We’ve had another exciting week of reveals for the Digimon TCG. I have done my best to organize the reveals and announcements in a way that makes sense. I love the art of this set. The colors and the art style are really going to pop in my binder! Maybe I’ll even make a blue deck. There were also a few tournaments that might have shifted the meta.
Alternative Being Spoilers (EX4)
This set will be in stores June 23, so make sure you put in your pre-orders in and check to see if your LGS is running any pre-release events. The set is also introducing a new ability Alliance which might be worth reading on:
Alliance: When this Digimon Attacks, by suspending 1 of your other Digimon, this Digimon adds the suspended Digimon’s DP and gains <Security Attack +1> for the attack
This is a super cool ability to beef up your attacks. Check out the FAQ for more details:
This Terriermon is so sick! It has a search ability and it is eating a burger? I need it!
I love the art style for this one with all the divine Digimon fighting with Cherubimon. The color scheme is very serene, and the Alliance ability is a very nice touch for flavor and gameplay. You also get access to a nifty little debuff for using your Alliance ability? Sounds good to me.
This Renamon is so cool. I love the big full moon in the background and how it casts such a dramatic light on the figure. The smoke and energy coming off her as it fades into the dark is such a cool effect. I love the pinch of green she holds with her energy, it really makes this image pop. Not to mention that it has a solid on play effect and Inherited effect.
I love the painted style of this Gaogomon. The subtle colors and soft background really do it for me. That bounce ability and inherited memory gain on doesn’t hurt the appeal either.
This has a really nice bounce ability, but the vibrant colors and the art style are just so cool!
This is a such a cool looking card. The colors, the Digimon, the background! You get removal and either a discard spell or memory gain for a 3 cost? That’s a solid add to any green and purple deck.
Events for June – September 2023
Its going to be a busy couple weeks as the road to the 2023 Championships and the Ultimate cup continues. Make sure you check out the official page for events close to you! And make sure to check with your LGS to see if they are running the Store Championship.
Canoweissmon is the latest card to be announced as prize support for participating or being the top players in regional. Make sure you check the calendar for events near you!
Ultimate Cup Meta
And for those who enjoy keeping up with the meta, here is what has been shaping the Ultimate Cup. I always find it interesting how the meta shifts between regions.
Europe
Latin America
Oceania
Regionals
Here how it is shaping up in regionals!
Europe
Upcoming Releases
Bandai has graciously given us a roadmap for what is to come in the future. Lots of exciting releases, I can only hope my wallet can handle them all.
Thanks again for tuning in to enjoy the hobby with me. If you have been enjoying these updates, don’t forget to like, comment, subscribe, and maybe share this with a friend or too. I think I’ll be doing these every Sunday. See you then!
Pokemon has officially announced the complete card list for their upcoming Pokemon 151 set releasing in Japan on June 16th. The Western release is scheduled for September 22nd, so make sure you start saving up now! This set is simply beautiful. The regular set is nice, but the alt arts are amazing! The set will feature the original 151 Pokemon, including Kadabra which hasn’t been available in a card for 20 years. There are 165 cards in this set with a few alt arts to pad it out. I will have to try my hardest not to collect them all. I don’t normally buy Pokemon cards, but I might have to snag a couple of packs on my trip to Japan for the nostalgia.
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Pokemon TCG Online has officially shut down and been replaced by Pokemon TCG Live. You can download Pokemon TCG Live on IOS, Android, PC and Mac. While I am saddened by the end of an era, I am hopeful for the game’s future. While I have a decent win rate on both clients, keep in mind that I am speaking from an entirely casual perspective. If you are looking to me for competitive advice, I am afraid I won’t be very helpful.
Pokemon TCG Live is the best place to go if you want to learn how to play the Pokemon TCG. It’s free, it’s convenient, and the tutorial is fantastic. Players get access to decent starter decks, and they can earn more through gameplay. I wish they had trainer challenges where players could face off against AI for rewards as they had in PTCGO, but playing against real people has been great. There will be an awkward adjustment phase as the game tries to find your skill level, but this process felt quick compared to other card games I’ve tried. I only play ranked, so I can’t speak on matchmaking for casual.
I’ve been playing on the IOS app since the start of the beta, and it was rough. The game was so unplayable in the beginning that I almost gave up. Matches took too long, animations would lose frames, and there were a few noticeable bugs that made the experience terrible. There has been a bit of polish since, and I’ve been enjoying myself a lot more. There is still room for improvement, but at least on IOS, the experience is solid. I can’t speak on the experience for Android or PC.
