Duel Decks: Venser vs. Koth

Duel Decks: Venser vs. Koth is the ninth set in the Duel Decks series. It was released on March 30, 2012, with an MSRP is US$19.99.

Venser vs. Koth contains two preconstructed theme decks, one centered around Venser, the Sojourner and the other around Koth of the Hammer. Venser vs. Koth depicts the struggle between two planeswalkers and is a set of largely flavor-based theme decks.

Description
Venser vs. Koth features two cards with alternate art and holographic treatment; Koth of the Hammer and Venser, the Sojourner. Furthermore, the set includes another five cards with alternate art; Anger, Chartooth Cougar, Path to Exile, Plated Geopede, and Preordain</c>.

In addition to this, the Duel Deck contains one of each emblem card for each of the two planeswalker's ultimate abilities.

Venser vs. Koth was panned by critics and was ill-received, with some citing a lack of power, lack of favorable card–card interactions or synergy in both decks, and the "broad but shallow" approach with themes and mechanics.

Background
Venser vs. Koth is based on the novel The Quest for Karn, which tells the story of the Scars of Mirrodin block.

Two Planeswalkers, one compassionate, one calculating, gave their all to save a world.

The Planeswalker Koth, from the metal plane of Mirrodin, sought help when his world darkened. He traveled to Dominaria to enlist allies and met fellow Planeswalker Venser.

When Venser recognized the threat to Koth's world was none other than Phyrexia, he knew that the only hope for Mirrodin was to find its maker. But that would mean forsaking its people in the meantime.

Koth would rather die than turn his back on his fellow Mirrans. But Venser knew they would all die anyway if they failed to reach Karn, his former mentor and creator of Mirrodin.

Two Planeswalkers, one goal, very different methods. Recreate the struggle to lead the way to Mirrodin's salvation.

Venser
<deck title="Evade and Shimmer"> Lands 11 Island 7 Plains 1 Azorius Chancery 1 Flood Plain 1 New Benalia 2 Sejiri Refuge 1 Soaring Seacliff

Creatures 1 Whitemane Lion 1 Augury Owl 1 Coral Fighters 1 Minamo Sightbender 1 Mistmeadow Witch 2 Scroll Thief 1 Neurok Invisimancer 2 Slith Strider 1 Sky Spirit 1 Wall of Denial 1 Galepowder Mage 1 Kor Cartographer 1 Clone 1 Cryptic Annelid 1 Primal Plasma 1 Sawtooth Loon 1 Cache Raiders 1 Windreaver 1 Jedit's Dragoons 1 Sunblast Angel 1 Sphinx of Uthuun

Instants 1 Path to Exile 1 Safe Passage 1 Vanish into Memory 2 Overrule

Sorceries 2 Preordain 1 Revoke Existence

Enchantments 1 Sigil of Sleep 1 Angelic Shield 1 Oblivion Ring 1 Steel of the Godhead

Planeswalkers 1 Venser, the Sojourner

Koth
<deck title="Erupt and Overwhelm"> Lands 25 Mountain

Creatures 2 Plated Geopede 1 Pygmy Pyrosaur 2 Pilgrim's Eye 1 Aether Membrane 2 Fiery Hellhound 1 Vulshok Sorcerer 1 Anger 1 Cosi's Ravager 1 Vulshok Berserker 1 Bloodfire Kavu 1 Stone Giant 1 Geyser Glider 1 Lithophage 1 Torchling 1 Chartooth Cougar 1 Earth Servant 1 Greater Stone Spirit 1 Bloodfire Colossus

Instants 1 Downhill Charge 1 Searing Blaze 2 Seismic Strike

Sorceries 1 Jaws of Stone 1 Spire Barrage 1 Volley of Boulders

Artifacts 1 Armillary Sphere 1 Journeyer's Kite 1 Vulshok Battlegear 1 Vulshok Morningstar 2 Wayfarer's Bauble

Planeswalkers 1 Koth of the Hammer