KARDS - The WW2 Card Game: Germany/Italy Air Burn Guide

To win with the Germany/Italy Air Burn archetype in KARDS - The WW2 Card Game, deploy Bf 109 E early and trigger its passive headquarters damage using cheap Italian aircraft while bypassing ground-based Guards. Because air units strike directly from the Support Line without entering the Frontline, your offensive focus must remain on the enemy Headquarters (HQ) rather than trading into ground units.

You can import the decklist directly into the game client using this deck code: %%17|2L2Q34gUu0vg;2Z3XjMlUq9uD;fUq8tq;3f5is5

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Core Mechanics and Tactical Packages

Ground combat in KARDS requires infantry and tanks to spend Kredits moving into the contested Frontline before they can target the enemy Support Line or HQ. Air units bypass this requirement entirely and ignore ground Guards. Germany provides primary burn triggers and heavy bombers, while Italy supplies inexpensive aircraft that flood the board to trigger deploy effects at minimal Kredit cost.

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Turn-by-Turn Kredit and Deployment Sequencing

Air units require Kredits both to deploy and to attack (operation cost). Mismanaging these two costs can leave your board unable to apply pressure.

1. Turns 1 to 2 (Engine Setup): Prioritize deploying Bf 109 E before other aircraft. Holding cheap Italian fighters until Bf 109 E is active ensures every subsequent deployment converts into unavoidable HQ damage.
2. Turns 3 to 4 (Pressure and Control): Budget Kredits to cover both deployment and unit attacks. Spending 1 Kredit to attack with an existing aircraft usually delivers more immediate value than deploying a new unit that cannot act until next turn. Use Sudden Strike or Tactical Strike to clear enemy fighters threatening your bombers.
3. Turn 5 and Later (Closing Lethal): When the enemy HQ reaches 6 to 10 health, stop trading. Calculate total reach from operational attacks, direct-damage orders, and deployment pings, then commit all resources directly to the enemy HQ.

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Matchup Strategies

Defensive Control (Britain / Japan / Soviet)

Defensive decks rely on heavy Guard units, Churchill tanks, and pin mechanics to delay matches.

• Ignore Ground Guards: Ground-based Guards cannot block air units. Leave defensive ground troops alone unless they threaten immediate lethal damage or generate continuous HQ healing.
• Protect the Engine: Defensive decks carry targeted removal. Bait out enemy removal orders with secondary fighters before deploying Bf 109 E.
• Bypass Pins: If the opponent pins your active aircraft, shift your turn's Kredits toward deploying new Italian units to generate passive burn from hand.

Fast Aggro (Japan Blitz / Soviet Swarm)

Aggressive decks attempt to claim the Frontline quickly and overwhelm your HQ before air units establish control.

• Stabilize First: Use Sudden Strike and cheap removal orders during the first two turns to eliminate early blitz units.
• Take Air Superiority: Once the opponent exhausts their opening burst, deploy durable fighters to control combat trades. Aggressive builds lack the sustained resources to outrace your unblockable HQ attacks.

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Common Sequencing Mistakes

• Deploying Out of Order: Playing Italian aircraft before deploying Bf 109 E forfeits guaranteed direct damage. Always place the engine unit first.
• Over-Trading Into Ground Targets: Attacking non-threatening ground units wastes operation Kredits and degrades your air fleet's health. Target the enemy HQ unless a ground unit forces an immediate response.
• Forgetting Operation Costs: Spending your entire turn's Kredit pool on new cards leaves active units unable to attack. Always subtract necessary attack operation costs before playing cards from hand.