KARDS is a WWII collectible card game from Icelandic studio 1939 Games, built on 40 card decks that pair one major nation with up to 12 cards borrowed from a single ally. Both headquarters start at 20 defence and the match ends the moment one of them hits zero. What sets it apart from other digital card games is the frontline: your board is split into two lines, and which line a unit sits in decides what it is allowed to attack.
KARDS - The WWII Card Game features distinct areas with increasing difficulty. This guide covers every major location in progression order: what to do, what to get, and when to move on. For the step-by-step path, see our walkthrough.
Area Progression Order
| Order | Location | Difficulty | Key Rewards | Recommended Build |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Ranked Battle | Any collection, best once you own one full deck | Rank rewards, ladder placement | Soviet Union |
| 2 | Casual Battle | Any | Deck testing, matchup practice | Soviet Union |
| 3 | Draft | Any, rewards raw card knowledge | Draft run payouts, card packs | Germany |
| 4 | Training | New players and untested decks | Safe testing, early currency | Germany |
| 5 | Theaters of War | New to intermediate players | Free 40 card nation decks, campaign rewards | Germany |
Ranked Battle: Starting Area
Matches you against players near your own rank using custom decks. You climb by winning stars up to rank 1, after which you enter the competitive ladder proper.
| Attribute | Detail |
|---|---|
| Difficulty | Any collection, best once you own one full deck |
| Key Rewards | Rank rewards, ladder placement |
| Recommended Build | Soviet Union |
| Key Equipment | Katyusha |
What to Do Here
- Learn the basics of Kredit economy. This is where you practice without heavy punishment.
- Collect starting resources and your first equipment upgrade.
- Clear all main content before moving to Casual Battle.
- If you're struggling, read our beginner's guide.
Casual Battle: Early Game
Unranked games against other players. This is where a half finished brew gets tested without spending stars proving it does not work yet.
| Attribute | Detail |
|---|---|
| Difficulty | Any |
| Key Rewards | Deck testing, matchup practice |
| Recommended Build | Soviet Union |
| Key Equipment | Katyusha |
What to Do Here
- Focus on mastering Deployment and operation costs. It's critical from this point on.
- Farm for Katyusha if you don't have it yet.
- Complete all objectives for maximum rewards.
- Prepare for the difficulty spike in Draft.
Draft: Mid Game
You build a deck from offered cards and play until 7 wins or 3 losses ends the run. Individual card evaluation matters far more here than knowing archetypes.
| Attribute | Detail |
|---|---|
| Difficulty | Any, rewards raw card knowledge |
| Key Rewards | Draft run payouts, card packs |
| Recommended Build | Germany |
| Key Equipment | Katyusha |
What to Do Here
- This is the main skill check. Bring an optimized build.
- Blitzkrieg becomes accessible here. Prioritize getting it.
- Master Frontline and support line for the boss encounters.
- Check our boss guide if you get stuck.
Training: Late Game
Games against AI opponents at several difficulty settings. The right place to check whether a new curve actually functions before you take it to people.
| Attribute | Detail |
|---|---|
| Difficulty | New players and untested decks |
| Key Rewards | Safe testing, early currency |
| Recommended Build | Germany |
| Key Equipment | Blitzkrieg |
What to Do Here
- Full build optimization is expected by this point.
- Blitzkrieg should be your primary, fully upgraded.
- Combat keywords mastery starts mattering here.
- Farm resources for the push into Theaters of War.
Theaters of War: Endgame
Hand crafted campaign missions across five WW2 scenarios, sitting alongside the Starter Campaigns that each hand you a complete 40 card deck for a major nation.
| Attribute | Detail |
|---|---|
| Difficulty | New to intermediate players |
| Key Rewards | Free 40 card nation decks, campaign rewards |
| Recommended Build | Germany |
| Key Equipment | Blitzkrieg |
What to Do Here
- This is endgame. Best-in-slot gear and a perfected build are mandatory.
- See our boss guide for endgame fight strategies.
- The reward loop: clear content → upgrade → push harder content.
- Experiment with Japan for variety once you've mastered the meta.
Exploration Tips
- Clear areas in order: Ranked Battle → Casual Battle → Draft → Training → Theaters of War. Skipping areas means missing resources you'll need later.
- Check every corner: Hidden caches and secrets are often in non-obvious locations.
- Match your equipment: Some areas favor different equipment types.
- Read the walkthrough: Our walkthrough provides exact progression milestones for each area.
- Don't rush: Clearing an area fully gives more resources than speedrunning two areas.
More KARDS - The WWII Card Game Guides
- KARDS - The WWII Card Game KARDS - The WWII Card Game Overview
- KARDS - The WWII Card Game Best Builds
- KARDS - The WWII Card Game Tier List
- KARDS - The WWII Card Game Walkthrough
- KARDS - The WWII Card Game Beginner's Guide
- KARDS - The WWII Card Game Tips & Tricks
- KARDS - The WWII Card Game Weapons Guide
- KARDS - The WWII Card Game Combat Guide
- KARDS - The WWII Card Game Boss Guide
- KARDS - The WWII Card Game Crafting Guide
- KARDS - The WWII Card Game Classes & Characters
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