Ascent Chicago just ended, and while there weren’t too many drastic changes to the meta, there were a few exciting announcements that we will need to go over. We got an update on the judge program and some very cool spoilers. If you’re looking for Grand Archive cards, get them over at TCG Player through my affiliate link. It really helps me out.

Errata to Silvie

There is a promise of some meta-shifting bans coming tomorrow. Meanwhile, there was an errata that is already creating ripples in the format. Effective August 4th, Stonescale Band has been slowed in the hopes of removing a bit of Silvie from the format. The cost to cast has been changed from 0 to 1, and the activation cost has been changed from 1 to 2. The effect now reads:

The next ally card you active this turn can be activated as though it had fast activation

This slows the card as you are no longer allowed to activate as many slimes as you can. It is unclear how much this change will break the deck, but a slower Silvie can’t be good for popularity. We will have to see if any of the other bans affect archetype, but hopefully this shifts the deck list a bit.

Mortal Ambition Spoilers

In the most exciting news, we got spoilers for the upcoming Mortal Ambition set. The set releases on October 11th, so make sure you put in your preorders. The flavor for this set is fantastic, and the art for these spoilers is so pretty. I hope the screenshots do them justice. I’ll post more high-definition images when they become available.

The Collector Rare

We also got a look at a collector rare and this card is so pretty! If this card doesn’t move boxes, I don’t know what will. As a collector, I am all in!

Developer Live Stream Announcement

There will be a developer livestream on September 14. While this news may not be exciting for everyone, this means more spoilers and some cool gameplay insight if you’re into that kind of thing. I’m hoping they run the online store so that I can finally get my hands on some supporter packs!

Reprints in Bound!

One of the biggest frustrations for new players of Grand Archive is the price of singles. Stock is limited, and prices for important staples make the game unfeasible for some. I still kick myself for not buying into the game sooner. In a bit of expected news, Alchemical Revolution Altered Edition has been announced. The set is expected in January 2025, and it is the perfect time to buy into the set if you missed out on it the first time. I need some Arisanna cards for I deck I’m building that I know won’t win me any prizes. The set is coming with some very important changes, so make sure you get those wallets ready!

Academy Teacher Promo

The Academy Teacher promo has been revealed, and it is such a pretty card. The Academy program is a special promotion to help promote the game to new stores. Experienced players who help stores teach new players how to play the game will receive a special copy of Vaporjet Shieldbearer and it has me reaching for my teacher’s hat. The program starts in September, stay tuned for more news.

The Judge Program

With the growing popularity of the game comes the increased demand for judges. The judge program for the MRC season awards judges with an exclusive and beautiful Careful Study card based on their level. The test to become a judge goes live on August 9th, so make sure you sign up when you can. There doesn’t seem to be a limit on how many times you can try the test, but there is a week cooldown for failed tests. Study hard and good luck!