The Duelist

The Duelist #16 (April 1997)

The Duelist was a magazine published by Wizards of the Coast from 1994 to September 1999 for 41 issues. Originally it was a quarterly magazine but later it switched to bi-monthly, and then to monthly. The Duelist Online was introduced in May 1999. The magazine and the site can be considered the analog and digital precursors of magicthegathering.com.

Editorial staff

• Publisher: Wendy Noritake
• Editor-in-Chief: Kathryn Haines (1993-1996), Paul Hughes (1996); Mark Rosewater (1997-1999); Will McDermott (1999)
• Asssistent Editor-in-Chief: Robert Hahn (1998)
• Managing Editor: Terry Melia (1996-1997), Scott McGough (1998-)
• Senior Editors: Paul Hughes (1993-1996), Jeff J. Lin (1994-1996), Melody Alder (1996-1997), Will McDermott (1997-1999)
• Associate Editors: Allen Varney (1994), Michael G. Ryan (1994-1995), Jenny Scott (1996-1997), Jennifer Clarke-Wilkes (1997), Cory Herndon (1998-1999), Michael Mikaelian (1999)
• Art Director: Amy Weber (1993-1996), Shauna Wolf Narciso (1996-1997)
• Style Editor: Robert Dalton (1997-1998), Blaise Selby (1998-1999)

Contents

Mox Dragon of the Lotus from "Extra Pulled"

The Duelist brought the latest new on Magic and other trading card games, puzzles, event coverage, design articles, a deck-construction column called "Excuse Me, Mr. Suitcase?", fiction, product checklists, rules questions and a column by Richard Garfield ("Lost in the Shuffle"). Early issues featured a key artist who created a unique cover (often based on an existing card) and whose art was showcased inside the issue. In addition to all that "important" stuff, there were various articles and regular features showing off the lighter side of Magic. One enduring feature was "Extra Pulled", featuring "rejected" Magic cards allegedly pulled from sets in development. Phil Foglio and his wife Kaja resurrected Phil's former Dragon strip "What's New?", which ran for almost the entire life of the magazine.

As Magic grew, a companion newsletter (The Duelist Companion), which was the Official Newsletter of the Duelists' Convocation / DCI, was sent out to The Duelist subscribers in between magazine releases. The Duelist Companion was published from May 1994 till March 1996 (19 issues). Eventually it was dropped in favor of bimonthly magazine circulation, and still later a monthly magazine. The magazine lost focus on Magic as it put more emphasis on other trading card games; with Pokémon's immediate North American success, The Duelist was converted into a dual-format publication, with general separate sections for Magic and Pokémon. By this time, it also had expanded to covering video games and other stuff.

A companion magazine, The Duelist Sideboard was launched in July 1996 and focused on Magic tournament play. The Duelist Online website, launched in May 1999, was designed for breaking news. It featured articles from recent issues the Sideboard and also exclusive content.

TopDeck

Duelist was replaced by the magazine TopDeck which continued many of its features while broadening the focus even more to non-Magic games. This magazine lasted for fifteen issues until it was cancelled in February, 2001.

