Hello friends!

Last year was on the leaner side in terms of new content, as we prepared for our fast approaching mobile launch. We are finally set to clear that forest. What does this mean? A new expansion of course! We have already started work on a new expansion for KARDS, slated to be released this summer. The goal is to have the new expansion follow closely in the footsteps of the mobile launch. The new expansion, which will be of a similar size as the Breakthrough and Legions expansions, is the first of many we are planning. We are setting up a more regular content delivery pipeline, so we will have two major expansions every year and in between smaller releases, some of which can include new cards.

It is too soon to dive too closely into the details on the upcoming expansion, but rest assured that we will keep you closely updated in the coming weeks and months. What this dev blog is intended to do, apart from announcing that a new expansion is on the horizon, is to cover some of the other features related to the new expansion pipeline we are working towards. So buckle up, we have a lot to cover. Or, if you are strapped for time, you can skip to the bottom of this dev blog to read the tl;dr summary for the highlights.

Oh, one more thing before we continue - this dev blog liberally uses the terms expansions and sets interchangeably throughout. The two terms have the same meaning, i.e. Breakthrough for instance is both a set and an expansion. Usually, the term expansion will be used when talking about soon-to-be released sets, while the term set is used when talking about already existing sets or a group of sets.

First of all, we are simplifying the current set structure. This has two main benefits. One is to make the store easier and cleaner for players (especially new ones) to navigate and understand, especially with the plan to release new expansions on a regular basis. The second reason, which we will cover in more detail below, is to allow us to better control what to do with older cards as the overall card pool increases over time.

Once this feature is live, you will only see 2 sets in store - the latest set (currently Legions) and a permanent Core set. The Core set will include all older sets. The Core set will include all cards in the Base, Allegiance, Breakthrough, World at War and the Theaters of War sets. Due to this, we will rebrand Theaters of War slightly, removing the card rewards. This will happen in two steps; first we will remove Theaters of War from the store (this does not affect those that already own the campaigns in any way), later we will add it in again without the card rewards (at a lower price of course). The World at War sets will be removed as well, there is no plan currently to re-introduce them later in the same form, though the props and battlefields will show up separately in the store at a later date.

Any packs you own from any of the sets in Core will not be touched. This change is only for what packs you can buy in store and get from rewards. So if you own for example a Breakthrough officer pack, you can choose to sit on it as long as you want and it will be kept in your collection.

We are also making a couple of other changes. First of all, we will introduce full duplicate protection, for all rarities. This includes duplicate protection for gold cards (such as gold elites received as season rewards). Secondly, we want to make base and officer packs a bit more distinct so players have a better understanding of what to expect. Our current plan is for gold and wildcards to only drop in officer packs and slightly adjust drop rates of all card types on both packs - feel free to voice your opinion here because this is not set in stone yet.

It is inevitable for all card games that once the card pool reaches a certain size then problems arise. The meta becomes too chaotic, deckbuilding becomes tedious, new players are left further and further behind and power creep issues become more prevalent. Currently we have around 800 cards in the game (not counting HQs). We deem this to be close to the optimal number of cards for the game. This is a bit less than found in some other card games, but KARDS has less ‘filler’ cards than most other card games, so the actual number of construction-worthy cards is at a similar level.

With this in mind, going forward each time a new expansion drops, we will move a similar number of cards from the Core set to the Reserve Pool. Cards in the Reserve Pool cannot be used (or randomly show up) in ranked battles or casual and will not show up in drafts. The cards in the Reserve Pool are not removed from the game, they will still be part of your collection.

The way this works is that when a new expansion hits, then the former newest set (Legions right now) will become part of the Core set and an equal number of other cards in the Core set will be moved to the Reserve Pool. Here is a diagram to help you visualize this process (all images used in the diagram are just for visualization aid and not an indicator of what is slated to rotate):



Many of you may ask why we are not rotating cards to the Reserve Pool based on sets, like most other card games do it. This would simplify understanding the process, but it creates some problems for us. The two main ones are that it would make some allies basically unplayable, as the bulk of their cards come from the set they are introduced in. Secondly, because we are a historically based game, we are limited for instance in what unit types we can use - i.e. we don’t have the luxury of easily swapping like-for-like when something iconic would rotate out. This could mean we would end up with a WWII game without any Panzers or Spitfires, and no one wants that! So for these, and other, reasons, we will hand-pick which cards will be moved to the Reserve pool each time.

In making this selection we will look at things like how popular a card is, how toxic it is to the majority of the playerbase, how oversaturated strategies it belongs to are, and other things. What will be rotated out will be clearly shown in client weeks before a new expansion comes along, giving players ample time to adjust and adapt. This includes for instance a warning when trying to craft a card slated to be rotated and such cards not dropping in packs for some time before the rotation.

