The March Banlist for the Grand Archive TCG has been posted. There were no changes from last month’s, but I thought I would post about them all the same. Join the official Grand Archive Discord to stay up to date with all the news and maybe find new friends in the hobby. Always check with your LGS for products and a local scene, but you can always find Grand Archive, like the newest Alchemical Revolution, on TCG Player through my affiliate links.And if you need accessories, get them over at Gem Tech. Use discount code churapereviews10 for 10% off your order. It really helps me out.
If you enjoy these updates, please leave a like, comment, follow, and share this with your friends. You can also follow the socials:
There are still only three cards banned in the format: Currently, Sword of Avarice, Reckless Conversion, and Crystal of Empowerment. Make sure these cards are out of your deck if you’re going to any official events.
Watch List
The official announcement splits them into categories. There is only one category for bans (see above) and the other two are watch lists for cards that might be problematic with future releases. There are currently six cards on the watch list: Creative Shock, Varuck, Smoldering Spire, Dream Fairy, Freezing Hail, Erupting Rhapsody, Scepter of Lumina. This is just a watch list, so you don’t need to take them out of your decks just yet.
Savior of Chaos just dropped for Battle Spirits Saga, and the set looks amazing. I love the flavor of some of these monsters. I bet they look even better in person. Check with your LGS for events and product. If that isn’t an option, you can get your Savior of Chaos booster boxes, singles, or any other Battle Spirits product on TCG Player using my affiliate links. If you need something to keep your cards safe like bags, sleeves, or deck boxes, get them over at Gem Tech. Use discount code churapereviews10 for 10% off your purchase.
If you enjoy these updates, please leave a like, comment, and share this with your friends. Don’t forget to follow the socials!
Grand Archive regionals were this weekend, and it was a good time. The casters were fun to watch, and it was a good way to keep up with the meta. If you’re trying to pick up Grand Archive or just enjoy the competitive TCG scene, I recommend you watch the VOD or catch it live next time.
I know not everyone is excited about the competitive scene, but we did get some spoilers for the upcoming set, Mercurial Heart. The art for this set is incredible, and I for one can’t wait to see what these cards can do. We got four artworks teased during the event, and I’ve gathered them for your convenience.
Spoilers
Mercurial Hearts releases on May 17, so lets start getting hyped! Make sure you check my other posts for additional product announcements!
If you’re interested in Grand Archive, join the official Discord for all the news, and to find some new friends to play with. Don’t forget to check with your LGS for a local scene and product. You can also pick up shop for Grand Archive, like the new Alchemical Revolutionset, on TCG Player by using my affiliate link. And if you need accessories, get them over at Gem Tech. Use discount code churapereviews10 for 10% off your order. It really helps me out.
If you enjoy these updates, please leave a like, comment, follow, and share this with your friends. You can also follow the socials:
I started opening packs of Akora on a series I am doing on my TikTok and YouTube. I wanted to open a booster pack of a random TCG as motivation and a way to catalog my progress. I started with Akora because I found a booster box of Spellbound Wings1st edition for cheap. The more I opened the box, the more I wanted to learn about it.
I’ve sat through the learn-to-play event on their official Discord and have even started reading through the Manga. I enjoy the art and I think the gameplay loop is interesting. If you want to learn how to play Akora, check out the instructional video on the Akora TCG Youtube:
There’s also a booklet you can read on the official website, but I’ll leave it here for your convenience:
Last night, more spoilers for the upcoming World Beyond were posted and I am hyped for the set. The art looks so good, and I thought I’d share to muster up more excitement! Purple is still my favorite color, but the other colors have some interesting stuff going on. I just hope I’m not broke and can make it to a prerelease. These seem to be special full arts that you are going to have to chase, but I’m about ready to throw some money I don’t have at this problem.
Conclusion
I’m impressed so far and can’t wait to see more. Check your LGS if they carry Akora or run events. If that’s not an option, the official Discord is pretty active with passionate fans ready for a game. If you want to pick up any Akora, like their latest set Eternal Echoes, pick it up on TCG Player. And if you’re need a place to store your cards like deck boxes, back packs, or other accessories, get it over at GemTech. Use my discount code churapereviews10 for 10% off your purchase.
If you enjoy these updates, please leave a like, comment, and share this with your friends. Don’t forget to follow the socials!
In honor of Pokémon Day,the Pokémon Company has released a special Pokémon Presents where they have made a few exciting announcements. While I am sure there are some disappointed fans out there, there is a bit of news that I am very hopeful about. I’m only covering the news that I am most excited about, but you should check out the whole event for anything I skip.
