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. After its initial release in April 2002, the game was 'put on indefinite hold' by WotC in late 2005. 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.
Gameplay 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 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
+ Sets produced by Wizards of the CoastSet nameRelease dateNumber of cardsBased onIntroducesAttack of the ClonesApril 2002180Episode II – Attack of the ClonesNew keywords: Evade, Deflect, Bombard, Ion Cannon, Shields, Critical HitSith RisingJuly 200290Episode II – Attack of the ClonesNew keywords: Stun, OverloadA New HopeA New HopeOctober 2002180Episode IV - A New HopeNew keywords: Accuracy, Intercept, PilotBattle of YavinFebruary 2003105Episode IV - A New HopeNew keyword: RetaliateJedi GuardiansJune 2003105Episode II – Attack of the ClonesNew keywords: Overkill, ReservesThe Empire Strikes BackOctober 2003210Episode V - The Empire Strikes BackNew card type: Locations New keywords: Armor, EnhanceRogues and ScoundrelsMarch 2004105Episode V - The Empire Strikes Back Star Wars LegendsNew keywords: Bounty, UpkeepThe Phantom MenaceMay 200490Episode I – The Phantom MenaceNew keyword: Lucky New counter type: creditReturn of the JediOctober 2004110Episode VI - Return of the JediNew card type: Multi-arena Locations New keyword: Hidden Cost
New counter type: CorruptionRevenge of the SithMarch 2005110Episode III – Revenge of the SithNew card type: Equipment
+Sets produced by the Independent Development CommitteeSet nameRelease dateNumber of cardsBased onIntroducesFall of the RepublicJune 2006120Episode III – Revenge of the SithNew keyword: ParryScum and VillainyOctober 200690Episodes I-VI Star Wars LegendsNew keyword: StealthBattle of EndorJune 2007180Episode VI - Return of the JediCorruption counters reworkedClone Wars: Republic at WarApril 2008120Clone Wars: Volume I (2003 TV series)New keywords: Fury, Double StrikeInvasion of NabooMay 2009180Episode I – The Phantom MenaceBattle of HothSeptember 200960Episode V - The Empire Strikes BackNew card type: Multi-arena UnitsLegacy of the Force: Bounty HuntersDecember 201075Episodes I-VI TV series
Star Wars LegendsNew card types: Equipment - Skill, ResourcesLegacy of the Force: MandaloriansApril 201175Episodes I-VI TV series
Star Wars LegendsLegacy of the Force: SithSeptember 201175Episodes I-VI TV series
Star Wars LegendsNew keyword: INSERTLegacy of the Force: SmugglersFebruary 201375Episodes I-VI TV series
Star Wars LegendsNew keyword: StackLegacy of the Force: JediDecember 201376Episodes I-VI TV series
Star Wars LegendsNew keywords: Foresight, PrecisionRule of TwoJuly 201490Jedi vs. Sith Darth Bane TrilogyThe Old RepublicDecember 2014120Star Wars: Knights of the Old Republic (series)New card type: Subordinates New keyword: MeditateClone Wars: Separatist OffensiveSeptember 201590Clone Wars: Volume II (2003 TV series)Rogue SquadronOctober 2015180X-wing (book series) X-wing Rogue Squadron (comics)Empire RisingNovember 2015120Thrawn trilogyNew keyword: Alternative CostEmpire EternalDecember 201590Dark Empire Crimson EmpireNew keyword: InspirationThe Clone Wars: A Galaxy DividedMarch 2016270The Clone Wars (2008 TV series) (Seasons 1-3)The Dark TimesMay 2016300Star Wars LegendsNew counter type: Captivity Credit counters reworkedClones and DroidsJuly 2016120Episode II – Attack of the Clones Episode III – Revenge of the SithNew keywords: Double Damage, Damage Control10th AnniversaryAugust 201640Added new cards to Independent Development Committee sets released up to that pointThe Force AwakensSeptember 2016180Episode VII - The Force AwakensNew card type: EventThe New Jedi Order: Vector PrimeNovember 2016180The New Jedi Order Books 1-6New side: Yuuzhan Vong New card type: Mission - Trap
