RELEASE DATE AND PLATFORMS: July 17, 2016 (iOS and Android), October 28, 2016 (Steam)
EXPANSION SETS: *Italicized is available only in Unlimited format
- Darkness Evolved (September 2016)
- Rise of Bahamut (December 2016)
- Tempest of the Gods (March 2017)
- Wonderland Dreams (June 2017)
- Starforged Legends (September 2017)
- ChronoGenesis (December 2017)
- Dawnbreak Nightedge (March 2018)
- Brigade of the Sky (June 2018)
- Omen of the Ten (September 2018)
- Altersphere (December 2018)
- Steel Rebellion (March 2019)
- Rebirth of Glory (June 2019)
- Verdant Conflict (September 2019)
- Ultimate Colosseum (December 2019)
- World Uprooted (March 2020)
- Fortune's Hand (June 2020)
- Storm Over Rivayle (September 2020)
- Eternal Awakening (December 2020)
- Darkness Over Vellsar (March 2021)
- Renascent Chronicles (June 2021)
- Dawn of Calamity (September 2021)
- Omen of Storms (December 2021)
- Edge of Paradise (March 2022)
- Roar of the Godwyrm (June 2022)
OFFICIAL SITE: https://shadowverse.com/
PRICE: Free-to-Play with Micro-transactions
LAUNCH TRAILER: Trailer
THE FORESHADOW
An ominous presence has filled the skies.
People know it by one name:
The Morning Star
It is a promise of freedom.
A glimpse of new worlds.
A light reaching into oblivion.
A shadow in mortal hearts.
When darkness covers the world,
the gates of annihilation will open...
An ominous presence has filled the skies.
People know it by one name:
The Morning Star
It is a promise of freedom.
A glimpse of new worlds.
A light reaching into oblivion.
A shadow in mortal hearts.
When darkness covers the world,
the gates of annihilation will open...
Shadowverse is an digital online collectable card game (CCG) in the same vein as Hearthstone. It was created by Cygames of Granblue Fantasy and Rage of Bahamut fame. Shadowverse has gained great popularity in Japan, and has grown in popularity in other countries as well.
Shadowverse has many similarities to Hearthstone, including several mechanics such as Ward (Taunt), Fanfare (Battlecry), Last Words (Deathrattle), etc.. There are eight (formerly seven) classes in Shadowverse, referred to as crafts. Each craft has a unique mechanic that varies them, similar to Hearthstone's Hero Powers, however these mechanics work passively rather than an player activated ability. The active mechanic Shadowverse does have however is its Evolve mechanic. Every follower in the game can be evolved which can grant them Rush, higher attack and defense, as well as additional effects. It is the defining mechanic of Shadowverse.
The game itself also includes a full single-player story campaign for each craft.
These are the most basic explanations of each craft. There are various builds and playstyles that you can learn about elsewhere.
Forestcraft strategies use bands of fairies in battle.
In the beginning of a match, play cards that fill your hand with Fairies (1-play point 1/1 follower cards). In the middle of a match, play two Fairies to meet the requirements of more powerful cards. This lets you turn the momentum of a match in your favor.
Many loyal followers, including commanders and officers, stand at the ready of a Swordcraft leader. This class's strategy is based around these followers. There are cards that can summon multiple officers at once, and commanders that strengthen those officers.
Runecraft uses the power of spells against opponents. Their Spellboost cards in particular become cheaper and stronger in numbers.
During the beginning of a match, use spells to damage enemy followers and bring your own followers into play. Keep spellboosting cards until they become strong enough to destroy enemy followers.
Dragoncraft uses lots of play points to unleash towering followers that can crush their enemies.
Stall the opponent in the beginning of the match while collecting play points. From the middle of the match onward, use the accumulated play points to play powerful dragons and dominate the battlefield.
The Shadowcraft class harnesses shadows to utilize the power of Necromancy.
At the beginning of a match, play followers, spells, and amulets that give you more shadows. When many Shadowcraft followers are destroyed, they put zombies and skeletons into play.
In the middle of the match, use the shadows you've saved up to activate Necromancy effects
The strategies used in Bloodcraft center around lowering your leader's defense in order to activate powerful effects. This is balanced out by the ability to restore defense by draining it from your enemies.
When a Bloodcraft leader has 10 defense or less, Vengeance takes effect, strengthening many other cards.
The main strategy of Havencraft is to play Countdown amulets which summon followers a few turns after they're played. This gives you the power to overwhelm the opponent by the middle of a match.
In the beginning of the match, play amulets and followers that grow stronger during the opponent's turn. In the middle of the match, the amulets' Countdown numbers drop to zero, summoning formidable followers and effects at no additional costs.
Portalcraft shifts reality with potent strategies.
One such strategy is based on utilizing cards with the Artifact trait (token cards produced from other cards during a battle).
Skillfully manipulate the match by combining cards that add Artifacts to your deck and cards that draw them into your hand.
Leaders are your avatar characters when playing a craft. Each is fully animated and voiced. You can only use the story leaders at first, but you can purchase or acquire additional leaders.
