Duel Decks were everything I wanted in a starter product to teach others to play the game. They gave you two decks, each with a flavorful group of reprinted cards set to the theme. As I began playing this trading card game, I looked to build a deck, but had there existed a two-person x vs. y product with interesting casual options, I would've bought every single iteration. Introduction decks and preconstructed decks did exist but there wasn't a rival deck that a friend could have and we would customize against each other. These decks are not super powered, but they aren't basic either. They all have varied learning curves, and playing more to understand the deck is the reason many players play the game, to express themselves through the cards. Sure, the 30 card packs of vanilla or french vanilla cards are nice, but having a flavorful, Vorthos feeling deck I found to be more enticing.

I love duel decks for their ease of use and simplicity, yes, but the main reason I like them is reprinted cards: new art.

With every Duel Deck, there are a handful of new card artworks commissioned. These new options allow the Vorthos community have more options in building a deck. Are you building a casual squirrel deck or a squirrel themed commander deck? Seeing Regrowth have new art, and with a squirrel on the character's shoulder encourages you to find a copy and play that version in you decks.

Crop of Regrowth by Dan Scott

Likewise, if you're playing an elfball deck or elven commander, the Primal Command from Zendikar vs. Eldraz has, presumably, the planeswalker Nissa on it. Without a larger art image, people may miss that.

Crop of Primal Command by Magali Villeneuve

Creating archives is important. Without the ability to cite previous knowledge, we can't share information, letting new players coming into a LGS building their first elf deck won't know about this Primal Command version. For example, in gathering images for this article, I looked for the Blessed vs. Cursed images, amongst many others, and looked to see if Momentary Blink from Evan (Ev) Shepherd was out there. The only image online was from my Modern Masters 2017 art review, and even that was apologizing that it was late. I didn't even talk about it when the Duel Deck was released. It remains the only image online.

While access to high resolution images is not possible due to a variety of reasons, I talk about art, and seeing a larger image and getting that image out of its context of a 2x3" box on a card is my role.

This article is an archive of the new art made for one of my favorite Wizards of the Coast products -- the duel decks. The newest product, Elves vs. Inventors, will be the last, and I felt a full article showing every delightful piece of art was definitely needed.

I hope you enjoy.

--Mike

Elves vs. Goblins (2007)

Ambush Commander by Lucio Parrillo

Siege-Gang Commander by Lucio Parrillo

Elemental Token by Anthony Scott Waters

Jace vs. Chandra (2008)

Chandra Nalaar by Kev Walker

Counterspell by Jason Chan

Fact or Fiction by Matt Cavotta

Incinerate by Steve Prescott

Jace Beleren by Kev Walker

Seal of Fire by Christopher Moeller

Divine vs. Demonic (2009)

Akroma, Angel of Wrath by Chippy

Luminous Angel by Jason Chan

Demon token by Pete Venters

Demonic Tutor by Scott Chou

Duress by Steven Belledin

Steve has a great blogpost about this artwork that's worth a read.

Faith's Fetters by Brian Despain

Lord of the Pit by Chippy

Spirit token by Luca Zontini

Stinkweed Imp by Nils Hamm

Thrull token by Veronique Meignaud

Garruk vs. Liliana (2009)

Blastoderm by Nils Hamm

Garruk Wildspeaker by Terese Nielsen

Harmonize by Paul Lee

Liliana Vess by Terese Nielsen

Mutilate by Zoltan Boros & Gabor Szikszai

Snuff Out by Steve Argyle

Phyrexia vs. The Coalition (2010)

Armadillo Cloak by Wayne Reynolds

Minion token by Dave Kendall

Phyrexian Negator by Jim Murray

Phyrexian Processor by Dave Kendall

Saproling by Warren Mahy

Urza's Rage by Jim Murray

Voltaic Key by Franz Vohwinkel

Yavimaya Elder by Matt Cavotta

Elspeth vs. Tezzeret (2010)

Crusade by Howard Lyon

Elspeth, Knight-Errant by Igor Kieryluk

Mishra's Factory by Scott Chou

Swords to Plowshares by Terese Nielsen

Tezzeret the Seeker by Igor Kieryluk

Thirst for Knowledge by Anthony Francisco

Knights vs. Dragons (2011)

Bogardan Hellkite by Wayne Reynolds

Knight of the Reliquary by Wayne Reynolds

Loxodon Warhammer by Terese Nielsen

Punishing Fire by Greg Staples

Seething Song by Jaime Jones

Silver Knight by Steve Prescott

Ajani vs. Nicol Bolas (2011)