If you enjoy these updates, please leave a like, comment, follow, and share this with your friends. If you need some Pokémon cards like the upcoming Temporal Forces set (Booster Boxes currently $104) get it over at TCG Player using my affiliate links. It really helps me out!
Pokemon Horizons: The Series
While I was very sad for Ash and Pikachu’s adventure to end, I am very excited for the upcoming anime. Pokémon always makes for comforting anime, and we can always use a little comfort in our lives. Pokémon Horizons: The Series premiers on Netflix on March 7, so let the countdown begin!
Pokémon Trading Card Game Pocket
The most exciting announcement for me was the Pokémon Trading Card Game Pocket coming sometime this year on Android and IOS devices. Pokémon Trading Card Game Pocket looks like a gotcha version of the TCG. Players can open two packs a day for free, which suggests you can buy more through either an in-game currency or real money. This does raise some flags as the game can become predatory quickly, but I am not too worried. The game comes from the folks who brought us Masters, and Masters didn’t feel bad when I played it. I don’t think it will be as generous as PTCGL, but I doubt it will be as bad as Unite.
The idea of the game is to have players crack packs, and build a community around it. Players can build their collections, trade with friends and people around the world, and battle others. The idea of building a community around collecting Pokémon cards is always exciting, I just hope they don’t make it impossible to complete a set without spending hundreds of dollars.
The quick battles are what interests me the most about this app. The game promises a more streamlined gameplay with the convenience of being able to play anywhere. While I am worried about the pay-to-win potential of PVP, anything that brings people into the hobby is fine by me.
Pokémon isn’t the most complicated TCG, but I’ve seen people be intimidated by all its moving parts. Having a streamlined version of the game gets people excited about the game without overwhelming them. Depending on the gameplay, Pocket may be able to bring casual collectors into the space and turn them into players.
What makes Pocket unique is that it will introduce new art and animation of cards so that players and collectors can interact with the hobby in a unique way. Pocket introduces “immersive cards” which allow players to leap into the illustration. Again, I hope they make these easy to collect, but as a casual collector, I am excited.
I wonder if this is Pokémon answer to Heartsone? I wonder how much GOTCHA is involved? There are still a lot of questions about the game, and I’ll have to see more before I can form any impressions, but I am excited for now.
Pokémon Legends: Z-A
The teaser for Pokémon Legends: Z-A is vague, but I know Lumiose City anywhere. It seems like the next Legends game is taking place entirely in Lumiose City. X and Y are my favorite generation. I put too many hours into the game, and I am excited to go back. All we can do is speculate until the next announcement, but I am excited! The game launches sometimes next year on the Nintendo Switch.
I picked up a booster box of Akora‘s Spellbound Wings 1st edition because it was cheap. I didn’t know anything about the game beforehand, I’m just broke and wanted to open some affordable booster packs. I’ve been opening a pack after every workout as a way to stay motivated. So far it’s been working, but more on that at a later date.
Today, members of the Akora team hosted a learn-to-play event on the official Discord, and I was lucky enough to join. I want to give a huge shoutout out to the folks running the event. They were nice, helpful, and super passionate. If you’re thinking of picking up Akora, join the official Discord. There will always be someone there to answer any questions you may have about the game.
How to Play Akora
If you want to learn to play Akora, I recommend you check out Jaxonation’s tutorial on YouTube. He’s a member on the Discord and seems like a solid dude. He’s a fantastic resource for beginners, but so is the rest of the community.
Thoughts on Akora
The more Akora I opened, the more I enjoyed doing so. I like the art because it feels cozy with a solid fantasy anime vibe. I love how the cards look like spell cards, and the game’s aesthetic is what made me want to learn the game.
The game is pretty easy to learn. The mechanics, card types, and turn order are easy to grasp. The hard part seems learning and mastering each color’s quirk, but that will come with practice. Even though I am sure to lose my first few matches, I feel like I have a solid grasp of how to play. Now that I kind of know how to, I want to start organizing my collection and building decks.
I like that the community came together to host this event, but it definitely needed more People. I appreciated that they didn’t cancel the event when I was the only one in the room. It was fun and informative, and I am glad I made time. If you missed the event, I am confident someone will sit down to teach you if you ask.
If you want to try Akora, there is an official module for Table Top Simulator you can mess around with. You can also find people on the Discord to play with if you ask nicely. I was told there are also tournaments on Sundays you can join if you just want to hang out and have a good time. There is also a cool print and play feature on their website, with some sample decks to get you started.
If you’re looking for a new card game with a solid community, check out Akora. From my experience, it seems like a good time.
If you enjoy these updates, please leave a like, comment, follow my socials, and share this with your friends. If you need any Akora, pick it up on TCG Player.
