
1x Riku of Two Reflections
RETROACTIVE CONTINUITY
1x Kozilek, Butcher of Truth
THE STORY NEVER ENDS
1x Ulamog, the Infinite Gyre
"LOOK WHAT I'VE DONE
TO THIS CITY WITH A
FEW DRUMS OF GAS
AND A COUPLE OF
BULLETS..."
1x Mirari
1x Cloven Casting
1x Pyroconvergence
MULTIPLY THE MAYHEM
1x Melek, Izzet Paragon
1x Nivix Guildmage
1x Increasing Vengeance
1x Reverberate
1x Twincast
1x Howl of the Horde
"I'M AN AGENT
OF CHAOS..."
1x Chaos Warp
1x Unexpected Results
1x Epic Experiment
"WE'RE GOING TO
DO THIS FOREVER..."
1x Crucible of Worlds
1x Reito Lantern
1x Mystic Retrieval
1x Regrowth
1x Time Warp
"YES, I LIKE TO
WATCH THE
WORLD BURN..."
1x Destructive Revelry
1x Hull Breach
1x Wave of Vitriol
1x Wreak Havoc
"...BUT LET'S
NOT BLOW THIS
OUT OF ALL
PROPORTION."
1x Capsize
1x Cyclonic Rift
1x Simic Charm
A MAGIC TRICK?
I'LL MAKE YOUR
SPELL DISAPPEAR..."
1x Mindswipe
1x Negate
"I JUST DID WHAT
I DO BEST:
I TOOK YOUR PLAN,
AND I TURNED IT
ON ITSELF."
1x Essence Backlash
1x Plasm Capture
1x Swerve
1x Wild Ricochet
"HOW MANY OF
YOUR FRIENDS
HAVE I KILLED?"
1x Clan Defiance
1x Comet Storm
"I WANT MY PHONE CALL..."
1x Firemind's Foresight
1x Lightning Bolt
1x Reset
1x Reiterate
MAD GENIUS
1x Sylvan Library
1x Mystical Tutor
1x Thoughtflare
1x Blast of Genius
1x Fabricate
"I WANTED TO SEE
WHAT YOU'D DO.
AND YOU DIDN'T
DISAPPOINT..."
1x Research // Development
1x Steam Augury
1x Guided Passage
"YOU'VE GOT TO
HAVE AN ACE
IN THE HOLE..."
1x Blue Sun's Zenith
1x Invoke the Firemind
1x Master the Way
1x Triumph of the Hordes
"...I'M NOT A MONSTER.
I'M JUST AHEAD
OF THE CURVE."
1x Mana Reflection
1x Urza's Filter
1x Boundless Realms
1x Cultivate
1x Explosive Vegetation
1x Farseek
1x Kodama's Reach
1x Nature's Lore
1x Skyshroud Claim
1x Urban Evolution
1x Ancient Tomb
1x Boseiju, Who Shelters All
1x Breeding Pool
1x Cascade Bluffs
1x Cavern of Souls
1x Command Tower
1x Fire-Lit Thicket
1x Flooded Grove
7x Forest
1x High Market
1x Hinterland Harbor
7x Island
1x Miren, the Moaning Well
6x Mountain
1x Myriad Landscape
1x Pillar of the Paruns
1x Reliquary Tower
1x Rootbound Crag
1x Steam Vents
1x Stomping Ground
1x Strip Mine
1x Sulfur Falls
By Card Type
1x Riku of Two Reflections
Creature (4)
1x Kozilek, Butcher of Truth
1x Melek, Izzet Paragon
1x Nivix Guildmage
1x Ulamog, the Infinite Gyre
Enchantment (4)
1x Cloven Casting
1x Mana Reflection
1x Pyroconvergence
1x Sylvan Library
Artifact (4)
1x Crucible of Worlds
1x Mirari
1x Reito Lantern
1x Urza's Filter
Instant (24)
1x Blue Sun's Zenith
1x Capsize
1x Chaos Warp
1x Comet Storm
1x Cyclonic Rift
1x Destructive Revelry
1x Essence Backlash
1x Firemind's Foresight
1x Increasing Vengeance
1x Lightning Bolt
1x Mindswipe
1x Mystical Tutor
1x Negate
1x Plasm Capture
1x Reiterate
1x Research // Development
1x Reset
1x Reverberate
1x Simic Charm
1x Steam Augury
1x Swerve
1x Thoughtflare
1x Twincast
1x Wild Ricochet
1x Blast of Genius
1x Boundless Realms
1x Clan Defiance
1x Cultivate
1x Epic Experiment
1x Explosive Vegetation
1x Fabricate
1x Farseek
1x Guided Passage
1x Howl of the Horde
1x Hull Breach
1x Invoke the Firemind
1x Kodama's Reach
1x Master the Way
1x Mystic Retrieval
1x Nature's Lore
1x Regrowth
1x Skyshroud Claim
1x Time Warp
1x Triumph of the Hordes
1x Unexpected Results
1x Urban Evolution
1x Wave of Vitriol
1x Wreak Havoc
Land (39)
1x Ancient Tomb
1x Boseiju, Who Shelters All
1x Breeding Pool
1x Cascade Bluffs
1x Cavern of Souls
1x Command Tower
1x Fire-Lit Thicket
1x Flooded Grove
7x Forest
1x High Market
1x Hinterland Harbor
7x Island
1x Miren, the Moaning Well
6x Mountain
1x Myriad Landscape
1x Pillar of the Paruns
1x Reliquary Tower
1x Rootbound Crag
1x Steam Vents
1x Stomping Ground
1x Strip Mine
1x Sulfur Falls
Stay tuned for Superman!