At the heart of every great strategy lies a formidable commander. With the introduction of player portraits, you can now visually define your leadership in battle.
All players begin with a standard silhouette portrait. However, as you progress through the national progression system, you will unlock new, historically inspired portraits at levels 8, 48, and 150 for each nation. Additional portraits will also be available for purchase in the in-game Shop.
Each player portrait is crafted from iconic artwork, many of which can already be seen in KARDS.
Your selected portrait will be prominently displayed in key areas of the game, including the home screen and battle interface.
Player Profiles - The Next Steps
Player portraits are just the beginning. We are actively developing player profiles, a dedicated space where you’ll be able to view and customize your portrait while tracking your personal achievements within KARDS.
Player profiles will introduce a new achievement system, where you can earn medals for completing challenges. These medals are not just rewards - they are a testament to your strategic prowess and battlefield expertise.
Expect player profiles to launch later this year alongside another major update, further expanding your ability to personalize and showcase your journey in KARDS.
Card Spoilers Ahead!
We can’t wait for the United Front update to take the battlefield by storm. Follow us on social media to make sure you don’t miss a thing:
A new release, a new balance patch. You know the drill. The UNITED FRONT Spring Release will shake things up on various fronts - new cards, cards being rotated and several cards seeing some balance tweaks. It is this last part that we will be discussing here in this dev blog, so strap yourself in!
As is to be expected with 3 whole months since the Blood & Iron expansion, players are getting a bit tired of the meta and are restless for some shake ups. The meta has a few decks rising slightly above the rest (mainly ramp, self-damage, soviet control), but their edge is so slim that pretty much anything goes and it is possible to get decent results with any old deck. Aggro is weaker though than it has been for a while. With all this in mind, let’s take a look at what we have in store for you in the upcoming balance patch, starting with the nerfs.
The first response to First Responders when it launched with a cost of 4 was muted. The second response to First Responders after it was buffed to 3k was polarizing. It will be interesting to see what the third response to First Responders will be now that the effect is nerfed a bit. A response of 100% approval would be a first.
The 4th Guards Rifles took to the Blood & Iron battlefields with a storm, now the Blitz is being taken away. With their storming days over, is this 9/9 Guard that sometimes comes down for free doomed to become obsolete? Only time will tell, but players are advised to keep their anti-9/9 tools near at hand, just in case.
The popularity of 12th Guards Mechanised is such that the unit now feels it can conquer the world. It has thrown all caution to the wind and is going all out on attack. We feel required to reflect these new megalomaniac tendencies within the game, so we are swapping the attack and defense of the non-veteran version. Note that the veteran version remains the same, only the non-veteran version is seeing any changes.
The ability on Inniskilling Fusiliers is rising from 2 to 3. Math tells us this is an increase of 50%, but our guts tells us it is much bigger, like a slowly digesting Shepard’s Pie. Intel decks have flirted with respectability for a while now, especially in legion with Legions. It now has a payoff card that demands respect and finally puts the Kill in Inniskilling.
Speaking of math, here is a card that is now 20% cheaper, 25% more likely to see play and 30% more likely to frustrate your foe. Make your subs dominate the seas in an orgy of pain and pleasure; penetrate unsuspecting allied convoys with your torpedoes of steel, making your opponents squeal. Germany has taken a bit of a hit recently in terms of popularity, especially as a main nation, but this new tool can invigorate their control and midrange tempo decks. Pack Wolfpack and Master your enemy.
Covert Operation was so undercover and low-key that it has managed to stay out of pretty much all decks since it sneaked into the game. It has now instigated a buddy program, where it brings a buddy to work. As a 4-cost single unit it had 0 impact, let’s see if a 5-cost double unit has a bigger impact, or ends as double-O 5.
The iconic P-51 Mustang has for a long time rarely found a home outside of draft. It is now regaining its old ability of dealing 5 damage instead of 4. Let’s see if this allows it to range further. The word on the grapevine is that air decks may be seeing a resurgence soon, meaning the P-51 Mustang may be getting into its stride at just the right time.
The 77th Regiment puts its pants on one leg at a time like other mortal men, but what it was lacking was more 2/2s. Witnessing the 77th now roaming the misty spaces of the battlefields chanting ‘More 2/2s’ is sure to strike fear in the most formidable opponents. Alongside similar value-generating midrange units like Winter Regiment, the 77th Regiment may be the start of something new and fresh for Japan.