If you’re a fan of the Chainsaw Mananime, you’re going to want to collect the newest Weiss Schwarzset. The set features some iconic art and scenes from an incredible anime. If you haven’t had a chance to watch Chainsaw Man, I highly recommend you start it ASAP. It has a cool premise, memorable characters, and an amazing art style and animation.
This news is a little old, but I’m posting it for those who missed it. The Grand Archive ban and restricted list have been posted, and if you’re participating in the online tournament this weekend February 24, you should already be compliant.
Those of you wanting to play some Grand Archive and win some National Qualifier Points (NQPs) should sign up for Yeti Gaming’s webcam regionals. It is a $10 entry fee for a tournament you play over Discord. The top 8 players will receive:
Finalist Playmat
18 packs of Alchemical Revolution
4 Gold Packs
6 Silver Packs
1st place will receive these rewards but with a Regional Champion playmat instead of the finalist one. Check the official site for more details. Sign-ups are still open.
Ban List
The ban list effective February 16 has been announced, but the list is a bit confusing. There are three categories, but only category three is the ban list. Categories 1 and 2 are watch lists, with 2 being more problematic from what I gather. Sword of Avarice, Reckless Conversion, and Crystal of Empowerment are banned.
Crystal of Empowerment has been a mainstay in the competitive meta persistently. While the intention was to provide a cog in the strategy of level manipulation primarily for Mage and Cleric, it has proved to affect the game in more facets than intended, warping the tempo of the game. It limits design in other classes where it should be much harder to modulate levels compared to Mage and Cleric. However, an additional reason to ban it now rather than later, is that Crystal has been overperforming in the current meta even when used for its intended purpose.
Category 1 Watch List
Cards in this category are considered problematic for the future of the game. The newest additions to this list are Scepter of Lumina and Erupting Rhapsody.
Thank you for reading. If you enjoy these updates, please leave a like, comment, follow, and share this with your friends. If you need any Grand Archive, like the new Alchemical Revolution set, pick it up at TCG Player using my affiliate links!
The Altered TCG Kickstarter has blown its goals out of the water and is sitting comfortably at $2,951,765. It is definitely going to break four million, so make sure you back the project and grab your product while it’s at Kickstarter prices. I’ve already written about Altered in a previous post, so start there if you want to know more about the TCG.
What is Altered TCG
Altered TCG is the game that intends to revolutionize the hobby. While most games have players combat against each other, Altered has players race against each other in an adventure. Choose your faction, and with the help of allies and magic, guide your faction leader over Asgartha in what promises to be an unforgettable adventure.
Impressions
While we wait for the launch, I went and took advantage of the print-and-play starter decks available on the official site. I started with the Muna and Yzmir decks. While I found myself enjoying the Muna deck a little more, there are mechanics in both that I enjoyed. Muna felt like a more aggressive deck, but Yzmir had some nice control. I don’t think I am smart enough for Yzmir, but I am willing to try.
I will commend the team for making the factions feel different in both flavor and playstyle, and I am curious to see what the rest of the factions have in store. I haven’t quite found the faction I want to main yet.
Altered feels like the perfect blend of board game and TCG. The game is easy to learn and understand, and it has some terrific flavor. I need to play a bit more, but here are some things that I like so far:
There aren’t any mana issues. At the start of your turn, you can discard cards into your mana zone and summon allies or cast spells using those cards. There is nothing worse than losing a game because you can’t play the game because you can’t find the right mana.
You don’t lose the game when you run out of cards, which means you can’t get milled. I am a little conflicted with this one because I love building mill decks in whatever game I play, but I play a lot of Pokemon where I mill myself because I am not paying attention. I would definitely mill out here so I appreciate the buffer.
The Reserve is an awesome mechanic. In Altered, creatures you summon need to rest, or leave the battlefield at the end of the day (turn). Unless they have the anchored ability, cards you cast go to your reserved zone. This is an extra zone that you can cast from. You can change up the cards that live in your reserve, and this will open up the game for some very cool plays.
The art is fantastic. The more I look at it, the more I appreciate the flavor and style that went into this game. I just want to crack some packs and hold these in my hands!
If you’re looking for a new TCG that is unlike anything you’ve played before and is fun, I recommend you check out the Altered Kickstarter. There are 13 days left for the campaign, so make sure you go back it now!
If you enjoy these updates, please leave a like, comment, follow, and share this with your friends.
Acent Ontario was this weekend, and it was pretty cool to watch the game in action. I’ve put together the top 3 decks from the tournaments, and left links to the singles for those interested. If you need any Grand Archive, like the newest Alchemical Revolution set, get it over at TCG Player.
If you enjoy these updates, make sure you leave a like, comment, follow, and share this with your friends.
