KARDS - The WWII Card Game News

With this update, we introduce balance changes to 18 cards. The changes are a mix of adjusting some cards in decks that have become too powerful or popular, while giving some love to other strategies and under-used cards to compensate. For the full insight on all these changes and the reasoning behind it, please read our 📜 latest balance update blog.

[h2]Card balances[/h2]

FOR THE EMPEROR
Old: All friendly units have +1 attack and operate for one less until end of turn.
New: All friendly Japanese units have +1 attack and operate for one less until end of turn.

158. NACHSCHUB
Old: Gain 2 kredits when a friendly unit destroys a unit during your turn.
New: Gain 2 kredits for the first enemy unit destroyed this turn.

HEINKEL HE 115
Old: Defense 3
New: Defense 2

URAL FACTORIES
Old: Costs 1 Kredit
New: Costs 2 Kredits

RED BANNER
Old: Costs 1 Kredit
New: Costs 2 Kredits

272nd GUARDS
Old: Deployment costs 9 Kredit
New: Deployment costs 8 Kredits

LION FOR A DAY
Old: Costs 3 Kredits
New: Costs 4 Kredits

SEA PATROL
Old: Deal 2 damage to an enemy. Costs 1 less for each friendly air unit.
New: Deal 3 damage to an enemy. Costs 1 less for each friendly air unit.

GREAT PATRIOTIC WAR
Old: Each HQ is damaged equal to half of its defense, round damage down.
New: Set the defense of each HQ to 12.

M.S.406
Old: Operation costs 2 Kredits.
New: Operation costs 1 Kredit. Exile keyword (Poland) added.

7th REGIMENT
Old: Operation costs 2 Kredits.
New: Operation costs 1 Kredit.

ME 262A SCHWALBE
Old: Deployment: All enemy air units must retreat. Attack of 8. Deployment costs 8 Kredits.
New: Deployment: Destroy all enemy air units. Attack of 7. Deployment costs 9 Kredits.

75mm MOUNTAIN GUN
Old: Operation costs 1 Kredit. Defense 1.
New: Operation costs 2 Kredits. Defense 2.

NARA REGIMENT

Old: Deployment costs 6 Kredits. Attack 5. Defense 7.
New: Deployment costs 4 Kredits. Attack 3. Defense 6.

HOTCHKISS H35
Old: -
New: Gets +1 attack when you deploy a non-French unit.

OBICE DA 75/13
Old: Deployment: Your Alpine units get Fury until end of turn.
New: Your other Alpine units can move and attack during the same turn.

TYPHOON Mk IB
Old: Attack 4.
New: Attack 5.

P1 GINGA
Old: Deployment: Deal 1 damage to an enemy ground unit and adjacent targets. Attack 5.
New: When discarded, deal 1 damage to all enemies. Deployment: Deal 1 damage to all enemies. Attack 4.

We also welcome more feedback in the comments below and on KARDS Discord!

Hello friends!

The next balance patch will hit the live servers next Wednesday, September 22nd. As usual, the patch is a mix of adjusting some cards in decks that have become too powerful or popular, while giving some love to other strategies and under-used cards to compensate.

This time around we are taking aim at a couple of decks that have been a bit too dominating lately, namely German blitz decks (often called Fast Heinz decks) and Soviet value decks. Let’s start by taking a look at the changes for those two decks.

But first, remember that if you have created any of the cards that are changing, you can go back and get a full compensation for them for 30 days once the patch is live.

[h2]Cards We Are Nerfing[/h2]



For the Emperor was initially intended as a tool for Japanese air decks. Since then, the emperor’s favor has been thrown around in various shells, but the imperial court has declared that enough is enough and henceforth only Japanese natives can curry the favor of the emperor. This nerfs the card pretty severely in many of the most popular shells it is found in today, but it can still be a powerful tool in the right decks.



The old 158. Nachschub can give immense tempo swing in aggressive decks, but has limited utility outside those shells. We want to reduce its swinginess, but at the same time open it up to be of value in more varied decks. Triggering only once per turn is a downside, but the upside is that the unit-only restriction has been lifted, meaning that you gain the benefit when destroying a unit with an order. This makes the card quite a bit more appealing in more controllish German decks.



The Heinkel He 115 has become a popular choice in many German decks, not just aggressive decks. However, the German blitz decks have benefited more than most from the card advantage the Heinkel provides, allowing it to restock mid-game when needed. We want to retain its powerful ability, but make it slightly easier to deal with so it is not as dominating.





