How to Build Your Own Custom Deck in GWENT: The Witcher Card Game

GWENT: The Witcher Card Game - A Guide for Beginners

If you are a fan of the Witcher universe, you might have heard of GWENT, a free-to-play digital collectible card game that lets you command mighty heroes and monsters in epic online battles. But what is GWENT exactly, and how can you get started with playing it? In this article, we will give you a comprehensive guide on everything you need to know about GWENT, from its origins and features to its rules and strategies. Whether you are a complete beginner or a seasoned player, you will find something useful and interesting in this article. So, without further ado, let's dive into the world of GWENT!

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What is GWENT?

A brief introduction to the game and its origins

GWENT is a digital collectible card game developed and published by CD Projekt, the same company behind the critically acclaimed Witcher series of video games and books. The game is based on the card game of the same name that appears in the Witcher 3: Wild Hunt, where Geralt of Rivia, the main protagonist, can play it with various characters throughout his adventures. The game was so popular among the fans that CD Projekt decided to create a standalone version of it, with more cards, features, and modes. The game was first released for Windows, PlayStation 4, and Xbox One in 2018, followed by iOS in 2019, Android in 2020, and macOS in 2021.

The main features and modes of the game

GWENT is a card game that pits two players against each other in a best-of-three rounds format. Each player has a deck of 25 to 40 cards, belonging to one of six factions: Northern Realms, Nilfgaardian Empire, Scoia'tael, Skellige, Monsters, or Syndicate. Each faction has its own unique theme, style, and abilities. The goal of the game is to win two rounds by having more points than your opponent on the board. Points are gained by playing cards from your hand onto one of two rows: melee or ranged. Cards can have various effects, such as boosting or damaging other cards, triggering special abilities, or creating new cards. Some cards also have keywords that indicate their type, category, or function.

GWENT offers several modes for players to enjoy. The classic mode is where you can play against other players online in ranked or casual matches. The seasonal mode is where you can play with special rules that change every month. The arena mode is where you can draft a deck from random cards and try to win as many games as possible before losing three times. The training mode is where you can practice against AI opponents with different difficulty levels. The story mode is where you can follow the adventures of Meve, a war-veteran queen who leads her army against an imminent invasion in Thronebreaker: The Witcher Tales, a standalone RPG that integrates with GWENT.

The benefits of playing GWENT

Playing GWENT is not only fun and challenging, but also rewarding and beneficial. Here are some of the reasons why you should play GWENT:

• You can enjoy a rich and immersive story set in the Witcher universe, with memorable characters, choices, and consequences.

• You can test your skills and strategies against millions of players from around the world, and climb the ladder of the global rankings.

• You can collect hundreds of cards with stunning artwork and animations, and customize your decks with different leaders, skins, and cosmetics.

• You can earn rewards and progress by completing daily quests, achievements, contracts, and challenges.

• You can join a friendly and active community of GWENT fans, who share their tips, guides, decks, and memes on various platforms.

How to play GWENT?

The basic rules and mechanics of the game

As mentioned earlier, GWENT is a card game that consists of three rounds. Each round starts with both players drawing three cards from their deck, up to a maximum of 10 cards in hand. The player who goes first in the first round is determined randomly, and the player who wins a round goes second in the next round. Each player takes turns playing one card from their hand until both players pass or run out of cards. The player with more points on the board at the end of the round wins the round. The player who wins two rounds wins the game.

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There are some important mechanics that you need to know when playing GWENT. One is the provision system, which limits how many cards you can put in your deck based on their power and rarity. Each card has a provision cost, and each deck has a provision limit. You cannot exceed the provision limit when building your deck. Another mechanic is the mulligan system, which allows you to replace some cards in your hand with others from your deck at the start of each round. Each faction has a different number of mulligans, and you can also gain or lose mulligans by playing certain cards or abilities. A third mechanic is the leader ability, which is a special power that you can use once or multiple times per game, depending on your faction and leader. Leader abilities can have various effects, such as drawing cards, boosting units, spawning tokens, or damaging enemies.

The different factions and cards in the game

GWENT has six factions that you can choose from when building your deck. Each faction has its own identity, flavor, and mechanics. Here is a brief overview of each faction:

FactionDescription

Northern RealmsA faction that represents the human kingdoms of the north, such as Temeria, Redania, and Kaedwen. They specialize in boosting their units, forming powerful engines, and using orders and charges.

Nilfgaardian EmpireA faction that represents the mighty empire of the south, known for its cunning and intrigue. They specialize in disrupting their opponents, spying on their cards, and using tactics and assimilate.

