Last week, the people behind Kryptic announced the end of the TCG and their plans to move to the LCG model. After a bit of feedback and a weekend to ruminate, Kryptic TCG isn’t dead! Fans of the TCG now wait as the company takes the steps to continue the TCG.
The Announcement
Tanner has announced on the official Kryptic Discord that he will be stepping down as CEO of the company and handing the company over to Chris Tesorio. The message reads:
The loyal Kryptic comunnity came together in full force for the game that they loved and now with a new name and newly found motivaition, Kryptic Studios LLC will work continue making the TCG.
The new CEO, Chris Tesorio, also made a statement:
It makes me happy to see Kryptic getting its second life. I can’t wait to see what is to come. Congradulations to Chris Tesorio on his new role, I wish him the best in his endevours.
What this Means for Kryptic
We are still waiting for more news from the new company, but plans for Kryptic as a LCG have been cancelled and new plans for the TCG are in the works. While I am a little sad about not seeing what an LCG in the the Kryptic universe would look like, I am happy to see that fans will get to continue to enjoy the game they love. I am hopeful for the future of this game and can’t wait to see what this new leadership and motivation will produce in the future.
Attonement
As a reminder for anyone who missed it, 100 boxes of Attonement Wave Zero will release on July 4th 12AM CST. Attonment was Kryptics cancelled set before the name change. The box will include single copies of the entire set, with a few random foils to mix things up. Sales will be limited to hopefully prevent scalping. It be nice to buy a box and have the complete set. I’ll be trying to get a box, I hope the fans who want one can get theirs too.
You can pick up your box of Attonement Year Zero on the Speedprobogames website for $119.99. Good luck!
If you’re getting into Grand Archive or have been following for a moment, you’ve probably the outrageous pricing for singles. We’re in the moment of Grand Archive history where the demand for cards is higher than the supply. This is frustrating for those trying to onboard into the competitive scene but is priced out of important staples. On one hand, I understand the frustration, but I also understand the need for appropriate scaling. No one wants to be left with a wear house full of merch they can’t move.
Fortunately, there are plans for reprints of staples in future sets and possibly reprints of sets already on the market, possibly in an altered edition. A Statement Regarding Game Accessibility was posted today on the game’s official X account. The statement reads:
Thus begins the waiting game. The key takeaway is that future sets will reprint key staples like Dungeon Guide, which hopefully means the market will stabilize. While Grand Archive is nowhere near as expensive as some of the other big TCGs, it is expensive for new folks trying to enjoy some games at their LGS. I hate that I can’t support my LGS because they don’t have any stock.
I hope this announcement means more reprints, a bigger community, and a more accessible price point for entry. We will have to wait and see, but I have faith in a company that has been doing everything right so far.
If you’re mad about singles pricing, I would save up for future sets and reprints. You can enjoy games on TTS on the official Discord in the meantime. If you don’t want to wait to get into the competitive scene, I’m sure you can justify the premium with all the fun you’re about to have. Whatever you decide, welcome to Grand Archive!
The full card list for the Supporter Pack 2 has been revealed, and you’re going to want to add these to your collection. Supporter packs will only be available for purchase at official or partnered events, like the upcoming Anime Expo or Ascent tournaments. While I am sad that it makes these beautiful cards unattainable for some of us, it is cool to see that they aren’t trying to take money away from the hard-working LGSs. You can check out the full announcement on the official website.
The Michigan Regionals were this weekend, and Lorraine Wind Allies remain on top. While Tristain continues to prove herself as a top-contending meta deck, the splash of Nico taking second is a welcomed surprise. There were a few other neat deck ideas at the event, but I will only focus on the top three. Make sure you check out the full event for more inspiration.
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EDIT: Since this post, the company has revamped its goals and will continue as a TCG. Click here for more information.
The Kryptik Trading Card game will no longer be in production. The upcoming Atonement set has been canceled, and anyone who has preordered will be refunded. It is a sad day for fans of the trading card game, but the journey is not over. The creator of the game still has plans for the IP and lore, and I will be following its development closely.
