Recollection Step: A Grand Archive TCG Podcast

The meta has certainly been distorted with the loss of the premier pressure deck after the banning of Ranger Strides! Let's dig into what exactly this means, and what you need to consider when choosing a new deck to play - including whether or not the new Proxia's Vault adjustments will shake things up! Will reimagining Clarent Reimagined change how Lorraine plays? Will Endura Reimagined bring the...

Today we are going to look back on the performance of some of the most hyped-up cards of Radiant Origins! Which ones had an explosive impact on the meta, and which ones came and went with more of a whimper? Let us know what your personal RDO Uppies or Downies are in the comments below, Grand Archive fans! Maindeck x JWW x Hanh Chu Mighty Wallet available here: https://jwwcards.com/products/make-yo...

Join us today as we dive into Wind Crux - a deck that Taylor is "Undefeated" at Regionals on! Lots of emphasis on the quotes! Let's give our props for the players at OCE nats and discuss the results - plus our insanely caffeinated Store Champs - then dive into a comparison of three incredible players' different takes on Wind Crux - what we can we learn about how to build and play the HOTTEST risin...

Caban took down EU Nationals with Water Allies Ciel, so what can we take away from EU Nationals and where does the meta shift as we look towards OCE Nationals and SEA Nationals? Half of the slots in Grand Archive's Worlds Gauntlet have already been locked down, so there's a lot to consider for players looking to try to earn them on the other side of the world! Taylor's current Assassin Merlin list...

It was an extremely eventful weekend for the Grand Archive metagame, and we are here to bring you Maindeck's insights following our run scoring 3 Worlds Gauntlet slots at Nationals, and a 3rd Place finish at the Ascent by new Maindeck member Matt G.! Let's dig into some of the lessons learned and insights gained as the season moves into the Icebound Slam Cup, EU Nationals, and beyond! Maindeck x J...

In our last podcast before Nationals Season kicks off with NA Nationals & Ascent Las Vegas, Dan and Taylor dig into the newest Grand Archive TCG Banlist - including the impact of new Proxia's Vault cards, the unbanning of Baby Gray Slime, and three huge bans that completely rattled the format! How do these bans impact deck power levels, and what is winning tournaments now as we head into the first...

** This episode was recorded days before the new Ban/Restricted updated! Please excuse the out-of-date references to Baby Green Slime and others!** Today we have a little fun! Dan and Taylor discuss the results of EMP's Charity Cup and some of our favorite deck innovations seen at the top tables - then after channeling our inner Mark from SolarGames to discuss Angelic Channeling's price, we dive i...

As seen during the Maindeck Release Party 24 Hour Livestream, in this episode of Rec Step we talk about how Grand Archive is changed by Radiant Origins, the game's first capstone set! Let's dive into standout cards, new archetypes, and Pantheon - while we answer some of our live audience questions along the way! Maindeck x JWW x Hanh Chu Mighty Wallet available here: https://jwwcards.com/products/...

In today's hefty episode of Rec Step, we are going to dive into our predictions for the major players in the metagame of Grand Archive's BIGGEST North American Ascent yet - Ascent Los Angeles! What will take the whole thing down? Plus, there have been so many spoilers from GA's first Capstone set, Radiant Origins! Let's just take a look at a few that really catch our eyes! Maindeck x JWW x Hanh Ch...

As we approach the final month of the PTM season, Taylor and Dan take a stab at ranking every major deck in the Phantom Monarchs metagame! Hey, did you just skip to the tier list images? You might have missed WHAT the tiers mean! Come on now, I caught you - go back and listen to the episode before you comment! You wouldn't want to sound like a fool in front of the other listeners, would you? Maind...

It's our 50th Episode of Recollection Step! Thank you all for supporting us through 50 years of content (or thereabouts)! Slurp up our thoughts on the metagame and how Radiant Origins looks poised to add more of what the players love as we talk about Pantheon Boons and the big reveals of Alice level 3, Diamond-suited allies, and our first Archangel! Maindeck x JWW x Hanh Chu Mighty Wallet availabl...

The World Champ is back on the podcast again, so it's time to dig back in to the latest news and our takes on the shifts we've seen since Ascent London! With Mortal Ambition Alter, a new Proxia's Vault card, and new playstyles of old decks shown off in London, let's explore what this means for Grand Archive's metagame and talk about a key point - does anything actually beat Drawing Cards!? Maindec...

It's time for our second guest-co-hosted episode - and this time @PerfyGaming joins us for a chat about his TWO favorite TCGs - Grand Archive, and Riftbound! What can these two games learn from each other and how are they both navigating today's TCG market? Make sure to subscribe to Perfy's channel for his treadmill coaching and other GA content! Maindeck x JWW x Hanh Chu Mighty Wallet available h...

