KARDS - The WWII Card Game News

Good day, Commanders!

The long-awaited KARDS Winter Expansion - Homefront - is approaching, deploying on November 27th.

Until now, details have been kept tightly under wraps, with only the upcoming rotation update marking the first step toward this new chapter. If you missed that briefing, you can catch up here:

HOMEFRONT: CARD ROTATION

Today, we’re ready to share more intel, diving into the new mechanic, the themes, and the spirit of unity that define Homefront.

[h2]New Mechanic: Bond[/h2]
At the heart of Homefront lies Bond: a new mechanic that tests your command over your nation’s forces.

When you play a Bond card from hand, your HQ takes Morale Damage unless you controlled a unit of the same nation at the start of your turn.

In other words: keep your forces united, or risk paying the price.

Morale Damage (previously known as Fatigue Damage) now takes center stage, reflecting the cost of overextension - whether from depleted decks or fractured alliances.

Bond introduces fresh tactical depth, challenging you to balance composition, tempo, and timing to maintain battlefield cohesion.

[h2]Nations At War[/h2]
Homefront brings 87 brand-new cards, ushering in a new era of strategy and deckbuilding. Familiar tactics yield to new alliances as nations adapt, rally, and evolve.

This expansion celebrates how nations mobilized their people, bolstered morale, and stood shoulder to shoulder in the face of war. Expect nation-specific cards that capture the essence of cooperation, unity, and resilience on every front.

KARDS features a range of keywords, but for the first time we are defining a specific subset - the Combat Keywords: Ambush, Blitz, Fury, Guard, Heavy Armor, Shock, and Smokescreen.

Each nation brings its own unique flavor:

• Britain finds strength in steadfast infantry and continuity.
  
• Germany retools battlefield tactics with units returning to hand.
  
• The Soviet Union doubles down on ferocious combat keywords.
  
• The USA inspires its forces through upgrades from within the deck.
  
• Japan masters removal, striking with precision and purpose.
  
• France rises through a reworked Resistance, embodying defiance and courage.

Italy, Poland, and Finland, also receive new reinforcements that expand their arsenals and strengthen their place in global strategy.

Together, these elements form the core of Homefront - cooperation, perseverance, and the unbreakable bonds that hold nations together under fire.

[h2]Brace for Spoiler Season[/h2]
Stand by, Commanders - the Homefront spoiler season begins next week!

The first glimpses of the new cards, mechanics, and strategies are about to be revealed. Keep your eyes on all official KARDS channels as the secrets of Homefront begin to surface.

Commanders, the battlefield is set. The most elite KARDS players in the world are preparing to march into the ultimate showdown - the KARDS 2025 World Championship, taking place December 20 - 21.

This is the pinnacle of the competitive KARDS year. Sixteen of the finest tacticians, hardened through fierce battles across the Expansion Tournaments and last year's World Championship, will now face off for glory, honor, and a $12,000 prize pool.

[h2]The Qualified Elite[/h2]
Only the best of the best have made it this far:

• Players who fought their way to the top 3 in one of this year's Expansion Tournaments.
  
• The top 4 eligible finishers from the 2024 World Championship, returning to defend their honor.

Each of these 16 commanders has proven themselves on the frontline - climbing through the in-game ranked ladder, conquering tournament leaderboards, and seizing victory when the stakes were highest.

• Spoker
  
• dandelion882691
  
• 变成光守护阿梓公主
  
• killswitch
  
• hqt18
  
• 2598252160
  
• 煎饼1
  
• 作死的骡博
  
• Twi Dcargo
  
• eszemteszem
  
• syswdsr
  
• 禁忌之门
  
• Sie_
  
• 昂伟联邦
  
• 失其本心八幡
  
• henry449856878

[h2]The Draw Show[/h2]
Before the battles begin, the stage will be set. In late November, a special drawing will determine the seeding of the World Championship bracket. Who will clash in the opening round? Which rivalries will be rekindled? The draw will decide it all.

[h2]The Format[/h2]
The KARDS 2025 World Championship will be fought in a double elimination bracket, ensuring every commander must prove their resilience on the battlefield.