While I am content with the state of Live, some changes will take some getting used to. I don’t like that they flipped the orientation of the gameboard. I believe this was done to accommodate for mobile devices, but it is awkward on the iPad. I’ve gotten used to it, but I have to lock the iPad so it doesn’t randomly rotate and force me into a smaller aspect ratio. I also miss tournaments and access to the theme deck format. I only played the theme decked format in PTCGO because it was the easiest way to get into the game, and I always liked trying the different starter decks. The grind for Live also seems a bit steeper than it was in PTCGO. While the grind is not as bad as in MTGA, it is noticeable. Finally, there is no more trading. I didn’t do any trading in PTCGO because I enjoyed opening my packs, but it is something to be aware of. Instead of trading packs for singles, you buy them through a dust system that works like any other CCG. I don’t buy enough cards to know how well the dust system works compared to the old way, I just know that it will be a while for me to get a meta deck.
As a casual in the space, I love Pokemon TCG Live. I love that I can play standard right at the start, I love that I can play on my phone, and love that I can play people that are around my skill level. I get stomped by people who spend money on this game on occasion, but I’ve also had some of the most intense and fun games in between. I will eventually build a meta deck, but I have been enjoying the game without one.
The best part about collecting Pokemon are the redeemable code cards you get from buying physical packs. I always feel weird throwing money into a game for digital assets that might not exist in a few years. I love that I can go to my LGS, buy a few packs, enjoy them in my collection, and then redeem them online. More card games should do this to incentivize players to spend money in the space. It bothers me that if I buy a booster box of MTG, I also have to buy it in MTGA just to play standard. Unfortunately, all my money is going into Digimon, but I like having the option.
What I love most about Pokemon TCG Live is how free-to-play-friendly compared to the other online TCGs. I know I’ve mentioned a grind, but it isn’t bad. I am speaking as a casual player who enjoys the game, but the grind doesn’t feel like work. I am sure if you do buy cards and spend money, the grind will be a lot easier, but as a free-to-play player, I have no complaints. You can unlock the battle pass for 600 gems, which you can easily earn in a few days. Unlocking the battle pass gives you access to cosmetics, packs, and more gems. I play casually and complete a reward track every single day. I’ve already decent collection without spending any money, and I’ve only been playing the starter deck. Any excess gems can be spent on decent bundles or themed decks to further expand your collection. It’s a great system.
If you are looking to get into the hobby, now is a great time to join. Pokemon TCG Live is officially out of Beta, so you won’t have to experience the rough stages I had to go through. The client runs well enough (at least on IOS), there is a healthy population of players, and Paldea Evolved is going to be a lot of fun to collect. I can’t speak about the set’s power level, but I am loving the art. The game is free. You can play on PC and Mac, and on Android and IOS devices. And if you have any of codes you aren’t using, shoot some my way!
The Digimon Card game has had its resurgence for a couple of years now, and I have since started my humble collection. I love the art and enjoy the gameplay. Sadly, I don’t have the time to play at locals or online, but I love collecting. There are ways to play online if you don’t mind the clunkiness of Tabletop Simulator or the awkwardness of playing through a webcam with strangers on Discord, but I am a little too socially awkward. I can only hope that there is enough of a market for the game that one day, Bandai will release a web client like the big TCGs.
In an effort to give the game more exposure and hopefully convince some folks to join the hobby, I will start making weekly updates on the news related to the game. Please I will be coming at these announcements from the perspective of an enthusiastic collector rather than a competitive player or an investor. This post will also include spoilers for an unreleased set, so if you care about spoilers, stop reading now. And as always, make sure you like and subscribe!
Alternative Being [EX-04] Spoilers
This theme booster is coming out on June 23rd and the art for this set is so good!
I want to start off with Omnimon Alter-S because it looks so cool! Man the art is amazing, and the affects are pretty cool. DNA Digivolution is such a cool mechanic and you get some pretty nice removal and board expansion.
This looks like its going to be a great set to collect if you like the Greymon and Garurumon line. I’d love to add these to my binder!
Locals
The local scene hasn’t had too much love, at least in my area. I had a chat with the manager of my LGS and was told that Bandai was spending more resources promoting One Piece. They weren’t getting much prize support, but that might be changing with the new prize support promos that were just announced. I can’t tell you who is getting allocated, but there might be incentive to collect some.
Tamer Party
Tamer party is a special event for the month of June with the goal to encourage new players to the hobby. This is a casual event designed to teach players how to play. There is no winner, but participants will get special four card packs with a chance of hitting a very cool Magnamon. Check with your LGS if they will be participating.
I don’t know about you, but I love the retro vibe for this Magnomon. They other cards you can pull are pretty exciting as well.
