Star Wars Trading Card Game

Collectible card game produced by Wizards of the Coast

This article is about Wizards of the Coast's Star Wars card game. For the card game published by Decipher, see Star Wars Customizable Card Game.

This article relies excessively on references to primary sources. Please improve this article by adding secondary or tertiary sources.
Find sources: "Star Wars Trading Card Game" – news · newspapers · books · scholar · JSTOR (November 2021) (Learn how and when to remove this message)

|

Star Wars Trading Card Game

Cardback of the Star Wars Trading Card Game.

Designers| Richard Garfield
Publishers| Wizards of the Coast
Players| 2
Setup time| under 1 minute
Playing time| 10–40 Minutes
Chance| High
Age range| 6 and up
Skills| Deck manipulation,
deck optimization,
planning

Star Wars: The Trading Card Game is an out-of-print collectible card game produced by Wizards of the Coast (WotC). The original game was created by game designer Richard Garfield, the creator of the first modern trading card game, Magic: The Gathering.[1] After its initial release in April 2002, the game was 'put on indefinite hold' by WotC in late 2005.[2] The Star Wars Trading Card Game Independent Development Committee was created by a group of fans to continue development of the game. They design new cards that are available as free downloads at their website.[3][4]

## Gameplay

[edit]

The Star Wars: TCG focuses on gaining control of in-game arenas. In this two-player game, each player controls units which battle in the arenas. The main way to win is to take control of two of the three arenas. Some cards also add new win conditions for the game.

The three arenas are Space, Ground and Character, and feature units from the Star Wars films, such as Star Destroyers, starfighters, AT-ATs, armies, and characters like Luke Skywalker, Anakin Skywalker, Padmé Amidala, Mara Jade, and Darth Vader. There is also a build zone, a draw pile (for your deck), and a discard pile. The two sides to the game are the Dark side and the Light side, representing the two sides of the Force. There are also neutral cards, which can be used by either side.

There are several types of cards. They are:

* Units: these can control arenas and are the most plentiful card in any deck. Each unit can only be placed in a certain arena designated by color and subtype. All units have several statistics including: build cost, speed, power, health, alignment. Units must be built.
* Space: These units have a blue border and represent the space ships throughout the Star Wars films and books.
* Ground: These units have a green border and represent the ground forces in the Star Wars films and books.
* Character: These units have a purple border and represent the people and aliens found throughout the Star Wars films and books.
* Battle: These cards have special one time use effects and can only be used while your units are doing battle. They don't need to be built and some can be enhanced for an extra cost to give the user a better effect.
* Mission: These cards are like battle cards, but must be built. Their effects differ and must be played in the build step.
* Location: This type of card affects its arena until it is replaced with another Location card. Most location cards are colored like units and can only be placed in specific arenas. Some locations can be placed in any arena and are not colored like any normal unit.
* Equipment:This card type represents the weapons and vehicle upgrades in the Star Wars universe. These cards have a silver border and enhance the unit they are equipped to.

## Abilities

[edit]

* Activated Abilities

These are abilities that units have on them and are used by paying a cost (usually force).

* Static Abilities

These abilities are on as long as the unit is in its arena (e.g. A unit has "Each of your other characters get +10 speed", as long as that unit is in its arena, all your characters gain 10 speed).

* Triggered Abilities

These abilities contain a "when" or "whenever" (e.g. a unit has "When this unit is discarded draw three cards." "When this unit is discarded" is the trigger, and "draw three cards" is the ability).

## TCG Sets

[edit]

Sets produced by Wizards of the Coast  Set Name  | Release Date  | Number of Cards  | Based on  | Introduces

|
|
|
|

Attack of the Clones[5] | April 2002  | 180  | Episode II – Attack of the Clones | New keywords: Evade, Deflect, Bombard, Ion Cannon, Shields, Critical Hit
Sith Rising[6] | July 2002  | 90  | Episode II – Attack of the Clones | New keywords: Stun, Overload
A New Hope[7] | October 2002  | 180  | Episode IV - A New Hope | New keywords: Accuracy, Intercept, Pilot
Battle of Yavin[8] | February 2003  | 105  | Episode IV - A New Hope | New keyword: Retaliate
Jedi Guardians[9] | June 2003  | 105  | Episode II – Attack of the Clones | New keywords: Overkill, Reserves
The Empire Strikes Back[10] | October 2003  | 210  | Episode V - The Empire Strikes Back | New card type: Locations

New keywords: Armor, Enhance

Rogues and Scoundrels[11] | March 2004  | 105  | Episode V - The Empire Strikes Back

Star Wars Legends

| New keywords: Bounty, Upkeep
The Phantom Menace[12] | May 2004  | 90  | Episode I – The Phantom Menace | New keyword: Lucky
Return of the Jedi[13] | October 2004  | 110  | Episode VI - Return of the Jedi | New card type: Multi-arena Locations

New keyword: Hidden Cost

Revenge of the Sith[14] | March 2005  | 110  | Episode III – Revenge of the Sith | New card type: Equipment

