PHAGEBORN online card game News

Denizens of Issilith,

It's been a long wait, but we are happy to announce that the new version of Phageborn is now available to play as a free-to-play game! Players who have previously bought the game can look forward to exciting rewards in the form of a Founders Pass as mentioned in the earlier news: https://store.steampowered.com/news/app/1037990/view/3111431264446065002

We have put in a lot of work into updating the game and many features have been reworked from scratch. As development is still ongoing, we urge you to join our Discord channel to follow our progress updates and send us feedback on what you would like to see in the game.

Rest assured that we have more planned for you, there will be more exciting news coming up very soon so keep an eye on this space and on our Discord channel.

Yours truly,
Games Revolted

0.60.1.
- fixed bug preventing basson from playing discounted energy card on first turn
- fixed draconic fury creating empty tooltip on affected card
- fixed several cards not applying "buffed" status to cards when they affect them
- fixed error caused by purchasing icon while icon select dialog is left open
- added steam login!
- player profile now shows default customization for the displayed avatar when viewed by other players as well
- fix avatar subdue playing core damage VFX even when no core damage is dealt
- switch to https protocol on PROD setup
- allow user to navigate around the menu while looking for match!
- fix leadership cards with threshold 2 not being highlighted if trait gives +1 leadership during mulligan
- disable cancel button sooner once a match has been found, preventing errors
- add check on server to stop invites to players in matchmaking process
- fixed problem with transparent cards that once occurred, persists until the game is restarted

Dear Denizens of Issilith!

Sumac may be the second favourite card for our dear team, however, there is one more hagly toxic Vestige card that made the list. And never forget the card which was most likely responsible for crushing your dreams at one point. Any guesses on today's team's favourite cards?

Team member: Filip Matanović (Unity Developer)
Favourite Card: Virulent Hag
The older a Vestige witch is, usually the more power she has to rely on. That is why you should never underestimate a Virulent Hag when you see one. She may be old, she may appear fragile, but she will hurt you in more ways than one. Her toxic words will curse you, your kin, their kin, and the kin of their kin.
Virulent Hag, a 3 essence cost unit, can bring a lot of value to your deck. While her stats, set at 2/3, are adequate, the effect of this card is what makes it so interesting. At the start of your turn, Virulent Hag will put 2 acid counters on a random non-local enemy unit. Position Virulent Hag in the lane where she will have the biggest impact.


Why: Virulent Hag is a great card. Especially if used correctly. It will easily help you snowball tempo and put pressure on your opponent just by having this card on the battleground. And all that for 3 essence! What else do you need in a card?

Team member: Rahela Bargh (3D Artist)
Favourite Card: Monster Slayer
Issilith is a home for many creatures, both big and small, benevolent and maleficent. You can imagine what havoc these big, bloodthirsty creatures can wreak. That is why Issilith's finest bounty hunters train their whole life so they can go head to head with such creatures. No bounty is too big. It only becomes more tempting.
Monster Slayer is a neutral card which means you can have it in your deck no matter which faction you choose to play. For 6 essence you get a 4/3 unit which can destroy a local unit with 6 or more power once you played it on the battleground! All that hard training really paid out.


Why: Its ability to neutralize a strong card that my opponent has on board is something that can easily swing the scale in my favour. That is why the Monster Slayer is my favourite card. The bigger the unit, the harder it falls.

Did you cross your path with any of these cards while playing Phageborn? What were your experiences? Feel free to comment below or join our Discord channel (Discord) and share your experience with us!

Yours truly,
Games Revolted

„Do not be so quick to judge, young one. The Vestige witches may be mad now but there was a time when they were the first to stand up and protect. Do you even know how the Vestige came to be? No? Well then, my child, sit down and listen. After all, I am The Storyteller...“

In the days far gone, Mother Issilith had many children. They all lived together happily until one of them, Lucille, started to yearn for more. She left her home and her siblings, leaving her past way of life behind. The journey led her to seek shelter beneath the large tree crowns where she created Bratuscula, or the Eternal Tree as you may know it, the beginning and end of every Vestige witch.
But if Lucille thought that her deeds would go unpunished, she was gravely mistaken. Her siblings, consumed with rage, cast a curse on Lucille so horrid and oh, so twisted... If Lucille was ever to have a child it would not live past its childhood years. For the one who betrays her family, only to live amongst inferior beings, does not deserve to feel the warmth of motherly love, only the harsh grip of excruciating pain. Eradicating her legacy will just be an added bonus.

