Star Wars: The Card Game
COMPETITIVE 2-PLAYER LIVING CARD GAME (2012-2018) by FANTASY FLIGHT GAMES. Designed by ERIC LANG + NATE FRENCH. LIGHT-SIDE (Rebels, Jedi, Smugglers) vs DARK-SIDE (Empire, Sith, Scum) asymmetric card battle. Uses UNIQUE OBJECTIVE DECK MECHANIC (players build 10-card objective sets from various factions) + edge battles. Light Side wins by destroying 3 Dark Side objectives; Dark Side wins by advancing DEATH STAR DIAL to 12. Product line ENDED 2018 but game remains playable + has active tournament community. Considered a HIDDEN GEM of asymmetric competitive card design.
What is Star Wars: The Card Game?
STAR WARS: THE CARD GAME is a COMPETITIVE 2-PLAYER LIVING CARD GAME (LCG) published by FANTASY FLIGHT GAMES (2012-2018). Designed by ERIC LANG + NATE FRENCH. Unlike Fantasy Flight's cooperative LCGs (Arkham Horror, Marvel Champions, LotR), Star Wars LCG is a HEAD-TO-HEAD ASYMMETRIC card battle: one player controls LIGHT SIDE (Rebel Alliance, Jedi, Smugglers & Spies) trying to destroy the Death Star; the other controls DARK SIDE (Galactic Empire, Sith, Scum & Villainy) trying to complete it. UNIQUE OBJECTIVE DECK MECHANIC: Players build 10-OBJECTIVE SETS (each objective = 6 cards drawn from that objective's faction) — total 60-card deck built from 10 objectives. This is DIFFERENT from other LCGs which build 40-50 card individual card decks. Considered a HIDDEN GEM of asymmetric competitive design + one of the tightest 2-player LCGs ever. WIN CONDITIONS: Light Side wins by destroying 3 Dark Side objectives. Dark Side wins by advancing DEATH STAR DIAL to 12 (dial ticks up each turn + via effects). This creates ASYMMETRIC RACE — Light Side must aggress objectives; Dark Side must delay + control tempo. EDGE BATTLES are a unique combat resolution: both players simultaneously bid cards face-down; higher edge total wins combat control effects. GAMEPLAY TURN: 1) BALANCE (Death Star dial advances if Dark Side's turn); 2) REFRESH; 3) DRAW; 4) DEPLOY (play units); 5) CONFLICT (attack objectives + edge battle); 6) FORCE STRUGGLE (contest Force cards). PRODUCT LINE: (a) CORE SET 2012; (b) 4 FORCE PACK cycles: Hoth (2013), Echoes of the Force (2013-14), Rogue Squadron (2014-15), Endor (2015-16); (c) 6 DELUXE EXPANSIONS (Edge of Darkness, Balance of the Force, Between the Shadows, Imperial Entanglements, Redemption of the Sith, Alliances). Total ~50 sets released before FFG DISCONTINUED line in 2018. RECEPTION: BGG rating 7.5+; Origins Award Best Card Game nominee 2013; considered a MASTERPIECE of head-to-head LCG design + one of Eric Lang's best works. Community remains active via online play tools (OCTGN, Cardgame DB).
Quick facts
Category
Card Games
Type
Individual
Players
2–2
Duration
~60 min
Where played
indoor
Field / court
Table for card play
Country of origin
🇺🇸 United States
Estimated origin
Released Dec 2012 FFG; final product 2017-2018 Alliances deluxe expansion; line discontinued 2018
Olympic
No
Popularity
regional
How it works
Objective
Light Side: DESTROY 3 Dark Side objectives. Dark Side: ADVANCE DEATH STAR DIAL to 12. Race + tempo game.
Rules
Basic rules
Build deck from 10 objective sets = 60 cards
Unique deck-building: choose 10 objectives; each provides 5 predetermined cards + itself.
Turn phases: Balance → Refresh → Draw → Deploy → Conflict → Force Struggle
6-phase structured round.
Death Star dial advances on Dark Side turn
Starts at 0; each Dark turn +1; reaches 12 = Dark wins.
Attack objectives to damage them
Light Side aggresses; damage objectives to destroy 3 = win.
Edge battles: bid cards face-down for combat bonuses
Simultaneous bidding adds bluff + resource decisions.
Force struggle: contest Force cards
Winner gets Force effect bonuses.