Issues

Issue	Date	Cover	Featured Sets	Flavor Articles	Other articles and extras of note
Quarterly
#1	Winter 1993/1994	Original art by Anson Maddocks	Arabian Nights	A Conversation with Richard Garfield Duel for Dominia, by Steve Bishop	The Duelist: An Inaugural Address, by Peter Adkison The Expanding Universe: The Philosophy of Expansion Sets, by Richard Garfield An Interview With Anson, by Pete Venters Murmurs from Dominia, by Lisa Stevens A History of the Arabian Nights, by Beverly Marshall Saling
Suppl.	May 1994	Original art by Amy Weber	Legends Revised Edition	A History of the Antiquities War	A Guide to the Revised Edition
#2	Summer 1994	Original art by Quinton Hoover	Legends Revised Edition	Mezlok's Challenge by Mark Poole (part one)	Lost in the Shuffle: The Grand Melee, by Richard Garfield
#3	Fall 1994	Original art by Drew Tucker	The Dark Fallen Empires	A History of the Fallen Empires Mezlok's Challenge by Mark Poole (part two)	On The Road To The World Title, by Zak Dolan An MTGer at Gencon by Mark Rosewater Nalathni Dragon promo
Bi-monthly
#4	March 1995	Original art by Melissa Benson	Fallen Empires	Animal Trap by Mark Sumner	10 Mental Locks of Magic, by Mark Rosewater Mana Maze Solitaire Rules, by Mark Rosewater (with help from Gene Rosewater) According to Mr. Pling, by Scott Hungerford Wizard's Chess, by Tom Hazel Magic in the Classroom, by Susan Mohn Fallen Empires tokens The Expanding Worlds of Magic, by Ricard Garfield
#5	June 1995	Original art by Liz Danforth	Ice Age Fourth Edition	A Look at Magic:the Gathering - Ice Age Feast of Kjeld, by John Tynes	Ice Age fold-out map Lost in the Shuffle: Games within Games, by Richard Garfield
#6	August 1995	Original art by Rob Alexander	Ice Age Chronicles		How Magic was Born, by Peter Adkison Meet the "Eastcoasters", by Scott Kirschner Cluster Decks, by Beth Moursund
#7	October 1995	Original art by Mark Tedin	Homelands	Homelands; the Making of an Magic Expansion, by Christopher Ferris The Slowing of His Heart, by Michael G. Ryan	Long and Winding Road: The 1995 Magic World Championship , by Mark Rosewater Playing Your Pet: Rough-Testing A Magic Deck, by Beth Moursund
#8	December 1995	Original art by Heather Hudson	Homelands	From the Library of Leng: Eron the Relentless Ashes of the Sun (ecxerpt), by Hanovi Braddock.	House Rules: Assassins, by David Kimmel Making Enemies: Designing Decks in Pairs, by Mark Rosewater Lost in the Shuffle: A Short History of The Great Dalmuti by Richard Garfield In Control: Key Strategies for Ice Age by Jim Lin
#9	February 1996	Original art by Randy Gallegos	Homelands Chronicles	From the Library of Leng: Autumn Willow	Lost in the Shuffle: Rituals in Gaming, by Richard Garfield Murk Dwellers by Tom Wylie The Power of Death by Robert Hahn Wizards of the Coast's Experimental Tournament System by Rick McGabe and Mark Rosewater. On the Trail of the Throat Wolf by Mike Selinker.
#10	May 1996	Original art by Scott Kirschner		From the Library of Leng: Baron Sengir	House Rules: Zero Sum, Siege and Landless Magic The Magic: The Gathering Card Reprint Policy
#11	July 1996	Original art by Richard Kane Ferguson	Alliances	From the Library of Leng: Lord of Tresserhorn	Lost in the Shuffle: Serious Fun, by Richard Garfield Do You Know Your Gorillas?
#12	September 1996	Force of Will reinterpretation	Alliances	From the Library of Leng: Verduran Enchantress	Oversized Juzám Djinn card Lost in the Shuffle: The World of Games, by Richard Garfield
#13	October 1996	Crimson Hellkite reinterpretation	Alliances Mirage Fifth Edition	From the Library of Leng: Phyrexian Dreadnought and Prismatic Circle The War of Mirage A Who's-Who Guide to Mirage	Murk Dwellers: Leaner and Meaner, by Tom Wylie The Horizon Shimmers. The Making of Mirage, by Michael G. Ryan Lost in the Shuffle: Playing for Money, by Richard Garfield