Taylor is getting those reps in for Ascent London, so welcome to our first guest-hosted episode of Recollection Step featuring Maindeck David from @CarefulStudyPod! In addition to being a vicious Fire Aggro player, David works hard to build and grow the PA Grand Archive community - and he makes content with other Maindeck teammates Stevo and Corbin (leoblade)! Through being denied twice, David bri...

It's that time of year - and this year, Taylor and Dan are writing letters to Sylidar Claus for some Grand Archive gifts in the new year! Were they nice enough to get their wish, or will their next Ascent package be full of coal? Let us know your wishes for GA in 2026 in the comments below! Maindeck x JWW x Hanh Chu Mighty Wallet available here: https://jwwcards.com/products/make-your-own-luck-tyv...

Get ready for our most unhinged podcast yet - you might even think you were listening to the Team True Pod! (Just kidding, it's not THAT unhinged!) Taylor and Dan create a definitive, objective, and completely correct ranking of the classes of Grand Archive, where they agree on everything the whole way! Learn why each class has earned its spot in the pantheon from bottom to top - and make sure you...

We're back at last! Time to debrief Japan and Ascent Akihabara, and as it's the release day of Phantom Monarchs - we've picked out what we think are some of the BEST cards in the set that you need to watch out for! Decks we looked at: Nathan's Wind Umbra Diana: https://fractalofin.site/DTR/38740.html#deck_520 Sub to @Advanced-Elements on YouTube!!! GO DO IT NOW fome's Fire Umbra Diana: https://fra...

Let's recap Ascent Auckland, then dive into the discussion we were all waiting for - we played the new Assassin Merlin Re:collection deck - what do we think!? Maindeck x JWW x Hanh Chu Mighty Wallet available here: https://jwwcards.com/products/make-your-own-luck-tyvek-mighty-wallet-maindeck-x-jww-x-hanh-chu Get PHANTOM MONARCHS and more preorders from our store, JWWCards - and use discount code M...

The Maindeck Team has returned from Ascent Niagara, so it's time to recap the event before we lose the chance with Ascent Auckland finishing up this weekend! Let's talk about the team's excellent run with 2 Top 8 slots - Maindeck Alex at 2nd, and Perfy at 8th! Maindeck x JWW x Hanh Chu Mighty Wallet available here: https://jwwcards.com/products/make-your-own-luck-tyvek-mighty-wallet-maindeck-x-jww...

Everyone loves playing with level 3 champions! The advanced element cards you unlock are some of the most fun and powerful cards in the game - but how can you tell when an advanced element will work with a champion or basic element? Let's dig into 3 Advanced Element decks that show off how Grand Archive's strongest cards synergize with various strategies and themes! DECKLISTS: Mistel’s Fire Merli:...

One of the coolest things about Grand Archive is the ability to customize your Material Deck, including your Champion Levels! In our very 40th episode of Recollection Step, World Champion Taylor and I discuss how we approach such an open metagame, and the look at 3 decklists that show off an element of GATCG that Maindeck has always been fond of - hybridizing the champions in your Mat Deck! Get yo...

Grand Archive's seventh set really RILED up the playerbase, but with Rile the Abyss banned - what ELSE is looking spicy in the set? We'll talk about 6 cards today - some obvious winners, and some hidden gems - that we think will FILL the abyss of power left by Rile! Get your ticket for The Banish Zone's regional here! https://thebanishzone.com/products/grand-archive-regionals-2k-10-11--11am Mainde...

Let's dive back into a core concept/theory topic for our very 38th episode of Recollection Step - and let's talk about the Elementaries of the Basic Elements! Which Element beats which? Why does water feel SO GOOD when it's good? Where can we expect the meta to move over time? We will answer these questions are more in today's episode! Plus - should Rile be banned? Let's make a case AGAINST it - b...

Ascent Boston has concluded, Rile the Abyss was everywhere, Vanitas came out of nowhere, and the meta is going...somewhere? We've got a long episode of Recollection Step as we recollect our thoughts from the weekend, and discuss where we are looking at brewing going into Ascent Taipei as the meta marches onward! Maindeck x JWW x Hanh Chu Mighty Wallet available here: https://jwwcards.com/products/...

The meta is already too hot to handle! Dan and Taylor review recent results from the first tournaments in the DTR metagame and give some perspective on key strategies that are performing well. From Rile the Abyss level 3 strategies to fast aggro decks, there's an Increasing Danger to consider with all this Focused Fire, but can any decks crop up to quench it? PLUS - our first Advice from a Literal...