In this article we would like to give you an overview of the new CD Projekt Red Spiel GWENT: The Witcher Card Game give. We explain the game, the factions, the Free2Play model and give initial tips on the starter decks.

GWENT - The Witcher Card Game

The origins

GWENT was used as a mini-game in the hugely successful RPG The Witcher 3 was born. At that time it looked a little different and in the German translation it was still called Gwint. With a round of Gwent relaxed Geralt likes to go to the tavern between his adventures. The entertaining but tactically demanding card game was so well received by the fans that CD Projekt Red decided to develop an independent game from it. The hour of birth of GWENT: The Witcher Card Game.

The present and the future

After a longer closed beta phase, the public beta began on May 24, 2017. Since GWENT is a Free2Play game, i.e. free of charge, participation in the beta is of course free of charge. All you need is a registration on the official homepage and you're ready to go. According to the developers' statements so far, there will be no further “beta wipe”, so any progress that you make or card packages that you buy will be retained. Between the closed and open beta, there was such a reset. But all participating players got their complete card packages back, so they didn't have any loss. By the way, the card packages in Gwent are so-called barrels (“kegs” in English).

There is no date for the publication and thus the end of the beta phase. The developers plan to let the beta run until GWENT is stable, the gameplay is balanced and other features such as a solo player campaign are built in. Of course, GWENT is not "finished" with the release, there will be further improvements, expansions with new cards, additional solo campaigns, everything you would expect from a FreetoPlay title these days.

GWENT has been released for PC, Playstation 4 and Xbox One.

GWENT - The Game

In the course of the development as an independent game, there were a number of adjustments and improvements compared to the mini-game known from The Witcher 3. The main features have remained the same.

If you have already played other comparable card games such as Magic: the Gathering, Yu-Gi-Oh! or Hearthstone will enjoy some new concepts.

For example, in GWENT there are no resources such as mana or lands, and you don't draw a card every turn.

Each player first builds a deck of at least 25 and a maximum of 40 cards from his collection, with these you start the duel with your opponent. Each duel consists of 3 rounds, of which you have to win 2 in order to emerge as the winner of the duel.

Game system

The mulligan / start phase

At the beginning of the first round each player draws 8 cards from his deck and then has the option of returning up to 3 cards to his deck during the mulligan phase and drawing a new card.

The starting cards are the only and most important resource that must be used in a tactical manner. Unlike in other games of this type, in GWENT you only draw 2 cards at the beginning of round 2 and one at the beginning of round 3. You can send back 1 card at a time. So with these you have to achieve victory.

The battlefield

The game board consists of 3 rows for each player, on which your troops can be played. Close combat, long-range combat, siege depending on your skills, your troops can only be played in certain rows, others you can place specifically.

The cards

The cards at GWENT consist of troops and spells. Each unit has a strength value and usually still offers an effect when played. Spells destroy opponents, strengthen your troops or create weather effects on the opponent's ranks and damage them every turn. These are just a few of the effects, there are a number of quite unusual spells that make up the tactical depth of GWENTs with their interactions.

The two opponents take turns playing their cards. If someone decides that he has played enough cards for this round, he can also pass. If both players have passed, the strength values of the troops on each side are added up and the higher number wins.

The right moment to pass

The right moment to pass is one of the most important decisions at GWENT. If you are clearly ahead with the cards on the game board, can you decide to do so, then the opponent is forced to act, does he play more cards and thus use up resources that he would need in the later round? Or he ticks off the round as lost and concentrates on the next round.

At this point the player has to carefully consider which of his cards he has already played and whether he can win another round with the remaining cards in his hand.

Fortunately, GWENT offers an excellent tutorial that teaches you these basic principles. After just a few games, you find yourself figuring out exactly how much you can still get out of your hand and what your opponent could possibly still play.

The card decks

Your card collection is divided into 5 factions. When creating a new deck of cards you first have to choose one, then you choose your leader. These leaders offer special abilities and are part of the faction's identity.