• Day 1 (December 13): Opening salvo - matchups from the Round of 16 and Round of 8.
  
• Day 2 (December 14): The decisive campaign - every clash from the final four, leading to the coronation of the new World Champion.

Each battle is a best-of-five series, with players bringing four decks crafted from the upcoming Winter Expansion. Strategy, preparation, and nerves of steel will decide who advances and who falls.

[h2]Broadcast & Commentary[/h2]
Every move, bluff, and breakthrough will be captured by our expert KARDS casters, guiding viewers through the action and analyzing the tactics of the world's finest commanders. Catch the action live on the official KARDS Twitch and Bilibili channels.

[h2]The Spoils of War[/h2]
The $12,000 prize pool will be divided among the top four commanders:

• 1st place: $6,000 and the title of KARDS World Champion
  
• 2nd place: $3,000
  
• 3rd place: $1,800
  
• 4th place: $1,200

Honor, prestige, and hard-fought rewards await those who rise to the top.

[h2]Prepare for Battle[/h2]
Mark your calendars: December 20 - 21, 2025. The final campaign of the year is coming, and with it, unforgettable clashes, breathtaking plays, and the crowning of the KARDS 2025 World Champion.

Who will reign supreme? Tune in and witness history on the battlefield of KARDS.

Good day, Commanders!

Today, we are excited to officially announce the next major expansion for KARDS:

[h2]⚔ HOMEFRONT ⚔[/h2]
[h3]Deploying November 27th[/h3]
This winter expansion marks the next evolution of the KARDS battlefield, introducing new mechanics, refreshed strategies, and a thematic focus on how nations rally their people, forge alliances, and sustain morale in the long war.

With its arrival, a new card rotation will take effect. This announcement outlines which cards are rejoining the front lines and which will be reassigned to the Reserve pool when the expansion goes live.

Please note that this is not yet the start of spoiler season. The Homefront reveal campaign will begin separately in mid-November - and it will be our most explosive spoiler season to date.

[h2]Returning Cards[/h2]
A total of 24 cards currently in Reserves will return to active duty on November 27th: four from each of the main nations (Germany, Britain, USA, Japan, and the Soviet Union), along with four iconic French cards from the Allegiance set. Vive la Résistance!

Check out the full list of returning cards below.

Note: Some of the returning cards may return in reworked form. We’re excited to share more details about these with you during the spoiler season in November.

[h2]Moving to Reserves[/h2]
With the launch of Homefront, a total of 113 existing cards will rotate to Reserves. These cards will no longer be available in standard constructed play, but please keep the following in mind:

• Reserve cards remain playable in the Classic PvP mode, friendly challenge matches, and AI training matches.
  
• You may recycle Reserved cards, which contributes to your weekly crate progress.
  
• New expansion cards are safe from Reserve rotation for at least 1.5 years.
  
• Some Reserve cards may return in future expansions - possibly with adjustments!

The full list of cards moving to Reserves can be found below.

[h2]Onward to Spoiler Season[/h2]
This rotation is only the first briefing - the next stage of the campaign begins soon. The Homefront spoiler season will kick off in mid-November, where we’ll reveal the new cards, mechanics, and strategies preparing to reshape the battlefield.

Homefront deploys November 27th. Prepare your forces - a new chapter is about to unfold.

[h2]Moving From Reserve Pool[/h2]

• FW 190 JAGDBOMBER
  
• ROYAL ULSTER RIFLES
  
• C-47 SKYTRAIN
  
• MONASTYR
  
• LAST RITES
  
• U-48
  
• SEAFORTH HIGHLANDERS
  
• FIVE YEAR PLAN
  
• RED DEVILS
  
• FOR THE EMPEROR
  
• JOINT OPERATION
  
• M3A3 HONEY
  
• BRYANSK IRREGULARS
  
• M16 HALFTRACK
  
• Ki-61-II TONY
  
• BF 109E-7 TROP
  
• SPITFIRE Mk V
  
• 25th INFANTRY REGIMENT
  
• 17th INFANTRY REGIMENT
  
• JUNGLE WARFARE
  
• EXPEDITIONARY CORPS
  
• VIVE LA RESISTANCE!
  
