Duels of the Planeswalkers Challenges: Hints and Solutions
Wizards of the Coast
Wednesday, October 21, 2009
Challenge #1 – Garruk vs. Elspeth
Wings of Light Challenge
You're playing Garruk, and you're getting beat down by his Craw Wurms. You've got the situation under control, though, because you can win the game this turn. It's your turn, and you've already drawn your card. How can you win the game?
Puzzle Setup
Hint #1:
Double Strike
Attacking and blocking creatures that have first strike and double strike deal combat damage before other creatures. Then, all creatures except those with first strike deal combat damage.
Creatures that have double strike deal combat damage twice each combat.
It's possible for a creature to be destroyed before it can deal its combat damage.
Hint #2:
Double Strike also doubles the effect of creature enhancements.
Solution:
Challenge #2 – Elspeth vs. Chandra
Hands of Flame Challenge
You've been playing a fevered game against Elspeth, and it's all come down to this. Although you've knocked Elspeth down to just 1 life, you're in grave danger of losing next turn thanks to the Serra Angel that's been taking big chunks out of your life total and the Voice of All with protection from red that just joined it. It's your turn, and you've already drawn your card. How can you win the game?
Puzzle Setup
Hint #1:
Sometimes a creature's abilities are more important than their power and toughness.
Hint #2:
A creature under your control, even temporarily, uses his abilities to benefit you – not his owner.
Solution:
Challenge #3 - Garruk vs. Garruk
Teeth of the Predator Puzzle
Garruk is chewing into your life total with an unblockable Craw Wurm. It'll kill you next turn, so you have to win the game this turn. It's the beginning of your main phase, you've been stockpiling creature enhancing effects and it's now or never. Can you win on this turn?
Puzzle Setup
Hint #1:
Trample
If a creature with trample would deal enough combat damage to its blockers to destroy them, it deals the rest of its damage to the defending player.
Hint #2:
Put all your power behind the point of least resistance.
Solution:
Challenge #4 - Chandra vs. Liliana
Eyes of Shadow Puzzle
Your game against Chandra hasn't been going well. She's still at 19 life, and you're just at 1. Your opponent has a bunch of cards in her hand, and is playing a red deck – one burn spell and you're toast. It's your turn, and you've already drawn your card. How can you win the game?
Puzzle Setup
Hint #1:
Punish their hand!
Hint #2:
Discard and combat damage go hand-in-hand.
Solution:
Challenge #5 - Liliana vs. Nissa
Ears of the Elves Puzzle
Liliana is toying with you. She's assembled an impressive collection of gigantic black creatures, but she's been content to sit back and let Hollowborn Barghest whittle away your life total. You've got one turn left—and even if you get rid of the Barghest, Liliana can finish you off with a single attack. It's your turn, and you've already drawn your card. It looks like you have no choice but to win the game this turn! The only question is . . . how?
Puzzle Setup
Hint #1:
Maximize your elves!
Hint #2:
Immaculate Magistrate can make one of your creatures huge. Make sure it's the correct creature and make sure that creature can get the job done.
Solution:
Challenge #6 – Chandra vs. Jace
Thoughts of the Wind Puzzle
You're playing Chandra, and you're down to just 1 life. It's a dangerous position to be in, but you realize with delight that you can put Chandra away before she gets another untap step. It's your turn, and you've already drawn your card. How can you win the game this turn?
Puzzle Setup
Hint #1:
Read all of Chandra's permanents. Carefully!
Hint #2:
Use Chandra's creatures against her.
Solution:
Challenge #7 – Nissa vs. Sarkhan Vol
Scales of Fury Puzzle
Nissa has a small army of gigantic, forestwalking Elves. Even worse, she's been gaining life each time Rhys the Exiled attacked. She's at 26 life, you're at 1, and the situation looks bleak. It's your turn, and you've already drawn your card. How can you win the game?
Puzzle Setup
Hint #1:
Make your guys bigger.
Hint #2:
Creature – Saproling
Solution:
Challenge #8 – Liliana vs. Ajani
Claws of Vengeance Puzzle
The fight with Liliana has been long and hard and she's pulled out all her unlocks. Next turn, the Corrupts she's taunted you with from her hand will defeat you. Do you have what it takes to deal 9 damage and defeat her on this turn?
Puzzle Setup
Hint #1:
You can
Fling a creature at either player.
Hint #2:
Dread's destruction ability triggers the response timer.
Solution:
Expansion Pack 1 Challenges
Challenge #9 – Jace vs. Tezzeret
Relics of Doom Challenge
After Jace’s second Traumatize you’re feeling drawn and quartered. To make matters worse Jace’s Memory Erosion has scoured your library to the quick. You draw your last card; you must win on this turn to remove the millstone of Jace from around your neck.
Puzzle Setup
Hint #1:
Only kill what you have to.
Hint #2:
Look for the spells that will boost your damage this turn most efficiently.
Solution:
Challenge #10 – Elspeth vs. Sarkhan Vol
Cries of Rage Challenge
Elspeth’s Angels have dealt you a righteous beating. Equally troublesome is Elspeth’s life gain, allowing her to stay out of range of your Lava Axe’s coup de grace. You think all is lost with the Angels readying a righteous smackdown on their next attack. You draw your card and smile as you realize you can now send Elspeth to her divine judgment.
Puzzle Setup
Hint #1:
Sometimes creatures are better dead than alive.
Hint #2:
Solution:
Challenge #11 – Liliana vs. Jace
Minds of Void Challenge
It’s been a long battle, filled with mutual destruction, counterspells, and multiple Wrath of Gods. The end is now in sight…because you have only one card left in your library. You know that it’s a Wrath of God; you’ve drawn everything else. You also have perfect knowledge of Liliana’s situation. You know that the three cards in her hand are Nekrataal, Nightmare, and Phage the Untouchable because you put them all there with Unsummons, and you know that the 10 cards left in her library are all Swamps because that’s all she’s got left. You can’t win the game this turn, but you can win the game. How?
Puzzle Setup
Hint #1:
Hint #2:
You need another card in your library to draw your
Wrath of God.
Solution: