Mistborn: The Deckbuilding Game

Mistborn: The Deckbuilding Game is a deck-building game published by Brotherwise Games set within the Final Empire on Scadrial. The game was designed by John D. Clair with additional development by Chris O'Neal and Hayden Dillard.
==Gameplay==
For Mistborn: The Deckbuilding Game, gameplay begins with players being assigned one of four character cards with unique abilities, for Vin, the Warrior; Kelsier, the Survivor; Marsh, the Spy; and Shan, the Noble. Players then build their starting decks featuring the given character's Allomantic Training cards and Funding cards. On a player's turn a Funding card can be used to generate one coin, which can be used to purchase additional cards from a central marketplace (an array of cards in the center of the table) to be added to their personal deck. These coins are lost at the end of the player's turn, however they can be converted at a factor of two-to-one into "boxings" which persist and can be used as a single coin on a later turn. Purchasable market cards exist across two categories, "action" cards and "ally" cards. Action cards are usually used during a single player's turn for a variety of effects whereas ally cards remain in play until defeated and often provide more passive effects. Training cards act similarly to action cards in being used for a variety of effects. The specific set of four Training cards in a starting deck is unique to each character and represents their particular strengths as a Mistborn.
Each player has a set of token coins representing the eight base Allomantic metals known during the Final Empire which can be used to activate the effect of cards with the matching metal on them. Notably this can be done in addition beyond a player’s current burn limit. Token coins for burned metals return to a player’s Training track at the end of their turn and are free to use on following turns. Players can also burn cards, discarding them without effect, to activate another card’s ability. Alternatively, if a player needs to activate a card and has reached their burn limit for the turn they can instead “flare” a token coin by flipping it to the reverse side and placing it on the card as normal. When a flared metal returns to the player’s Training track it is unavailable for future use until refreshed by discarding a card. Players can also earn atium tokens during the course of play which can be used as wildcards to fulfill a given card’s metal requirement, however they do count against a player’s burn limit.
At the beginning of their turn a player advances along a Training track, which grants, over time, the ability to burn an increased number of metals during a single turn and unlocks additional abilities on the player's character card. Players then play cards from their hand, burning metals, activating abilities, and resolving effects as required. At this point players can also purchase cards from the market to add to their deck. Then players may attack ally cards first and then attack opponents, usually the current holder of the Target standee. When a player with the Target standee does take damage, they may then pass it to another player of their choice. In the event the attacker is in possession of the Target standee they may instead damage each of the other players. At the end of their turn the player discards all non-ally cards in play and any cards remaining in their hand and draw a new hand of cards.
A player can achieve victory by one of three ways. First is by fully completing each of the three Missions. Second is by reducing each opponent to zero health. The last is by acquiring and then using the full effect of the Confrontation card.
===Solo & Co-op Play===
In solo and co-op variants of play, players are instead in opposition with the Lord Ruler. He possesses a unique Dominance track along which he advances and increases in strength through the course of gameplay. The flow of actions for a turn are largely similar to the base variant in solo & co-op play, however instead of attacking one another in co-op games players focus damage on the Lord Ruler. In addition, at the end of each turn, players must draw and play a card from the Lord Ruler's deck which includes "adversary" and "edict" cards. Adversaries are similar to ally cards but provide negative effects until they can be defeated. Edicts can have a variety effects, such as increasing the Lord Ruler's Dominance track, damaging players, healing the Lord Ruler, or removing cards from the market.
Solo & Co-op games end in four ways. Players win or lose as a group, regardless of whether any were knocked out of the game. First, if the Lord Ruler's deck runs out of cards the players have run out of time and lose the game. Second, if all players are reduced to zero health and removed from the game they lose. Third, if the Lord Ruler is reduced to zero health the players are victorious. Finally if a player uses the full effect of the Confrontation card the players also defeat the Lord Ruler and are victorious.
==Development==
The first mentions of a Mistborn themed deckbuilding game date back to January 2015, when Brandon referenced that Crafty Games, publishers of the Mistborn Adventure Game wanted to do a card game. There were mentions periodically following that first comment, in 2017, where Brandon mentioned the possibility of it being a deckbuilding game, and 2019, where it was stated to be in the discussion stage prior to a potential contract being created. Sometime after, Crafty Games' contract for the Mistborn Adventure Game concluded and Brotherwise Games entered into a broader arrangement with Dragonsteel Entertainment to publish tabletop games set in the Cosmere universe. At that point Brotherwise began development of what would become Mistborn: The Deckbuilding Game, however it is unknown whether any given aspects of concept and design, if any, existed prior to their involvement. Given that they were a new company taking over the idea, it is highly likely they would have started from scratch. Having previously worked with designer John D. Clair on a game called Empire's End and a Stormlight board game, when the later was delayed Brotherwise reached out to John to see if he was interested in a Mistborn themed deckbuilding game, which John was then enthusiastic to design. During their panel at Dragonsteel 2023 Brotherwise formally announced the game as an as-of-then unnamed Mistborn deckbuilder game where players could play as Era 1 characters taking part in "high-paced" Allomantic duels. Later that year, in an interview with Cosmere.es, Johnny O'Neal of Brotherwise Games revealed that gameplay is restricted to the eight lower metals known about during the Final Empire, with the addition of atium later in gameplay, and teased that while the game is currently set during the Final Empire era there is potential for expansions into later time periods. Pre-orders for the game, which included holographic versions of the player character cards, began in October 2024 with the wide release the following month.
===Design Philosophy===
As part of his design process, the designer for Mistborn: The Deckbuilding Game, John D. Clair, generally aims to avoid derivative game aspects in his original designs. To find an "added value" the game and its mechanics provide to the broad spectrum of games that exist. However when working within an existing property, as is the case with Mistborn: The Deckbuilding Game, his priorities shift to ensuring the feel of the game matches with the feel of the property as much as possible, as part of the "added value" is simply giving fans a way to experience the property they enjoy in a new medium. Which sometimes requires utilizing existing game mechanics as a base. Notably, as part of the deckbuilding genre, Mistborn: The Deckbuilding Game draws inspiration from Dominion, as the first deckbuilding game, Ascension as the first deckbuilder to have a variable card market, and Star Realms and Shards of Infinity for mechanics mimicking actual fights, such as health points, in a deckbuilding format.
When designing Mistborn: The Deckbuilding Game, John D. Clair focused on resource management relating to the metals as a core feature to emphasize the feeling of it as a "Mistborn" game. However with eight to nine potential metals to manage that presented a conundrum in balancing the level of "board-game crunchiness" to a point accessible to fans of the books who do not play board games extensively. Luckily this was a conundrum solved by another aspect of the design process. As a designer, John D. Clair also practices "kinetic design", whereby he considers gameplay pieces/components and builds mechanics from there, rather than creating mechanics and trying to figure out some way to depict them in a game. As part of this he had come up with the idea of cardboard disc "coins", again to help underscore the "Mistborn" feel of the game. Earlier in design, if a coin was on the side indicating the player had the metal, they could freely play cards requiring said metal. Then a player could flare a particular metal to activate a more powerful effect on a card. In the final version of the game, each coin be spent to activate a single card on a player's turn, up to their burn limit, and that metal is free to use on following turns without needing to recharge. If players wish to activate additional cards they can either sacrifice cards or flare a metal, flipping the coin, to do but that metal is not available for use on future turns until recharged.
===Potential Expansions===
Several potential expansions have been discussed, and at least one is in playtesting, but, as of January 2025, none have been officially announced. As such any discussion of expansions are subject to change. John D. Clair, when asked about expansions, has said that just as the base game is mostly constrained to spoilers from Mistborn: The Final Empire, the first potential expansion would be restricted to Mistborn: The Well of Ascension. Which will likely include Zane as a playable option, Feruchemy mechanics as well as new missions and solo/co-op gameplay options. Then a third installment would have spoilers through Mistborn: The Hero of Ages, featuring Hemalurgy mechanics and new missions and solo/co-op options. Each would require the base game to play.
Plans for Era 2 gameplay has also been discussed and according to John D. Clair plans are currently vague. Due to different base premises, notably characters having access to dramatically fewer powers on an individual basis in Era 2, some aspects of gameplay would need to be re-worked. Potentially Era 2 would be a separate "base game" edition, that while compatible with the original would not require it to be playable.
==Card Art==
Art direction for Mistborn: The Deckbuilding Game was provided by Johnny O’Neal and Katie Payne. In addition, much of the artwork commissioned for the game is also intended to feature in products for the Mistborn Campaign Setting of the Cosmere Roleplaying Game.
MB-Deckbuilder Card - Crash by David Astruga.jpg | by David Astruga Crash (Vin)
MB-Deckbuilder Card - Obligator by Valeria Casale.jpg | by Valeria Casale Obligator
MB-Deckbuilder Card - Kelsier, The Survivor by Antti Hakosaari.jpg | by Kelsier, The Survivor (Kelsier)
MB-Deckbuilder Card - Iron Training by Austin Hartell.jpg | by Austin Hartell Iron Training
MB-Deckbuilder Card - Steel Training by Austin Hartell.jpg | by Austin Hartell Steel Training
MB-Deckbuilder Card - Tin Training by Austin Hartell.jpg | by Austin Hartell Tin Training
MB-Deckbuilder Card - Pewter Training by Austin Hartell.jpg | by Austin Hartell Pewter Training
MB-Deckbuilder Card - Zinc Training by Austin Hartell.jpg | by Austin Hartell Zinc Training
MB-Deckbuilder Card - Brass Training by Austin Hartell.jpg | by Austin Hartell Brass Training
MB-Deckbuilder Card - Copper Training by Austin Hartell.jpg | by Austin Hartell Copper Training
MB-Deckbuilder Card - Bronze Training by Austin Hartell.jpg | by Austin Hartell Bronze Training
MB-Deckbuilder Card - Brawl by Amirul Hhf.jpg | by Amirul Hhf Brawl
Marsh by Ari Ibarra.jpeg | by Marsh, The Spy (Marsh)
MB-Deckbuilder Card - Soar by Ari Ibarra.png | by Soar (Vin)
MB-Deckbuilder Card - Ironpull by Svetlana Kostina.jpg | by Svetlana Kostina Ironpull (Vin)
MB-Deckbuilder Card - Maelstrom by Svetlana Kostina.jpg | by Svetlana Kostina Maelstrom (Kelsier)
MB-Deckbuilder Card - Shan, The Noble by Svetlana Kostina.jpg | by Svetlana Kostina Shan, The Noble (Shan Elariel)
MB-Deckbuilder Card - Unveil by Jessica Liu.jpg | by Unveil (Shan Elariel)
MB-Deckbuilder Card - Coppercloud by Artur Mosca.jpg | by Coppercloud (Clubs, Kelsier, Mare)
MB-Deckbuilder Card - Seeker by Artur Mosca.jpg | by Seeker (Marsh)
MB-Deckbuilder Card - Investigate by Alex V Ngo.jpg | by Alex V Ngo Investigate
MB-Deckbuilder Card - Lurcher by Alex V Ngo.jpg | by Alex V Ngo Lurcher
MB-Deckbuilder Card - Strategize by Kevin O'Neill.png | by Kevin O'Neill Strategize (Kelsier)
MB-Deckbuilder Card - Confrontation by Gal Or.jpg | by Confrontation (Rashek)
MB-Deckbuilder Card - House War by Gal Or.jpg | by House War
MB-Deckbuilder Card - Hunt by Gal Or.jpg | by Hunt
MB-Deckbuilder Card - Pacify by Gal Or.jpg | by Pacify
MB-Deckbuilder Card - Precise Shot by Gal Or.jpg | by Precise Shot (Zane)
MB-Deckbuilder Card - Deceive by Anna Pazyniuk.jpg | by Anna Pazyniuk Deceive (Shan Elariel)
MB-Deckbuilder Card - Funding by Sami Rytkonen.jpg | by Sami Rytkönen Funding
MB-Deckbuilder Box Art Logo-less by Deandra Scicluna.jpg | by Box Art (Vin)
MB-Deckbuilder Card - Charm by Deandra Scicluna.png | by Charm (Breeze, Allrianne)
MB-Deckbuilder Card - Noble by Deandra Scicluna.jpg | by Noble (Elend)
MB-Deckbuilder Card - Sneak by Deandra Scicluna.png | by Sneak (Vin)
MB-Deckbuilder Card - Soother by Deandra Scicluna.jpg | by Soother (Breeze)
MB-Deckbuilder Card - Steelpush by Deandra Scicluna.jpg | by Steelpush (Vin)
MB-Deckbuilder Card - Tineye by Deandra Scicluna.jpg | by Tineye (Spook)
MB-Deckbuilder Card - Train in Secret by Deandra Scicluna.jpg | by Train in Secret (Shan Elariel)
MB-Deckbuilder Card - Vin, The Prodigy by Deandra Scicluna.jpg | by Vin, The Prodigy (Vin)
MB-Deckbuilder Card - Informant by Darko Stojanovic.jpg | by Darko Stojanovic Informant (Hoid)
==Notes==
;Footnotes