Deck

Deck

Dive into the Heart of Grand Archive: A Universe of Strategy and Champions

Welcome to the category dedicated to Grand Archive (GATCG), an immersive collectible card game where every duel is a test of strategy and mastery. Whether you're a seasoned player or a newcomer curious to discover an innovative TCG, you'll find everything you need to explore this captivating universe here.

Discover What's New and Master the Strategies

Stay up-to-date on Grand Archive news with our exclusive previews of the latest expansions. Dive into Abyssal Heaven and discover brand-new champions such as Guo Jia, Heaven's Favored, and Diao Chan, Idyll Corsage Re:collections. Our detailed guides, hosted by community experts like Dan from Maindeck and Eva from EvaPlaysStuff, offer an in-depth look at these new cards and the competitive decks they inspire. Learn key strategies, tricks, and devastating combinations to gain the advantage in your next encounters.

Starting Guides and Expansion Reviews

Whether you're just beginning your adventure in Grand Archive or looking to refine your knowledge, our guides are here to help. Explore the fundamentals of the game, from deck building to understanding the different turn phases. Learn in detail the mechanics introduced by the Mortal Ambition (AMB), Mercurial Heart Re:Collection (MRC), and Awakening of Lost Chapters (ALC) expansions through community reviews. Master the essential keywords and synergies of each set to optimize your strategies.

The Essence of the Game: Champions at the Center of Strategy

At the heart of every Grand Archive game is your champion. These powerful cards are the lifeblood of your deck and the key to victory. Your goal is simple: defeat your opposing champion. Understanding each champion's unique health stats, elements, and abilities is crucial for developing effective strategies and building formidable decks.

The Structure of Your Arsenal: Material Deck and Main Deck

In Grand Archive, each player prepares two distinct decks: the Material Deck and the Main Deck.

The Material Deck: This strategic deck, limited to 12 unique cards, contains your champions and regalia. These cards are "materialized" into play during the game. The presence of at least one level 0 champion is required to start the game. Your Material Deck remains secret to your opponents, but you can consult it at any time.

The Main Deck: Consisting of at least 60 cards, with a maximum of 4 copies of each card, the Main Deck is your source of resources and actions during the game. It contains a variety of cards such as allies, actions, and attacks. Unlike the Material Deck, you cannot consult or rearrange your Main Deck freely during the game.

A card's cost color indicates its affiliation: blue (memory) for the Material Deck and yellow (reserve) for the Main Deck.

Gameplay: Key Phases and Mechanics

Each turn of Grand Archive is structured into seven distinct phases:

Wake Up Phase: Your units stand up, ready for action.
Materialize Phase: You can materialize a card from your Material Deck.
Recollection Phase: Cards in your memory zone return to your hand.
Draw Phase: You draw a card.
Main Phase: You can activate slow cards and declare attacks.
Combat Phase: Begins after an attack declaration, then returns to the Main Phase.
End Phase: Temporary effects end.

Managing Your Resources: Reserve and Memory Costs

Activating cards and materializing champions requires careful resource management:

Reserve Cost (Yellow): Cards in your Main Deck have a reserve cost. To activate them, you must place a number of cards from your hand equal to this cost face down in your memory zone. These cards will return to your hand during the Recollection Phase.

Reserve Cost (Blue): Cards in your Material Deck have a memory cost. To materialize them, you must randomly banish a number of cards equal to this cost from your memory zone. Materialization is a strategic way to transform useless cards into assets.

Card Types: Allies, Attacks, Weapons, and More

Grand Archive offers a variety of card types with unique functions:

Allies: They join the battlefield alongside your champion and have attack and health stats. They can attack opposing units.
Attacks: These cards allow your champion to attack, at the cost of resting them. They deal damage equal to their Power stat.
Weapons: Equipping your champion, weapons grant them a Power stat to attack with and limited durability.
Actions: Single-use cards with different speeds (Slow or Fast) that trigger various effects.
Regalia: A card supertype exclusive to the Material Deck. When they leave the battlefield, they are banished instead of going to the graveyard.
Items and Domains: Card supertypes that persist on the battlefield and can influence the game.

The Combat System: Strategy and Interactions

Combat in Grand Archive is a crucial phase where you use your allies and champion to attack opposing units. Allies can attack as soon as they enter the field. After an attack is declared, the combat phase includes a retaliation step where the attacked unit can retaliate if it has a power stat. Damage is then dealt simultaneously. Damage management and unit destruction are key elements of the strategy.

Evolving Your Champions: The Strategic Level Up

During your Materialize Phase, you have the opportunity to evolve your champion to a higher-level version. This evolution requires your current champion's level to be exactly one level lower than the one you wish to reach and may be subject to specific lineage conditions. Leveling up has a memory cost, as does materializing other cards. Champion evolutions offer new abilities and stats, opening up complex and exciting strategic avenues.

Keywords and Class Bonuses: Customize Your Game

Each card in the Grand Archive has an element that determines when it can be activated or materialized, based on your champion's element. Additionally, some cards have "Class Bonuses" that only apply if your champion's class matches the card's. With eight distinct classes (Assassin, Cleric, Guardian, Mage, Ranger, Tamer, Warrior, and Spirit), deck building and class synergies add considerable strategic depth.

Explore, Learn, and Dominate Grand Archive

Whether you're drawn to the beautifully illustrated card collection, the strategic depth of the gameplay, or the intense competition, Grand Archive offers a rich and engaging experience. Explore our selection of products, dive into our guides, and join the passionate Grand Archive community. Prepare your decks, master the mechanics, and forge your legend in the GATCG universe!