How to Play Gundam Card Game: Prepare for the Release Like a Pro!

The Gundam Card Game (GCG) is an exciting way to immerse yourself in the iconic Gundam universe. Combining strategy, creativity, and iconic characters, this game allows players to build decks, engage in battles, and relive epic moments from the series. If you’re new to the game, this guide will help you understand the basics, set up your deck, and master the rules. Let’s dive in!

What Is the Gundam Card Game?

The Gundam Card Game is a strategic, collectible card game inspired by the Mobile Suit Gundam series. Players build decks from a wide variety of unit cards, pilot cards, command cards, and base cards. The objective is to strategically use these cards to defeat your opponent by destroying their shields and dealing direct battle damage.

Key Features of the Gundam Card Game

1. Deck Customization: Combine cards from different Gundam series.
2. Resource Management: Balance your resources to play powerful cards.
3. Strategic Combat: Plan attacks and defenses using unit and pilot cards.
4. Immersive Gameplay: Relive battles with iconic characters and mobile suits.

Understanding the Card Types

The Gundam Card Game features four types of cards (a selection of examples is shown in the images below):

• Unit Cards: Represent the mobile suits used in battles. Each unit card has a level, cost, attack power (AP), and health points (HP).

Units are deployed into the Battle Area. Up to 6 Units may be deployed at once.
Units cannot attack on the turn they are deployed, but they can attack starting from your next turn.
When a Unit is paired with a Pilot and the link requirements are fulfilled, that Unit becomes a Link Unit and can attack immediately on the turn they are deployed.

• Pilot Cards: Enhance unit cards by pairing them with pilots for added abilities and stats.

A Pilot is paired with a Unit in the Battle Area by placing it underneath the Unit. Each Unit can pair with 1 Pilot.
When a Pilot is paired with a Unit, it gets the AP and HP listed on the Pilot Card.
Additionally, the paired Unit gets the listed Pilot ability. A Pilot can pair with any Unit.

• Command Cards: Provide special effects or strategies to influence the game.

Commands are one-time use cards that can give you an advantage in battle.
Some commands can be activated during your opponent's action step, while others can be treated as a Pilot.

• Base Cards: Protect your shields and serve as the foundation of your deck.

Deployed in your Shield Area.
Use Bases to protect your shields and use their abilities to support your strategy.
No more than 1 Base is deployed at a time.

How to Build Your Deck

Building a strong deck is essential for success. Here are the rules and tips for deck construction:

• Deck Size: Your deck must contain exactly 50 cards.
• Card Copies: You can include up to four copies of any card with the same card number.
• Colors: Decks can feature up to two of the four card colors: blue, green, red, and white.
• Resources: Include 10 resource cards to support your strategy.

Setting Up the Game

To begin a game of Gundam Card Game, follow these steps:

1. Shuffle Decks: Both players shuffle their decks thoroughly.
2. Decide Turn Order: Use Rock-Paper-Scissors or another method to decide who goes first.
3. Draw Starting Hand: Each player draws five cards from their deck. You may perform one Mulligan if desired by placing your hand at the bottom of your deck, drawing five new cards, and reshuffling your deck.
4. Prepare Shields: Place six cards face-down in your Shield area. These protect you from attacks.
5. Resource and Base Setup: Place your resource deck in the designated area and set your base card in the Base area. The second player also places an additional EX resource card.

Phases of a Turn

Each turn consists of several phases. Here’s how they work:

1. Start Phase

• Rotate any rested (horizontal) cards to their active (vertical) position.

2. Draw Phase

• Draw the top card of your deck. In the Gundam Card Game, the player going first also draws 1 card on their first turn.

3. Resource Phase

• Place the top card of your resource deck into your resource area. Resources enable you to play cards (similar to Mana in MTG or DON!! cards in OPTCG).

4. Main Phase

During your Main Phase, you can perform the following actions any number of times, as long as your available resources allow it.

• Deploy unit cards, pair pilots with units, and play command or base cards.
• Ensure you have enough resources to cover a card’s level and pay its cost by resting the required number of resource cards.
• You can activate "Activate: Main" abilities or battle with your units.

5. Battling

• Choose a target for your attack. Targets can be your opponent (Base or Shield or direct) or their rested units.
• Calculate damage based on the attacking unit’s AP.
• If attacking a base card, it absorbs damage first, followed by the Shield cards.
• Your Units can only attack starting from the second turn they are in play. However, an exception to this rule is the "Link Unit" condition, which is described as follows:

When a Unit is paired with a Pilot and the link requirements are met, that Unit becomes a Link Unit and can attack immediately on the turn it is deployed.

6. Ending your Turn

• As with other Bandai TCGs, your turn ends when you choose to finish.
• If you have more than 10 cards in your hand, discard until you have 10.
• "End of Turn"Actions trigger.

How to Play Cards

To play a card, follow these steps:

1. Check Resource Availability: Ensure the total number of resource cards meets the card’s level.
2. Pay the Cost: Rest the required number of resource cards.
3. Deploy the Card: Place the unit in your battle area. Remember, units can’t attack the turn they are deployed.
4. Pair Pilots: Enhance units by placing pilot cards underneath them.

Winning the Game

The objective of the Gundam Card Game is to defeat your opponent by:

• Destroying all six of their Shield cards.
• Dealing direct battle damage once their shields are gone.

Tips for New Players

1. Start with Balanced Decks: Use a mix of units, pilots, and command cards.
2. Manage Resources Wisely: Always plan your turns to maximize resource use.
3. Adapt Your Strategy: Pay attention to your opponent’s moves and adjust accordingly.
4. Experiment with Combos: Test different unit-pilot pairings for powerful effects.
5. Practice: Play multiple games to familiarize yourself with the mechanics.

Advanced Strategies

1. Card Synergy: Build decks around specific themes or series for synergy.
2. Control the Battlefield: Focus on deploying units that can both attack and defend effectively.
3. Utilize Command Cards: Use command cards strategically to disrupt your opponent’s plans.
4. Bluffing: Keep your opponent guessing with unexpected plays.

Why Play the Gundam Card Game?

The Gundam Card Game isn’t just a game; it’s an experience that connects fans of the series. It combines deep strategy, iconic characters, and the thrill of battle. Whether you’re a seasoned card game player or a Gundam enthusiast, this game offers endless hours of entertainment.

Gundam Card Game Playsheet Explanation

❶Deck AreaPlace your deck here.
Draw cards from your Deck Area into your hand.

❷Resource Deck AreaPlace your Resource Deck here.

❸ShieldsTake 6 cards from the top of your deck and place them here face down at the start of the game.

❹Resource AreaPlace your Resources here.
You can play a card if the number of Resources you have is equal to or greater than the card's Lv. To pay a card's cost, rest (turn horizontally) a number of Resources equal to the cost.
The second-turn player places 1 EX Resource at the start of the game.
No more than 5 EX Resource Token cards allowed.
❺Battle AreaUnits are deployed here. No more than 6 Units allowed.
1 Pilot may be paired with 1 Unit.

❻BaseBases are deployed here.
Place an EX Base here at the start of the game.
No more than 1 Base is deployed at a time.

❼TrashPlace trashed cards here.

Conclusion

Learning how to play the Gundam Card Game opens the door to exciting battles and strategic gameplay. By mastering the rules, building powerful decks, and honing your strategies, you can become a formidable player. So gather your cards, shuffle your deck, and get ready to engage in epic battles in the Gundam universe!