• ARMING THE RESISTANCE
  
• LIBERATION

[h2]Moving To Reserve Pool[/h2]

• H75-C1
  
• COMPROMISE
  
• 1er RÉGIMENT ÉTRANGER
  
• 2e BRIGADE
  
• OBICE DA 75/13
  
• EASTERN FRONT BOUND
  
• AGENCY AFRICA
  
• FROZEN ASSETS
  
• ENVELOP
  
• ALPENFESTUNG
  
• KOMET
  
• KING TIGER
  
• WELLINGTON
  
• HMS TALBOT
  
• SEXTON
  
• A34 COMET
  
• YANK
  
• VICTORY MARCH
  
• 13th ENGINEERS BATTALION
  
• M26 PERSHING
  
• WINTER OFFENSIVE
  
• KV-1 1941
  
• GAMBIT
  
• TRACTOR FACTORIES
  
• 1st YOKOSUKA
  
• KAWANISHI H6K
  
• F1M2 PETE
  
• KOKURA’S SWORD
  
• KURMARK AUFKLÄRUNG
  
• 139. GEBIRGSJÄGER
  
• MOUNTAIN OFFENSIVE
  
• 141. GEBIRGSJÄGER
  
• BLITZ DOCTRINE
  
• BAKER STREET IRREGULARS
  
• VILDEBEEST
  
• GREEN HOWARDS
  
• ENEMY CONTACT
  
• SDF
  
• BOMBER MAFIA
  
• BLUE AND GRAY
  
• EMBARGO
  
• MOBILIZATION
  
• P-40 K
  
• 125th RIFLE REGIMENT
  
• BY THE SWORD
  
• 60th CAVALRY REGIMENT
  
• 85mm D-44 FIELD GUN
  
• MASS ATTACK
  
• MIKAWA REGIMENT
  
• WINTER REGIMENT
  
• M6A1 SEIRAN
  
• CODE OF BUSHIDO
  
• DIVINE WIND
  
• TIP OF THE SPEAR
  
• STUG IV
  
• 171. INFANTRY REGIMENT
  
• PANZER IV F2
  
• HIT THE DROP POINT
  
• COMMANDO RAID
  
• 15th RECCE
  
• BLENHEIM Mk I
  
• BLACKBURN SKUA Mk II
  
• INFILTRATE
  
• FIREBOMB
  
• THE DEUCE
  
• 37mm AA M1 Gun
  
• SUPPLY PRIORITIES
  
• FUROR
  
• 35th MOUNTAIN RIFLES
  
• 13th RIFLE REGIMENT
  
• TURMOIL
  
• 392nd RIFLES
  
• 266th GUARDS RIFLES
  
• B5N KATE
  
• TSU REGIMENT
  
• TYPE 89 Chi-Ro
  
• Ki-21 SALLY
  
• TAKE LIBERTY
  
• STURM-BRIGADE RHODOS
  
• RECUPERATION
  
• 13. GEBIRGSJÄGER
  
• 136. GEBIRGSJÄGER
  
• 50. INFANTRY REGIMENT
  
• 15. AUFKLÄRUNG
  
• PANZER IV-G
  
• LURE
  
• 5th PARACHUTE BRIGADE
  
• SEA EMBARGO
  
• DELAYING TACTICS
  
• QF 40mm Mk III
  
• STIFF UPPER LIP
  
• No. 9 COMMANDO
  
• AMERICA AT WAR
  
• HIDDEN PLANS
  
• 164th INFANTRY REGIMENT
  
• UNCLE SAM
  
• 4th MARINES
  
• 103rd CAVALRY RECON
  
• 142nd INFANTRY REGIMENT
  
• FIELD RECON
  
• 95th RIFLE REGIMENT
  
• 1357th RIFLES
  
• T-34-85
  
• COVERT OPERATION
  
• BT-7
  
• 34th GUARDS
  
• KAWANISHI E7K
  
• SHOCK ATTACK
  
• DIPLOMATIC ATTACHE
  
• GRAND PLANS
  
• G4M1 BETTY
  
• IMPERIAL STRENGTH
  
• 51st RECON

Hello Commanders,

The season takes a darker turn from October 29th to November 3rd as Halloween arrives in KARDS! Enjoy a touch of eerie atmosphere across the battlefield, with drifting smoke, bats overhead, and spiderwebs adorning your board.