If you look again at the diagram above, you will notice that cards can also return from the Reserve pool back into the active pool. Once this system is up and running, we are planning to return around 20 cards (exact number may vary) back from the Reserve Pool with every rotation (every time a new expansion drops). Of course, this will not happen in the first rotation, as the Reserve pool will be mostly empty at that time (see below on why only mostly). But from the Winter ‘23 expansion and going forward, a number of cards will return from the Reserve pool. The number will be far below the cards rotating out, so the Reserve pool will grow over time. This means that not all cards will return from the Reserve pool. The intention is that the cards returning from the Reserve pool each rotation will be impactful cards, preferably ones that fit the overall theme of the expansion they are coming back alongside.

Our current plan is for returning cards to be added to packs from the new set (they will still retain their old set watermark and are counted as part of the old set for collection % purposes). They might drop in the Core set as well, this is still undecided. The reason we are contemplating them being part of the new set packs is that it makes it easier for newer players to get their hands on those cards, than if they only become part of the much bigger Core set. This would not reduce the number of new cards coming in each set (at least that is not the plan right now). So the Winter ‘23 expansion is slated to have around 80 new cards, same as the Summer expansion, but also have around 20 returning cards. Note that this means because the first rotation of around 80 cards is alongside the Summer expansion, then 20 of those 80 cards will return mere 6 months later. In the long run though, we aim to have more time between a card going out and it coming back, so when it returns it will feel more like an old friend returning after a long journey. Let us know your thoughts on the mechanics for cards returning, what would you like to see?

It is undeniable that the creation of a Reserve Pool will have a big impact on the game. Until now, players have been able to buy our products knowing that the cards they get are theirs to use as they want. Now this will no longer be the case, as some cards in players collections will not be available for ranked, casual or draft matches. To acknowledge this fact, we are planning on providing players with some compensation in two main forms. When the first rotation hits with the Summer expansion, players will receive a one-time compensation, which we will communicate about in more detail closer to the first rotation.

In addition to this, we are planning another (smaller) compensation feature that will become a regular part of the game. We plan to re-implement the crate system so that more than just duplicates contribute to filling the crate. Things like gaining a national level and cards in your collection becoming part of the Reserve pool will then contribute to the crate. The crate itself will also be reworked a bit so that you will fill it more frequently but get reduced rewards each time (exact numbers still to be determined). This feature is slated to be ready alongside the Winter ‘23 expansion.

Cards in the Reserve Pool are of course still part of the game. As time goes by and the Reserve Pool grows, we will start to show more and more divergence between the active (800 card) pool and the total pool (active + reserved). This will be a chaotic environment, but undoubtedly quite fun as well. With this in mind, we will add a new battle mode, termed Classic. In these battles, you will be able to use any cards in your collection, including those in the Reserve Pool. Classic battles are not ranked, nor have an Officer club or leaderboard. Matchmaking will use the hidden Elo-based rating all players have. The reason for this is not to split up the player base too heavily and to make sure newer players don’t feel like they are missing out by not being able to compete in this format.

Let’s look into the future a bit. As stated above, the plan is to now start putting out new expansions and other content on a regular basis. This cadence is important to make sure we shake up the meta on regular bases and for players to have a better idea of what is coming down the line. With the regular expansions, we are scaling back our balance patch work. The balance patches have been one of the main tools in our arsenal for the past year or so in making adjustments to the meta. With regular expansions and cards rotating in and out of the Reserve pool, this is no longer required. We will still do balance patches when needed, but only to hotfix serious bugs or balance problems.

We intend to put the content cycle feature on live before the first major rotation, to give us to time to tweak and adjust the in-client UI, such as the indicators for which cards are slated for the next rotation and how to filter between Active and Reserve Pool. Battletesting this feature will require a handful of cards to be put in the Reserve Pool. We intend to pick 5 very infrequently used cards for this.

One thing that is very important is for players to have faith in having the time to enjoy new cards they buy. So cards in new sets will be exempt from rotation for a time. Only cards in the Core set go to the Reserve Pool. When a set moves into Core, then none of its cards go into Reserve. On the next rotation, these cards are safe as well. It is only on the 2nd rotation after the cards became part of Core that the cards can be moved to Reserve. For example, Legions is currently the newest set. When the Summer expansion drops, Legions cards will be moved into Core, but none of them will be moved to the Reserve Pool. When the Winter ‘23 expansion drops, Legions cards are still not touched. It is only when the first expansion of ‘24 drops that cards in the Legions set can go to the Reserve Pool. This means that cards in the Summer expansion will definitely be playable until the 2nd expansion of ‘24 at the very least. Exceptions can be made in extreme cases, but we don’t foresee needing to do this often (if at all). To understand this process a bit better, here is a diagram for your viewing pleasure:



Here is a brief summary of the deliveries this year, as discussed above.

• Spring. Introduce rotation on a minor scale to battletest the feature and gather feedback. We will put a few (around 5) very infrequently used cards in the Reserve Pool. All cards except Legions become part of Core. Theaters of War removed from Store.
  
