Build your first Gundam deck: step by step

New to the Gundam Card Game? How to build a playable deck: 50 cards, resource deck, units and pilots, 2 colours and common mistakes.

The Gundam Card Game brings the famous mobile suits and their pilots to the table. Many people collect Gundam for the artwork but have never built a deck of their own. This guide takes you in 7 steps from “I have cards” to “I have a playable deck”. No prior knowledge needed.

Gundam in one minute

• Each player has 6 shields (face-down cards). If a unit hits you with no shields left, you lose. You also lose if your deck runs out.
• Each turn you place 1 card from your resource deck. The number of resources is also your level (Lv): many cards need a minimum level.
• Units (mobile suits) fight. A matching pilot makes them stronger.
• To even things out, the second player gets an extra EX resource.

Step 1: Pick 1 or 2 colours

A deck may use at most 2 colours. Pick a series or a favourite mobile suit and check which colours you own the most matching cards in.

Step 2: Match units and pilots

Many units gain extra effects with a specific pilot. Make sure your pilots fit your units.

Step 3: Exactly 50 cards plus resources

The deck has exactly 50 cards, plus a resource deck of 10 cards. Each card number may be included at most 4 times.

Step 4: The skeleton

These are guidelines for a first deck, not fixed rules.

Step 5: The level curve

Your level rises by 1 each turn. Keep enough cards for levels 2 to 4 so you can act early. Cards with a high minimum level otherwise sit in your hand for a long time.

Step 6: 4 copies beat lots of singles

Your most important cards belong in the deck 4 times, so you actually draw them. A deck of many different single cards plays differently every time and rarely well.

Step 7: Test and adjust

• Shuffle and draw an opening hand. Check that you can do something useful in your first turns. Do this 10 times.
• Play a few games against friends.
• Cards that never did anything go. Replace them with another copy of your best card.

The shortcut: a ready-made deck as a template

Bandai releases starter decks that are playable right away. Their card lists are online. Paste such a list into TCG-Completist and see what is already in your collection.

How TCG-Completist helps

1. Open 🃏 Decks in the account menu and click “New deck”. Choose Gundam as the game.
2. Paste a list, for example with “4xST01-001”. Card codes and English names are recognised.
3. You see right away which cards you own, which are missing and roughly what the rest costs.
4. If you want to play a card as parallel or foil, set the print with one click. Add missing cards to your wishlist with one click.

The deck builder is free. Guides for other games are under Deck building.

The 5 most common beginner mistakes

1. Three colours. At most 2 are allowed.
2. Pilots without matching units. Combine on purpose.
3. Levels too high. Follow the level curve.
4. Underestimating shields. Defend in time, 6 shields go fast.
5. Only single copies. Better 4 copies of your key cards.

That's all your first deck needs. Build it, play it and improve it after every game.