‘Where there is smokescreen there is fire’ nobody said, ever. But now they might. The smokescreen deck, with the support it got in Blood & Iron, was capable of growing very big, but was severely lacking in the speed department. Now Hirosaki is giving the deck the tempo-swing it needed. Is it enough to light the fire beneath it?
To answer the question above - if Hirosaki is not enough by itself, maybe this little buff can push it over the edge. Now with an operation cost of 0 this little tankette threatens to grow into a formidable threat quicker than you can say ‘Go Type 92 Jyu-Shokosha, go!’ three times fast.
B-26 Groupe Bretagne cares about the first order you give each turn. Now the Bloch cares about being the first unit deployed. One wonders what this portents, but something tells us Nostradamus’s famous ‘France First’ t-shirt might be a hint of things to come.
Zaza Division never managed to find glory in surviving, so now it is going down in style. This can be a real draw-on-a-stick in the mid game and who knows what other tricks are possible. All we know is that 33rd Recon is now hiding in shame.
That is all for now. Three nerfs and nine buffs to accompany the new cards and rotation, heralding in a new and bright future. Let us know what you think, your feedback is precious to us. The balance patch will be unleashed on the 13th of March, spearheading the changes to come. Until then, see you on the battlefield, commander!
United Front: Mini-Set Spoiler Season Kick-Off!
Commanders, prepare for battle!
The battlefield is evolving - United Front, the KARDS spring expansion, is set to launch in early access on March 14th, with full deployment on March 20th!
This expansion bolsters the forces of the allied nations, bringing 24 brand-new cards to the ranks of Finland, France, Italy, and Poland. Each nation receives six powerful new additions, expanding on existing strategies and introducing thrilling new tactics to the fight.
Missed our last transmission? Catch up on the full feature breakdown and release timeline here: United Front:
Spoiler week kicks off with a bang as we unveil six brand-new cards from United Front! Over the coming days, expect a steady barrage of reveals, with fresh previews coming from both the KARDS development team and our dedicated community of content creators.
Without further delay, let’s get straight to our first card reveals!
MOLOTOV COCKTAIL
A Finnish Order of Limited rarity that costs 2 kredits to play. Effect: Deal 2 damage. The enemy discards a card. Discard at the end of your turn.
ESCAUT PLAN
A French Order of Standard rarity that costs 1 kredit to play. Effect: Target unit moves into the frontline, if possible. Give it Ambush, if this is the first order this turn.
MACCHI C.200
An Italian Fighter of Standard rarity that costs 1 kredit to deploy and 1 kredit to operate. Stats: 2 Attack / 2 Defense Deployment effect: Gets +1+1 for each other friendly air unit.
WOLVES OF TUSCANY
An Italian Infantry unit of Special rarity that costs 2 kredits to deploy and 1 kredit to operate. Stats: 1 Attack / 5 Defense Keywords: Blitz Effect: While this unit is in the frontline, your air units have +2 attack.
4TP
A Polish Tank of Standard rarity that costs 1 kredit to deploy and 1 kredit to operate. Stats: 2 Attack / 3 Defense. Effect: Destroy this unit after it attacks the enemy HQ.
DANUTA
A Polish Tank of Special rarity that costs 3 kredits to deploy and 3 kredits to operate. Stats: 3 Attack / 4 Defense Keywords: Guard, Heavy Armor 1 Effect: At the start of your turn, add a 4TP to your support line with Blitz. Destroy it end of turn.
The Spoiler Campaign Continues!
With these first six cards revealed, 18 more remain classified - for now. Over the next several days, new intel will be dropping from both official channels and community content creators.
Here’s when and where you can catch the next wave of reveals:
Make sure to follow these creators and tune in daily to stay on top of all the latest spoilers!
Stay Connected!
Join the conversation and let us know which of today’s revealed cards has you most excited! Follow us on social media and stay up to date with all the latest KARDS intel:
United Front: Early Access Available on March 14th!
Hello everyone!
The KARDS team is hard at work on bringing you the Spring release: United Front!