• Summer. New expansion lands with around 80 new cards. Same number of cards moves to the Reserve Pool. Classic battle mode available.
  
• Fall. Re-introduce Theaters of War without card rewards. Reworked crate system. Finalize system for cards returning from the Reserve Pool.
  
• Winter. Winter expansion lands with around 80 new cards as well as 20 cards returning from the Reserve Pool (exact numbers to be determined).

We would love to hear your feedback about all of the elements discussed above. Please visit the Content Cycle Feedback channel on the official KARDS Discord to leave your thoughts and engage in discussions about the new content cycle.

Hello everyone!

Get ready - the new KARDS user interface is just around the corner! Here, we’ll go over the timeline of the release of the new UI to PC and provide an overview of what these changes entail.


The New UI will become available for all players in the latter half of March.

Prior to the full release, we will have a short test period for the new UI, starting in the beginning of March. Players on Steam will be able to access a public test branch with the new UI. We will provide specific details on how to join the public test and how to give feedback when we are closer to the actual test in early March.


From our own insight, community feedback, and the ambition to run KARDS for many years to come, we’ve seen that the KARDS user interface could be improved. In developing the mobile version of the game, we saw an opportunity to overhaul the user interface, to streamline it and improve the overall user experience. The new user interface will be available on both the PC and mobile version of the game, so players will have a consistent experience regardless of which device they are playing on. Here, we’ll give a brief overview of what you can expect with the new UI. For more details, you can refer to the dev blogs written by our Chief Creative Officer Gummi: New User Interface: Part I - KARDS Home Screen, New User Interface: Part II - Play, and New User Interface: Part III - Cards.


The KARDS home screen is changing fundamentally with the new UI. The KARDS Home Screen has a new look, allowing for increased flexibility and for us to communicate better about all the exciting things going on in and around KARDS.

• On the far left, you’ll find the Home button. Simply click or tap the KARDS logo to take you back to the home screen from almost any other part of the UI.
  
• Next is the button to your profile - indicated by your current rank and player name.
  
• Then, the resource overview - the amount of gold, diamonds and wildcards you have.
  
• Finally, on the far right, you have the Friends and Settings buttons.

• PLAY navigates to Battle, Training, Campaigns, or any other game mode. More on this below.
  
• CARDS gets you to your decks, deck builder and card collection. More on this below.
  
• SHOP takes you to the shop.

The content carousel is a rotating banner on the home screen that keeps you updated on all the latest things in KARDS. This can be information about a recent expansion, decklists, guides, dev blogs, news, store offers, tournament info, etc.

The buttons on the right side will vary depending on the content we want to highlight or feature at any given time. They will mostly be reserved for shortcuts to specific events or game modes, such as Skirmishes.

On the bottom of the new UI you will find your national progress - the UI will by default show you the last main nation you progressed in, but you can also switch to a different nation. You can also access your missions here.


The Play button determines how you enter any given game mode.



Under the Play options, you’ll be able to select any of the game modes available at the time:

• Battle (PvP) - with a toggle between Ranked or Casual
  
• Training (PvE)
  
• Draft
  
• Campaigns - starter campaigns or Theaters of War
  
• Skirmish - when available

After picking a game mode to enter, you’ll be prompted to select a deck from your library to play with. Scroll or swipe up and down to browse your list of decks. Decks will be ordered by usage (last played, last created, etc.).

On the right hand side, you’ll see the selected deck and interact with it through the buttons provided. Customize the deck (swap card-back, HQ, board items or emotes), or hit the star button to favorite the deck, so it’ll always show up at the top of the deck list.

Below the selected deck, you’ll be able to toggle between ranked or casual mode, and, finally, hit the play button to head into the game!


The CARDS button on the main menu brings you to the new interface where you can explore your decks and collection of cards.

• Click or tap the PACKS button on the Top Bar to open your unopened packs.
  
• Click or tap the COLLECTION button on the Top Bar to access your card collection.
  
• Browse through your library of decks by scrolling or swiping up and down.
  
• Click or tap the empty deck slot to create a new deck.
  
• Click or tap any of your existing decks to bring up details about the deck and edit it.
  
  • Mark the deck as a favorite, copy the deck code to your clipboard, delete the deck, customize deck elements, or edit the deck.

The layout of the deck builder has changed quite significantly. These changes are done with consideration of a lot of community feedback we’ve received throughout the years. The goal with the new deck builder is to improve accessibility, provide an improved deck overview, have a consistent and clear UI for the upcoming mobile version of the game, as well as introducing various improvements for power users (especially on desktop). The new deck builder is split into three main areas:

• The Top Bar, where you can click to “show all” (including unowned cards), with a search bar, a wildcard overview, and a button to access filters.
  
• The Card Collection, filtered by the nations in the deck. Scroll or swipe up and down to view all the cards. Click or tap a card for more details and the ability to create a card with wildcards.
  
