TL;DR If the symbol on a card is a square, that symbol is “Attuned”. Attuned symbols allow players to add cards into any deck that has a character that has that symbol, even if the deck is built on another symbol.

Symbols should have meaning. At the end of the day, playing a Death deck vs a Water deck should mean a difference in play style to some degree. At this point, with so many symbols, so many cards printed, and so many character kits bleeding over different symbols, symbol identity has largely died. Honestly, it doesn’t affect most of us. I can build Mina II on any of her symbols and the only consideration I have is “Do I like Trace Eyes or Battle Aura Release more?”

For new players however, decks colors and symbol identity is a quick way to identify strategy which really helps players pick a Character and get to building. So what does this have to do with Attuned? Well, Death cards should do Death things. If I can create a card that has 1 focus instead of 3, then I can create cards that feel like that symbol.

Death is the symbol of destruction. Cards like Death Rattle feel focused much more on the business of ending the game with simple clean strategy. Destroy a thing, burn an opponent, and maybe destroy more things! DEATH! Simple. Effective. Color-Coded!

Color-Coded!?!?

Yes! Symbol identity means a lot more when Timmy doesn’t have to search for the icons in the corner. Death cards are Red, Life cards are green, etc. This won’t be the case forever, but the Black and White art style of Attack On Titan’s manga offered the Creative team an interesting opportunity to choose the way they would use color to convey information. Like it? Hate it? Lmk in the comments.

All that said, and what about Attuned? Well it takes all kinds to make a world. Attuned symbol cards let you grab those different flavored strategies and still add them into one deck without forcing 3 symbols onto 1 card. In the long run, it should change the feel of deck building for the better. There’s a ton more coming over the next few days, but until then I’ll see you on the tables!