Ural Factories and Red Banner have been role-players in many Soviet decks for a long time. But as more cards get printed, there are more and more opportunities to use these cards for some really nefarious purposes. While it is possible to change some of the cards that benefit most from the interaction with these two cards, we decided to nip the problem in the bud, so to speak, and reduce the power level of Ural and Banner themselves. With this change, it is still possible to use Ural with Confusion, Mobile Defense, I-16 Chaika and so on, but the extra cost means it is often happening a turn later or forcing you to skip an attack that could otherwise be made, and that can matter a lot.



There is one exception we are making to not adjusting the cards benefitting with Ural, and that is 272nd Guards. Reducing the cost means that 272nd + Ural no longer gives double IS-2s. It can still be accomplished with Red Banner, but not as consistently. It is not all bad though, as a cheaper 272nd does mean it can often be played a turn earlier, which can be the difference between life and death in some scenarios.



We are sneaking in one more nerf - Italians have become very popular as an ally in control decks, mainly due to the power of Lion for a Day, Bologna and La Decima. Lion for a Day specifically is an extremely efficient removal order that frequently deals with threats with much higher cost. Raising the cost to 4 reduces this kredit disparity a little bit, but Lion is still a very solid card.

[h2]Under-Used Cards We Are Buffing[/h2]



Sea Patrol? More like Unsea Patrol, amiright? Ok, ok. Even in heavy air decks this card is rarely used today, due to the underwhelming effect. 3 damage offers quite a bit more punch so the card could finally find homes in some decks, I guess we’ll sea.



The card sees occasional play in Soviet self-damage decks, but is still a bit underwhelming. The new version doesn’t necessarily fit into any major Soviet archetypes, but it is a unique effect that we are sure some enterprising players will put into good use. Note that setting the defense does not count as damage or health gain.



This change is mostly for thematic reasons, the Exile nation is Poland, as the unit has the Polish air insignia. We’re reducing the operation cost at the same time to make the unit a bit more appealing and who knows, maybe some exile-matters deck exists out there that can put this to good use.



This card is already pretty decent in draft and will become even better now, but no one should be surprised if this starts showing up in more constructed decks as well. It has a good body for its cost and a solid ability.



We have an unwritten rule to try to make the most iconic units of WW2 be appealing and useful in the game, but so far the ME 262 has not met that criteria. So we are giving it an overhaul, adding a bit of shine and chrome. This may not make it an auto-include, but for German control decks, it now offers something extremely powerful in the right meta.

[h2]Cards We Are Buffing For Strategic Reasons[/h2]





These two changes are to make the niche deck focused around units that cannot attack the enemy HQ a bit more viable and competitive. It will most likely remain a niche deck, but at least have a slightly higher chance of taking off.



This change is intended to emphasize the French strategy of buffs with non-French units (see for instance 4e Brigade and 2e RMT). In decks focused around taking advantage of this, tokens for instance, the Hotchkiss can become quite a threat very fast.



Alpine are already making a bit of a splash thanks to their new best buddy Gebirgs-Pionier 95. The biggest issue Alpine decks have is how slow they can be, especially when the enemy manages to deal with the early onslaught. The changed Obice helps a lot in allowing the Alpine decks to come back strong and can easily propel Alpine into a tier 1 deck. Make sure to bundle up well after the patch, you will likely be fighting in the mountains quite a lot.



The retreat deck is also a deck we want to give a little bit of love, but not too much because these decks can be annoying to face repeatedly. The old Typhoon is quite a decent unit so we didn’t want to boost it too much, but now it is a bigger threat and can trade more favorably.



Last but not the least we are changing the Ginga to be a solid inclusion in the Japanese self-discard deck. Japan got a fine addition for this deck in Uprising with Matsue Regiment, so be prepared to see more Bettys on the horizon.

That is all this time around. We are in the middle of World Cup Qualifying tournaments and the season end is not far off, so put your theorycrafting hat on and be the first to crack the new meta. See you on the battlefield, commander!

Following the exciting Legions Uprising release, we haven't slacked around and worked on general bug fixes and improvements! Check out the details below.

[h2]Bug fixes and Improvements[/h2]

[h3]Cards and card mechanics[/h3]

• 2nd CALIFORNIA was sometimes not dealing correct damage when attacking BEAUFIGHTER TF Mk X or when AIR DEFENSE is triggered. Fixed.
  
• BANZAI wasn't ending the turn if no units were destroyed by it. Fixed.
  
• Attack damage dealt to 6th ALPINI REGIMENT due to DECISIVE DEFENSE wasn't considered as attack damage. Fixed.
  
• FROSTBITE (card is only available in the campaigns) was not showing how much damage it was dealing. Fixed.
  
• ANNIHILATION could sometimes target cards with over 5 costs if they cost less to spawn due to buffs. Fixed.
  
