History VideoGame / MagicTheGatheringBattlegrounds

'''Magic: The Gathering - Battlegrounds''' is a real-time strategy battle game for the PC and UsefulNotes/{{Xbox}} based on the well-known CollectibleCardGame [[TabletopGame/MagicTheGathering of the same name]]. Developed by Secret Level and published by by Creator/{{Atari}} in 2003, it bears little resemblance to its parent in terms of gameplay - rather than a turn-based card game, players take part in a dynamic and fast-paced WizardDuel using a small selection of spells and creatures.

* DoesNotLikeShoes: Zayel, one of the Blue duelists, is never seen wearing shoes or sandals.

* {{Counterspell}}: A Blue sorcery that only costs one mana to cast, and thus is among the fastest and cheapest spells in the game. Casting it instantly cancels any spell the enemy duelist is in the midst of channeling, leaving the mana wasted. Perfect for pre-empting high-cost creatures or devastating sorceries like Overrun, grinding down the opponent's mana bar, [[CherryTapping or just annoying him]].

** AdaptationalHeroism: Akroma seems to be treated as a slave and happily departs when defeated. In contrast to the fanatic whose only purpose in life was to kill an admitely evil person, no matter the cost.
** AdaptationalJerkass:: Arcanis is a complete cipher in the card game, while the Arcanis of Battlegrounds is a SmugSuper InsufferableGenius.
** AdaptationalVillainy: Ihsan is not an outright good guy, but his evil actions were done against his will due to Baron Sengir's control over him. Sengir doesn't exist here, and he spouts generic CardCarryingVillain crap.

* TheAIIsACheatingBastard: In Quest mode, the enemy duelist will regenerate {{Mana}} ''much'' faster than you can, even if you mash that 'Y' button until it breaks.

* WeaponizedOffspring: Green's DLC creature, the Living Hive, spawns a 1/1 green insec creature for each 1 damage it inflicts on the enemy duelist.

* ActuallyADoombot: According to [[https://www.mtgsalvation.com/forums/magic-fundamentals/magic-storyline/335167-mishra-a-planeswalker#c10 Word Of God]] the Mishra faced in this game wasn't actually the real Mishra, but rather a rogue [[https://mtg.gamepedia.com/Sleeper_agent sleeper agent]].
* AdaptationalPersonalityChange: At the end of the day, all of the characters might as well be props, since this has no conncetion to MTG's actual plot.

* DownloadableContent: Ten DLC spells were released on the original Xbox Live, two for each color. All the DLC spells were high cost and extremely powerful, and with Xbox Live for the original Xbox shut down in 2010 this content was LostForever.

* OurElvesAreBetter: Defiant Elf, Warrior Elf and Llanowar Elf, as Green creatures. Tenera and Entorin are elvish duelists.

%% Administrivia/ZeroContextExample entries are not allowed on wiki pages, so this entry has been commented out. Add context before uncommenting. * ImpersonationExclusiveCharacter: According to [[https://www.mtgsalvation.com/forums/magic-fundamentals/magic-storyline/335167-mishra-a-planeswalker#c10 Word Of God]] the Mishra faced in this game wasn't actually the real Mishra, but rather a rogue [[https://mtg.gamepedia.com/Sleeper_agent sleeper agent]].

* LizardFolk: Red's Retromancer.

* ImpersonationExclusiveCharacter: According to [[https://www.mtgsalvation.com/forums/magic-fundamentals/magic-storyline/335167-mishra-a-planeswalker#c10 Word Of God]] the Mishra faced in this game wasn't actually the real Mishra, but rather a rogue [[https://mtg.gamepedia.com/Sleeper_agent sleeper agent]].

** AdaptationalHeroism: Akroma seems to be treated as a slave and happily departs when defeated. In constrast to the fanatic whose only purpose in life was to kill an admitely evil person, no matter the cost.

* DoesNotLikeShoes: Zayel.

* InTheHood: Arcanis the Omnipotent.

** Arcanis's boss battle. Like any Blue mage worth his salt, he'll use {{Counterspell}} when you try to create enchantments or remove his. However, he'll use the sorcery at the ''exact second'' you start to cast, [[ComputersAreFast with reflexes no human player could ever match]].

** Blue has the sorcery Counterspell, which cancels out any spell your opponent is attempting to cast, provided you're quick on the draw.

** Arcanis's boss battle. Like any Blue mage worth his salt, he'll use [[AntiMagic Counterspell]] when you try to create enchantments or remove his. However, he'll use the sorcery at the ''exact second'' you start to cast, with reflexes no human player could ever match.

'''Magic: The Gathering - Battlegrounds''' is a real-time strategy battle game for the PC and {{Xbox}} based on the well-known CollectibleCardGame [[TabletopGame/MagicTheGathering of the same name]]. Developed by Secret Level and published by by {{Atari}} in 2003, it bears little resemblance to its parent in terms of gameplay - rather than a turn-based card game, players take part in a dynamic and fast-paced WizardDuel using a small selection of spells and creatures.