Scoia'taelA faction that represents the non-human rebels and freedom fighters, such as elves, dwarves, and dryads. They specialize in moving their units across rows, playing traps and ambushes, and using harmony and symbiosis.

SkelligeA faction that represents the fierce warriors and raiders of the islands. They specialize in damaging their units, resurrecting them from the graveyard, and using bloodthirst and berserk.

MonstersA faction that represents the wild and monstrous creatures of the land. They specialize in consuming their units, spawning more units from their deck or board, and using thrive and deathwish.

SyndicateA faction that represents the criminal underworld of Novigrad. They specialize in generating coins, spending them for various effects, and using bounty and tribute.

Each faction has a variety of cards that you can use in your deck. Cards can be divided into four types: units, specials, artifacts, and stratagems. Units are the most common type of cards, and they have a power value and a row icon that indicate where they can be played. Some units also have armor, which protects them from damage. Specials are cards that have an instant effect and do not stay on the board. They can be spells, alchemy, crimes, or organic. Artifacts are cards that have a persistent effect and stay on the board until they are destroyed. They can be weapons, traps, relics, or scenarios. Stratagems are cards that you can use only in the first round, and they give you an advantage depending on whether you go first or second. They can be tactical advantage, magic lamp, blighted rite, or crownsplitter's cache.

The tips and strategies for building a competitive deck

Building a competitive deck in GWENT requires some planning and experimentation. You need to consider several factors, such as your faction, your leader ability, your provision limit, your card synergy, and your opponent's deck. Here are some general tips and strategies for building a competitive deck:

• Choose a faction and a leader ability that suit your playstyle and preference. Do you like to play aggressively or defensively? Do you like to control the board or go for big combos? Do you like to rely on luck or skill? Each faction and leader ability has its strengths and weaknesses, so choose wisely.

• Balance your provision cost and card quality. You want to have enough high-cost cards to win rounds, but also enough low-cost cards to fill your deck and avoid bricking (having no playable cards). A good rule of thumb is to have an average provision cost of around 8 or 9 per card.

• Have a clear win condition and strategy for each round. You want to have a plan for how to win two rounds out of three, and how to use your cards efficiently and effectively. For example, you might want to use your low-value cards in the first round to bleed your opponent's resources, then use your high-value cards in the second or third round to secure the victory.

• Use card synergy and combo potential. You want to have cards that work well together and create powerful effects. For example, you might want to use cards that boost each other, damage the enemy, spawn more units, or trigger abilities. You also want to have cards that can counter or disrupt your opponent's strategy.

• Adapt to the meta and the situation. You want to have a flexible and versatile deck that can handle different scenarios and opponents. You also want to keep an eye on the current meta (the most popular and effective decks) and adjust your deck accordingly. You can use various websites and tools to track the meta and find the best decks for each faction.

How to improve your skills in GWENT?

The resources and tools for learning the game

If you want to improve your skills in GWENT, you need to learn from the best sources and tools available. Here are some of the resources and tools that you can use to learn the game:

• The official GWENT website is where you can find all the information about the game, such as the news, updates, events, guides, tutorials, card database, patch notes, FAQ, support, and more.

• The official GWENT YouTube channel is where you can watch various videos about the game, such as the trailers, gameplay showcases, developer streams, interviews, tips and tricks, lore explanations, and more.

• The official GWENT Twitch channel is where you can watch live streams of the game from the developers or other players. You can also interact with them via chat and ask questions or give feedback.

• The official GWENT Discord server is where you can join a community of GWENT players and fans. You can chat with them about the game, share your decks and ideas, ask for advice or help, participate in tournaments and events, or just have fun.

• The official GWENT subreddit is where you can find another community of GWENT players and fans on Reddit. You can post and comment about the game, share your memes and screenshots, discuss the meta and strategies, or just browse through interesting content.

• The official GWENT Masters website is where you can find all the information about the competitive scene of GWENT. You can learn about the rules and formats of the tournaments, the rankings and standings of the players, the schedule and results of the matches, or even sign up for participating yourself.

• The Play GWENT website is where you can download and play the game for free on your preferred platform. You can also access your account, profile, rewards, and settings from there.

• The GWENT Deck Library is where you can browse and create decks for the game. You can also import and export decks from the game, rate and comment on other decks, or find the best decks for each faction and leader.

• The GWENT Meta Snapshot is where you can find the most updated and accurate analysis of the current meta of the game. You can also see the tier list of the best decks, the matchups and win rates of each deck, or the card statistics and trends of each faction.