• Ki-43-IIb OTSU buff was sometimes miscalculated. Fixed.
  
• Orders that dealt damage to multiple cards could remove Mobilize from 2nd CALIFORNIA. Fixed.
  
• Units that had attacked before receiving smokescreen could sometimes still be targeted by attacks. Fixed.
  
• Units with 0 attack could never attack any targets, not taking bonus damage into consideration (e.g., P-40 WARHAWK with 0 attack can now attack ground units). Fixed
  
• "Take Control"-cards could be played if a support line was full and the enemy player controlled the frontline with two or more cards. Fixed.

[h3]AI[/h3]

• In AI matches, IOSEF STALIN II was sometimes not adding a copy when sent to hand by the AI from a full support line. Fixed.

[h3]Visuals and UI[/h3]

• BLOCH MB.152 had tank attack visuals. Fixed.
  
• Added trigger icon to BEAUFIGHTER TF Mk X and INNISKILLING FUSILIERS.
  
• In rare cases, cards in the pack opening could be placed incorrectly. Fixed.
  
• In rare cases, clicking a pack in the pack opening would not open the pack, and a restart of the client was needed for it to work again. Fixed.
  
• The Uprising card back had an undesired black border. Fixed.
  
• Minor visual tweak on the "target arrow" error messages.

[h3]Various improvements[/h3]

• Translation improvements and corrections. Special thanks to "Unhold im Park" for improvement suggestions in the German translation.
  
• KARDS now plays sounds when you are not focused on it.
  
• Email is now hidden in the settings menu by default.

We welcome you to use our KARDS Discord for any reporting any bugs.

We are delighted to announce the arrival of KARDS Legions: Uprising on September 9th.

Uprising, the latest update to KARDS reinforces the Legions set with a total of 53 brand-new cards (21 unique). All major nations receive reinforcements of three new cards (one Elite, one Special, and one Standard rarity), the ally nation Poland is strengthened with six new cards.



Read on to get a high-level overview and the most important news.

https://store.steampowered.com/app/544810/KARDS__The_WWII_Card_Game/



As with all cards in KARDS, the new Uprising cards are inspired by real WW2 history in terms of gameplay and visual artwork.

[h2]Britain[/h2]



Britain gets three new cards that strengthen some of their current mid-range deck themes and help create new deck options.

The Inniskilling Fusilier, for example, could be used in existing Commando decks; they also support Polish intel cards with their unique ability. Overrun also strengthens already existing synergies (such as Naval Support) and opens new opportunities.

Perhaps the most intriguing new card for the British is the Churchill Mk III AVRE, whose deployment ability retreats all enemy ground units.

[h2]Germany[/h2]



Germany gets some attractive new mid-range options with Uprising and strengthens Alpine-based decks as a particular feature.

With a standard rarity and cost of 1, the new Through the Breach card fits the German theme of fast warfare and helps to deal with more control-based decks.

New tactical options for Alpine decks arrive with the new Gebirgs-Pionier unit. Having the Alpine keywords already supports Alpine decks; additionally, this unit gives you 1 additional Kredit at the start of your turn.

As the new Elite card, the Germans get Envelop, a countermeasure of cost 3. This countermeasure destroys all units in the frontline when the enemy moves a unit into it. Very powerful!

[h2]Japan[/h2]



Japan expands its arsenal of tactical options with three new cards - there is something for everyone.

The New Doctrine removes the restriction on cards that prevented them from attacking the enemy HQ. When used at the right moment, this can lead to devastating attacks.

Matsue Regiment expands the Discard theme for Japan with a powerful twist. Matsue receives as much additional attack as the discarded card costs. This could lead to powerful units early on. Watch out!

The new Japanese Elite order Banzai is one of the most iconic cards. A powerful addition to control decks, this card is maybe precisely what your deck was missing!

[h2]Soviet Union[/h2]



The Soviet Union is reinforced with three new cards that support various playstyles and offer interesting new tactics.

As a new standard Soviet card, the 173rd Guard Rifles are cheap and fast, yet they can be powerful due to their unique ability. An excellent supplement for Soviet token decks!

The new 175th Motorized of Special rarity is a feast for tank-lovers! While the stats of the 175th are already decent, it starts to really shine with its special ability to lower the deployment costs of tanks (at maximum down to 1).

Upgrade, the new Soviet Elite card, is an excellent boost to Soviet-based Control decks. Upgrade does precisely what it says; it upgrades an existing tank by replacing it with a tank of the same nation that costs 3 more. We might see some exciting new combos combined with other new cards in Uprising and the current set.

[h2]USA[/h2]



The USA receive reinforcements for their mid-range and control themed decks with three new cards in Uprising.

