KARDS - The WWII Card Game News

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.

[h2]Officer Club Championship[/h2]

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.

[h3]OCC: Clash Prizes[/h3]



[h3]OCC: Ultimate Prizes[/h3]



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

[h2]KARDS Open[/h2]

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.

[h3]KARDS Open Prizes[/h3]



[h2]KARDS Special Operations[/h2]

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.

[h3]KARDS Special Operations Prizes[/h3]



[h2]KARDS World Championship[/h2]

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.

[h3]Rules for Skirmish #14[/h3]

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.

[h3]Prize for Skirmish #14[/h3]

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.



[h3]Special Store Offer for Skirmish #14[/h3]

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!

Happy New Year!

We are back from the winter holiday! Let’s start the new year with some exciting card changes.

A few more Exile-related cards are going to be changed so that you can have more options for developing Exile decks. Nerfs are included as usual, such as the notorious 2e RIMA. Buffs for underperforming cards are definitely enclosed as well. We hope to see some new and interesting decks arising from these changes.

[h2]5TH PARACHUTE BRIGADE[/h2]



The difference between 0 and 1 is huge when it comes to deploying units. Having 4 Mobilize units at turn 1 might just decide the game, even though the chances are low. Deploying parachute units usually involves transport aircraft or something similar and thus should not be free in the game. This unit costs 1 to deploy, but 0 to operate.

[h2]BALUCH REGIMENT[/h2]



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

This infantry regiment of the British Indian Army had impressive service during the war. Giving more defense to your HQ might help this unit find its home in some British defensive decks.

[h2]M4 FIREFLY[/h2]



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

Having heavy armor is quite useful in combat. Ignoring heavy armor seems to be a completely different story. As a very powerful tank destroyer, M4 FIREFLY is supposed to be a big threat against tanks. With this new version, it is able to destroy most tanks in KARDS when deployed.

[h2]3. FALLSCHIRMJÄGER[/h2]



Obviously, this parachute unit is having trouble with multiple unit types. With Blitz, it is capable of joining the battlefield quickly and fighting well along with friendly tanks in the same line.

[h2]361. AFRIKA REGIMENT[/h2]



With 1 more defense, this unit might just survive and have a much better chance of moving into the frontline, dealing some damage to the enemy HQ.

[h2]BARRAGE[/h2]



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.

While this card’s function remains the same, its numbers are changed significantly. It only costs 2 to play, making it much more efficient. Dealing 2 damage can be very handy in early game and reducing attack by 4 can be very helpful for your units in combat.

[h2]34TH GUARDS[/h2]



The Soviet self-damage deck is becoming really popular and powerful. It’s been a while since we have seen a really good T1 Soviet deck. We hope the deck will remain strong, but it’s also time to slow down this big boy a bit.

[h2]A-20B[/h2]



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

The more US units you have, the less this bomber costs. It’s possible to deploy this bomber for free, if you have 4 US units on the board. Its stats are adjusted to be more in the line with the other A-20 bomber in the game.

[h2]SBD 3 DAUNTLESS[/h2]



The SBD is best remembered as the bomber that delivered the fatal blows to the Japanese carriers at the Battle of Midway, earning its nickname “Slow But Deadly”. However, costing 3 to operate seems to be too slow for the bomber to do anything in KARDS, not to mention destroying a carrier.

[h2]AICHI D3A-1[/h2]



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.

About 50 AICHI bombers were launched for the first wave attack on Pearl Harbor. The number was increased to about 80 for the second wave. They sank more Allied warships than any other Axis aircraft. If you destroy an enemy AICHI D3A-1 in the game, an AICHI D3A-2 is added to the enemy support line. It’s very likely that the enemy has more AICHI D3A-2 in hand or deck. Those bombers are flying in squadrons. Watch out!

[h2]ANCIENT EMPIRE[/h2]



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

The HQ’s defense is set to 8 by playing this card. Depending on its current defense, your HQ might lose or gain defense, just like the ups and downs in ancient empires, which is the idea of this new version. In addition, some units are much stronger while your HQ’s defense is low. Are you able to survive with 8 defense? With maximum 4 copies in the deck, are you able to defeat the enemy before running out of such cards?

[h2]PZL P.11[/h2]



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

It’s not a secret that Exile decks are still not working as they should. In this patch, we are going to continue the journey of improving Exile cards. This fighter’s ability remains pretty much the same with a much more flexible cost for itself.

[h2]HURRICANE PL[/h2]



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

Besides +1+1, the -1 operation cost buff can make the targeted Exile unit operable in most cases, helping you control the board.

[h2]BATTLE MK I PL[/h2]



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.

This Exile bomber is now working with other Exile units, instead of buffing all units. Costing 2 to deploy makes it much easier to trigger its ability, supporting other Exile units.

[h2]2e RIMa[/h2]



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

According to our data, this is one of the most used cards of the new skirmish cards. While many players enjoy playing this card, it seemingly has crossed the line of causing a bad gaming experience. We have received many complaints through various feedback channels regarding this card. We would like to keep this card useful and good, but it needs to be much less annoying. It now only gives adjacent units Mobilize. In order to get more value from this card’s ability, either this unit or its adjacent units need to be moved.

That is all, these changes will be live in late January. Please continue giving us your feedback, which is very valuable to us. We are checking your feedback, as always.

Thanks and see you on the battlefield, commanders!

A new Skirmish event is live now until January 1st!

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

Skirmish is an entirely new 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.

[h3]Rules for Skirmish #13[/h3]

Welcome the new year with a special air themed Skirmish! In this Skirmish, you choose your own deck to battle with. However, only air units and orders are allowed in the deck. When a unit survives combat, destroy it and replace it with a unit from the same nation with cost 1 higher, if possible.

[h3]Prize for Skirmish #13[/h3]

The prize for this Skirmish is a full set of the new Polish card, Hold the Line! This Countermeasure costs 1 Kredit to play and has the effect that when an enemy unit enters the frontline, Pin and deal 1 damage to all units in the frontline.



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 December 30th at 12:00 GMT until Sunday, January 1st 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!

A new Skirmish event is live now until December 25th!

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

Skirmish is an entirely new 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.

[h3]Rules for Skirmish #12[/h3]

We have some extra special rules for this holiday Skirmish! In this Skirmish, you choose your own deck to battle with and your deck can include cards you do not own. Go wild!

[h3]Prize for Skirmish #12[/h3]

The prize for winning this Skirmish is a full set of the new Japanese card, 3rd Yokosuka! This Infantry unit costs 1 Kredit to play and 0 Kredits to operate. It has 1 attack, 1 defense, the Blitz ability and has +1 attack for each adjacent Japanese unit.



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 December 23rd at 12:00 GMT until Sunday, December 25th 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!