The Announcement
On June 27th, Tanner announced on the official Kryptik Discord that they will no longer be partnering with SpeedRobo games for the manufacturing of their game, effectively cancelling the TCG. The announcement reads:
This is an official announcement that Kryptik TCG will no longer be working with SpeedRobo Games on the design and manufacturing of future products, including Wave 1 Atonement. While we are thankful for his enthusiasm and drive to get Atonement completed we feel that our team’s vision and his vision for the game are just a bit too far apart. We want to be clear that there is no bad blood or negative feelings associated with this decision. In fact, we had a great conversation today regarding the situation and both parties are in agreement that it is just not a good fit. We wish him well in all future endeavors. He will be selling his remaining 30 or so Wave 0 Atonement boxes online to recoup costs. I included the link to the product, so grab yours if you would like when they go live. He will also be issuing refunds for any Wave 1 pre-orders that were placed. Please reach out to SpeedRobo with any issues regarding your refund. This does unfortunately mean that as of right now, the future of the TCG component of the Kryptik Universe is on hold. Though a healthy TCG is extraordinarily difficult to cultivate given how the market functions, we still love making games and we still love Kryptik and our community. Our team definitely still has designs and plans for the lore and other projects related to the Kryptik Universe. We will be using this Discord to serve you guys updates in the coming weeks/months, so stay tuned. Thank you all for your support through the highs and the lows of this process. We love you all and hope that you’ll stay with us through this Tabula Rasa. Best, The Kryptik Team (Tanner, Connor, Chris, & Rikki)
Why was Kryptic Cancelled?
People with access to the numbers did the math and it was no longer feasible to continue production of the TCG. Alternative avenues like crowd-sourcing or even operating at a loss aren’t going to achieve enough of a return to save the game. While the game has earned its collection of loyal and dedicated fans, there isn’t enough of them to generate profit. This is the cold reality of a space with an incredibly volatile market, especially for a game no longer carried by the LGS.
There were a few factors that brought us to this outcome that I will attempt to summarize as best I can.
Kryptik came out of the gate wanting to be the American-made TCG that would revolutionize the space. It promised high-quality American-made cardboard, innovative gameplay, and rich expansive lore. The made-in-America sticker is an awesome idea, but this means more overhead and less profit when compared to something printed overseas. Unfortunately, the early product of the game featured poor-quality card stock. Players and Game Stores dropped the product because of this quality. With the game no longer in stores and lacking confidence in future quality, Kryptic’s fate as a TCG was pretty much sealed. A failed anime, a few bad hires, and other logistical miscalculations also played their part in this spiral.
Unfortunately, the TCG community isn’t patient. While the team learned from the mistakes made along the way, it wasn’t quite fast enough. Kryptic still has its dedicated fans who hold out hope for the game, but hope doesn’t pay the bills. Kryptic shut down because there is no money to keep it running, and no amount of loans, crowdfunding, or donations can give the revival it needs to keep going.
The Future of Kryptic
Kryptic may no longer exist as a physical TCG, but this isn’t the end of the IP. The creators will hold on to the IP as they continue to expand the lore and work on different projects to keep Kryptic alive.
If you enjoyed playing the card game, or want to start playing, the official Kryptic Tabletop Simulator mod will continue to get updates. There will be new cards and mechanics. Art will be tricky because it is expensive to pay the artists, but they said they will try to find a solution. If you want to play some Kryptic, get TTS (on sale for $9.99 until July 11) and ask around on the official Discord.
The company currently owes no money, so it won’t need to liquidate or sell the IP. Those passionate about Kriptic will continue with other projects to keep its rich and expansive lore alive, and other projects to conserve its gameplay.
The lore will continue to be made and is planned to be released as a book in the future. No further details have been released, but people lurking in the discord on the day of the announcement got to listen in on a solid rundown of the lore. It was awesome.
Kryptic as a card game will continue as a Living Card Game (LCG). The intention is to turn Kryptic into a tabletop game that is a fusion of Betrayal at The House on The HillandGloomhaven. The devs want a game with procedurally generated maps that allow players to make choices that permanently change the game. How they go about this is still in production, but I am excited to see the result. Kryptic has some fantastic lore, and I could always use another board game. There was also mention of a D&D 5E setting for Kryptic, but that is on the back burner. I wish them luck on their new endeavor. I can’t wait to see what they come up with.
If you would like to purchase the only booster box of Atonement that will ever exist, head over to the official speedrobogames. The sale will go live on July 4th 12AM CST and be limited to one box per customer. Get yours while supplies last.
The Chicago Regional at 401 Kollectibles was this weekend, and it looks the meta is staying firm with Wind Allies Lorraine on top and Wind Tristain and Norm Tera Silvie following close behind. While it is kind of a bummer to see the same old archetypes in the format, it is important to remember that this is a young meta. I am curious to see if there will be any surprises come Ascent Chicago in August.
This time I will be featuring the top 4 decks since the top two are variations of Wind Allies Lorraine. You can check out the full event on Omnidex. I’ll also leave TCG Player affiliate links to the singles for those who need them.
If you’re thinking about getting into the Grand Archive competitive scene, you’re going to be buying some expensive staples. Luckily, you’ll only need a few copies that can easily transfer between decks. Don’t be surprised by the high initial investment. Now you don’t need these staples, but playing without them is a disadvantage because the decks are slower and lack consistency.
As is true with all TCGs, it is always cheaper and better to buy singles for the decks you want to build. Grand Archive has a generous print-n-play function, so you can test for the decks you want to try before committing. That said, there is nothing wrong with cracking packs if that’s how you want to enjoy the hobby. I love cracking packs and will probably continue to do so indefinitely.