Sets produced by the Independent Development Committee[15] Set Name  | Release Date  | Number of Cards  | Based on  | Introduces

|
|
|
|

Fall of the Republic | June 2006  | 120  | Episode III – Revenge of the Sith | New keyword: Parry
Scum and Villainy | October 2006  | 90  | Episodes I-VI

Star Wars Legends

| New keyword: Stealth
Battle of Endor | June 2007  | 180  | Episode VI - Return of the Jedi |
Clone Wars: Republic at War | April 2008  | 120  | Clone Wars: Volume I (2003 TV series) | New keywords: Fury, Double Strike
Invasion of Naboo | May 2009  | 180  | Episode I – The Phantom Menace |
Battle of Hoth | September 2009  | 60  | Episode V - The Empire Strikes Back | New card type: Multi-arena Units
Legacy of the Force: Bounty Hunters | December 2010  | 75  | Episodes I-VI

TV series

Star Wars Legends

| New card types: Equipment - Skill, Resources
Legacy of the Force: Mandalorians | April 2011  | 75  | Episodes I-VI

TV series

Star Wars Legends

Legacy of the Force: Sith | September 2011  | 75  | Episodes I-VI

TV series

Star Wars Legends

| New keyword: INSERT
Legacy of the Force: Smugglers | February 2013  | 75  | Episodes I-VI

TV series

Star Wars Legends

| New keyword: Stack
Legacy of the Force: Jedi | December 2013  | 76  | Episodes I-VI

TV series

Star Wars Legends

| New keywords: Foresight, Precision
Rule of Two | July 2014  | 90  | Jedi vs. Sith

Darth Bane Trilogy

The Old Republic | December 2014  | 120  | Star Wars: Knights of the Old Republic (series) | New card type: Subordinates

New keyword: Meditate

Clone Wars: Separatist Offensive | September 2015  | 90  | Clone Wars: Volume II (2003 TV series) |
Rogue Squadron | October 2015  | 180  | X-wing (book series)

X-wing Rogue Squadron (comics)

Empire Rising | November 2015  | 120  | Thrawn trilogy | New keyword: Alternative Cost
Empire Eternal | December 2015  | 90  | Dark Empire

Crimson Empire

| New keyword: Inspiration
The Clone Wars: A Galaxy Divided | March 2016  | 270  | The Clone Wars (2008 TV series) (Seasons 1-3) |
The Dark Times | May 2016  | 300  | Star Wars Legends | New counter type: Captivity counters
Clones and Droids | July 2016  | 120  | Episode II – Attack of the Clones

Episode III – Revenge of the Sith

| New keywords: Double Damage, Damage Control
10th Anniversary | August 2016  | 40  |  |
The Force Awakens | September 2016  | 180  | Episode VII - The Force Awakens | New card type: Event
The New Jedi Order: Vector Prime | November 2016  | 180  | The New Jedi Order Books 1-6 | New side: Yuuzhan Vong

New card type: Mission - Trap

New keyword: Avenge

The Old Republic: Tales and Legends | January 2017  | 240  | Dawn of the Jedi

Tales of the Jedi

Lost Tribe of the Sith

| New card type: Mission - Campaign
The New Jedi Order: Star By Star | June 2017  | 120  | The New Jedi Order Books 7-12 | New keyword: Focus
The Old Republic: Days and Nights | December 2017  | 150  | Knights of the Old Republic (comics) | New keyword: Forewarning
The Clone Wars: Battle Lines | April 2018  | 270  | The Clone Wars (2008 TV series) (Seasons 4-6) | New keywords: Ambush, Protect
Rogue One | June 2018  | 180  | Rogue One | New card type: Equipment - Trait

New keyword: Resilience

Battle of Starkiller Base | August 2018  | 105  | Episode VII - The Force Awakens | New keyword: Ferocity
The Last Jedi | December 2018  | 210  | Episode VIII - The Last Jedi | New keywords: Backfire, Fortitude
Spark of Rebellion | July 2019  | 180  | Star Wars Rebels (seasons 1 and 2)  |
Battlefront | August 2019  | 90  | Star Wars: Battlefront | New abilities: Reduced Cost X and Area Damage X
Jedi Knight | October 2019  | 90  | Jedi Knight video games  | New ability: Riposte X
The New Jedi Order: The Unifying Force | December 2019  | 120  | New Jedi Order books 13-19  | New abilities: Intimidation and Redirect
Battle of Crait | April 2020  | 150  | The Last Jedi (second half)  |
Solo | September 2020  | 180  | Solo: A Star Wars Story | New ability: Cunning
The Old Republic: Knights and Exiles | December 2020  | 180  | Star Wars: Knights of the Old Republic (series) | New counter type: Redemption counters
The Mandalorian | April 2021  | 240  | The Mandalorian (season 1) |
The Rise of Skywalker | May 2021  | 210  | Episode IX - The Rise of Skywalker | New ability: Absorb
Apprentices and Assassins  | September 2021  | 150  | Episode I - The Phantom MenaceStar Wars: Jedi Apprentice (books)