FORESTCRAFT
Arisa | Selwyn | Cammy | Archer* | Aria³ | Korwa | Dietrich | Cassiopeia⁵ | Gilgamesh*
SWORDCRAFT
Erika | Latham | Chun-Li | Lancer* | Albert² | Percival | True Assassin*
RUNECRAFT
Isabelle | Erasmus | Juri | Tohsaka Rin* | Daria¹ | Cagliostro | Farin | Tohsaksa Rin (School Uniform)*
DRAGONCRAFT
Rowen | Forte | Ryu | Saber* | Aldos¹ | Zooey | Emiya Shirou*
SHADOWCRAFT
Luna | Mordecai | M.Bison | Saber Alter* | Cerberus² | Ferry | Matou Sakura*
BLOODCRAFT
Urias | Vania | Vega | Rider* | Exella² | Vira | Medusa | Matou Shinji*
HAVENCRAFT
Eris | Garuda | Karin | Illyasviel von Einzbern* | Ramina³ | De La Fille | Godsworn Alexiel⁶ | Berserker*
PORTALCRAFT
Yuwan | ??? | Spinaria⁴ | Orchis, Puppet Girl⁶ | Kotomine Kirei*
Nexus
*Could only be purchased during the Shadowverse x Fate/Heaven's Feel crossover promotion during October 2017.
¹Can only be obtained at a 0.03% chance by opening a Starforged Legends booster pack.
²Can only be obtained at a 0.03% chance by opening a ChronoGenesis booster pack.
³Can only be obtained at a 0.03% chance by opening a Dawnbreak Nightedge booster pack.
⁴Can only be obtained at a 0.03% chance by opening a Brigade of the Sky booster pack
⁵Can only be obtained at a 0.03% chance by opening an Omen of the Ten booster pack
⁶Can only be obtained at a 0.03% chance by opening an Altersphere booster pack
**There are more leaders that occasionally are available, but I've opted to not continue updating this list due to the effort**
Is this pay-to-win?
Only as much as any other online CCG.
How often are expansions released?
Expansions are released every three months at the end of the month.
What are deck sizes?
Decks are a total of 40 cards per, with a cap of three of the same card in a deck. Unlike Hearthstone where you could not have more than one copy of a legendary, in Shadowverse the limit is the same as any other card, being three.
Is there a ranked ladder?Yes there is a ranked ladder broken into two systems. The first is from Beginner, D Rank, C Rank, B Rank, A Rank, and AA Rank. Each rank is broken into three tiers and when you reach the next rank you are safe from ranking down. These ranks have no reset.
After AA Rank comes Master Rank. Once you hit Master you start playing for Master score which do reset. If you can hit 10,000 Master score within one month, or a total of 25,000 Master score over the three month rotation, you reach Grand Master rank. After three months, with the release of a new expansion, Grand Masters are all reset back to Master rank with zero Master score.
Is there an Arena mode?
Yes! The arena in Shadowverse is called Take-Two. You pick a craft and then assemble a deck based on picking one set of two cards between two options given to you. It is a very fun mode that helps break up the occasional monotony of whatever the current meta may be.
There is also a limited time arena mode called Grand Prix Mode that acts as an online tournament. This mode allows the use of constructed decks if it is a Rotation or Unlimited Grand Prix. There has also been a Take-Two version.
Should I purchase a Pre-built Deck?
That depends if you really want to play that specific craft. Some prebuilt decks contain essential cards for a craft that can be slotted into most decks, but some prebuilts really are not worth the money. If you want the exclusive animated legendary though, it's your money!
I don't like anime, should I play this?
Well, maybe! It's a fun game, but if anime aesthetic is not your thing, then you may be better looking for another game.
Wow I just signed up and got all these free packs! Is this a glitch?
No! Cygames is actually incredibly generous with giving away freebies! In fact, they always give 10 free packs of the newly released expansion, every time one comes out! This makes starting out much easier than it would be otherwise for new players. They also often give away packs and rupies when there are server issues, or when the game reaches a milestone such as number of players.
As of June 30, 2022 just for creating a new account and completing the tutorial you will receive:
- Renascent Chronicles (Set 21) Card Pack Ticket x10
- Dawn of Calamity (Set 22) Card Pack Ticket x10
- Omen of Storms (Set 23) Card Pack Ticket x10
- Edge of Paradise (Set 24) Card Pack Ticket x10
- Roar of the Godwyrm (Set 25) Card Pack Ticket x10
- Legendary Card Pack ticket x1
- Rupies x100
- Take Two Ticket x3
- Vials x400
Are there balance patches?
Cygames decided to implement balance patches at the end of every month to prevent any deck from entirely dominating the meta, which has happened on occasion. When cards are re-balanced you can liquefy them for their full vial value.
I want to play Unlimited format, but I'm new, do I have to craft Classic, Darkness Evolved, etc., cards?You can, but fortunately Cygames still allows you to purchase packs that are only usable in Unlimited.
What languages are the voices?
You can play the game with fully dubbed English or Japanese voice options!
Should I re-roll?
Honestly up to you. Ideally since the game is generous with packs it is worth getting a certain number of legendary and gold cards, but I do recommend just starting the game and enjoying! For more information of re-rolling, go here: https://shadowverse.gamepress.gg/rerolling-guide
Wait, I can play as Street Fighter and Fate characters?
Yes there was cross promotion with both the Street Fighter and Fate franchises. The Fate leaders however are no longer available for purchase, but have returned with each Heaven's Feel movie release.
Okay, where I can get Shadowverse?
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