• The Deck Overview is visible in its own panel on the right side. Here, you can have a convenient overview of the cards in your deck, access more details about the deck, change the name of the deck, and edit the HQ/battlefield.

That covers the main points of the new UI changes. As a work in progress, there may still be some adjustments to the elements outlined above.

As previously mentioned in this blog, we will do a short test with the new UI in early March. This test will be accessible to Steam users through a public test branch. We aim to release the new UI to all PC users in the latter half of March. We’ll update you on the specifics of the test as we get closer to the test time. Keep an eye out for new dev blogs, join us on Discord and follow us on social media to make sure you don’t miss a thing!

A new Skirmish event is live now until February 12th!

Another new and unique set of rules for this weekend’s Skirmish! Here’s everything you need to know.

Skirmish is a special game mode in KARDS where you play with alternate rules. These rules vary; you’ll face something new and completely different at every Skirmish event. Read more about Skirmishes in our announcement blog New game mode: Skirmish.


In this Skirmish, you choose your own deck to battle with. However, each player gets 10 unique, powerful cards added to their deck.


The prize for this Skirmish is a full set of the new German card, CASE YELLOW! This Order costs 5 Kredits to play. It deals 1 damage, your units get +1 +0, the enemy discards a card, and you draw a card.




The Skirmish Special in the store this weekend features 4 German Officer packs and the unique German Fallschirmjäger card back for 200 Diamonds. Expand your collection and give your German decks a new look with this special offer!



Access the Skirmish event from the game's main screen to get an overview of the game mode, rules and prize.

This Skirmish will be accessible from February 10th at 12:00 UTC until Sunday, February 12th at 18:00 UTC.

Join this special event - win your Skirmish to claim victory and the spoils!

Please let us know what you think of the event in the comments below or on the KARDS Discord.

See you in the Skirmish this weekend!

SIGN UP NOW

Special Operations is a new tournament type featuring various different special formats. This first ever Special Operations tournament takes place over the course of one weekend, with qualifiers on Saturday and the finals broadcast on the KARDS Twitch channel the following Sunday.

This first tournament is a pauper format, meaning that decks can only contain Standard and Limited rarity cards.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TeX7Pu_hsWA

Special Operations is free for anyone to enter, but has a limited number of participants - so make sure to secure your spot! If all 32 seats are already filled, you can still sign up and enter the waiting list, allowing you to take a participant’s spot if it becomes available.

For all questions about participating in Special Operations and all things related to KARDS tournaments, please join the KARDS eSports Discord: https://discord.gg/288DQexmng


Format

• Each participant must submit 1 pauper deck
  
• Play a best of 1 series
  
• Double Elimination bracket

Schedule

• Deck submission deadline: February 18th @ 12:00 UTC
  
• 32 player Double Elimination Qualifier: February 18th @ 13:00 UTC
  
• Top 6 broadcast finals: February 19th @ 13:00 UTC

Prizes

• 1st: 500 Diamonds & 2000 Gold
  
• 2nd: 300 Diamonds & 2000 Gold
  
• 3rd: 200 Diamonds & 2000 Gold
  
• 4th: 100 Diamonds & 2000 Gold
  
• 5th - 8th: 1000 Gold

Sign up now on Challonge! - https://challonge.com/tournaments/signup/7kDFjTEwRw#/signup/ovsi7oh2gb

Hello KARDS players!

We are excited to announce the new official 1939 Games podcast - The Frontline: A KARDS Podcast!

The KARDS Podcast is a monthly podcast featuring different KARDS developers in every episode. This is where you’ll hear about all the latest things in KARDS and get a closer look at the team behind KARDS, as we explore developers’ varied work and contributions to the constant development of the game. The podcast is conveniently available on Spotify, Apple and Google Podcasts, as well as on the KARDS YouTube channel.


The first episode features Elín, KARDS Community Manager and Head of eSports. First, we take a look back at the KARDS 2022 World Championship, with some insights and behind the scenes takes on the many moving parts that come together in putting together this special annual event. Then, we dive into the eSports year ahead of us in 2023, reviewing the changes from last year’s formats and what they might mean for participating players.


Tune in to The Frontline podcast on the following platforms:

• YouTube
  
• Spotify
  
• Anchor

Keep an eye out for the next episode, where we begin to dive into some of the things planned for KARDS in the upcoming months.

Let us know in the comments below what you think of this first podcast episode and if there are any particular questions or topics you’d like us to cover in the future.

A new Skirmish event is live now until January 29th!

Another new and unique set of rules for this weekend’s Skirmish! Here’s everything you need to know.

Skirmish is a special game mode in KARDS where you play with alternate rules. These rules vary; you’ll face something new and completely different at every Skirmish event. Read more about Skirmishes in our announcement blog New game mode: Skirmish.


In this Skirmish, you choose your own deck to battle with. When a unit is deployed, it gets an attack bonus equal to its operation cost and its defense is set to 1.


