Test Phase 1 for Blast: The Cross The Ages TCG hits the mark by winning over its first testers.

Between April 23 and May 7, 2025, Cross The Ages reached a major milestone with the testing phase of Blast, marking the beginning of a new era for its TCGFor two weeks, players explored a thoroughly reworked version of the game, offering a more dynamic and strategic experience, as well as a more streamlined and accessible one. This bold shift, widely welcomed by the community, could well pave the way for a much more competitive future for the project.

From the very first days of this first part of the testing phase, the new version of the application surprised and captured the attention of players. Its completely redesigned interface, optimized ergonomics, and ease of use all combine to offer a more fluid and modern experience. But the most conclusive change lies at the heart of the gameplay.

With Blast, a new turn-based energy system is introduced: +350 points are automatically added to each new turn, serving as a central resource for laying cards, activating abilities, dealing damage, and triggering key actions. This energy becomes the nerve center of strategy.

The other major innovation is the discard mechanic which allows you to replace a card in your hand with another, at an energy cost, introducing fine and anticipatory resource management.

Additionally, the old heptagram has been replaced by a new, simpler, and more readable one. The complex affinity system has been replaced with a more intuitive one that makes it easier to get started without sacrificing the strategic depth veterans love.

But most importantly, Blast introduces two new special abilities, the Blast of Arkhante and the Blast of Mantris. These abilities allow opponents to, among other things, remove a card from each other's board, move one to the other end of the board, or even swap them. These are powerful, unpredictable, and decidedly more fun mechanics that shake up the pace and balance of each game.

The first week of the testing phase was a resounding success. Player feedback is almost unanimous on the subject. Blast offers a gameplay more engaging, more immersive, and decidedly fun. This new balance, halfway between accessibility and high standards, is able to convince both die-hard fans and newcomers. This new enthusiasm is revitalizing the competitive scene's interest in Cross The Ages.

The development team wasted no time in taking things further. By the second week, they had responded to community feedback by adjusting certain key gameplay elements. Two major changes were rolled out:

First, the energy bar now increases by +500 points per turn, providing more dynamism and the ability to play more powerful cards more quickly. Second, the discard mechanic has been made free to speed up the pace of games and increase tactical options.

These adjustments helped to further streamline the gameplay experience while maintaining a truly tactical focus. This fueled excitement for the game, and players quickly took to the next-gen Blast.

To thank all the testers, Cross The Ages has decided to offer an exclusive standard Palmer card to each player who participated in this first phase. This symbolic gift marks both the project's recognition of its community and the historical significance of this transition phase.

Palmer thus becomes the icon of renewal, a witness card for a moment in time when the TCG made a pivot, a strategic shift toward the future, seeking more fluidity, fun, and competitive potential.

This first phase of testing ends on a positive note, but it's only the beginning. A second phase is planned for the end of May, with the arrival of two new Blasts: that of the faction Watchdog, and that of the Rift.

New balance adjustments are already in the works, always with a focus on listening and co-creating with the community. The coming weeks promise to be full of twists and turns and revelations for all Cross the Ages TCG fans.