The Palworld OCG drops its debut set, Dawn of Palpagos, on July 30. It’s armed to the teeth with card-based critters, each with stunning art and strategic ways to play. But TCGs are more popular than ever. Is it worth getting into another collectible card game?
The short answer is absolutely. But if you need more convincing, here’s a rundown on why launch day is the perfect time to start playing Palworld on tabletop.
Why play the Palworld OCG?
Longtime Palworld players will instantly feel at home with the card game. Most of the game revolves around collecting a colorful cast of Pals, but the TCG finds plenty of other ways to feel authentic.
Pals can be assigned to Structures, where they work to your benefit. They can be equipped with Gears that make them better in battle. Your favorite faction leaders even make an appearance on Event cards, temporarily turning the tide of play.
These cards make up a 50-card deck, which you’ll deploy by resting (turning sideways) Souls. You’ll gradually add to your Soul pool each turn, up to a maximum of 10.
This is one of the most approachable TCGs we’ve played. A complete beginner can learn to play in almost no time. And, for veteran card gamers, the Palworld OCG will feel as familiar as a fuzzy pair of Pengullet slippers. That familiarity comes with plenty of originality, too.
The power of cards you play ramps gradually, from weak cannon fodder to game-ending attackers. Cards come in four colors, two of which you combine to create different decks.
First there are Red cards, which are all about going on the offensive. Many Red Pals make each other stronger, meaning you hit fast, often, and hard. When you’re not firing on all cylinders, you can also set Pals to work in your Structures, generating wood to fuel even more fiery abilities.
Blue is mostly about control. You’ll spend a lot of time meddling with your opponent’s base, resting their Pals and reducing incoming damage. Blue also rewards decks that specialize in specific Pal types.
Maybe you’ll use Chillet to draw a horde of dragons, or you and Penking will raise a Pengullet army with the help of an Antique Dresser. The Palworld OCG creates tense head-to-heads, but it doesn’t forget the chaos and silliness that makes the original game so compelling.
Green is the color of chunky, tank-y Pals, with huge Power scores that make them tough to take out. They’re consistent damage-dealers that often bend the traditional rules of battle. Some use Breakthrough to deal damage to players even if a Pal blocked their attack. Others can attack resting and standing pals, or they can Taunt enemies into only attacking them.
Green is the land of huge Pals, but you’ll need to pay for them. Luckily, plenty of Green cards make it easier to ramp up your resource pool, adding and resetting Souls at a greater rate.
Lastly, there’s Purple, best-known for its Nocturnal cards. Certain cards enable a ‘night’ condition that activates powerful effects on fellow Purple Pals.
Purple also focuses heavily on Graveyard strategies, sending cards out of play then resurrecting them again. You often have to Butcher a few Pals to activate your most potent abilities, but it’s a sacrifice worth making, as Purple gives you some devious ways to interact with your opponents.
Why collect the Palworld OCG?
The best TCGs aren’t just a compelling play; they’re also prized collector’s items. The Palworld OCG delivers on this front, with glittering foil treatments and full art cards that dazzle when pulled.
The Palworld OCG has eight card rarities. The harder these cards are to find, the more beautiful they get. You’ll find sparkling foil on R (Rare) cards, but the glamor doesn’t stop there. After this comes RR, SR, SP, OSR, and SSP. If you want shiny, full art cards of your favorite characters, those last three rarities are the ones to chase.
Take, for example, Chillet – Dragon Whisperer. This SSP card shows one-of-a-kind art of the ultra-cute fan favorite, complete with gold foil. This rare Chillet is already causing a stir with eager collectors, so it’s one to seek!
Many other Palworld icons get a similar special treatment. Lily’s Strategy and Zoe’s Strategy each have two full art versions with gorgeous, unique illustrations of Palworld’s favorite faction leaders.
Some cards that are key to your deck’s strategies have rare versions, too. Shadowbeak – Seed of Despair is key for Nocturnal decks, and the SP card looks incredible when deployed. Digtoise – Seismic Drillback also looks like a popular choice for Green players (and not just because its full art is great).
The debut set of any TCG is the start of an exciting new era. Years down the line, these cards may not see print again, and even if they do, fans of the game feel a unique nostalgia for their very first cards. This makes rare and beautiful first-edition cards even more coveted.
It also means launch day is the best time to get into a new TCG, especially for collectors. Those early Palworld OCG packs might make you the envy of your friends later on – and they’ll certainly give you a great game to play.
How to get started
If you want to dive deep into the Palworld OCG, your best bet is a Dawn of Palpagos Booster Box. Its 12 booster packs contain seven cards each, giving you a strong base to build decks from.
Don’t sleep on the two pre-constructed Trial Decks, either. Their cards synergize with the game’s top strategies – and you can’t find them in a regular Booster Box.
Keen to get into your first game of the Palworld OCG? You can find both products on the official website. Happy battling!
Source: Wargamer