I am most excited for Aldamon if I am being honest. I know there is a lot of hate for Frontier, but it is my favorite season of Digimon. The story might not have been the best, but it had an amazing concept and a fantastic opening song. There might be bias because of how impressionable I might have been at that age, but I don’t care. I like what I like.
June 2023 Store Championship
While not the most exciting news, if you have access to decent local scene, might be a good chance to get some unique promos.
June-August Events
There is a lot going on for competitive players. Both the Ultimate Cup and Championship will be going on across the regions with some pretty solid prize support. looks like there will be both online and offline events, so make sure you go sign up for what works best for you.
Its time to earn your path to the championship. There are some nice promos so make sure you check out what is available to you.
Ultimate Cup
The Gigimon looks so cute!
And for those who care about the meta…
Here are the top 4 decks for the April-May Regionals
North America
Europe
Oceana
Digmon Dreamers
Digimon Dreamers is getting its English release on the Digimonweb. Hopefully it gets a proper translation and not Google Translate like Digimon Seekers.
That’s all I have for now, I haven’t decided on the release schedule for these updates but I will be back next week. Don’t forget to like, subscribe, and comment if the mood strikes. Until next time!
I know I am a little late on this news, but Magic the Gathering Arena is now on Steam. If you are looking for the most convenient way to play MTG standard, this is a solid option. The app works well enough, and you can always find a match when you need one.
I don’t have the longest history with Magic the Gathering, but I love card games. I grew up collecting Pokemon and playing Yugioh. I got into MTG during the Return to Ravnica set when there were still base sets. One of my coworkers at the time found out I liked Yugioh, and he convinced me to get into Magic. He took me to my first Friday Night Magic, and we made it our ritual to go every Friday after. I didn’t do well, but it quickly became my favorite part of the week. I always had weird decks people enjoyed playing against, and I met some very cool people. Unfortunately, my schedule changed, and I haven’t played in person in years. I did try getting into MTGO, but it was too much of a hassle to be worth it. It didn’t capture what I loved most about Friday Night Magic.
Since then, I’ve played a lot of Hearthstone and every other CCG on the app store. It took me until Brother’s War to take MTGA more seriously. I may not be a high-ranking player, but I’ve been enjoying it for the casual magic experience that it has become for me. I don’t have friends, time, or money to get into paper Magic. As it is, I only have time for my dailies and an odd-ranked match here and there. I would love to have the time to see how high I could rank, but I am content with where I am.
I am a mostly free-to-play player. I have only spent $20 total on this game to unlock the battle pass, but I had already built my competitive standard deck without spending any money. The battle pass is a great way to build your collection if you play enough to make it worth it. You can use real money or earn gems through drafts. Be warned, the grind in this game can be soul-crushing. You will lose a lot in the beginning. Once you’ve been placed in your ELO and earned enough Wild Cards to build your deck, it gets better.
I didn’t feel like the grind was bad because I just wanted to play Magic, even if I lost. I jumped straight into ranked. I was able to get into gold casually, and it became a lot easier once I built a better deck. The starter decks get a lot of bad press, but they aren’t bad if you are just trying to play and earn your dailies. If you care about rank, just play casual. It will match you with people with the same deck level. But if you are trying to play this game seriously, there are some pretty good guides out there that will help you play efficiently.
If you’ve been thinking about getting into Magic the Gathering, MTGA is a great place to start. The color challenges give players a solid foundation for how the game works and the game does a great job of teaching players the different mechanics. The grind can be a little soul-crushing, but if you are just playing for fun, it isn’t too bad. Once you get a solid understanding of the basics and want to play with real people, I would look into getting a precon commander and finding an LGS to play at.
If you are new to MTGA, make sure you reroll your dailies. You can reroll one quest a day, reroll anything that gives you 500g and keep anything worth 750g. The most efficient way to build your collection is by playing draft. You get the most cards from drafts, and you can earn gems that you can use to unlock the battle pass or cosmetics. You also get a free pack each month by participating in a draft. If you aren’t good at draft, go download the untapped.gg companion. It has a nifty little overlay that gives tips on what to draft. If you are playing on PC, you should also be running this app. It has a fantastic feature deck building feature that sorts deck lists by what you can afford based on your collection and the number of wild cards you own.
The best advice I can give players going into this game is to not let the grind become more important than your fun. This is a game run by a greedy corporation, and they are constantly making choices that make it hard to support the game. The game is buggy and there is a huge grind in this game by design, especially if you are free-to-play. There are efficient ways to tackle this grind, but you have to evaluate if the amount of time you need to spend on that grind is worth it. If you enjoy the grind, or if the end goal is worth it, by all means, go for it. But if playing Magic becomes soul-crushing, and you find yourself logging into this game because you have to and not because you want to, it’s okay to step away, take a break, and play a different card game. Come back after you take your break, this game isn’t going anywhere anytime soon.
