My original concept for Darth Maul utilized a set of attack-defense power combat cards and was based on a clever design by Raistlin, available here: http://www.epicduels.com/webfm_send/259. It didn't feel quite right, so I scrapped it and opted for more of a "berserker duelist" theme. This version of Darth Maul re-visits my original vision for Asajj Ventress. That deck was initially designed to punish players for stockpiling attack cards with ever-increasing drawbacks, but with enough output to ignore the drawbacks and not enough defense to survive a counterattack, Asajj was relegated to the role of assassin, similar to the Hasbro Darth Maul. This left an opening in the set for that true prolonged-combat killer- one I hope to fill with this deck. Here is the current version:
Darth Maul – HP 18 – Red Deck – Melee
Battle Droids – HP 3 – Weak Deck – Ranged
Relentless Assault
A3*
*Increase the attack value of this card by 1 for every attack card you have played against the defending character since the beginning of your last turn, including this one. If this is the first card you have played this turn, playing this card does not count as an action.
Double-bladed Lightsaber
A2
If a defense card is played with a defense value less than the number of attack cards you have played against the defending character since the beginning of your last turn, including this one, discard that card without effect. If this is the first card you have played this turn, the defending character is attacked with this card again as a new attack card.
Sith Assassin
A5
Choose any minor character. That character receives 1 damage for every attack card you have played against the defending character since the beginning of your last turn, including this one. If this is the first card you have played this turn, the defending character receives 2 damage.
Sith Tracking
A4
Choose any minor character Darth Maul can attack. Move that character up to 2 spaces for every attack card you have played against the defending character since the beginning of your last turn, including this one. If this is the first card you have played this turn, move Darth Maul up to 8 spaces after attacking.
Revenge
D1*
*Increase the defense value of this card by 2 for every attack card you have played against the attacking character since the beginning of your last turn. If this is the first card you have played this turn, draw a card.
3x Relentless Assault
2x Double-bladed Lightsaber
2x Sith Assassin
2x Sith Tracking
3x Revenge
As you can see, the Galactic Battles Darth Maul will retain the Hasbro commitment to combat cards, but this time those cards will all feature two effects: an effect that ramps up as Maul's rage builds and an effect that triggers if it's the first card played in a turn. Relentless Assault* is his bread-and-butter attack that you'll pretty much always want to see, Double-bladed Lightsaber gives Maul a decent mix-up game ala Quinlan Vos, and the two "Sith" cards help Maul to navigate annoying minor characters that are in the way. These attack and defense cards all reward Maul for picking a single target and sticking to him/her, making Maul one of the best 1v1 duelists available.
Darth Maul should be seen as a niche offensive brawler in the same vein as Darth Nihilus. In the right match-up, Maul will shred a single opponent in two turns. Against a team with good crowd control, however, Maul will be left angrily flailing around the board. Just as good crowd control can shut Maul down, a teammate's CC can ensure that Maul can find his mark. When facing Maul, it's crucial to avoid fighting him on consecutive turns unless you can burst him down. Double teaming him is also relatively ineffective thanks to Revenge, which serves as a reliable D5 or D7 against anyone he's already engaged with. That said, the Sith apprentice is defenseless against a first strike, so initiating the fight is highly recommended against him.
As always, leave feedback in the comments below. Does the Checkerboard Kid have a place in Galactic Battles? Are his ceiling and floor the appropriate heights? Will his girlfriend ever accept him for who he is? I need to know!
*Galactic Trivia: Relentless Assault was the name of my original Cad Bane deck's six-of, which was designed sometime in 2009. I am bringing back the name for this deck because I liked it then and still like it. The fact that it is shared with Jax (of League of Legends fame)'s Ultimate is gravy.