The 2nd California Infantry has the interesting effect that all incoming damage to this unit will be reduced to 1. Quite the beast!

The Red Devils are also tough to deal with, just like their historical counterparts. It costs the enemy one more Kredit to attack or target this unit. Especially early on, this can make a significant difference!

And for lovers of Ramp games, a special treat arrives in the form of the new US Elite order Mass Deployment. Add 3 US units to your support line with their total cost equal to your kredit slots. If you survive long enough, you can get big units!

[h2]Poland[/h2]



Legions: Uprising considerably strengthens Poland with a total of six unique new cards, bringing it on par with the other ally nations, France and Italy.

Some of the new cards strengthen the mid-range game; others specifically expand the Intel and Exile gameplay.

True to its historical origins, the 74th Silesian Regiment slows down the enemy when moving into the frontline by pinning him down.

The new Hurricane PL (British Exile) offers new synergies as it strengthens other Exile units on deployment.

As the third Polish unit card in Uprising, we see the M4 Sherman PL (US Exile) with the thrilling ability to operate for free and a +2 attack buff if you have played an Intel card that turn.

ORP Orzel and Hel as new Polish orders expand the Intel gameplay. While ORP Orzel increases the costs of a known card in the enemy hand, Hel strengthens all Legions on the board by adding a special ability to them.

Finally, we have the Uprising order referring to the Warsaw Uprising, the single most extensive military effort any European resistance movement took during World War II. In KARDS, this order damages the target unit and all other units equal to the number of destroyed Polish in this battle.



To give you further exciting background information and thrilling titbits on Legions: Uprising, we have a special edition of our famous Bunker Chat ready for you.

[previewyoutube][/previewyoutube]

Tune in and join the KARDS developers as they go over the design of Legions: Uprising, reveal historical info about the new cards, and have one or another hint about the future development of KARDS. Enjoy!



KARDS is entirely free to play and stays like this. You can obtain the new Legions cards in multiple ways from September 9th onwards:

1. Purchase the Uprising bundle to get all new cards in one go. The entire bundle is available for real money ($19.95) or in-game currency (250 Gold).
   
2. Use your wildcards to create the card(s) you want.
   
3. Open new Legions packs. Uprising is part of the Legions set; therefore, all new Legions packs can contain the new Uprising cards.

You decide what best fits your style!

We hope you enjoy the new Legions: Uprising expansion and the many new thrilling decks and tactics that are now possible with Uprising.

Let us know what you think in the comments below and share your most favorite Uprising card!

Hello everyone, it’s time for a very special announcement!

On Saturday the 25th of September we will be hosting a very special edition of the Mess Hall Brawl! The Mess Hall Brawl: Boot Camp

In this event four CCG players that are known around the world for their keen insight, magnificent plays and skill across a wide range of CCG’s will be paired up with four veteran KARDS players for the ultimate showdown.

The format of the event will be as follows:

• The pairs will play a double round robin to accumulate points
  
• Each match in the round robin is a best of 3
  
• Winning gives 3 points, losing 2-1 gives 1 point, losing 2-0 gives 0 points.
  
• Each champion will stream their POV with their coach on their main channel

[h3]Following the action[/h3]

We will follow all the action, jumping between active games and listening in on the comms between our recruits and coaches. All of this will be broadcast live on www.twitch.tv/kardsccg

Stay tuned for the announcement of the broadcast team coming soon!

[h3]Announcing the coaches[/h3]

The four KARDS veterans that will be in the corner of our fresh recruits are:

Darkness - Darkness is one of the most decorated players in KARDS history having won multiple KARDS open tournaments and made it to the quarter finals of the 2020 World Championship.

Innocent Bubbles - Innocent Bubbles has been a staple of the KARDS competitive scene, both as a competitor and as a commentator. He has made multiple OCC appearances and streams regularly on Twitch.

Flake - Flake is relatively new to the KARDS scene but he entered it with a bang, grinding to make it into the Officer Club before jumping into casting KARDS tournaments, something he has a wealth of experience doing in other CCG’s.

Scout - Scout has been playing the game since Alpha and has streamed regularly. He specializes in insane combos and innovative decks that make his opponents shake in their boots with fear as they hit turn 12 and Scout still hasn’t dropped a unit.

[h3]Announcing our recruits[/h3]

The four KARDS coaches will be joined by four fresh recruits! Find out who these new additions are in the coming days through our social media channels.

• Facebook - https://www.facebook.com/KARDSccg
• Instagram - https://www.instagram.com/kards_game
• Twitter - https://twitter.com/KARDSccg

See you on the battlefield on the 25th of September!