About Naruto Card Battle

How to Play

• Very simply, the Naruto Trading Card Game is a two-player game that requires each player to use a customized deck of 50 cards and battle mat. There are five phases: the start, mission, organization, battle and end. During each of these phases, cards must be put in special areas on the mat. Each card will have unique properties listed and will be judged against the other players cards. Depending on the stage, cards can be removed from the playing field and swamped. During the end phase of each turn, the person with the better playing mat will be declared the winner and will receive a "battle reward." The first player to reach 10 rewards is the winner.

Card Series

• There have been 11 series produced for the U.S. version of the Naruto Card game. These are:

  Series 1: "Path to Hokage"
  Series 2: "Coils of the Snake"
  Series 3: "Curse of the Sand"
  Series 4: "Revenge and Rebirth"
  Series 5: "Dream Legacy"
  Series 6: "Eternal Rivalry"
  Series 7: "Quest for Power"
  Series 8: "Battle of Destiny"
  Series 9: "The Chosen"
  Series 10: "Lineage of the Legends"
  Series 11: "Approaching Wind"

  Additionally, a 12th series, "A New Chronicle," has been announced and was to be released Feb. 20, 2009. Preview cards are available for viewing on the official Namco Bandai website (See resources.)

High-Value Cards

• Although Naruto box sets do not have rare or limited-edition cards, some are identified as being of high value. The two cards that are currently most valuable, according to eBay, are the The Third Hokage (Addressing Past Wrongs)-From the Revenge and Rebirth expansion; and the The Fourth Hokage (Hero of the Village). Both of these cards are so valued because of their utility in battle. Both can be found in their respective sets but can fetch a fair amount of money (up to $20) so that players can have multiple copies without having to buy multiple decks.

Tournaments

• Organized Naruto Card Game tournaments still take place, managed by Sony Online Entertainment and held in a variety of locations around the U.S. Upcoming tournaments, as well as player rankings, can be found the official Naruto Tournament website. See the resources section for the link.

Playing Online

• Although the Naruto card game is primarily an "in-person" game, Namco Bandai's official website offers an online flashed-based demo that allows you to play a few rounds. Although you cannot play against other people, it is a great way to get a feel for the game and learn the basic rules.