KARDS - The WWII Card Game News

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!

Hello friends!

We have been seeing some significant changes in the Kards meta since the launch of Air Supremacy last month. German control has become very popular with the addition of Henschel Hs 129 and the Salamander from Air Supremacy, Japan/France shuffle (juffle) is very strong after the balance changes in August and Brewster decks in various forms have a very solid performance. This balance patch aims to hit the peaks of these decks to even them out a bit to give other strategies more breathing room and open the way for the winter expansion that is just around the corner.

People can debate whether these changes are enough or too much. The intention is not to kill off any decks currently popular, simply to bring them down a notch or two in power. With you, our community, constantly coming up with new ideas and fine tuning older ones, it is impossible to say exactly where the meta will land, but we hope it will be slightly more diverse for the next few weeks until we kick the sandcastle again with the winter expansion.

As usual, we will start by looking at the cards that are seeing a nerf, then we will go through the cards being buffed. Let’s get to it.

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

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

The fight part on a big body makes this a very attractive unit for control decks, but what puts it over the top is the immense pressure it can put on the enemy HQ from the air. That is the part we want to reduce, so the new version deals “only” 6 damage to the HQ instead of 8. The Henschel still hits the ground hard so expect to see it continue to fly high.

[h3]CAPITULATION[/h3]

Capitulation has, unexpectedly, led to the capitulation of many since it was introduced back in Naval Warfare. But now as winter approaches we are seeing sphincters tighten and backbones harden, meaning it is now more difficult to rattle the rabble. End result, Capitulation now costs 9.

[h3]SEAHAWK[/h3]

Seahawk is the second Air Supremacy card seeing a bit of a course correction. It has become quite popular, as it stifles many aggressive strategies and can make combat calculations quite tricky. We are lowering its altitude by reducing its defense by 1, bringing it into range of a lot more answers. The ability though remains the same, so you still need to make sure your math is correct to find the path to deal with it.

[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.

Ah, yes. 4th Alabama, the happy face of highrolls. We have been seeing people lean a bit too heavily on the high variance Alabama gives in recent weeks and feel this creates more frustration than fun. Brewster decks can, and do, perform very well without adding the Alabama highroll into the mix, so we are reducing the buff it gives to +1 instead of +2. This may end up making Alabama a neglected backwater, but so be it.

[h3]SABAE REGIMENT[/h3]

Sabae, the most beautiful beau at the ball. Sabae. Arguably, the buff this card received back in August single-handedly put juffle on the map. It is keeping its powerful ability, but we are shaving off a couple of points to reduce its ecological footprint slightly. This, by itself, will not have a big impact on the favorability of the shuffle strategies, but there is more to come, so hold tight.

[h3]KYOTO REGIMENT[/h3]

This nerf is not aimed at specific decks as such, but rather a down-tuning of a card that was pushed a bit too hard. Removing an enemy unit is very strong and when coupled with a solid body this unit simply offered too much. This will impact a few decks, most notably Intel, but the card is still very much playable.

[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.

Now we come to the second shuffle nerf. Juffle went from 0 to 100 in seconds after the August patch and in hindsight we gave it a bit too much. The deck is still very interesting, so we do not want to nerf it into the ground. Now that this unit no longer buffs itself means it will be easier to deal with even when all the stars align for the juffle deck.

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

We have now entered the realm of buffs and beautification. The first couple of buffs are to the British fight subtheme from Naval Warfare. Being cheaper of course means more efficient and easier to pull off. This is unlikely to make it into a tier 1 strategy, but makes it a lot more interesting to play around with.

[h3]HMS FORMIDABLE[/h3]

Same goes for the HMS Formidable as above, empowering this under-utilized strategy. With the right setup this can easily end up being a full board clear. The fact this is a Navy card also opens up some possibilities to fit it into a British Navy control shell, though only time will tell if that Navy deck has legs to stand on. At the very least, some people will find enjoyment in experimenting with this, whatever floats their boat is good with us.

[h3]FAST HEINZ[/h3]

Old: Give your German tanks in the frontline +2+1.
New: Give your German tanks +2+1.
Next we have a couple of buffs that are actually reverts of old nerfs (or at least partial ones). German Blitz has been dormant for a while, outrun and outvalued by other aggro decks. Removing the frontline restriction means the deck now has more comeback power, a very important factor with so many aggressive decks running around.

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

The other old warhorse seeing a slight facelift is the Flying Fortress. While we are not going back to the 8 cost 6/6 version, shaving a kredit of its cost makes it slightly more relevant in coming down in time to impact the battlefield in a meaningful way. Big bombers as a dedicated strategy will need more love to become truly viable, but at the very least ramp decks have now a stronger option than before.

[h3]ISOLATION[/h3]

Having just stated above for the Kyoto Regiment how strong even a temporary removal of a unit can be, we are of course immediately contradicting ourselves by strengthening this little temp removal. Wouldn’t be a proper 1939 patch otherwise. Temporarily removing an enemy unit may not be all that fancy right now, but perhaps there is a future where it becomes more relevant. Who knows?

[h3]LA DIVISION LECLERC[/h3]

So far, the shuffle strategy is almost exclusively used in aggressive strategies. A slower, more controlling version is also a possibility, though has less support. While this cost reduction is unlikely to make a control shuffle deck a top tier strategy, it at least makes it a bit more viable. In an ideal world we would see a wider variety of shuffle decks in the meta and maybe one day that will happen.

[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.

