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When we think of collectible card games, we often picture decks meticulously crafted over months, where each card was purchased individually to execute the best possible combos. That's the beauty of the Constructed format. But there's another way to play, sometimes intimidating for newcomers, although it offers the most direct, rewarding, and educational experience for getting started with collectible card games. It's no coincidence that all the major TCGs are adopting the Limited format with Drafts and Sealed versions.

In Limited, there's no question of showing up with your highly optimized deck. Everyone starts on an absolutely equal footing. Each player opens their new booster packs around the table and must build a deck strategy with 40 cards in real time and with the resources available at the time.

If you've never wanted to take the plunge, here's why the Draft format is the best possible training to hone your skills, regardless of your level:

Between the release schedules that follow one another at breakneck speed, the daily reveals, and the obligation to always know the meta inside and out, it's easy to feel a bit overwhelmed. One day, you unbox a new expansion with the excitement of discovery, and the next, you already feel like you're behind on the next one.

Get your decks ready and sleeve your cards because Legend Story Studios is about to release what is probably the most ambitious set in Flesh and Blood history! On February 13, we'll welcome Compendium of Rathe, a massive 348-card set that touches on everything we love about this game.

Here's everything you need to know about this release before you jump into the arena this Friday.

It's time to prove your worth! The Flesh and Blood Super Slam prerelease is coming soon. The new expansion is coming to our store, and you can preview it at our event on September 21st!

If there's one thing we love as TCG players, it's that feeling of excitement when our favorite game is about to reveal what's coming in its new set. With summer finally settling in, Ravensburger has just given us plenty to think about for our upcoming evenings around the tables at our local game store. The next set, Attack of the Vine!, doesn't just bring new cards: it's changing our perspective on a well-established mechanic that we might have thought was unchangeable: Shift.

Since the launch of Lorcana two and a half years ago, we've ridden through waves of obvious enthusiasm surrounding the game. Recently, you may have heard some counterpoints surrounding the new Winterspell set: questions about quality control, release frequency, or collector value. We wanted to offer you a different perspective. What if, instead of viewing Lorcana as an investment, we went back to basics? What made the game so popular from the very first announcements: the joy of playing.

Lorcana follows the seasons and offers us a chilling set that will send shivers down your opponents' spines. We officially welcome the game's 11th expansion to stores: Winterspell! But before going any further, here's everything you need to know about Ravensburger's latest announcements.

Magic: The Gathering stories transport us to a brand new multiverse with the release of the first fiction episodes surrounding the new Reality Fracture expansion. This adventure will conclude the Metronome arc, which began almost three years ago. But before we delve into the detailed summaries of the first two episodes, let's put the events into context.

We spend so much time at the bar or around tables with friends analyzing new sets, debating mechanics, or complaining about the power of certain cards that we sometimes forget the entire process before a card ends up in our booster packs. In his latest article, Making Magic, Mark Rosewater, the Head Designer of Magic, opens the doors to the Wizards studios to explain in detail the process behind the trial and error of the early stages.

To help us understand these steps, which span nearly two and a half years, Mark, aka MaRo, uses a simple metaphor: building a house. Here's what you need to know about the four main stages of creating and testing an upcoming set.

After the last two years, during which Wizards of the Coast's announcements were dominated by a multitude of crossovers with Universes Beyond, we recently received a presentation of the 2027 roadmap, which is undoubtedly quite refreshing. Magic's strategy of announcing its three sets from its original universe opens a door that seemed to be closing more and more and gives them the opportunity to prove that the original Multiverse still possesses a creative power worth exploring. Make no mistake, the last sets we received in 2026 remain excellent in their concept, but here we see a true reinvention of Magic's identity.

On the agenda: the exploration of a completely new world beneath the ocean, a clash between two very popular worlds in the franchise, and the return of Teferi's plane as we've never seen it before.

The Riftbound development team recently announced a major move for the player community—one that, for many, necessitates changes to their decks. An official update to the banned card list for Standard and 2v2 Constructed formats will take effect on Friday, September 18, 2026.

With the large-scale Los Angeles Regional Qualifier tournament fast approaching, Riftbound sought to fundamentally redefine the game's balance. This will have an immediate impact on the high-stakes competition—featuring a $25,000 prize pool—which is taking place less than two weeks after the announcement.

Here is an analysis of the two targeted cards and what these changes mean for your upcoming in-store events.

Riot Games has released the first details of their new TCG expansion, Vendetta, confirming their desire to further complicate Riftbound's competitive ecosystem. By introducing three new keywords and two new card types, including a hybrid of two existing types, the fourth set not only adds options to the game but will also redefine tempo management, hand values, and, most importantly, interaction with the discard pile.

Here's what we've gleaned from the information on the mechanics that have been released in recent days:

The moment we've all been waiting for is almost here! This Friday, May 1st, our store is launching its Pre-Rift event! This will be your first contact with the new set, but more importantly, your first chance to get your hands on the new cards, test the mechanics, and walk away with exclusive discounts! If you haven't yet participated in a Pre-Rift, here's what you need to know:

September 2026 marks a turning point in the history of the Pokémon TCG. This month’s entire wave of releases centers on the year’s most anticipated global launch: the *30th Celebration* special expansion, available starting September 16.

Each booster pack in this special expansion contains 5 foil cards—guaranteed to include one Pikachu card from a selection of 30 exclusive illustrations—plus a foil Energy card. This release also introduces a brand-new rarity: "Futuristic Rare" cards featuring Mew and Mewtwo! Plus, the "Classic Collection" makes a comeback, reissuing legendary cards like the *Base Set* Charizard.

These booster packs are not sold individually; they are available exclusively within sealed products.

Here is a detailed look at the boxes and collections hitting store shelves in September:

August may be less busy in terms of the number of Pokémon releases, but it's certainly no less interesting. A new selection of products will be available this month, celebrating the nostalgia of the first Partners while maintaining the power of Mega Evolution.

Here are all the details on the releases to watch for this August:

We know the coming weeks will be rather quiet, with the summer lull approaching. MTG has released Marvel, Riftbound and Lorcana are coming at the end of the month, so we're turning to Pokémon for our dopamine fix. Well, Pokémon has just made a big announcement that will send shivers down the spine of any player who has ever been even remotely interested in their game.

The worldwide release of the new 30th Celebration special expansion has just been announced for September 16, 2026. Forget the summer calm because they haven't done things halfway. The set will be composed entirely of foil cards.

Here's the complete breakdown of what awaits you in September.