Here’s an extensive look at Artifact, Valve’s Dota 2 trading card game
Ana Valens Valve’s next game, a trading card game called Artifact, is on the way. PAX West attendees will be getting the first chance to play the game, but people around the world can see how the new game’s matches will work. A slew of new gameplay videos from both IGN and Ars Technica reveal what we can look forward to when the game launches later this November.
Artifact is based off Valve’s immensely popular MOBA Dota 2. The upcoming trading card spin-off borrows heavily from both the original game’s story and gameplay mechanics. Artifact’s card battles take place across three lanes, with players drawing five hero cards at the start of each match to do battle against one another. The game’s main objective is to take down two of your opponent’s towers. The first to do so wins. The game was designed by Magic: The Gathering creator Richard Garfield.
Each match starts with three hero cards randomly placed across each lane, along with three creep cards. Battles take place from lane to lane, and each lane has its own opening tower. Upon destroying that first tower, a second tower emerges with twice the hitpoints. The first player to destroy two towers in Artifact wins, and players can either aim to destroy two smaller towers or knock out an entire lane’s tower setup.
There’s four card colors—blue, black, green, and red—which are assigned to each card. Spell cards and hero cards must match in order to be used in a lane, and players must spend a lane’s mana to use spell cards. Killing an opponent’s creep or hero earns gold, which can be used for item cards.
Artifact features voice acted hero cards and relies on a 3D interface for play. Though complicated, Artifact borrows heavily from Dota 2’s early- and mid-game lane system, which might make it easier to pick up.
Artifact is set to launch on Nov. 28, 2018 for PC, Mac, and Linux. The game promises over 280 cards on release, with 44 Dota 2 hero cards available at the start.
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