How to Play World of Tanks: The Card Game

The wait is over, Commanders. World of Tanks: The Card Game has arrived, bringing the thrill of tactical tank combat to the world of cards. Build your deck, outmaneuver your opponent, and claim victory!

For those of you who might be uncertain whether you’d enjoy such a game, we’ve prepared this blog article explaining exactly what WoT: TCG is, what you can expect to find in the card boxes, and most importantly, how to play the game. We hope this comprehensive guide will help you with your playthrough sessions.
Ready to join the fight? And don’t forget—pre-orders are already live on our website!

Table of Contents

• 1. What is World of Tanks: The Card Game?
• 2. What’s inside the Starter Deck and Booster Packs?
• 3. How to Play the Game
• 4. Final Thoughts - This Game Belongs on Your Table

What Is World of Tanks: The Card Game?

At its core, World of Tanks: The Card Game is about commanding armored vehicles in dynamic, tactical battles. Our design team created this game with fans of the classic computer version in mind, as well as TCG enthusiasts. You can expect resource management, strategic positioning, and plenty of collectible tanks from multiple nations. Every match is a test of careful planning, smart decision-making, and timing your strikes.

We designed WoT: TCG to be flexible, giving players the freedom to adjust their strategy however they please. Want to overwhelm your opponent with swarms of light tanks? Or will you  dominate with heavy tanks that crush everything in their path? The choice is yours. Our mission while creating this game was simple: to make tank battles feel intense, tactical, and satisfying.

What’s Inside the Starter Deck and Booster Packs?

Before you jump straight into playing, it’s good to know what’s inside the box so you don’t feel overwhelmed or confused. Card games often come with a lot of elements, and while World of Tanks: The Card Game isn’t as complex as some titles out there, there’s still a bit of information to take in. When you open one of the starter decks, you’ll find a complete set with everything you need to start playing right away.
 

Starter Decks

Perfect to start your journey with! Owning one of these will guarantee that you’re prepared to face the enemy right away, as it includes all necessary core cards and tokens. Each starter deck is a complete package with everything you need:
- 40 Combat Cards
- 3 Base Cards
- Tokens
- A 10-card booster pack
- Rulebook

You can choose one of two starter decks, each with its own unique playstyle:
- Germany Starter Deck: First Strike – fast, aggressive assaults that overwhelm opponents.
- USA Starter Deck: First Strike – strategic, control-focused gameplay built around Victory Points.

They both include the same number of components. However, the cards have unique abilities and playstyles, so choose wisely!
 

Booster Packs

Want more variety? We’ve got you covered too. Like most TCGs, you can obtain additional booster packs that contain cards of various rarity, if you’d like to adjust your strategy or hunt down these rare and beautiful cards. Each 10-card booster pack includes:
- 1 Base Card
- 5 Common Cards
- 3 Uncommon Cards
- 1 Rare (or higher-rarity) Card
 

Booster Display

For collectors and competitive players, we’ve got the Booster Display that includes 24 booster packs. This is the ultimate way to expand your forces, hunt for rare cards, and fine-tune your tournament deck.

How to play the game

Now that you know what you can expect from the game and what elements you will be able to utilize in the gameplay, let’s jump into the essence of this article—exploring the gameplay and mechanics.
 

1. Familiarize Yourself with the Cards

As a principle, WoT:TCG is a very easy-to-learn and straightforward game, with plenty of strategic depth. It’s short and sweet, and the fun increases with the amount of rounds you play.
To begin with, you will find a couple of different types of cards.

Base Cards are always placed face-down at the start of the game. They represent your command centers and come with unique abilities. Mechanically, they set the structure of the battlefield across three mirrored lanes, and if all three of your Bases are revealed (flipped face-up), you lose the game. Think of Bases as your headquarters—protect them at all costs while using their powers to tip the battle in your favor.

Combat Cards are the core of your deck—you’ll build a 40-card deck entirely from these. Each one is versatile, since you can deploy it as a Vehicle, attach it as Crew to another Vehicle, or tuck it under a Base to create resources as an Ammo Depot. Vehicles come with key stats such as Firepower, Attack Cost, Hit Points, Victory Points, and often special abilities that define their playstyle. They are your frontline troops, sometimes best on the battlefield, sometimes supporting as crew, and sometimes fueling your attacks. Flexibility is key.

Beyond their versatility, vehicles also come in several different types, each with its own tactical role. Light tanks are fast, cheap to attack with, and great for swarming lanes or flanking heavier units, though they rarely survive long in direct fights. Medium tanks strike a balance—with solid firepower and decent survivability, they flex between offense and defense and often form the backbone of a deck. Heavy tanks are slower and more expensive to attack with, but their thick armor and high damage make them unstoppable once they enter play. Tank destroyers specialize in raw firepower but can only fire straight ahead, forcing you to position them carefully. Finally, SPGs (self-propelled guns) are fragile but deadly artillery, capable of striking any position on the enemy side and eliminating high-value threats from a distance.

2. Set Up the Battlefield

Once you know your cards, it’s time to prepare for battle. Each player places three Base Cards face-down in front of them, while the opponent does the same, creating three mirrored lanes across the table. They mark the cards with a Base token to avoid confusion with other cards. Next, shuffle your 40-card deck and draw eight cards to form your starting hand. If you’re not satisfied, you may reshuffle once, but remember—this is your only chance to change your opening. Finally, flip the First Player token to see who takes the first turn.
 

3. Take Actions

The game unfolds in turns, where each player chooses one action at a time. On your turn, you may play a card by deploying a Vehicle, assigning Crew to a vehicle already in play, or placing a card beneath a Base as an Ammo Depot. You can also choose to open fire by paying the attack cost of one of your Vehicles, spending ammo depots, tokens, or discarding cards to fuel the attack.

The way your tanks attack depends on their type. Light, medium, and heavy tanks can fire straight ahead or diagonally into adjacent lanes. Every attack type has their own advantages and disadvantages. For example, tank destroyers strike hard but only directly in front of them, and SPGs have the freedom to target any enemy position on the battlefield, making them unpredictable and dangerous.
If you have no further plays, you can pass your turn. Once both players pass, the round proceeds to scoring.
 

4. Score Victory Points and Win

Every card has a Victory Point value printed on it, and some may earn you additional tokens during the round. At the end of each round, both players count their Victory Points from Vehicles, Crew, and VP tokens placed on the battlefield. The player with the higher total points forces their opponent to reveal one of their hidden Bases, bringing them closer to defeat.

The ultimate goal is very simple: destroy all three enemy bases by revealing them one by one.
Do this, and you win the match.

Final Thoughts – This Game Belongs on Your Table

World of Tanks: The Card Game is designed to be super beginner-friendly, making it easy for anyone to pick up and play while still offering the depth and strategy that veteran card gamers enjoy. We focused on maximizing the fun factor, mixing it with fast-paced tactical duels and replayability through deck-building and future expansions. We want WoT:TCG to be an ever-evolving experience that unites veterans and those new to the franchise.

On top of that, every card features original in-house-developed artwork, carefully crafted to stay true to the beloved World of Tanks series. Our artists worked hard to capture the atmosphere of tank warfare while giving the game a unique collectible charm. It was definitely not an easy task!

Also, to make learning even smoother, we’re preparing a comprehensive “How to Play” video on our YouTube channel. It’s a quick visual guide for your first game session and a perfect way to introduce friends to the game. And don’t forget! Pre-orders are now open. Secure your copy today and be among the first to roll out and lead your army to victory!

Gear up, commanders!