The prize for this Skirmish is a full set of the new Italian card, 76TH NAPOLI! This Infantry unit costs 5 Kredits to deploy and 1 Kredit to operate. It has 1 attack, 7 defense, and the deployment effect that it gets +1 attack for each defense your HQ has over the enemy HQ.




Our Skirmish Special in the store this weekend features 4 Officer packs from the base set at a 15% discount. Bolster your ranks and save during this weekend’s Skirmish!

Access the Skirmish event from the game's main screen to get an overview of the game mode, rules and prize.

This Skirmish will be accessible from January 27th at 12:00 UTC until Sunday, January 29th at 18:00 UTC.

Join this special event - win your Skirmish to claim victory and the spoils!

Please let us know what you think of the event in the comments below or on the KARDS Discord.

See you in the Skirmish this weekend!

Hello everyone!

Following the announcement of this month’s card balance changes on January 11th, we have deployed these changes on January 25th. Check out the dev blog for more details about these balance changes: Card Updates: Rally.

This patch also includes several bug fixes and some behind the scenes additions.

We thank all of our players and the KARDS Community in general for reporting bugs and discussing the game balance. If you want to get involved, join us on Discord!


A total of 15 cards have been updated in this patch.





Old: Deployment: Give your HQ +2 defense.
New: Deployment: Give your HQ +3 defense.




Old: Damage from M4 FIREFLY ignores Heavy Armor.
New: Deployment: Deal 5 damage to an enemy tank.










Old: Choose one - enemy units have -3 attack this turn OR deal 5 damage to a ground unit.
New: Choose one - enemy units have -4 attack this turn OR deal 2 damage to a ground unit.







Old: Costs 1 less to deploy if you control a US unit.
New: Costs 1 less for each US unit you control.







Old: Destruction: Deal 1 damage to the enemy HQ.
New: Destruction: If it is the enemy turn, add an AICHI D3A-2 to your support line.




Old: Give your HQ +4 defense and all friendly units +1+1.
New: Set your HQ’s defense to 8. Draw an ANCIENT EMPIRE.




Old: Your Exile cards cost 1 less, to a minimum of 1.
New: Your Exile cards cost 1 less.




Old: Deployment: Give another unit with Exile +1+1.
New: Deployment: Give another friendly Exile unit +1+1 and -1 operation cost.




Old: The first order you give each turn also gives your units +1+1.
New: When you deploy another Exile unit, give it +1+1.




Old: At the end of your turn, give each other friendly unit Mobilize.
New: At the end of your turn, give adjacent units Mobilize.

• Fixed several broken card interactions in AI matches.
  
• Fixed Pin effect not being correctly removed in specific circumstances in AI matches.

• Fixed Ambush pop-up displaying when hovering over 39th RIFLE REGIMENT in Card Collection.
  
• Fixed issue with 39th RIFLE REGIMENT attack increasing by +2 instead of +1 when taking control of enemy M8 GREYHOUND.
  
• Fixed gear icon not turning below unit BLOHM & VOSS BV 138 after its ability was triggered.
  
• Fixed broken interaction with YAMATO and orders with Remove Destruction abilities.
  
• Fixed issue where PB4Y-2 PRIVATEER cost +1 Kredit to attack for enemy units, instead of +2.
  
• Fixed issue where, in certain circumstances, URA! dealt only excess damage.
  
• Fixed issue where 37mm M1 AA GUN did not correctly reset the attack value of some units.
  
• Fixed issue where the cost for using the CROSS OF LORRAINE order was not appropriately decreased after starting the first turn.
  
• Fixed broken interaction between MINORITY RECRUITS, 15th MOTOR RIFLES and cards with Retreat ability leading to permanent immunity on enemy HQ.
  
• Fixed passive effect (+) icon not being correctly displayed under BLACK WATCH on the battlefield.
  
• Fixed broken interaction between RAID order and 22. INFANTRY REGIMENT’s ability, leading to permanent cost increase on drawn unit.
  
• Fixed issue where red number 1 was displayed at the center of the battlefield for several seconds after 56. JÄGER REGIMENT unit with active Pincer was retreated into hand.
  
• Fixed issue where OVERWHELMING FORCE order did not reset attack value of IRISH GUARDS unit when Pincer was active.
  
• Fixed issue where 2nd PARA C’s Pincer ability was triggered after the Pincered unit was removed from the battlefield.
  
• Fixed issue where NEW DOCTRINE order ability continued to work after target unit was returned to hand and redeployed.
  
• Fixed issue where KI-43-IIB OTSU’s unit ability was not triggered after enemy air unit was removed from the battlefield.

• Fixed bugged special condition in Japanese Theaters of War Campaign battle.

Update 25.01.23
An additional patch has been deployed to address the following bugs:

• Fixed special effect from SEABORNE INVASION.
  
