In Brandon Sanderson’s Mistborn series, there are characters with the intriguing ability to use metals to perform magic. For example, they might burn pewter to boost physical strength or brass to calm others’ emotions. Among these are the Mistborn, who stand out with the unique power to utilize a wide range of metals, enabling them to fly with ease and even glimpse the future.
Mistborn: The Deckbuilding Game capitalizes on Sanderson’s well-crafted magical system, challenging players to demonstrate the prowess of a Mistborn by crafting intricate combinations with their metals. The objective is to complete three missions, offering rewards for each milestone achieved, or to outlast your rivals by knocking their health down to zero.
As the game progresses, characters gain strength, gradually unlocking the ability to burn more of the eight metals available each turn. These metals empower players to activate cards, moving along mission tracks, attacking opponents, or refining their deck by acquiring new cards or discarding weaker ones. Some cards come with special bonuses, known as kickers, that trigger when burning more of the same metal type, encouraging players to specialize. Alternatively, players can adopt a broader approach by flaring metals, temporarily putting them on hold until refreshed with a similar card in a subsequent turn—a strategy I admittedly didn’t exploit enough in my initial rounds.
A unique feature in the game is its approach to handling damage. In games involving three or four players, one player becomes the target, thereby the only one who can be attacked. However, there’s an upside—this target player deals damage to all opponents when they launch an attack. If the target takes damage, they can either choose to pass the role to another player or keep it themselves. This clever mechanic prevents everyone from teaming up against the leading player, yet it can also be strategically maintained by someone playing an aggressive deck.
I’m keen to experiment with various strategies and explore the game’s cooperative mode, which aligns more with the series’ narrative where Mistborn unite against the oppressive Lord Ruler. Additionally, the game shows potential for expansion, offering the possibility to integrate more characters and storyline elements from beyond the initial book.
