The Challenge Deck is a special self-running deck with its own set of rules. Players are encouraged to pilot it against one another one-on-one or in groups of up to four with guidance from the included instructional playmat. The Challenge deck contains 60-cards (18 Heads and 42 Sorcery cards). The 15 unique cards are not legal in regular Magic, which is made clear by their different card back. Some of the Heads have the supertype elite. When playing against this deck the player may use his Hero cards. The Hydra follows a predetermined sequence of casting cards from its shuffled deck and blasting the player for damage. The goal is to eliminate all of the Hydra heads before it eats you. When you cut one head down, sometimes more grow back. If you win against the challenge deck, you win a third Hero card (The Slayer).