Today, we’re excited to share more details about what’s coming this March, including the release schedule, a brand new mini-set, player portraits, and Battle Pass bundles!
If you missed last week’s announcement, including an overview of the features arriving this Spring and the upcoming Reserve pool rotation, you can catch up here:
Arriving with United Front this March, personalize your KARDS identity with brand new player portraits!
Portraits will be visible in key areas such as the home screen and during battles. These portraits are crafted from iconic KARDS artwork, with different rarities adding unique detail and flair.
Keep an eye out for an in-depth dev blog highlighting player portraits coming soon!
Battle Pass Bundles
For our dedicated players who enjoy the Battle Pass, we’re introducing Battle Pass bundles with United Front!
Choose from 3-month or 6-month Battle Pass bundles.
Enjoy a discounted rate when purchasing a full bundle.
Release Schedule
United Front will roll out in three main stages:
March 13th: Patch Deployment
New player portraits become available.
Card balance updates go live.
Various bug fixes and general improvements.
March 14th: Mini-Set Early Access
The new mini-set will be available exclusively through purchases in the in-game Shop.
March 20th: Full Release
The mini-set becomes fully available via Core card packs in the in-game Shop.
Cards from the mini-set can be created using wildcards.
Reserve pool rotations take effect.
Spoilers Starting Soon!
Get ready for mini-set card reveals starting at the end of next week!
Make sure to follow us on social media so you don’t miss any of the exciting new card reveals during the upcoming spoiler season!
Finalists in the first KARDS Expansion Tournament!
From the 32 contenders we are down to our final 8!
Join us on 22 February and watch the epic culmination of the Blood & Iron Expansion Tournament live on stream. Our top 8 contenders will battle until there is only one. This is a single elimination bracket, where all games will be a best of 5. All contenders bring 4 of their best decks with one deck ban.In order to succeed, players must prove their skill and versatility with each of their decks.
We here at 1939 Games congratulate these 8 players who made it through the first round and will compete next Saturday, 22 February @ 1100 GMT.
We’re thrilled to announce the upcoming United Front KARDS Spring Release!
As the first of four major updates this year, the Spring Release brings exciting new features and game-changing additions, including:
A new mini-set featuring 24 brand new cards
Brand new player profiles
Card balance update
20 cards rotating to Reserves
Alongside these additions, the update will also include bug fixes and general improvements. Expect the Spring Release to land mid-March!
To prepare for the upcoming strategic shake-up, we’d like to share with you specific details of the cards that you can expect to move into the Reserve pool with the Spring Release!
You can read more about the Reserve pool and card rotation in our Help Center here: Reserve Pool
Card Rotation: Reserve Pool Overview
With the arrival of the new mini-set, the following 20 cards will move to the Reserve pool:
BLOHM & VOSS
MOSQUITO FB Mk VI
507th PIR
272nd GUARDS
AUDACITY
FIESELER FI 156
RAAF LIGHTNING F-4
UNITED WE STAND
SPEARHEAD
MATSUE REGIMENT
CASE YELLOW
M3A3 HONEY
332nd ENGINEER REGIMENT
MACHINES OF WAR
Ki-44 TOJO
REICHSBANK
TIMELY SUPPLIES
SUPPLY CHAIN
STAND TOGETHER
34th INFANTRY REGIMENT
These cards will no longer drop in Core packs starting at least four weeks before their rotation. However, they can still be crafted with wildcards (with a confirmation prompt).
Important Reserve Pool Facts:
Reserve cards remain playable in the Classic PvP mode, friendly challenge matches, and AI training matches.
You may recycle Reserved cards, which contributes to your weekly crate progress.
New expansion cards are safe from Reserve rotation for at least 1.5 years.
Some Reserve cards may return in future expansions - possibly with adjustments!
More Details Coming Soon!
Stay tuned as we unveil more details about Spring Release in the coming weeks, including mini-set card reveals during our upcoming mini spoiler season!
Join the conversation on social media and tell us what you’re most excited about in the Spring Release!
First 2025 Expansion Tournament ahead!
Attention KARDS players!
The first Expansion Tournament is ahead!
LIVE BROADCAST
February 15th - Swiss Rounds 12:00 GMT
February 22nd - Round of 8 Finals 11:00 GMT
Over the course of the next two weekends, 32 players will be battling out to see who will be the first winner in the new KARDS eSports tournaments, earning the lion’s share of the 3000 USD prize pool.