New keyword: AvengeThe Old Republic: Tales and LegendsJanuary 2017240Dawn of the Jedi Tales of the Jedi
Lost Tribe of the SithNew card type: Mission - CampaignThe New Jedi Order: Star By StarJune 2017120The New Jedi Order Books 7-12New keyword: FocusThe Old Republic: Days and NightsDecember 2017150Knights of the Old Republic (comics)New keyword: ForewarningThe Clone Wars: Battle LinesApril 2018270The Clone Wars (2008 TV series) (Seasons 4-6)New keywords: Ambush, ProtectRogue OneJune 2018180Rogue OneNew card type: Equipment - Trait New keyword: ResilienceBattle of Starkiller BaseAugust 2018105Episode VII - The Force AwakensNew keyword: FerocityThe Last JediDecember 2018210Episode VIII - The Last JediNew keywords: Backfire, FortitudeSpark of RebellionJuly 2019180Star Wars Rebels (seasons 1 and 2)BattlefrontAugust 201990Star Wars: BattlefrontNew keywords: Reduced Cost and Area DamageJedi KnightOctober 201990Jedi Knight video gamesNew keyword: RiposteThe New Jedi Order: The Unifying ForceDecember 2019120New Jedi Order books 13-19New keywords: Intimidation and RedirectBattle of CraitApril 2020150The Last Jedi (second half)SoloSeptember 2020180Solo: A Star Wars StoryNew keyword: CunningThe Old Republic: Knights and ExilesDecember 2020180Star Wars: Knights of the Old Republic (series)New keyword: Redemption countersThe MandalorianApril 2021240The Mandalorian (season 1)The Rise of SkywalkerMay 2021210Episode IX - The Rise of SkywalkerNew keyword: Absorb15th AnniversaryAugust 202190Fan choice cardsApprentices and AssassinsSeptember 2021150Episode I - The Phantom Menace Star Wars: Jedi Apprentice (books) Jedi Quest (books)New keyword: PersuadeFires of RebellionNovember 2021180Star Wars Rebels (seasons 3 and 4)Battle of the SarlaccDecember 2021120Episode VI - Return of the JediNew keyword: SurgeThe Mandalorian WayApril 2022210The Mandalorian (Season 2)The Book of Boba FettSeptember 2022150The Book of Boba FettBattle at ExegolApril 2023180Episode IX - The Rise of SkywalkerNew keyword: BarrageA Long Time AgoOctober 2023450Episodes I-IXUnionMay 2024180Episodes I-IX Expanded Universe (including Star Wars Legends)Obi-Wan KenobiFebruary 2025105Obi-Wan Kenobi (miniseries)LegacyDecember 2025300Star Wars: LegacyNew keywords: Overload, Tenacity +Minisets produced by the Independent Development CommitteeSet NameRelease DateNumber of CardsBased OnNotesImperial AssaultMay 202230Star Wars Imperial Assault (tabletop game)Empire at WarOctober 202230Star Wars: Empire at WarBoonta Eve PodraceDecember 202230Episode I – The Phantom MenaceNew keyword: VelocityGalactic Podracing CircuitDecember 202230Episode I – The Phantom Menace Star Wars Episode I: Racer
Star Wars Racer RevengeDoctor AphraJune 202330Doctor Aphra (comics)VisionsJanuary 202430Star Wars: Visions (Season 1)New keyword: DeployVisions Vol. 2April 202430Star Wars Visions (Season 2)New keyword: Last StandDarth Vader: Shadows and SecretsApril 202530Darth Vader (comics)HalloweenOctober 202531Expanded Universe (including Star Wars Legends)New keyword: Consume +Non-Star Wars sets produced by the Independent Development CommitteeSet nameRelease dateNumber of cardsBased onMarvel Cinematic UniverseDecember 201990Marvel Cinematic UniverseAvengers: EndgameApril 2020300Avengers: EndgameSpider-ManApril 202230Spider-Man (film series)
Playing the game 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 Pyramid Syfy ("Attack of the Clones")https://web.archive.org/web/20090325164042/http://www.scifi.com/sfw/issue271/games.html
Further reading Strategy in Scrye #58 Strategy in Scrye #68
References
External links Star Wars TCG website SWTCG Independent Development Committee SWTCG French Site / Edité par joueurs Play Star Wars TCG Online