"I wouldn't suggest we duel if I couldn't defend myself properly," Strange points out. The problem is that he's not as good at defending as he likes to think. Still, not being good at anything hasn't stopped Strange from doing something in the first place. Besides, the more he battles people and the more they duel, the more accustomed he gets to combat magic in general.

And anyway, he'd just turn to smoke if things got too bad. A winning strategy!

"Besides, I think we'll both have to pull back slightly and think more carefully. I doubt Joker would want either of his magicians maimed before the start of performance week." The last thing they needed were the supervisors fussing at them both for getting each other hurt.