#14	December 1996	Final Fortune reinterpretation	Mirage Visions	From the Library of Leng: Serra Angel	Deck Deconstruction: Turbo-Stasis Decks, by Beth Moursund Taking Card Advantage, by Brian Weissman Lost in the Shuffle: Required Reading, by Richard Garfield
#15	February 1997	Talruum Champion reinterpretation	Visions	From the Library of Leng: Goblin Recruiter Visions Told: The Resolution of the War for Jamuraa, by Pete Venters	Visions of Glory, by Michael G. Ryan Fun with Foil Decks by Michael Long Lost in the Shuffle: Liar's Dice, by Richard Garfield
#16	April 1997	Phantom Monster reinterpretation	Fifth Edition	Dominian Chronicles, by Pete Venters, Kij Johnson and Scott Hungerford Dominia, Dominaria. What's the Deal? A Quick Tour of Dominaria Walkers of the Planes Dominaria Facts	The Phantom's Back, by Tom Jenkot Lost in the Shuffle: Of Mice and Men, by Richard Garfield
#17	June 1997	Mirri, Cat Warrior reinterpretation	Weatherlight	Fortune Favors the Bold, by Michael G. Ryan Maelstrom, by Michael G. Ryan	Mind over Magic, by Robert Hahn Lost in the Shuffle: Games and Politics, by Richard Garfield
#18	August 1997	Maraxus of Keld reinterpretation	Weatherlight Portal	Weatherlight Takes Center Stage, by Michael G. Ryan Torrent, by Michael G. Ryan	Lost in the Shuffle: Modeling Game Politics, by Richard Garfield
#19	October 1997	BattleTech	Tempest Vanguard	Continuity FAQ #1 Dominian Chronicles, by Pete Venters Weatherlight Ports of Call	Tempest on the Horizon, by Michael G. Ryan Deck Deconstruction: Prosperous Bloom, by Beth Moursund Lost in the Shuffle: You Really Can't Win Them All, by Richard Garfield
#20	December 1997	Selenia, Dark Angel reinterpretation	Tempest	Dominian FAQ #2 Dominian Chronicles. A Dark Corner of the Multiverse, by Pete Venters Tempest Storyboard, by Michael G. Ryan, Mark Rosewater and Pete Venters	Before the Storm. The Making of Tempest, by Mark Rosewater Dangerous Minds, by Mark Rosewater Expanding Shandalar. MicroProse Magic Kicks into High Gear, by Beth Moursund Lost in the Shuffle: Image is Everything, by Richard Garfield
Monthly
#21	January 1998	Commander Greven il-Vec reinterpretation	Tempest	Dominian FAQ #3 Dominian Chronicles. Stepping into The Darkness, by Pete Venters Sisay's Quest, Part 1. The Heart of a Minotaur, by Kij Johnson	Lost in the Shuffle: A Game by Any Other Name, by Richard Garfield Taming the Beast, by Michael G. Ryan Oversized Shivan Dragon card
#22	February 1998	Squee's Toy reinterpretation	Vanguard II	Dominian FAQ #4	Lost in the Shuffle: All for One and One for All, by Richard Garfield
#23	March 1998	Volrath's Curse reinterpretation	Stronghold	Dominian FAQ #5 Dominian Chronicles. The Heart of Rath: The Art of Darkness by Pete Venters Sisay's Quest, Part 2. The Knife's Edge, by Kij Johnson	Making Wine of the Grapes of Rath, by Rob Dalton
#24	April 1998	Crovax the Cursed reinterpretation	Stronghold	Dominian FAQ #6 Dominian Chronicles. The Lurker's Guide to the Stronghold, by Pete Venters Stronghold Storyboard, by Michael G. Ryan, Mark Rosewater and Pete Venters	Lost in the Shuffle: Credit where Dues, by Richard Garfield
#25	May 1998	Tidal Warrior reinterpretation	Stronghold	Dominian FAQ #7 Sisay's Quest, Part 3. Old Wars, by Kij Johnson
#26	June 1998	Xena: Warrior Princess		Dominian FAQ #8	Dances with Gnomes, by Beth Moursund Lost in the Shuffle: Nothing Beats Good Old Rock, by Richard Garfield
#27	July 1998	Soltari Visionary reinterpretation	Exodus	Dominian FAQ #9	A Deck, a Brain, and a Lot of Friends, by Dave Mills
#28	August 1998	Gerrard Capashen reinterpretation	Exodus Portal Second Age	Exodus Storyboard, by Michael G. Ryan	Exodus Files Exposed, by Michael G. Ryan Lost in the Shuffle: Don't Twitch or You're Dead, by Richard Garfield