I have read all the guides and watched all the videos. I know how to grind efficiently, but I choose to play this game in a way that is fun for me. I hate playing drafts, so I don’t draft. I know it’s more efficient than buying and opening packs, but I have more fun opening packs than drafting. What I am saying is, pick and choose the advice that helps you enjoy the game the most. Games should be fun, and Magic is no exception.
The winners for the 2023 Digimon Illustration winners have just been announced. Winners of this competition will have their cards printed in special promotional packs at a later date. I just got into the hobby and hope to score a set for my collection. Only eight cards will be printed, and I think my favorite is the Jellymon. Make sure you go over to the official website for the ruling.
Grand Prize
「Blood moon」 Kariki Hajime
Second Place
「Imperialdramon a new hope」 Capitan Artiglio
「Gather dreams」 E_Volution_
「Have a Sukamon parfait」 IRASA
「Know Oneself」 Takeuchi Moto
「Strong! Strong! Strong!」 Aurola
「Sunny day after rain」 naru
「Watching the sunset」 Iori Sunakura
I just wanted to share the news because the cards are beautiful, and wanted to spread the news. My hope is that it will get other people interested in at least collecting. I just started my collection and I am obsessed. I haven’t had a chance to play the game with people because my schedule is so busy, but the gameplay is pretty fun. If you want to start learning the game, they have a free app for Android and IOS devices that shows how to play. The official Reddit and Discord are great places to go if you want information or want to pick up a game or three. I will make sure I come back with news on how to get the cards.
I have been looking to get into a new TCG since Magic is getting too expensive. I play a bit of Magic the Gathering Arena and PokemonTCG in my free time because of their accessibility, but I want something new and fresh. One of the games I have been curious about is Flesh and Blood TCG. I like the art, and the gameplay seems pretty cool.
Flesh and Blood is a game where players pit heroes against each other, chaining attacks against each other until only one is left standing. For those wanting to learn how to play, the official Flesh & Blood YouTube channel offers a solid guide to get you started. I suggest you find your favorite content creator for more tips once you get more invested in the hobby.
If you are interested in getting into this hobby, check out the official Flesh and Blood website. Use it to keep updated on news, products, and local events. The Flesh and Blood subreddit and discord are pretty active and another fantastic source for information.
If going to your local game store isn’t an option, you can try installing a Flesh and Blood addon to Table Top Simulator. I recommend you buy a license for TTS if you want to play board games with your friends online. While it is a fantastic way to play your favorite board games online, it can be clunky and lacks automation. The best place to play FAB online is on Felt Table.
Felt Table is a browser-based app for Flesh and Blood. It offers an automated experience with an easy-to-use interface. The cards are easy to read, and the cards look great. Felt Table is the place to go once you get a basic understanding of the game’s mechanics, or just want to play test a new deck. The app has an easy-to-use deck builder that allows imports, solid prebuilt decks to get you started, and a well-programmed AI to play against. They also just released a new campaign mode that is worth checking out if you are interested in the PVE side of the hobby. They also hold Sealed events and it has a pretty solid tutorial worth checking out.
Screenshot from Website
I tried both AI battles as well the campaign and thought the experience was interesting. The games run very smoothly. I liked how easy it was to get started and play matches, but I don’t think I am smart enough for this game. I had enough fun fumbling to the end of matches, and will be returning to Felt Table to keep practicing. At the moment, the game hasn’t captured my attention enough to invest in, but I am happy to have an accessible avenue to continue to figure out who I am in the TCG space.
While my search for a new TCG continues, I believe you should give Flesh and Blood a shot. The community seems to be steadily growing, the mechanics are interesting, and the art is pretty cool. The app is also free, so you have nothing to lose.
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I recently just got back into the Digimon fandom and even have started collecting the card games because they look so cool. Digimon con just happened, and while most of the announcements and releases target the Japanese audience, there are some cool announcements for those outside Japan to look forward to. There were a few interesting interviews with voice actors and artists that are worth looking into if you are a fan of the anime, but I will be focusing more on the trading card and game news. I will provide links to the videos and pictures where available.
Digimon World: New Order
With Digimon World: New Order releasing on February 22, 2023, we got news about new features coming with this port. We got a bit of the initial gameplay, nothing too exciting, but it did provide insight into the type of game this will be for those of us that never got to play the original. The new port comes with a new “beginner” difficulty setting aimed at newcomers. There is also 1.4x speed to make travel over the world quicker. I always appreciate these types of quality-of-life changes because, for those of us that are too busy for gaming, this allows us to enjoy the game without being bogged down by its mechanics.