The final buff this time around is to the Semovente Da 75/18. In the long run, we want to make Italy a more interesting ally for a combined arms strategy. A few pieces are still missing for that to become really viable, but this is one step in that direction.

That is all for now. These changes will go out on October 28th. You better hurry up and make the most of these changes before the winter expansion comes and flips everything on its head. Let us know your thoughts on these and other matters, your feedback means a lot to us. See you on the battlefield, commander!

Attention, Commanders:

Prepare for takeoff - the Air Supremacy Tournament Finals go live October 25 and 26 at 11:00 GMT!

Grab your front-row seat to the action:

TUNE IN ON TWITCH

The skies are about to ignite as eight of the best KARDS pilots enter the final dogfight for glory and a share of the $3,000 prize pool. Only one will emerge as the true master of Air Supremacy.

This marks the fourth and final Expansion Tournament of 2025, each tied to a major release and paving the way toward the KARDS World Championship this December. Every battle brings us closer to crowning the year's ultimate commander.

[h2]The Finalists[/h2]
From 24 Officer Club veterans and 8 fierce tournament leaderboard challengers, a total of 32 elite tacticians took flight in the qualifying rounds. After grueling Swiss battles, only the Top 8 aces remain, ready to fight for Air Supremacy.

The 8 finalists in this KARDS Air Supremacy tournament are:

• 作死的骡博
  
• 爱欣欣欣欣
  
• 说的道理
  
• syswdsr
  
• 失其本心八幡
  
• 昂伟联邦
  
• henry449856878
  
• Berto Burrito

These elite commanders will clash in a single-elimination, best-of-five showdown. Each brings four decks from different main nations, banning one opponent deck per round. Victory demands not just power, but adaptability, precision, and mastery of the evolving Air Supremacy meta.



[h2]Tune in Live[/h2]
Join us for two days of high-altitude strategy, daring maneuvers, and expert commentary.

Whether you're a battle-hardened veteran or a fresh recruit to the front, this is one broadcast you can't afford to miss.

Lock in your coordinates, rally your squadron, and prepare for takeoff. The battle for Air Supremacy begins October 25th at 11:00 GMT!

Attention KARDS players!

The skies of KARDS are full of action: Air Supremacy has taken off, reshaping the battlefield with powerful new cards and a fresh rotation. Now, the best of the best will scramble to become the Top Gun in the Air Supremacy Tournament - where 32 top pilots of strategy clash for their chance to seize the lion’s share of the $3,000 prize pool and the coveted title of Air Supremacy Champion!



[h2]Qualifiers[/h2]
These are no green recruits - our tournament contenders have already proven themselves through fierce competition. From the July, August, and September Officer Club leaderboards, the top 8 players have earned their wings. Another 8 come from the in-game tournament trophy leaderboard. Together, they form a lineup of 32 proven commanders, each set to clash in head-to-head dogfights for the right to advance.

On October 18th, they’ll take to the skies in the qualifiers. Each commander brings 3 decks from different main nations into intense best-of-3 conquest battles - no deck bans, no room for error. After grueling swiss rounds, only the sharpest aces will break through the flak and secure their spot in the Top 8.

[h2]Finals Weekend[/h2]
The battle for air supremacy reaches its peak on October 25 - 26 during the Finals Weekend stream.

• Day 1: Our Top 8 duel until only 4 remain.
  
• Day 2: Every dogfight from the Top 4 is broadcast as we crown the ultimate Air Supremacy Champion.

The finals are played in a single-elimination bracket, with each match decided in a best-of-5 series. Commanders bring 4 decks from different nations, with one opposing deck banned before the match begins. Success requires more than strong decks - it takes adaptability, precise decision-making, and a deep understanding of the evolving Air Supremacy meta.

[h2]Participants[/h2]
These are the 32 elite pilots cleared for takeoff in the Air Supremacy Tournament:

Berto Burrito
禁忌之门
070714
66better
2598252160
henry449856878
老咸鱼了
爱欣欣欣欣
阳阳rua
Egoroff
Noein5
chen
一只普通的暖欣
作死的骡博
Thanks
一方
Jking7
syswdsr
不是空心神
xiaowang
拉菲艾拉
果咩呐塞
我永远都是中国人
昂伟联邦
Sie_
失其本心八幡
基准线
UIOUUF
hojoto
天机主神荣荣
说的道理
至死方休

Who will soar above the clouds into the Top 8? And who will dogfight their way all the way to the title of Air Supremacy Champion?

[h2]Stay In The Loop[/h2]
Don’t miss a moment of the action - follow KARDS on our main tournament channels for updates and live coverage:

TWITCH BILIBILI YOUTUBE DISCORD

Greetings, Commanders!

We’re excited to invite you to join a festive week of rewards and surprises in KARDS as we celebrate the autumn season.

[h2]🎁 Daily Free Gifts[/h2]


From October 1st through October 8th, log in each day to claim a free celebratory gift. Rewards include card packs, draft tickets, and even a unique seasonal cosmetic item to mark the occasion.

Each gift is available for one day only, so be sure to drop by daily and enjoy the full set of rewards.

[h2]🍂 Special Seasonal Shop Offers[/h2]


Alongside the daily gifts, the KARDS shop will feature a range of limited-time autumn bundles. Packed with content like card packs, draft tickets, medkits, and special cosmetic items, these bundles deliver fantastic value at equally fantastic prices.

Be sure to check the shop throughout the event to secure these offers before they disappear.

Celebrate the season, seize your gifts, and march to victory - the battlefield awaits!