Ajani Vengeant by Izzy

Behemoth Sledge by Dave Allsop

Countersquall by Anthony Francisco

Deep Analysis by Jesper Ejsing

Griffin token by Jim Nelson

Lightning Helix by Raymond Swanlan

Nicol Bolas, Planeswalker by Izzy

Venser vs. Koth (2012)

Anger by Svetlin Velinov

Chartooth Cougar by Chase Stone

Koth of the Hammer by Eric Deschamps

Path to Exile by Erica Yang

Plated Geopede by Johann Bodin

Preordain by Scott Chou

Venser, the Sojourner by Eric Deschamps

Izzet vs. Golgari (2012)

Brainstorm by Will Murai

Death by Ryan Barger

Feast or Famine by Chase Stone

Fire by Dan Scott

Golgari Signet by Raoul Vitale

Golgari Thug by Johann Bodin

Ice by Dan Scott

Izzet Chronarch by Steve Belledin

Izzet Signet by Raoul Vitale

Jarad, Golgari Lich Lord by Svetlin Velinov

Life by Ryan Barger

Niv-Mizzet, the Firemind by Svetlin Velinov

Prophetic Bolt by Slawomir Maniak

Putrefy by Clint Cearley

Sorin vs. Tibalt (2013)

Blightning by Dan Scott

Browbeat by Chris Rahn

Death Grasp by Raymond Swanland

Mortify by Nils Hamm

Spectral Procession by Tomasz Jedruzek

Sorin vs. Tibalt key art by Chase Stone

Heroes vs. Monsters (2013)

Beast Within by Jesper Ejsing

Beast token by Jesper Ejsing

Fires of Yavimaya by Izzy

Griffin Guide by Johann Bodin

Miraculous Recovery by Mark Winters

Orcish Lumberjack by Steve Prescott

Polukranos, World Eater by Karl Kopinski

Pyrokinesis by Igor Kieryluk

Regrowth by Dan Scott

Sun Titan by Karl Kopinski

Jace vs. Vraska (2014)

Body Double by Winona Nelson

Future Sight by Dan Scott

Night's Whisper by John Severin Brassell

Putrid Leech by Craig J Spearing

Remand by Zoltan Boros

Jace vs. Vraska key art by Igor Kieryluk

Speed vs. Cunning (2014)

Arcanis the Omnipotent by Ryan Alexander Lee

Fleshbag Marauder by Mark Zug

Goblin Bombardment by Dave Kendall

Infantry Veteran by Zoltan Boros

Zurgo Helmsmasher by Ryan Alexander Lee

Elspeth vs. Kiora (2015)

Accumulated Knowledge by David Palumbo

Decree of Justice by Lius Lasahido

Elspeth, Sun's Champion by Tyler Jacobson

Explore by Johann Bodin

Kiora, the Crashing Wave by Tyler Jacobson

Mother of Runes by Terese Nielsen

Temple of the False God by James Zapata

Zendikar vs. Eldrazi (2015)

Avenger of Zendikar by Aleksi Briclot

Consume the Meek by Richard Wright

Oblivion Sower by Aleksi Briclot

Primal Command by Magali Villenueve

Blessed vs. Cursed (2016)

Dread Return by Svetlin Velinov

Geist of Saint Traft by Daarken

Mindwrack Demon by Daarken

Momentary Blink by Evan Shipard

You get a large art too.

Nissa vs. Ob Nixilis (2016)

Ambition's Cost by Zezhou Chen

Crop Rotation by Daniel Ljunggren

Doom Blade by Raymond Swanland

Wood Elves by Josh Hass

Nissa vs. Ob Nixilis key art by Raymond Swanland

Mind vs. Might (2017)

Desperate Ritual by Wayne Reynolds

Guttural Response by Ben Wootten

Jhoira of the Ghitu by Magali Villeneuve

Lovisa Coldeye by Anna Steinbauer

The Unspeakable by Daarken

Zo-Zu the Punisher by Wayne Reynolds

Merfolk vs. Goblins (2017)

Aquitect's Will by Dimitar

Elemental token by Svetlin Velinov

Goblin Goon by Steve Prescott

Master of Waves by Svetlin Velinov

Relentless Assault by Christopher Moeller

Warren Instigator by Svetlin Velinov

Elves vs. Inventors (2018)

Elvish Archdruid by Raymond Swanland

Ezuri, Renegade Leader by Victor Adame Minguez

Goblin Welder by Victor Adame Minguez

Thopter Assembly by Svetlin Velinov