At its core, Alpha Clash is built on being a fun and competitive game. We added Contender Bounties and Event cards to keep things fresh and fun. Now, we're doubling down on our mission and introducing Seasons. Each Season runs for three months, with twists and turns awaiting in every one. Bans, limits, un-bans and more could happen in any Season, and every Season's changes are in place for both in-person and online official Alpha Clash gameplay.

Seasons mean the game you sit down to play in spring won't be the same game you played in winter. New decks get room to breathe, familiar decks get a shake-up, and cards you've been missing can come back to the table. Here's how it all works, when each Season runs, and exactly what we're doing for Season 1.

What is a Season?

Think of a Season as a three-month chapter of competitive Alpha Clash. Each one comes with its own list of changes, and that list sets the rules for official play until the next chapter begins.

When a new Season starts, the page turns. Some cards step out of the spotlight, others step back into it, and the decks that were sitting comfortably at the top of the standings have to prove they can do it all over again.

Why Seasons?

Every competitive card game eventually hits the same wall. The best decks get found, the best lists get copied, and before long you can call out your opponent's next three plays before they've finished shuffling. Solving a format is a badge of honor. Playing a solved format every week until a new set releases? Not so much.

Instead of waiting for something to break, or metas to get stale, we're building change right into the calendar. Every three months the game gets a fresh look, and every Clasher, from the kitchen-table brewer to the event grinder, gets a brand new puzzle to solve.

It also gives you a clock to plan around. Instead of wondering if and when the next change might land, you'll know exactly when to look.

How Seasons work

Starting January 1, 2027, the Alpha Clash year is split into four Seasons that follow the calendar quarters. Every Season has its own unique changes in-place:

  • One list for all official play. Whatever list is in force applies to every official in-person and online Alpha Clash TCG event.
  • Your event's first day decides. If an event overlaps the change of a season, whatever list was in-place when the event started rules the weekend.
  • Four weeks' notice, every time. Each new list is announced at least four weeks before its Season starts, so you have time to test and tune.

The Tools

There are multiple tools we can use each Season:

  • Bans: the card can't be included in your deck.
  • Limits: you can only include a limited number of the card in your deck.
  • Unbans: a card comes off the Ban List.
  • Rules: a new rule, or a twist on an existing one, can be added for the Season.
  • Errata: a card's text can be updated.

Not every Season will use every tool. Some Seasons might bring a single change, others might flip the whole meta on its head.

2027 Seasons

Season Starts Ends
Season 1 Friday, January 1, 2027 Wednesday, March 31, 2027
Season 2 Thursday, April 1, 2027 Wednesday, June 30, 2027
Season 3 Thursday, July 1, 2027 Thursday, September 30, 2027
Season 4 Friday, October 1, 2027 Friday, December 31, 2027

Four Seasons. Four chances to shake things up. Four chances for your favorite deck to make its comeback, or your least favorite deck to take a breather.

Season 1

We're not easing into this…

Card Season 1 status
Zhao Li, Reconnaissance Agent Banned
Morac, the Devourer Banned
Denver Limited (1)
The Absence, Shadow Incarnate Limited (1)
Pestilence, the Infectious Limited (2)
Lord Krung, Ruthless Warlord Errata: it gains [Discarded] deckbuilding restriction
Incoming Support Unbanned

The Season 1 story

If you've been on the receiving end of any of these cards, you might be smiling right now. If you've been the one playing them, we see you, and we're sorry. A little.

Here's the thing: none of these cards are bad. Quite the opposite. Cards don't land on a list like this for being forgettable. But a game where everyone reaches for the same handful of cards stops feeling like a game where anything can happen, and anything happening is the whole point of Alpha Clash.

So a couple of cards are taking a well needed vacation. A couple cards are still invited to the party, they just can't bring the whole crew. And we’ll see a Set 1 Clash Buff make its return to the format for the first time since 2023.

Don’t throw out your newly banned copies just yet. Banned isn't the same as gone, and Seasons have a funny way of turning.

What you can expect

  • A new meta on day one. With six cards changing and one coming back, the decks topping the standings in December may not look the same in January. Expect new strategies to rise and a few old favorites to find new homes.
  • Time to get ready. There's plenty of time to test, brew and argue with your playgroup about it.
  • Room for every deck to shine. When some of the usual suspects might take a step back, the decks you've been quietly perfecting could get their moment. This is your chance.
  • More twists to come. Season 1 is just the opening chapter. Every Season brings something new.

FAQ

When do Seasons run?

January 1 to March 31, April 1 to June 30, July 1 to September 30, and October 1 to December 31.

When will I see each list?

Four or more weeks before each Season starts.

Which rules apply at my event?

The list in force on your event's first day, for the whole event, at every official in-person and online event.

What does Limited mean?

Limited (X) means you can include X copies of that card in your deck.

Does a restriction or ban cover reprints?

Yes. It covers every printing of that card name.

Do banned cards come back?

Yes, probably. A ban isn't necessarily a life sentence.

Will every Season change the list?

Yes. That's the whole point. If the list never changed, we'd just call it a list.

Do Seasons apply to my casual games?

Season lists apply to official in-person and online play. At your kitchen table, you and your friends make the rules.

I'm building a deck around one of these cards. Now what?

Keep playing it through December 31, 2026. After that, either rebuild around the new limits or treat it as the perfect excuse to brew something new. We have a feeling you'll find something. Then, see what Season 2 looks like.

What about events?

Organized play dates and announcements are to come. The Ban & Errata page will show the current implementations.

See you in Season 1

Seasons give every part of the year its own story, and we can't wait to see what you build.

As always, thank you to our amazing community. You're the reason this game keeps evolving, and Seasons are built for you.

Are you ready for Season 1? Let the twists and turns begin.

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