# Champions ## General Info - **Year Published**: 1995 - **BGG Rating**: 4.7 - **BGG Rank**: — - **Players**: 2 (Best with: 2) - **Duration**: 20 min - **Weight**: 1.00 / 5 - **Publishers**: F.X. Schmid, Gibsons - **Categories**: Card Game, Collectible Components, Fantasy, Fighting - **Mechanics**: Hand Management ## Verdict Perfect for those who love retro curiosities and don't mind 'ruining' cards to simulate damage. A bold concept for its time!Immersive scratch-off mechanicFast and dynamic matchesEasy to learn and playNostalgic 90s vibeCards are permanently destroyedLimited replayability due to wearFOR GENRE FANS ## Description Ever imagined a card game where defeat leaves a physical and permanent mark? Champions is exactly that: a fantasy CCG focused on brutal fights where hand management is the key to victory. The game is split into series like 'Monster Wars' and 'Medieval Battle', each with its own characters (Monsters or Warriors) and their respective complements (Spells or Weapons). The dynamic is simple: you use complements to boost your champion's attack or defense, trying to outdo the opponent's values. But here is the wild part: the cards have scratch-off areas. When a character loses a combat, you scratch off the surface of the card, revealing a new attack or defense value—which is almost always lower than the previous one. It's as if your warrior is getting wounded and exhausted during the battle. When you scratch off the final layer and hit zero, the card is considered destroyed and needs to be replaced. With a deck of 15 cards and a hand of 5, the game is fast and visceral. The attacker chooses how many characters to send into the fray (from 1 to 3), and the defender tries to block each one with equal or higher values. It's a game of risk and reward, where you must manage your resources knowing that every mistake costs the physical integrity of your deck. It's the perfect blend of collecting and the tension of seeing your favorite champion literally 'wear down' until they vanish from the game. If you enjoy fast duels and aren't afraid of destroying your cards for the sake of immersion, this 90s classic is a fascinating curiosity. ## How to Play Game Objective In FF 10 — Champions' Challenge, players bet on absurd duels between unlikely characters to predict who will be the grand Champion of the tournament. The objective is to accumulate points by correctly guessing the winners of each duel and, most importantly, by correctly predicting the final Champion. The player with the highest score after two rounds wins the game. Setup Each player receives: A whiteboard An erasable marker A character sheet (for inspiration) 2 Voting cards (one of each color: 🔵 and 🔴) Prepare the Competitor tokens: Distribute the 8 tokens among the players (quantities may vary). Write names of characters or known people on each token and shuffle them face down. Set up the tournament: Shuffle the Duel cards and arrange 7 cards in 3 columns: 4 for quarter-finals, 2 for semi-finals, 1 for final. Place 2 Competitor tokens face up on each quarter-final card (associating each with a 🔵 or 🔴 symbol). Game Flow Each game has 2 rounds, and each round has 3 phases: Predictions: Players secretly write down who they think will be the Champion. Tournament: Duels are resolved in order (quarters, semi-finals, final) through voting. End of round: Predictions are revealed and points are calculated. Actions and How to Play 1. Predictions Read aloud the names of the Competitors and the situations of each duel. On the whiteboard (Prediction side), secretly write the name of the Competitor you believe will be the Champion. Erase all names except the Champion's before flipping to the Scoring side. 2. Tournament For each duel, vote for the Competitor (🔵 or 🔴) using the Voting cards (face down). Reveal the votes: the Competitor with more votes wins. In case of a tie, the symbol on the Duel card decides. Whoever voted for the winner circles the Points on their whiteboard; the others cross them out. Repeat for all phases until the final, which determines the Champion. 3. End of Round Reveal predictions: whoever guessed the Champion correctly circles the Champion Bonus. Sum the circled points and record them in the round's space. End of Game and Scoring After 2 rounds, sum the points from both rounds in the Final Score. The player with the highest score wins. In case of a tie, there is a shared victory. Tips for Winning Analyze the tie-breaking criteria on the Duel cards — they can decide close matches. Observe the semi-finals and final during Predictions to choose a Champion with a clear advantage. Consult the manual for details on this section. ## FAQ ### Is the game hard to learn? Not at all! It's super simple: you attack, the other defends, and the higher value wins. You'll be playing in 5 minutes. ### Are the cards actually destroyed? Yes, that's the core point. You scratch the card to lower its attributes until it hits zero and is removed from the game. ### How long does a match last? It's very quick, around 20 minutes, ideal for those wanting a fast duel. ### How many people can play? The game was designed exclusively for 2 players. It's a pure duel. ### Is it worth it for collectors? Depends! If you like keeping everything mint, you'll hate this game. If you love experimenting with crazy mechanics, it's a must-have.