Scoring
Binary win: Light destroys 3 objectives OR Dark reaches Death Star Dial 12.
| Action | Points |
|---|---|
| Damage on objective | Track HP; 8 damage typical destroy |
| Death Star Dial increment | +1 per Dark turn + bonuses |
| Force struggle won | Grants bonus effects |
Win condition · Light: 3 Dark objectives destroyed. Dark: Death Star Dial at 12.
Playing area
Called
Table for card play
Dimensions
~90×60cm typical
Each player has objective set (6 objectives in play), reserve, hand, force area. Center has Death Star dial + Force contest area.
Equipment
Star Wars LCG Core Set (2012)
$40 USD; 4 objective sets + all core cards; Light + Dark Side starter decks
Force Packs ($15 each, 60 cards each)
1 pack introduces 3-4 objective sets
Deluxe Expansions ($30 each)
6 released; theme + heroes cycle
Custom deck: 10 objective sets = 60 cards
Deck-building via objective sets, not individual cards
Death Star dial + Force tokens
Included in core
Focus + damage tokens
Included in core
OCTGN + CardgameDB tools
Community online tools
Strategies
Objective set synergy
Pick 10 objectives with synergistic cards + faction combos.
Edge battle bluffing
Bid unpredictably; save key cards for critical combats.
Death Star Dial tempo (Dark)
Delay Light aggression; every extra turn = +1 to dial.
Objective priority (Light)
Destroy Dark objectives with weakest defenders first.
Force struggle economy
Contest Force to gain repeatable effects across turns.
Terminology
- Objective
- 6-card set with objective card + 5 support cards; deck built from 10.
- Edge battle
- Simultaneous bidding of cards face-down for combat effects.
- Death Star Dial
- Dark Side victory tracker; reaches 12 = Dark wins.
- Force struggle
- End-of-turn Force card contest for bonus effects.
- Objective HP
- Damage threshold for destroying an objective.
Major competitions
Star Wars LCG World Championship (2013-2018)
annual · USA (FFG HQ) · since 2013
European Championship
annual · Europe · since 2014
National Championships (many countries)
annual · worldwide · since 2014
Community-run online tournaments post-2018
monthly · worldwide · since 2018
Where it is played
Governing bodies
Fantasy Flight Games
Founded 1995 · Roseville MN, USA
Lucasfilm (SW license)
Founded 1971 · USA
Community-run tournaments post-2018
Founded 2018 · worldwide
Famous names & records
Famous athletes
- Eric Lang (Canada) — Co-designer; later Blood Rage, Rising Sun
- Nate French (USA) — Co-designer; later Arkham Horror LCG + Marvel Champions
- SW LCG World Champions (rotating annually 2013-2018)
Learn this sport
beginner
- 1
Buy Core Set 2012 (if in print)
$40 USD; Light + Dark starter decks + all core cards.
- 2
Play starter decks first
Learn phases + edge battles.
intermediate
- 1
Buy 1 cycle (Hoth or Rogue Squadron)
Adds objective sets for deck-building.
- 2
Build custom objective set decks
Deck-building depth via CardgameDB.
advanced
- 1
Play OCTGN online tournaments
Active community post-FFG discontinuation.
Frequently asked
What is Star Wars: The Card Game?+
COMPETITIVE 2-PLAYER LIVING CARD GAME by FANTASY FLIGHT GAMES (2012-2018). Designed by Eric Lang + Nate French. LIGHT SIDE (Rebels/Jedi) vs DARK SIDE (Empire/Sith) asymmetric card battle. Uses UNIQUE OBJECTIVE DECK MECHANIC (10 objective sets = 60 cards). Light wins by destroying 3 Dark objectives; Dark wins by advancing Death Star Dial to 12. Considered a hidden gem of asymmetric competitive design.
Is Star Wars LCG still supported?+
NO — FFG DISCONTINUED the product line in 2018. However, all cards remain playable + active community keeps game alive via OCTGN (online) + CardgameDB (deck-building) + community tournaments. Existing 50+ product releases provide massive card pool. Considered a completed game with more content than most players will play.
Sources & provenance
- Wikipedia — Star Wars: The Card Game— Wikipedia
- BoardGameGeek — Star Wars: The Card Game— BGG
- CardgameDB — SW LCG (community DB)— CardgameDB