Duel Decks: Sorin vs Tibalt Review

For those of you who know me, I always get a copy of the duel decks online.

(IRL sometimes but more frequently so with the alternate language printings done midway)

 

This review is not for me but you.

 

To start off, my main motivation for getting duel decks would be the alternate art or "new cards" available in them (in the context of MTGO).

Below is the full visual list of the cards that fall under this category:

 

I used to play the 100 card Singleton format avidly so I wanted to get the most badass Singleton collection (ie 1 of each card). Alternate art cards belong to the category of being badass in my opinion. I suppose EDH players may understand this.

Here are my thoughts on the set:
#1 No Sorin Cameo?
The first thing I looked out for was for Sorin (a cool planeswalker in his own rights) getting a special cameo on one of his cards. Let me showcase such cards, most of which were from the previous duel decks:

#2 Promos

Of the 8 special cards, 3 of them directly compete with promos (although Mortify isn't available on MTGO yet, it is hard to justify wanting to play the DD: Sorin vs Tibalt version over the textless one).

 

#3 Foil Alternate Art Sorin!

Well, it isn't all bad. We do get Sorin (the more popular one) in a foil alternate art version and he's somewhat playable. (He's in standard too. But not that I care.)

#4 Tibalt on Browbeat!

I shall assume that that devil head in the art belongs to Tibalt. That's ok other than the fact that I hardly run Browbeat other than in my 100c Singleton burn deck (I actually did play it!).

#5 Other Cards
I see Vampire Nighthawk, Hellrider (!), Sulfuric Vortex, Lingering Souls (FNM art), Faithless Looting, Wall of Omens. Also, Ancient Craving makes its first MTGO appearance.
(Perhaps for those EDH people who cannot get enough of Ambition's Cost or want to have 1 of each card like someone.)

Summary
Value-wise, it's pretty decent. (I'm picking up a Japanese DD irl for Foil Japanese Sorin!)

Execution-wise, I wouldn't say that it was done particularly well.
(How hard is it to put Sorin on a Doom Blade/Go for the Throat or anything playable???)

Playability-wise, I'd say you would get some interesting game states but I feel that they might be quite lopsided at times. The decks don't seem to suggest that one can play much better than the other. (The worst DD combination was probably Divine vs Demonic. I would guess that Divine thrashed Demonic once Akroma came down.)