[h2]🎃 Halloween Theme[/h2]
Step into the spirit of the season with subtle spooky effects and a hauntingly stylish battlefield makeover. The visuals will be active throughout the event period, bringing a festive new feel to your matches.

[h2]🦇 Seasonal Shop Offers[/h2]
The in-game shop features Halloween-themed bundles which include unique seasonal card backs, based on real WW2 insignias:

• Ghost Army (USA)
  
• JG 20 (Germany)
  
• 6th Wing (Italy)

You’ll also find special themed emotes inspired by classic spooky cinema:

• “Do you want to play a game?”
  
• “I see dead people.”
  
• “It’s alive!”

The Halloween-themed cosmetics are permanent unlocks and can be enjoyed all year round.

Join the fun between October 29th and November 3rd and enjoy the festive atmosphere before the fog clears!

Hello everyone!

Following our announcement earlier this week, the October balance patch went live on October 28th. You can find the full breakdown on the balance patch here:

Dev Blog - October Balance Patch

This update delivers 14 balance changes to freshen up the meta leading into the winter expansion, expected at the end of November. Alongside these adjustments, we’ve included a variety of bug fixes, optimizations, visual upgrades, and behind-the-scenes improvements.

Read on for all the details!


[h2]Nerfs[/h2]
[h3]HENSCHEL HS 129[/h3]

Old: Deals double damage against ground unit targets. Deployment: Fight target enemy unit.
New: Has +2 attack against ground targets. Deployment: Fight target enemy unit.

[h3]CAPITULATION[/h3]


[h3]SEAHAWK[/h3]


[h3]4th ALABAMA[/h3]

Old: Blitz. Show when drawn: Give your units +2 attack until end of turn.
New: Blitz. Show when drawn: Give your units +1 attack until end of turn.

[h3]SABAE REGIMENT[/h3]


[h3]KYOTO REGIMENT[/h3]


[h3]110e RÉGIMENT MOTORISÉ[/h3]

Old: Blitz. Give your units +1+1 the first time you shuffle your deck each turn.
New: Blitz. Give your other units +1+1 the first time you shuffle your deck each turn.

[h2]Buffs[/h2]
[h3]CHAIN HOME[/h3]


[h3]HMS FORMIDABLE[/h3]


[h3]FAST HEINZ[/h3]

Old: Give your German tanks in the frontline +2+1.
New: Give your German tanks +2+1.

[h3]B-17 FLYING FORTRESS[/h3]


[h3]ISOLATION[/h3]


[h3]LA DIVISION LECLERC[/h3]


[h3]SEMOVENTE DA 75/18[/h3]

Old: Heavy Armor 1. Deals double damage against tanks.
New: Blitz, Heavy Armor 1. Deals double damage against tanks.


We’ve made two notable improvements that many of you will notice immediately: an all-new look for gold cards and a refreshed autocannon firing effect.

[h2]Gold Cards[/h2]
Gold cards showcase prestige and dedication, and this update makes them stand out even more. Their new look introduces deeper color, richer sheen, and a more premium finish. And remember - if your whole deck is gold, your HQ becomes gold too.

Old gold card look.

New gold card look.

[h2]Autocannons[/h2]
All units with autocannons now use a new effect that better represents real autocannon fire in look and pacing.

New autocannon look.

[h2]22nd MARINES Timing Update[/h2]
The 22nd MARINES now becomes Veteran before a Navy card is played.

This improved timing means it can benefit from effects from cards such as the USS FITCH - letting your freshly promoted Marines receive the full +2+2 Navy bonus when played from hand into a FITCH turn. This is purely a functional/timing fix and does not change the unit's cost or stats, only when the Veteran trigger applies.


[h2]Battle[/h2]

• When a 58th INFANTRY REGIMENT with an active Shock ability was taken control of (using for example CONFUSION), it incorrectly gained +2 attack both when it was taken control of and again when it was returned. Fixed.
  