• Fixed issue where when AI destroyed AICHI D3A-1, an AICHI D3A-2 was spawned in the AI support line.
  
• Fixed PATROL not removing the destruction effect if the target was destroyed.
  
• Fixed EXPANSION drawing cards when the enemy had a Japanese unit in the frontline.
  
• Fixed HOME DEFENSE’s cost not being reduced when ANCIENT EMPIRE was played.
  
• Fixed IL-2M PL’s ability not triggering when it attacked.

That’s all for now. As always, we welcome your feedback in the comments below and on the KARDS Discord.

Get ready for some more KARDS Open action as it returns in February with the KARDS Open XV!

SIGN UP NOW

The last KARDS Open had a diverse player pool, with plenty of excitement both in the Swiss rounds and Top Cuts weekend. The top 4 broadcast featured some incredibly intense games, with all but one matchup going all five games. Ultimately, tournament titan Noein5 beat World Championship second place title holder Head in the finals 3-1, securing the win in the OpenXIV. You can catch up on all the action from the top 4 in the last Open tournament on the KARDS YouTube Channel:

https://youtu.be/T2PsRwEsiUc

The KARDS Open tournament format is one that we will be making some adjustments to throughout 2023. The KARDS Open tournament will now be held every 3 months, instead of every 2 months. Additionally, the first Open tournament of the year will include the following alterations:

• The KARDS Open now has closed deck lists up to the top 4. In the top 16, players can bring any deck they want, but they must win with decks from different main nations. That is - once you’ve won with a deck, you cannot bring that deck, or another from the same main nation, again. Deck submission is required for the top 4 and deck lists there are open. The Swiss rounds continue to be a free-for-all with no restrictions or requirements.
  
• The number of participants getting various prizes has increased. The top 4 players still battle for a $1500 prize pool, with some altered and increased diamond and/or gold prizes for players in 5th to 32nd place, as per the table below.

You can read more about the changes to eSports in 2023 in our dev blog: KARDS eSports in 2023

In this upcoming Open tournament, players will have two chances to make it into the top 16 through one of two Swiss Qualifiers held on February 4th and March 4th.

Read on for a detailed breakdown of the different tournament stages.


Starting Saturday, February 4th, with the Swiss Qualifiers, you will compete in a best of 3 free-for-all deck format. This means that you can bring any deck you want and play it as many times as you’d like. No deck submissions and no deck restrictions! If you make the Top 8 in this stage, you will advance to stage two.

The second chance Qualifier will be held on Saturday, March 4th. This Swiss bracket is open to any player who has not already made the Top 8 cuts. You can maximize your chances of making the top 16 by playing in both qualifiers.


If you finish in the Top 8 from either of the stage one weekends, you will be qualified for the next stage. On Saturday, March 18th, you will compete in the single elimination best of 5 series. This stage does not require deck submission and deck lists remain closed. However, you must win with decks from different main nations. For example, if you win with a Japan deck, you cannot bring that deck again or any Japan main deck - you’ll have to switch to a different main nation for the next match. If you lose with a Japan deck, you can bring Japan again, even a different Japan deck.


If you’ve made it to the Top 4 on March 18th, you’ve made it to stage three! These final games are played and broadcast LIVE on the KARDS Twitch Channel on March 19th. For this stage of the tournament, you will be required to submit four decks. Deck lists for this stage of the tournament are open. Games are best of 5 series with one ban in conquest format.

For all questions about participating in the Open and all things related to KARDS tournaments, please join the KARDS eSports Discord: https://discord.gg/288DQexmng


Swiss Qualifiers

• Compete in one or both qualifier Swiss bracket weekends.
  
• Top 8 from each weekend bracket moves on to Top Cuts weekend
  
• Closed deck lists with no deck restrictions! Play whatever you want, whenever you want!

Best of Three Matchups

• Swiss Bracket with 212 player maximum (8 Swiss rounds)
  
• Swiss Qualifier Bracket A February 4th @ 13:00 GMT
  
• Swiss Qualifier Bracket B March 4th @ 16:00 GMT

Top Cuts Weekend

• Top 16
  
  • Deck lists are closed
    
  • Best of 5 series
    
  • Must win with different decks from different main nations
    
  • Top 16 Bracket March 18th @ 13:00 GMT
• Top 4
  
  • Deck lists are open
    
  • Best of 5 series with 1 ban in Conquest format
    
  • DECK LIST SUBMISSION DEADLINE: March 18th @ 23:59 GMT
    
  • Top 4 Bracket & Live Stream: March 19th @ 13:00 GMT

Prizes
The KARDS Open has a prize pool of 1500 USD that is split the following way:

• 1st: 600 USD
  
• 2nd: 450 USD
  
• 3rd: 250 USD
  
• 4th: 200 USD
  
• 5th - 8th: 500 Diamonds and 2000 Gold
  
• 9th - 16th: 200 Diamonds and 1000 Gold
  
• 17th - 32nd: 1000 Gold

Sign ups are open now!