This will be a highly competitive event, where players must showcase their skills and strategic thinking to come out on top.
Swiss Rounds - February 15th @ 12:00 GMT
Each player will bring 3 decks to the tournament with different main nations. There will be 5 rounds of swiss. Players will play each round in a best of 3 conquest with no deck bans. The final result top 8 players from swiss will be qualified for the Round of 8 Finals.
Round of 8 Finals - February 22nd @ 11:00 GMT
All games will be a best of 5 with one deck ban. This is a single elimination bracket, however, there will be a match for third place.
You don’t want to miss this EPIC broadcast event! Join us on Twitch, where you'll be able to enter the stream giveaway for your chance to win card packs or tickets to claim in-game!The Expansion Tournament features the cream of the KARDS players. Make sure to tune in so you don’t miss any of the top level plays made by our expert players. Deck codes will be available on the stream which you can grab and try out yourself!
There will be Four expansion tournaments over the year. With each release and expansion there will be a tournament where the most successful KARDS players from the Officer club (24) and the tournament leaderboard (8) from the months leading up to each tournament. The period before each tournament is two or three months.
The expansion tournaments feature cash and in-game prizes.
1st: 1500 USD
2nd: 1000 USD
3rd: 500USD
4th - 8th: 500 Diamonds
9th - 32nd: 100 Diamonds
In addition the top 3 players from each tournament will enter the World Championship along with the top 4 players from 2024 for a total of 16.
If a player qualifies twice for a tournament then the next in line will get the extra place.
Tournaments are covered with full live broadcast productions and available live on the KARDS Twitch channel and uploaded after the live broadcast to the KARDS YouTube channel.
The World Championship is an annual tournament where we crown the KARDS World Champion. Competitors qualify through ladder based in-game qualifiers that are open for anyone to enter. Through several tournament stages, competitors are whittled down to the top 4 who battle it out for the title of KARDS World Champion and the lion's share of the 12,000 USD prize pool.
For clarification here is an overview calendar.
A New Skirmish Event is Live
🚨A new Skirmish event is live now until February 2nd🚨
Skirmish is a special game mode, easily accessible from the main screen, where you play with a different set of rules. These rules vary between the Skirmishes - you’ll face something different at every new Skirmish event.
Get ready for a thrilling and completely unique battle experience with these Skirmish rules:
Each player gets an identical deck with 8 copies each of the 0/4 infantry cycle.
At the start of each turn, choose 1 of 3 randomly chosen from a pool of 16.
Each player starts with an extra kredit slot.
In addition to the exciting and unique battle experience you’ll get with this Skirmish ruleset, you’ll also get a card pack as your first win reward in this Skirmish!
Access the Skirmish event from the game's main screen or from the battle screen to get a detailed overview of the game mode, rules and prize.
📅This Skirmish is available from Friday, January 31 (14:00 UTC) until Sunday, February 2nd at 18:00 UTC. Join this special event and win your Skirmish to claim victory and the spoils!
Please let us know what you think of the event in the comments below or on the KARDS Discord.
See you in the Skirmish this weekend!
CELEBRATE THE YEAR OF THE SNAKE WITH KARDS
The Lunar New Year is one of the biggest holidays in the World and we at KARDS will take part in these celebrations! KARDS are delighted to spread the cheer of the Lunar New Year with our players all around the globe. And where better to start than the Year of the Snake, a year that is known for wisdom and transformative energy! With the wood element it symbolizes growth, stability and creativity, the very same things as KARDS aims for!
FREE HOLIDAY GIFTS - EVERY DAY IN THE SHOP!
For eight days from January 28th to February 4th a new free holiday gift will be waiting for you every day in the game shop. A small token of appreciation for your dedication to KARDS. Each day at 11 UTC, a free special offer becomes available for 24 hours only—so make sure to claim it before it’s gone!
🎁Visit the in-game shop daily to claim your free gift.
⚠️Once a new gift arrives, the previous day’s gift will be gone.
Along with the gifts there will also be special Year of the Snake offers in the Kards shop with discounts.
May the Year of the Snake bless you with good luck at every turn.