The 5 factions

Nilfgaard - More than the other factions, Nilfgaard focuses on cunning and diplomacy to achieve victory. Using spies smuggled into the ranks of the enemy, Nilfgaard reveals the enemy's cards.

monster- In this faction the worst dream dreams and horrors that haunt the world of The Witcher gather. They are seldom found alone and the harsh weather does not hinder them much, it strengthens them much more. An endless horde awaits you on the battlefield and it is not uncommon for them to eat each other to absorb the forces of their fellows.

Skellige - Death is just the beginning ... if you fall as part of the Skellige Army, you can expect to be resuscitated and sent back into battle. Often enough stronger than before.

Northern Kingdoms -Inspired by their leaders, the armed forces of the Northern Kingdoms rule the battlefield. Reinforcements and improvements make the troops an unstoppable army that can withstand the most adverse conditions.

Scoia'tael - The Scoia'tael troops plan their attacks quickly, precisely and from ambush. With the ability to move their troops, they often evade enemy forces in order to strike at appropriate locations.

FreeToPlay system

GWENT is a so-called FreeToPlay game, so it can be played for free and does not have to be bought, nor is there a monthly fee.

There are 4 currencies in the game:

Ore: Used to buy barrels. You get as a reward for daily quests

Scraps: Duplicate cards can be broken down into scraps in order to forge new, different cards.

Meteroite Dust / Meteroite Powder: Each card also has a premium version with animated graphics and extra sound. By using meterite dust, you can convert normal cards into premium versions. Technically nothing changes, the change is purely cosmetic.

Barrels / kegs: The source for new maps. Each barrel contains 5 random cards, at least one of which is Rare, Spischer, or Legendary Rarity.

When you open a barrel, the first 4 cards you get are presented.

Then you get 3 options for the 5th card. You can add one card to your collection, the other two are gone. This gives you a little influence on which cards you get.

At the end, the 5 new cards will be added to your collection:

Reward system and daily quests

For reaching new levels, there are regular rewards in GWENT, for example a barrel full of cards every 2 levels. Or a legendary card at level 20. The maximum is at level 100.

In addition, there are daily rewards for rounds won. Every 2 rounds won, there are randomly 15 ore / scraps or meteroite dust and the main prize is an extra card, the probability of which is significantly lower.

With 6, 18 and 42 rounds you get a barrel each. These rewards can be earned every day and go up to a maximum of 66 rounds, for which you get 50 meteroite dust.

Game modes

Single player

At the moment there are two variants of practice games against the computer and challenges in the single player mode.

Among the challenges you will find, among other things, the tutorials for the basics of the game and deck building, as well as the challenges in which you play against the 5 factions.

You play 6 matches against thematically matching decks and receive unique rewards. Including leader cards of the respective faction. These challenges can also be mastered with the basic decks and only require a little practice.

Multiplayer mode

Here you can find friendly games, free games and ranked games.

Ranking games offer 21 ranks up to grandmaster, for each rank reached there are scraps, barrels or frames for your portrait. At the end of the expected 1-month season there will be additional rewards for the rank achieved.

Other articles on Gwent: The Witcher Card Game:

• Guide to the midwinter hunting event
• Midwinter update and event are live
• Challenger #2 winner and Dev Stream
• Win card barrels through Twitch Drops
• Double rewards for the Faction Challenge
• Results of the faction challenge
• Faction Challenge Event Skellige vs. Northern Kingdoms
• Single player campaign postponed
• Participant of the 2nd Open Tournament
• Hotfix November 6th
• Guide for Saovine - The Festival of the Dead
• Mahakam Ale Festival Guide
• Agil Patch and Mahakam Ale Festival
• Proladder season start postponed
• Major balance patch / gold card change August 29th
• GWENT Masters Series and eSports explained
• Solo campaign and Master Series (eSports) announced
• GWENT - Social Features and Starter Package from August 19th
• End of the first ranking season
• Trump - tutorial series
• $ 25,000 tournament at gamescom 2017
• GWENT weather patch notes in German from 5.7.2017
• GWENT developer stream information from 3.7.2017