Qualifier A
Qualifier B

Update 02.02.23
In light of community feedback, prize pools for OCC tournaments have been adjusted. You can see the updated prize pools in the Officer Club Championship section below. Thank you to everyone who provided their feedback about eSports changes in 2023!


Dear KARDS players,

We are excited to share with you details surrounding KARDS eSports in 2023!

The eSports scene is an incredibly important and valuable part of KARDS. It is something that we intend to keep nurturing and continually seek ways to evolve. In reflecting on the year that has just come to pass, we recognize the many successes of KARDS eSports in 2022, while also acknowledging the opportunities we now have to make adjustments, continue to develop and seek to improve upon the existing eSports foundation. In 2023, the main competitive tracks will be:

• Officer Club Championships
  
  • Monthly OCC: Clash
    
  • Quarterly OCC: Ultimate
• KARDS Opens
  
• KARDS Special Operations
  
• KARDS 2023 World Championship

The core competitive elements of eSports will remain the same in 2023, with some adjustments. The Officer Club Championship (OCC) is a staple of KARDS eSports, with a big motivation for players to try and reach the highest ladder position they can to prove that they are among the best KARDS players out there. The OCC experience is something we would like to expand upon in 2023, to create an even more epic journey for our OCC participants where, on a quarterly basis, the most elite players have a chance to prove that they are the Ultimate Officer Club Champions of the previous three months. KARDS Open tournaments will see some adjustments throughout the year. For the first Open of the year, we’ll add a bit more mystery into the fight for the top spots, providing additional challenge and opportunities for our Open participants. Additionally, we’re expanding the Open prize pool, adding some diamonds and gold prizes. We’re also introducing a new format, Special Operations, where a limited number of players participate in a special edition tournament with a different ruleset. Finally, the KARDS World Championship will be held in 2023 with all participants flown to Iceland to compete in a LAN environment. Read below for more details on each of these tournaments and changes therein.


In 2023, the OCC is split into two main parts - the monthly OCC: Clash, and the quarterly OCC: Ultimate. Through participation in OCC: Clash tournaments, players earn points based on their performance. After three OCC: Clash tournaments, the 8 players with the highest point scores participate in the OCC: Ultimate. The OCC: Ultimate tournament features a 3,000 USD prize pool and is a similar broadcast production to what many have grown accustomed to in the monthly OCCs of 2022.

• The OCC: Clash is a 38 player tournament. All OCC: Clash matches are a best of three series, except the Grand Finals, which are a best of five series.
  
• The top 6 players on the in-game ladder are automatically qualified for the OCC: Clash round of 8. The remaining 32 players will face off for the remaining two spots.
  
• The qualification for the remaining two spots is done through two 16 person double elimination brackets, seeded based on ladder position.
  
• Each player will bring 3 decks to the OCC: Clash tournament with different main nations.
  
• Videos with all the matches from OCC: Clash events are premiered on the KARDS YouTube channel the weekend after they are played, with commentary.
  
• Through OCC: Clash events, players earn OCC Points. The 8 players with the highest number of OCC Points after a 3 month period compete in the OCC: Ultimate, a quarterly tournament featuring the most elite KARDS players of the three previous months.
  
• The OCC Points board will be updated on the kards.com website on a monthly basis, following OCC: Clash video publication.
  
• OCC: Clash tournaments feature diamond and gold prizes for the top 8 participants.
  
• For the OCC: Ultimate tournament, players bring 4 decks from 4 different main nations. All OCC: Ultimate matches are a best of five series.
  
• Seeding for the OCC: Ultimate is based on the OCC Point system (i.e. the first place player faces off against the eighth, the fourth against the fifth, and so forth).
  
• The OCC: Ultimate tournament features a 3,000 USD prize pool and is broadcast live on the KARDS Twitch channel.
  
• See more details about OCC Points and the current OCC Point standings, updated monthly, here: OCC Points
  
• Catch all previous Officer Club Championship shows on the KARDS YouTube channel.

Please note that changes to OCC tournaments take effect in February, in competing for results of the January season.





Additionally, winners of OCC: Clash events and everyone who makes it to the OCC: Ultimate Top 8 receives the coveted KARDS Champion cardback.


The KARDS Open tournament has been, and will continue to be, a free to enter tournament open to all who are interested in giving it a go. This is a format that we will be making some adjustments to throughout 2023. The Open tournament will now be held every 3 months, instead of every 2 months. The first KARDS Open tournament features a 1,500 USD prize pool and a much wider range of diamond and gold prizes, going all the way down to the top 32 participants. The top 16 will be a free-for-all, but a requirement is made that players must always win with different main nations. For example, if you win with a Japan deck, you cannot bring that deck again or any Japan deck - you’ll have to switch to a different main nation for the next match. If you lose with a Japan deck, you can bring Japan again, even a different Japan deck. This small but significant change adds a bit more mystery to the Opens Top Cuts, meaning new challenges, but also opportunities for participants.