• A classified achievement was not correctly granted in all applicable circumstances. Fixed. 🤫
  
• Fixed inconsistencies with certain cards and deck codes.
  
• When an operation cost decrease of a 3rd KURE SNLF was triggered on the enemy turn, the operation cost did not correctly increase at the end of the turn. Fixed.
  
• When a unit was Converted (e.g. by ROUT), if an attack on another target was initiated while the Convert animation was playing, the damage of that attack was redirected to the Converted unit. Fixed.
  
• In some cases, when VICTORY BANNERS was played on a GREIF and another friendly unit was Converted, the GREIF unit ability incorrectly triggered on itself, causing both GREIFs operation cost to be reduced twice, with the operation cost reduction remaining even after the second GREIF was destroyed. Fixed.
  
• If a unit with “Your orders deal +X damage” was located on the battlefield (e.g. KAWANISHI H6K), two SEAHAWKS deployed on the opposing side did not correctly reduce the damage from incoming orders. Fixed.
  
• When RUSH was played on 97th RIFLES causing the 97th RIFLES to be destroyed, the damage dealt by RUSH to the enemy side was unintentionally dealt by the enemy HQ after the Destruction effect of the 97th RIFLES was completed. Fixed.
  
• A veteran 269th RIFLES unit ability was not correctly triggered after it was taken control of and returned (e.g. by CONFUSION). Fixed.
  
• A Converted unit was counted as an added unit when the Convert ability was triggered (e.g. when an OXFORD was located on the battlefield with a 123s, and a 5th BRIGADE was played, the Converted 123s was counted as added and received bonuses from OXFORD). Fixed.
  
• Excess damage dealt by an OT-34 that was buffed by TURNING POINT was doubled. Fixed.
  
• When 67th BARANOVICHI and 139. GEBIRGSJÄGER were located on the battlefield, a LIGHT INFANTRY added or deployed to the battlefield did not correctly trigger the 139. GEBIRGSJÄGER unit ability. Fixed.
  
• Fixed irregularity with RM ROMA causing a card at the top of the deck to not lose Navy correctly at the end of turn.
  
• When a 1st GRENADIER REGIMENT was located on the battlefield with a 2. MARINE DIVISION on the opposing side, a HMS SCEPTRE countermeasure triggered on the opposing side triggered the 2. MARINE DIVISION, but did not correctly trigger the 1st GRENADIER REGIMENT unit ability. Fixed.
  
• The YANK order ability was not correctly triggered after playing PILOT ESCAPE. Fixed.
  
• A “+ attack” buff (e.g. from 17th INFANTRY REGIMENT, RULE BRITANNIA, CLOSE AIR SUPPORT) played on TIGER MOTH did not show the correct attack value. Fixed.
  
• COMBINED ARMS gave +1+1 buff to infantry units that count as a tank instead of +2+2 (e.g. SAVOIA CAVALLERIA). Fixed.

[h2]Campaigns[/h2]

• In the Theaters of War USA “Guadalcanal” Campaign mission 4 “Henderson Field”, the incorrect version of F4F-4 WILDCAT was added to the battlefield. Fixed.

[h2]Draft[/h2]

• When drafting a deck, if the draft was exited before the deck was complete, the deck visible in the Draft mode menu was missing a card. Fixed.

[h2]Visual[/h2]

• On PC, in certain situations, scrolling down the “Shop” menu could cause a momentary screen flicker. Fixed.
  
• Some emotes had an unintended semicolon in Shop images. Fixed.
  
• In some cases, the card collection achievement was granted when a player was very close to finishing a set collection and opened several card packs from the card set, even though the set was not fully completed. Fixed.
  
• On mobile devices, the USS MISSOURI had the incorrect image. Fixed.
  
• The counter of completed Rookie missions did not correctly update after completing the necessary Rookie missions until after the game was restarted. Fixed.
  
• Fixed incorrect animation when an order with the “Choose One” ability was Converted by the HMS SCEPTRE countermeasure.

That’s all for now - thank you to everyone who reports issues and helps us keep improving the game!

If you’d like to join the conversation, come chat with us on Discord.

Keep your eyes peeled for news on the upcoming Winter Expansion!