New Order’s gameplay places its focus on how you raise your Digimon. They showed different ways to raise your Digimon. You have to feed, train, talk to, and even discipline your Digimon to help it grow. Like any pet management game, it is looking like a very relaxing experience with a solid story behind it. The way you treat your Digimon, how you talk to them, train them or even discipline them affects their Digivolution path. It might be necessary to have a guide handy to make sure that you get the Digimon you want. As long as I get a Wizardmon, I will be okay.
I announced my excitement for this game previously and still plan on playing this game on Launch. Watching the bits of gameplay has only made me more impatient for the 22nd to come around.
Digimon TCG News
What I was most excited about for Digimon Con was news about the Digimon TCG. While I am disappointed that there was no announcement for an online client, there are a fair amount of promos to be had.
The first screening of the Digimon Illustration Competition 2023 was announced, and there are some cool-looking designs to look forward to. From this group, one design from each Digimon will be selected to be made into promo cards.
2 / 16
Which ones are your favorite?
3rd Anniversary Set Announcement
The 3rd Anniversary set has been revealed for Japan. This collection showcases 9 golden promo cards that come in a nice holder with some very cool art. As of writing this, pre-orders are only available for the Japanese market. Those of you fans outside of Japan will either have to pay the premium and get your hands on the Japanese edition or gamble on a global release.
Get Magnamon
The “Get Magnamon” campaign was announced in Japan for March and April 2023 where players of the TCG will be able to compete in Tamer Battles and Tamer Exchange events for a chance to win a new alt version of the BT8 Magnamon. I love the classic style of this card and pray that we get a US release of this promo.
Digimon Card Game Championship 2022 Finals
The Digimon TCG Championship Finals are around the corner, and the promo cards for participating in the event and the prize cards have been announced. These cards look very nice, and I envy those players who were able to make it this far. The Finals will be on February 24 – 26, 2023 at the Los Angeles Conversion Center. Those who qualify will move on to the World Championship finals on March 11, 12, 18, and 19.
Digimon Fan Meetup 2th Anniversary Echibition
But that isn’t all. The convention will also be home to the Digimon Fan Meetup pop-up event. This museum will exhibit over 140 art pieces from the Digimon IP. It is free to everyone but get there quickly because they are giving away some cool promos. Those who attend will get their hands on a special guidebook that is sure to have some cool art and a pack of the alt cards of last year’s winners of the Digimon Illustration contest. Get there quickly because these promos are only available while supplies last.
Digital Monster 25th Anniversary Project
The biggest focus for the convention seemed to be on the Digimon Vital Bracelets. They announced the Digital Monster 25th anniversary project which seems to be a comic, some live-action shorts, and products centered around the Vital Bracelet game. This came with the announcement of the new Digimon Loogamon and an introduction to his story. This is an attempt to expand on the experience for those who play the game which I hear is fun but lacking. If the story is good enough, I can see it selling more of the toy. I wish this game would come out for the smartwatch. I don’t want to have to wear two watches to have access to this game.
More news of the story is set to be announced closer to its release but at the moment we know that it will be a darker Digimon story where 3 factions fight for dominance. There are the Crackers who work in the shadows, the Digipolice that fight Digimon crime, and the Hackers who work somewhere in the middle. Art for the project has been released, but I am not sure how invested I will be in something that I won’t have access to.
Loobamon’s Vitabracelett has been announced, but preorders are only open for Japan at the moment. This Digimon is cute, and I can’t wait for the card versions.
There are a few other announcements specific to the Digivice games that are cool for any collector:
The Digimon Con Kenji Watanabe Editions
Winners of the Digmion Evolution Results
Voting has begun for the upcoming Bird/Angel Bememory for those fans of the game.
Closing
I thought the event was interesting as a fan of Digimon. Since I am only a fan of the game and the TCG, I found the announcements to be a bit underwhelming. I enjoyed the live performances and even some of the more silly content like the card matches, but I was hoping for news on an online client. I want to be able to play the card game online like I can with Pokemon or even MTG, since locals isn’t really accessible for me. I guess I will keep waiting.
If you play the Vital Bracelet game, there was a lot of cool sounding information for you. I wish they could port this game to smart watches. I would love to play this game, but I don’t see the point of having two watches. Either way, I enjoyed it enough to do this again next year. There was a lot to go over but I tried to condense it to the most important.
**All images and video were taken from the stream or Bandai site. I don’t own these images**