The best practices and habits for playing the game

Besides using the resources and tools mentioned above, you also need to develop some good practices and habits when playing the game. Here are some of the best practices and habits for playing GWENT:

• Play regularly and consistently. You want to play the game as often as possible, preferably every day, to improve your skills and knowledge. You also want to play at least a few games per session, to get into the flow and rhythm of the game.

• Play with different factions and leaders. You want to experiment with different factions and leaders, to learn their strengths and weaknesses, and to diversify your experience. You also want to play against different factions and leaders, to understand their strategies and counters.

• Play with different decks and cards. You want to try different decks and cards, to find out what works best for you and your playstyle. You also want to update your decks and cards, to adapt to the changes and updates of the game.

• Play with different modes and formats. You want to explore different modes and formats of the game, to challenge yourself and have fun. You also want to participate in different tournaments and events, to test your skills and compete with others.

• Review your games and learn from your mistakes. You want to analyze your games and see what you did right or wrong, what you could have done better or differently, or what you missed or overlooked. You also want to learn from your mistakes and avoid repeating them in the future.

• Watch other players and learn from their examples. You want to watch other players who are better or more experienced than you, such as streamers, youtubers, or pro players. You also want to learn from their examples and see how they play, what they do, or why they do it.

• Ask for feedback and advice from other players. You want to seek feedback and advice from other players who are willing to help you, such as friends, mentors, coaches, or community members. You also want to listen to their feedback and advice and apply it to your game.

The challenges and rewards for advancing in the game

Advancing in GWENT is not easy, but it is rewarding. As you progress in the game, you will face various challenges and obstacles that will test your skills and knowledge. However, you will also receive various rewards and benefits that will motivate you and make you proud. Here are some of the challenges and rewards for advancing in GWENT:

ChallengeReward

Winning more games than losingGaining more rank points and climbing the ladder

Reaching higher ranks in each seasonEarning more rewards such as kegs, scraps, meteorite powder, ore, cosmetics, titles, borders, avatars, etc.

Qualifying for the Pro Rank in each seasonEntering the elite league of GWENT players who compete for glory and prizes

Placing in the top 200 of the Pro Rank in each seasonQualifying for the official GWENT tournaments such as Open, Challenger, World Masters, etc.

Winning the official GWENT tournamentsBecoming a GWENT champion and earning fame and fortune

Conclusion

A summary of the main points and a call to action

In conclusion, GWENT is a digital collectible card game that offers a unique and exciting experience for fans of the Witcher universe and card game enthusiasts. It has a rich and immersive story, a diverse and balanced gameplay, and a rewarding and competitive system. It also has a friendly and active community, a vibrant and dynamic meta, and a supportive and dedicated developer. If you are looking for a card game that is fun, challenging, and satisfying, you should definitely give GWENT a try. You can download and play the game for free on your preferred platform, and join the millions of players who are already enjoying it. You can also use the resources and tools that we mentioned in this article to learn more about the game and improve your skills. So, what are you waiting for? Grab your deck and join the GWENT adventure today!

FAQs

What are the system requirements for playing GWENT?

The system requirements for playing GWENT vary depending on your platform. For Windows, you need at least Windows 7/8/10 (64-bit), Intel Celeron G1820/AMD A4-7300 CPU, 4 GB RAM, NVIDIA GeForce GT 710/AMD Radeon R5 330 GPU, and 15 GB of free disk space. For macOS, you need at least macOS 10.15.6 (Catalina), Intel Core i5 CPU, 4 GB RAM, Intel Iris Plus Graphics 640 GPU, and 15 GB of free disk space. For iOS, you need at least iOS 12.0 or later, iPhone 6S or newer/iPad Mini 4 or newer/iPad Air 2 or newer/iPad Pro or newer. For Android, you need at least Android 7.0 or later, Samsung Galaxy S6 or newer/Huawei P8 Lite (2017) or newer/Sony Xperia XZ or newer/LG G5 or newer/Xiaomi Redmi Note 3 or newer/Google Pixel or newer/OnePlus 3T or newer. For PlayStation 4 and Xbox One, you need at least the base model of each console. However, please note that GWENT is no longer supported on PlayStation 4 and Xbox One since June 2020.

How can I get more cards in GWENT?

There are several ways to get more cards in GWENT. The most common way is to open kegs, which are card packs that contain five cards each. You can buy kegs with ore, which is the in-game currency that you can earn by playing the game, completing quests, or leveling up. You can also buy kegs with