''Magic: The Gathering - Battlegrounds'' is a real-time strategy battle game for the PC and {{Xbox}} based on the well-known CollectibleCardGame [[TabletopGame/MagicTheGathering of the same name]]. Developed by Secret Level and published by by {{Atari}} in 2003, it bears little resemblance to its parent in terms of gameplay - rather than a turn-based card game, players take part in a dynamic and fast-paced WizardDuel using a small selection of spells and creatures.

* LifeDrain: The Black spells Vicious Hunger and Soul Feast can drain life points from creatures and the opposing duelist, and use it to restore the caster.

* AIRoulette : Since he doesn't use {{Mana}} to activate his spells, this is one of the few saving graces players have against [[FinalBoss Mishra]]. At any given time he could summon one Elvish Warrior or five Havoc Demons.
* AntiAir : Green's Giant Spider is the only ground creature in the game that can attack fliers.
* AntiMagic : The Red creature Retromancer deals damage to any player that targets it with sorceries, including its owner.

* AttackAttackAttack : 'Trample', an ability exclusive to Green, allows creatures to immediately move on to a new target after destroying an enemy, only respawning after directly damaging the opposing player.
* AwesomeButImpractical : Dual-colored decks. The obvious advantage is that you have greater flexibility when designing your deck, and certain colors complement each-other nicely. The disadvantage is that each color uses its own, separate mana bar for casting - effectively halving your mana accumulation and therefore making expensive, high-tier spells nearly useless in all but the most lengthy matches.
* BigBad : Mishra.
* BossRush : The final chapter of Quest mode is a series of rematches with the boss characters, followed by [[TheDragon Tsabo Tavoc]] and [[FinalBoss Mishra]].
* CastFromHitPoints : Carnophage and Juzam Djinn, both low-to-mid-tier Black creatures, drain a single life point from their controller whenever they respawn. While Black has plenty of sorceries dedicated to rejuvenating health, these creatures can quickly become an outright liability if a Blue duelist starts spamming Unsummon [[DeathOfAThousandCuts to force constant respawns.]]
* DoesNotLikeShoes : Zayel.
* TheDragon : Tsabo Tavoc.
* FieryRedhead : Kuldan and Volita. Naturally, they're both Red duelists.
** The Warrior Angel, one of White's higher-tier fighting creatures, is also a redhead.
* GiantSpider : Green's [[ExactlyWhatItSaysOnTheTin Giant Spider]].
* HolyHandGrenade : Wrath of God - a White sorcery that instantly destroys all creatures on the field.
* InTheHood : Arcanis the Omnipotent.
* KillerGorilla : Green gives us Gorilla Chieftain and Ancient Silverback.
* LizardFolk : Red's Retromancer.
* MalevolentMaskedMan : Maraxus of Keld.
* OurAngelsAreDifferent : Warrior Angel and Angel of Retribution, as White creatures. Among the duelists, we have Arkoma, the Angel of Wrath.
* OurElvesAreBetter : Defiant Elf, Warrior Elf and Llanowar Elf, as Green creatures. Tenera and Entorin are elvish duelists.
* OurDragonsAreDifferent : Red has Volcanic Dragon, and Blue has Wind Drake and Fighting Drake.
* OurGeniesAreDifferent : Juzam Djinn for Black and Mahamoti Djinn for Blue.
* OurGoblinsAreDifferent : Red magic gives us Raging Goblin, Goblin Hero, [[AirborneMook Goblin Sky-Raider]] and [[KingMook Goblin King]].
* OurVampiresAreDifferent : For Black, we have Krovikan Vampire (ground, resurrects defeated enemies under its owner's control) and Sengir Vampire (flying, gains extra strength and toughness for every enemy it kills).
* PlantPerson : Multani the Maro-Sorcerer.
* PlayingWithFire : Red, naturally, gives us the sorceries Engulfing Flames, Scorching Missile and Inferno, which all deal immediate damage.
* ProudWarriorRaceGuy : The Red duelists - Kuldan, Volita and Maraxus - are all explicitly warriors. They even carry swords rather than the magical staffs favored by most other characters.
* SingleStrokeBattle : 'First Strike', exclusive to White, is a creature ability that allows your creatures to instantly kill any enemy that has toughness equal to or lower than your creature's strength.
* TheAIIsACheatingBastard : In Quest mode, the enemy duelist will regenerate {{Mana}} MUCH faster than you can, even if you mash that 'Y' button until it breaks.

* UnderBoobs : Zayel.
* WhenTreesAttack : Green's Rushwood Elemental.
* WizardDuel

* OurVampiresAreDifferent : Krovikan Vampire and Sengir Vampire, for Black.

* OurDragonsAreDifferent : Red's Volcanic Dragon.

* OurGoblinsAreDifferent : Red magic gives us Raging Goblin, Goblin Hero, [[AirborneMook Goblin Sky-Raider]] and [[KingMook GoblinKing]].

* ProudWarriorRaceGuy : The Red duelists - Kuldan, Volita and Maraxus - are all explicitly warriors. They even carry actual weapons rather than the magical staffs favored by most other characters.
* SingleStrokeBattle : First Strike, exclusive to White, is an ability that allows your creatures to instantly kill any enemy that has toughness equal to or lower than your creature's strength.