"Shadowverse: Worlds Beyond (hereinafter, Shadowverse WB)," the next-generation smartphone card game from Cygames, Inc., is finally scheduled for release on Tuesday, June 17, 2025!
We had an early hands-on experience with "Shadowverse WB" at the "Shadowverse Special Festival" held on Sunday, March 23, 2025, so we will primarily report on the changes from the previous game "Shadowverse"!
Please note that the game screens are under development and subject to change.
"Shadowverse WB" Hands-On Play!
This time, we are joined by influencer and YouTuber Fujii Yodan (@MTNRFG).
If you haven't seen the previous event report, please check that out too!
「Shadowverse: Worlds Beyond(@shadowverse_jp)」を先行実機プレイ‼️
アニメーションは更に派手でヌルヌルに😍
開始手札4枚でアグロの安定感が増すのか...？
新システム「エクストラPP」や「超進化」でどんなメタが生まれるのか要注目です🤔
※ゲーム画面は開発中のものです。#シャドバWB pic.twitter.com/CnjnBZAMew— Saiga NAK (@saiganak) March 25, 2025
Starting Hand is 4 Cards
The starting hand is 4 cards!
You can redraw any number of cards once (commonly known as Mulligan).
If you draw multiple cards that give you an advantage in the early game, keeping trump cards for the mid to late game is also a tactic.
New Terminology Added
- Intimidate: Can't be attacked by enemy followers.
- Aura: Can't be selected by enemy abilities.
- Barrier: Reduce damage taken to 0 once before being removed.
New terminology such as Intimidate and Aura have been added to card ability descriptions.
Even if the effect itself existed in the original "Shadowverse," adding terminology simplifies card text!
In the game, you can check the details of abilities by tapping (clicking) the terminology.
Bonus Play Point Usable Only by the Second Player
The new system "bonus play point" in "Shadowverse WB" aims to bridge the advantage gap between the first and second player.
The second player can use it once between turns 1 and 5, and once from turn 6 onwards, for a total of 2 uses, gaining 1 extra PP each time.
In particular, using "bonus play points" before turn 5 will be a wasted opportunity if not used.
Safely playing a 2-cost follower on turn 1 might be a strong move.
Of course, if you use bonus play points in the later stages, you can even play with 11 play points.
Evolution and Super-Evolution Up to 2 Times Each
Regardless of whether you are the first or second player, you have 2 EP required for Evolution and 2 SEP required for Super-Evolution.
Evolution is available from the second player's turn 4 onwards, and Super-Evolution is available from the second player's turn 6 onwards.
In "Shadowverse WB," Evolution increases Attack/Health by +2 each.
The increase value is fixed!
Of course, followers with Evolution abilities will also have their effects activated.
Super-Evolution using SEP increases Attack/Health by +3 each.
Furthermore, followers with Super-Evolution abilities activate powerful effects!
Even if it doesn't have a Super-Evolution ability, if it has an Evolution ability, it will activate properly.
Also, separate from the Super-Evolution abilities that followers have, as a common system...
- Has Rush, takes no damage during its own turn, and is not destroyed by abilities.
- When you defeat an opponent's follower, the defeated card is blown away, dealing an additional 1 damage to the leader.
...with the added bonus.
Being able to deal with followers with Bane regardless of the situation during your own turn is very strong.
The 1 damage from being blown away will make reading the opponent deeper, but it seems like it will make score calculation difficult...!
"Olivia, Heroic Dark Angel" has the ability to Super-Evolve one of your followers on the field when it Super-Evolves.
However, Evolution/Super-Evolution abilities only activate when EP/SEP are consumed, so a chain reaction where Olivia Super-Evolved by Olivia's effect further Super-Evolves other followers will not occur. As expected!
Even so, many Super-Evolution abilities are powerful, so ideally you'll want to use SEP on followers with abilities.
New Class "Abysscraft" Appears
In "Shadowverse WB," the following 8 classes appear:
- Abysscraft
- Dragoncraft
- Runecraft
- Swordcraft
- Forestcraft
- Portalcraft
- Havencraft
- Neutral
You will construct a deck by combining cards from any one class and Neutral cards.
The new class "Abysscraft" combines the characteristics of Necromancy and Bloodcraft, which existed in the original "Shadowverse."
It is actually a form of reverse import of Abysscraft, which appeared in the real card game "Shadowverse Evolve."
Mechanics such as "Necromancy," which refers to the number of cards in the Cemetery, and "Reanimate," which resurrects followers destroyed during the same battle, are still present.
Furthermore, there are also Amulets whose effects activate by performing "Act," which can be used once per turn.
Plenty of Board Clearing, Exhilarating Gameplay that Requires Strategy
Only the Dragon, Abysscraft, and Nemesis classes were available for the early play experience this time.
Although several times more cards will be implemented at release, the impression at this point is that there was an intense struggle for board control from the early stages.
The Neutral card "Joyful Heavenly Palace, Fildoor," which can be built into any deck, has the ability to definitively destroy one opponent's follower on the field when it Evolves.
It is very excellent as a 2-cost 2/2 follower.
"Novice Dragonslayer" has modest basic stats at 4 cost 2/2, but it has the ability to definitively destroy one opponent's follower on the field with Fanfare.
This effect is also effective against Super-Evolved followers, so it will undoubtedly be active until the very late game.
The Neutral spell "Divine Thunderclap" for only 4 cost destroys the opponent's follower with the highest attack and further deals 1 damage to all of the opponent's followers on the field.
Followers with high attack power due to Evolution or Super-Evolution should be careful of Divine Thunderclap!
These cards with high board clearing performance create an intense struggle for board control from the early stages, which I welcome.
I think the feeling of playing a card game is easy for even beginners to grasp.
NOTICE: The card names above are translated from Japanese because the translator could not find their English counterparts. They may differ from the actual names.
"Shadowverse WB," Recommended Especially for Beginners, is Accepting Pre-registrations
"Shadowverse WB" is scheduled for official release on Tuesday, June 17, 2025, and is currently accepting pre-registrations on the "Shadowverse WB" Official Website.
It is scheduled to be released on App Store, Google Play, Steam, and Epic Games Store, so let's pre-register on your preferred platform and wait for the service to start!
Fujii Yodan, who had not played "Shadowverse," also quickly grasped the basics by the end of the play session and played with serious eyes.
Even if you start playing because of the charming character designs and beautiful graphics, you'll find yourself hooked on the depth before you know it – that's "Shadowverse."
This timing, when a new title launches simultaneously, is a great time to start!
Check the "Shadowverse WB" Official Website and official X (@shadowverse_jp) for game details and further news!