I’ve gathered the few of the valuable and expensive staples you’re going to need. Some you’ll be able to use in every deck, but others will be specific to top performing meta decks. I won’t leave prices because of how much the market fluctuates, but I will leave TCG Player affiliate links for the singles. Please feel free to use them. It helps me out. If you enjoy my content, please leave a like, comment, and share this with your friends.
Dungeon Guide
If you’re playing a deck where you need to get to Level 3, you need a play set of Dungeon Guides. Leveling twice is so powerful, and paying one less card for a level 3 doesn’t hurt either. While you can probably get away with filling your deck with floating memory, you’ll never be able to outpace those pesky Dungeon Guides. I would compare prices to the Dawn of Ashes Prelude Starter Kit if you can find a sealed one. The deck comes with a play set of Dungeon Guides and three copies of Dream Fairy, which might make it a better deal. You’ll need Dream Fairy’s for some of the wind decks.
Grand Crusader’s Ring
Grand Crusader’s Ring goes in virtually every deck. If you have a vacant slot in your material deck, you can’t go wrong with including a copy of Grand Crusader’s Ring. It costs you nothing to cast, and you can crack it to draw a card. Drawing cards is never a bad thing, especially in a game where you need to be resourceful with your influence (total number of cards in your memory and hand). It’s expensive, but you only need one copy.
Backup Charger
Backup Charger just hit the format with Mercurial Heart, and it is already proving its value. While you may not need the generated Powercell token or run any automata, you’re going to appreciate the card draw. Card draw in this game is always valuable, and you could always throw in a couple of Turbo Charge if you don’t want to waste the Powercell. This isn’t as much of an auto-include as some of the other cards mentioned on this list, but it is a valuable card to consider when building.
Ghosts of Pendragon
While the previous three cards can be shuffled between deck lists, Ghosts of Pendragon is a little more specific. You can’t run a Crux deck without Ghosts of Pendragon because that card draw for two memory is too valuable to pass up. If you’re playing Lorraine or Merlin, you’re going to need a playset.
Sadi, Blood Harvester
If you’re running Tristan, you need to pick up Sadi, Blood Harvester. Sadi gives you agility on kills and extra preparation counters never hurt. You don’t need to always run four copies, but you’re going to at least want two.
Shadow’s Claw
Shadow’s Claw is the best card in Tristan’s toolset, but it is also the most expensive. Good thing you only need one. With enough counters, you can play it outside of your material deck and your Phantasia can use it for free!
After the rousing success of the initial Supporter Pack, Grand Archive is releasing a second! Supporter packs are designed with collectors in mind, featuring unique alts for cards already in the format. This is a great way to boost your collection if you’re participating in any Path of Silver events.
Supporter packs will only be sold at official Grand Archive events, events run by partners, or trade shows. Purchase limits will be placed, hopefully mitigating those pesky scalpers. Anime Expo 2024 on July 4th will be the first time the new Supporter Packs will be sold, and we’ve already got some exciting-looking teasers!
This is a direct-to-consumer product and won’t be sold in stores. This is so that Weebs of the Shore doesn’t take away profits from the local game store. Fans of Grand Archive who purchase the Supporter Packs get to bling out their collection while directly helping the game they love grow. I love what I’ve seen so far, I can’t wait to see the rest of the spoilers. I hope I can find the time to go to an event and get my hands on a couple.
Product Info
Each pack contains 3 cards: 2 uncommon cards, and 1 rare (or higher) card
Tickets for Ascent Singapore have just gone on sale and now is a great time to start planning your trip. The 2nd SEA Ascent will be held on September 28th – 29th, so make sure you mark your calendars. I am interested in seeing what the meta will look like by then.
The Ascent events are always a good time for every type of Grand Archive fan. Competitive players can compete in the Path of Steel main event for a chance at some solid pricing, and collectors can compete in the Path of Silver event for exclusive promos to add to their collection. Casual fans can enjoy exclusive merch, and special side events, and get to watch top-level competitive play. Whatever your draw to card game is, you are sure to find it at Ascent Singapore. Get your tickets today!
Sabrina, Spirit of Water Promo!
While the Path of Silver prizing hasn’t been announced yet, we do get to see the promo for the top 16, and it is so pretty! There is some solid cash prize support, but I am most excited about Sabrina, Spirit of Water. The art is so good, and I am sure the quality is spectacular.
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Ascent Taipei was the first major tournament since the release Mercurial Heart. The Re:Collection decks showed their worth, taking two of the top three spots but Laureen continues to prove why she is queen. I’ve compiled a list of the top three deck lists and included links to singles for those who need it. If you’re trying to build the Tristana or Silivie deck, I recommend finding a recollection deck, even a searched one, and building out from there.
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