Jedi Quest (books)

| New ability: Persuade
Fires of Rebellion  | November 2021  | 180  | Star Wars Rebels (seasons 3 and 4)  |
Battle of the Sarlacc  | December 2021  | 120  | Episode VI - Return of the Jedi | New ability: Surge
Non-Star Wars sets produced by the Independent Development Committee  Set Name  | Release Date  | Number of Cards  | Based on

|
|
|

Marvel Cinematic Universe | December 2019  | 90  | Marvel Cinematic Universe
Avengers: Endgame | April 2020  | 300  | Avengers: Endgame

## Playing the game

[edit]

This is a two-player game. The following is recommended for each player, but can be shared among friends and opponents in casual play:

* two sixty-card decks (one Light side, one Dark side)
* several dice (six sided)
* a method of tracking Force points (counters, pen and paper, or a twenty sided die)
* damage counters
* build counters (can be the same as damage counters)

## Reviews

[edit]

* Pyramid[16]

## Further reading

[edit]

* Strategy in Scrye #58
* Strategy in Scrye #68

## References

[edit]

1. ^ Kaufeld, John; Smith, Jeremy (2006). Trading Card Games For Dummies. John Wiley & Sons. ISBN 0470044071.
2. ^ Miller, John Jackson (2003), Scrye Collectible Card Game Checklist & Price Guide, Second Edition, pp. 588–590.588-590&rft.date=2003&rft.aulast=Miller&rft.aufirst=John+Jackson&rfr_id=info:sid/en.wikipedia.org:Star+Wars+Trading+Card+Game" class="Z3988">
3. ^ "Star Wars Trading Card Game: Independent Development Committee". Star Wars Trading Card Game: Independent Development Committee. Retrieved 2016-06-17.
4. ^ "Star Wars Card Game".
5. ^ "Star Wars Trading Card Game - Attack of the Clones". www.wizards.com. Archived from the original on April 28, 2002. Retrieved 2018-05-16.
6. ^ "Star Wars Trading Card Game - Sith Rising". www.wizards.com. Archived from the original on August 6, 2002. Retrieved 2018-05-16.
7. ^ A New Hope
8. ^ "Star Wars Trading Card Game - Battle of Yavin". www.wizards.com. Archived from the original on February 7, 2003. Retrieved 2018-05-16.
9. ^ "Star Wars Trading Card Game - Jedi Guardians". www.wizards.com. Archived from the original on August 3, 2003. Retrieved 2018-05-16.
10. ^ "Star Wars Trading Card Game - The Empire Strikes Back". www.wizards.com. Archived from the original on December 3, 2003. Retrieved 2018-05-16.
11. ^ "Star Wars Trading Card Game - Rogues and Scoundrels". www.wizards.com. Archived from the original on March 17, 2004. Retrieved 2018-05-16.
12. ^ "Star Wars Trading Card Game - The Phantom Menace". www.wizards.com. Archived from the original on June 28, 2004. Retrieved 2018-05-16.
13. ^ "Star Wars Trading Card Game - Return of the Jedi". www.wizards.com. Archived from the original on October 11, 2004. Retrieved 2018-05-16.
14. ^ "Star Wars Trading Card Game - Revenge of the Sith". www.wizards.com. Archived from the original on April 3, 2005. Retrieved 2018-05-16.
15. ^ "Expansion List". Star Wars Trading Card Game: Independent Development Committee. 2016-01-28. Retrieved 2019-02-06.
16. ^ "Pyramid: Pyramid Review: Star Wars Trading Card Game: Attack of the Clones".

## External links

[edit]

* Star Wars TCG website
* SWTCG Independent Development Committee
* SWTCG French Site / Edité par joueurs
* Play Star Wars TCG Online
* Star Wars Trading Card Game on Wookieepedia, a Star Wars wiki

* v
* t
* e

Star Wars tabletop and pinball games

Role-playing games|

* The Roleplaying Game (1987)
* Roleplaying Game (2000, Wizards of the Coast)
* Roleplaying Game (2012, Fantasy Flight)
* game books

Board games|

* Assault on Hoth (1988)
* Escape from the Death Star (1990)
* The Interactive Video Board Game (1996)
* Epic Duels (2002)
* Risk: The Clone Wars Edition (2005)
* Risk: The Original Trilogy Edition (2006)
* Rebellion (2016)

Miniatures games|

* Miniatures Battles (1989)
* Miniatures (2004)
* X-Wing Miniatures Game (2012)
* X-Wing Second Edition (2018)

Collectible card games|

* Jedi Knights Trading Card Game (2001)
* Young Jedi Collectible Card Game (2001)
* Trading Card Game (2002)
* Customizable Card Game (1995)
* The Card Game (2012)
* Destiny (2016)
* Star Wars: Unlimited (2024)

Pinball|

* Star Wars (1992)
* Trilogy (1997)
* Episode I (1999)

Other games|

* Attacktix (2005, collectible action figure game)
* The Deckbuilding Game (2023)
* Dejarik (fictional)
* Sabacc (fictional)

*[v]: View this template
*[t]: Discuss this template
*[e]: Edit this template