#29	September 1998	Doomtown	Exodus Unglued	Born to Greatness, Part One, by J. Robert King	The Art of Beatdown, by David Price
#30	October 1998	Serra Angel reinterpretation	Unglued		House Rules, by Jesse Decker Chickens and Cows and Clams, Oh My, by Ma "Mark Rosewater" Ro Lost in the Shuffle: The Dojo Effect, by Richard Garfield
#31	November 1998	Urza Planeswalker reinterpretation	Urza's Saga	Forgotten Lore: The Sleeper Agent Awakes, by Scott McGough	Cycling into Urza's Saga, by William Jockusch Presenting the Duelist Oracle
#32	December 1998	Karn, Silver Golem reinterpretation	Urza's Saga	From the Ground Up, by Scott McGough The Beckoning Sky. Born to Greatness, Part Two, by J. Robert King.	Lost in the Shuffle: Hive Mind, by Richard Garfield
#33	January 1999	5 Years (Collage)	Urza's Saga Vanguard III Anthologies Sixth Edition		In the Beginning, by Peter Adkison Mechanically Inclined, by Brady Dommermuth Simple Rules are the Holy Grail of Magic, by Dan Gray The DCI Organizes Magic Play, by Jason Carl Musings on the History of the Magic Pro Tour, by Mark Justice What You See Is What You Get, by Pete Venters A Magic History of Time, by Michael G. Ryan What A Few Minutes With Richard Garfield, by Mark Rosewater I Never Metagame I Didn't Like: The History of the Magic Metagame, by Mike Flores First official Duelist Price Index
#34	February 1999	Gix reinterpretation	Sixth Edition	Dominian FAQ #10 Dominaria Timeline, by Dannen McDermott and Scott McGough Never to be Free. Born to Greatness, Part Three, by J. Robert King.	Playing Magic Solitaire, by Mike Mikaelian Lost in the Shuffle: How I Got Filthy Rich on my Summer Vacation, by Richard Garfield
#35	March 1999	Pokémon	Sixth Edition Urza's Legacy		Mark my Words; Foiled Again, by Mark Rosewateref A Gift to Last. Urza's legacy Preview., by Jennifer Clarke Wilkes
As Duelist
#36	April 1999	Radiant, Archangel reinterpretation	Sixth Edition Urza's Legacy	Forgotten Lore: Jhoira de Vivre, by Jess Lebow Past Mistakes, Future Hope, by Scott McGough, Daneen McDermott and Jess Lebow	Lost in the Shuffle: A Game Player's Resolution, by Richard Garfield
#37	May 1999	Shanodin Dryads reinterpretation	Sixth Edition Vanguard IV		Classic, Sixth Edition and You. Why we did what we did, by Bill Rose
#38	June 1999	Hammer of Bogardan reinterpretation	Sixth Edition	Dominian FAQ #11	Classic: Magic's Bumper Crop, by Michael G. Ryan Lost in the Shuffle: Turbo Hearts V 2.0, by Richard Garfield
#39	July 1999	Star wars	Portal Three Kingdoms Urza's Destiny Starter		Scent of Cinder alternate art promo
#40	August 1999	Phyrexian Negator reinterpretation	Urza's Destiny	Forgotten Lore: Yavimaya, Evolution of a Warrior, by Daneen McDermott Urza's Moments of Destiny, by Scott McGough, Daneen McDermott and Jess Lebow	Lost in the Shuffle: The Silence Between the Notes, by Richard Garfield
#41	September 1999	Pokémon special
Duelist presents Magic: the Gathering Mercadian Masques
(#42)	October 1999	Mercadian Masques	Mercadian Masques	Mercadian Masques promo comic.	Mercadian Masques player's guide Warmonger promo (feather expansion symbol)
As TopDeck Magazine
#1	December 1999	Pokémon	Mercadian Masques		Free Mercadian Masques booster
#2	January 2000	Black Lotus	Mercadian Masques		Free Urza's Saga booster Lightning Hounds promo (feather expansion symbol)
#4	March 2000	Crovax	Nemesis	The Dark Ambassador	Nemesis player's guide
#8	July 2000	Pokémon	Prophecy		Prophecy player's guide
#12	November 2000	Harry Potter	Invasion		Invasion player's guide
#14	January 2001	Pokémon	Starter 2000		Starter 2000 Sampler pack which included nine standard Sixth Edition cards Spined Wurm card without expansion symbol.