• The KARDS Open starts with two Swiss qualifiers, held on two different weekends.
  
• For the Swiss stage of the tournament, deck lists are closed and there are no deck requirements. Simply bring your best deck, test your metal, and take your shot at competitive glory!
  
• The top 8 players from each weekend qualify for the top 16.
  
• In the top 16, participants play a Single Elimination bracket with closed deck lists in a best of 5 series. However, each win must be with a deck from a different main nation.
  
• In the top 4, players submit 4 decks from different main nations and continue to play a Single Elimination bracket until we have a KARDS Open Champion. This final part of the Open is played with open deck lists.
  
• The top 4 players split a 1,500 USD prize pool, with everyone else that qualifies for the top 32 earning some diamonds and/or gold for their efforts.
  
• The top 4 action is broadcast on the KARDS Twitch channel.
  
• Catch all the previous KARDS Open broadcasts on our YouTube channel.

A new tournament type is entering the KARDS eSports scene in 2023: Special Operations! These tournaments feature special formats which will vary throughout the year. The first Special Operations tournament will be Pauper, meaning that players’ decks can only contain Standard and Limited rarity cards. Special Operations tournaments have a limited number of seats, with 32 players competing in a double elimination bracket. You only have to bring one deck that adheres to the rules of the special format, and games are a best of one series. This event is run completely in one weekend, with the final 4 players duking it out in a live broadcast. This tournament format offers a different sort of tournament experience to our players and a different viewing experience for our viewers. Prizes for this tournament feature diamonds, gold, and heaps of fun!

• Players fight to prove that they are the best in a given format in a 32 player double elimination bracket. This means that participation is limited. Sign-ups for the event are done through challonge.com - keep an eye out on the KARDS Discord and social media channels, where we’ll announce when sign-ups are open. Make sure to secure your spot!
  
• Participants must submit one deck and play a best of one series.
  
• The top 6 players duke it out for the win in a show broadcast on the KARDS Twitch channel.
  
• All top 8 players earn some diamond or gold prizes for their efforts.

This one is still almost a year away but we’re already getting excited for the 2023 World Championship!

In 2023, we aim to have all participants in the World Championship on location in Iceland, the home of KARDS creators 1939 Games, to play the finals in a LAN environment.

The KARDS World Championship is an epic event featuring a 10,000 USD prize pool. All players in the game can participate in the open qualifiers for the World Championship directly through the client. During certain qualification periods, a special queue is open to all players where they can earn points towards their World Championship qualification in an effort to earn their spot among the elite 128 players entering into stage two of the World Championship: The Knockout Stage.

Throughout the year, players may earn a pre-qualification to the top 128 player Knockout Stage. The top 4 players from the 2022 World Championship as well as winners of all Officer Club Championship tournaments, KARDS Open tournaments, and in-game seasons from September 2022 through August 2023 are pre-qualified to participate in the Knockout Stage.

Expect more details to be announced on the format and schedule surrounding the World Championship as we get closer to the start of the open qualification period in the latter half of the year.

You can read more details about the upcoming year in eSports on the KARDS eSports page.

We’re incredibly excited for the eSports year ahead. Please share your thoughts with us on these changes in the comments below.

Elín, Community Manager and Head of eSports

A new Skirmish event is live now until January 15th!

Another new and unique set of rules for this weekend’s Skirmish! Here’s everything you need to know.

Skirmish is a special game mode in KARDS where you play with alternate rules. These rules vary; you’ll face something new and completely different at every Skirmish event. Read more about Skirmishes in our announcement blog New game mode: Skirmish.


In this Skirmish, you choose your own deck to battle with. All cards in your deck will have a minimum cost of 3 to play. Operation cost is not affected. Damage dealt to a HQ is reduced by the number of units friendly to the HQ on the battlefield. Players also start with +2 Kredit slots.


The prize for this Skirmish is a full set of the new French card, 43e RÉGIMENT MOTORISÉ. This Infantry unit costs 6 Kredits to play and 1 Kredit to operate. It has 4 attack, 5 defense, as well as both the Mobilize and Guard abilities. Additionally, it has the effect that when this unit loses Mobilize, you fully repair your units.




In the store this weekend we have a France Skirmish Special, containing 4 Allegiance packs, 1 Allegiance Officer Pack, and the Allegiance Card Back. A great opportunity to expand your collection of Allegiance cards with a fantastic discount!

Access the Skirmish event from the game's main screen to get an overview of the game mode, rules and prize.

This Skirmish will be accessible from January 13th at 12:00 GMT until Sunday, January 15th at 18:00 GMT.

Join this special event - win your Skirmish to claim victory and the spoils!

Please let us know what you think of the event in the comments below or on the KARDS Discord.

See you in the Skirmish this weekend!