Eager to help and protect, the Vestige witches soon became the protectors of nature and all living creatures in their midst. The most powerful ones were even handpicked by Lucille herself and bestowed with a gift of immortality, so if someone managed to kill them they would just be reborn with all of their memories intact. They lived in harmony, happy and thriving. Until Lucille had a daughter. After a few years, the child fell ill. Lucille tried everything she could to save her. But nothing worked, healing magic couldn't save her life. Devastated with grief she became desperate. In one last attempt to save her child, Lucille sacrificed a part of herself so she would become one with her daughter again. And so it was.
As the time flew by we can only assume that the curse affected Lucille too. She started to lose herself, madness crept into her mind, and even the Vestige had to turn against her. But they couldn't hurt the High Queen, their Mother, they were made in her image and likeness after all. And they sealed her away so she couldn't hurt anyone. The immortal witches fell into deep slumber afterwards, only to wake up if their protection is needed.

„The rest of the story you should remember, my child. It is with the arrival of the Phage that the Vestige witches started to go mad as well, without even knowing why. Such a shame...“

„The Drakkorith Empire may be the mightiest, but sometimes, my child, there are threats bigger lurking from the shadows. For you can never know what to expect when those who were once good suddenly turn bad...“

Vestige... Before this whole mayhem befell Issilith, Vestige were the protectors of all nature. Their magic was pure, just like their hearts were. But as the presence of the Phage slowly descended on Issilith, it started to leave its mark on everything connected to it, including that which is the source of Vestige's magic, nature. With time, as nature became tainted with Phage's influence, these immortal protectors started slowly to fall into madness. Their healing powers healed no more, their hearts are now filled with hatred, beautiful trees became things from nightmares... And as time goes by, they only grow stronger.

Vestige witches are patient beings. The strongest of them are immortal, so time has little meaning for them. You can see that trait in their playstyle. They will seek to limit the opponent's options and try to force them to make unfavourable trades. And they only need that little opening so they can start to overgrow on everything.

Acid is a signature Vestige mechanic which allows players to deal damage well above their curve, with the little help of time. Acid damages its target every turn, but with every tick, it loses its potency by 1. So if a unit had 2 acid counters on itself, at the end of the turn it will deal 2 damage and reduce the current acid counter to 1. But what is even better, acid counters can stack! So if a unit has 2 acid counters on itself and you apply 2 more on it, it will stack to 4 and at the end of that turn, it will apply 4 points of acid damage all while reducing its potency to 3.
Besides the acid, some remnants of Vestige healing magic can still be found in their deck as well as on some of their Avatars. Although you just might cross your path with their curses beforehand. From healers to assassins, this faction can check a lot of boxes.
If you’re sneaky and cunning (and have a lot of patience), the Vestige may be the right choice for you to play. Just keep in mind how their patience can easily become their downfall. Oftentimes Vestige will think they have all the time in the world to make the perfect setup and execute everything they want. But the reality is a cruel mistress, even to Vestige, so make sure your early game will be good enough to give you the time and space Vestige need in order to truly become a force to be reckoned with.

However, if you find yourself against them, don’t give them time to set up what they desire! Get on that battleground with your faithful mouse prepared and your cards blazing, or you just might go back to the earth from which you came.

“Will their madness become their undoing? Or will it give them what they desire the most? Who knows... But one thing is sure if you ever set your foot in Cursed Woods be very aware of your every step because your next may become your last… So join our Discord community (Discord) and have someone watching your back while you explore everything Issilith has to offer… ”