Card games fans looking for a new title to try might want to giveSmash Upa try. Unlike other deck-building games,Smash Upplaces a massive emphasis on the wackiness of its premise to make fun and unforgettable matches. After all,Smash Upoffers players the chance to have elves, pirates, zombies, and even dinosaurs duke it out in an all-out battle royale.
Thanks to the quirkiness of theSmash Upgame setting, fans have access to a ton of expanded material that can add a lot of flavor to their matches. Whereas other card game expansions focus on sticking to the title’s core themes,Smash Uplets its expansions go all out with their ideas. And forSmash Upfans out there, some game expansions prove to be better than the rest.
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10Must-Have: The Obligatory Cthulhu Set
What do pirates and zombies have against the Old Ones, themselves?The Obligatory Cthulhu Setadds an eldritch twist to anySmash Upexperience. Lovecraft fans can spice up their matches with cards dedicated to Cthulhu Cultists, Elder Things, Innsmouth, and Miskatonic University. Unfortunately, the game offers no insurance for players whoaccidentally summonany of the Old Ones.
This expansion set adds a new Madness card type that fits with the eldritch theme of the collection. As with other sets inSmash Up, Madness has its perks against different card types. However, players have to be careful with other Madness card effects.
9No Thanks: Awesome Level 9000
Players ofSmash Uplooking for an enhanced experience might be looking atAwesome Level 9000. This expansion set adds four factions that fit the Base Set perfectly. This pack features the factions Killer Plants,Ghosts, Steampunks, and Bear Cavalry. Unfortunately, these factions do seem a bit generic for a greatSmash Upexperience.
Gamers might benefit fromAwesome Level 9000as a starter deck, but not necessarily as an expansion. Players should look for more thematic options for their expansion sets, especially since the baseSmash Updeck already has some basic factions for regular play.
8Must Have: Big in Japan
Players big on otaku and Japanese culture needs to buyBig in Japan. ThisSmash Upset takes some of the best inJapanese pop cultureand prepares them to fight in theSmash Uparena. Gamers with Big in Japan have access to four exciting factions.
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They can summon the power of the Kaiju, or even rely on the spells of Magical Girls. Players can also fight with the combined forces of Mega Troopers, or “catch ‘em all” with Itty Critters. Whichever faction gamers prefer will add a lot of nostalgia, as character designs here reflect popular themes these factions represent.
7No Thanks: Pretty Pretty
Cute things add a lot of appeal to any material. After all, everyone loved Baby Yoda fromThe Mandalorian! What gamers might not expect is Baby Yoda getting a blaster and shooting everyone on sight.Smash Up:Pretty Prettymight add a lot of cutesy to matches, but players might not want to imagine other factions beating them.
The set features four new factions. Kitty Cats take control of enemy minions, whilePrincessesuse their allure to get their way. Meanwhile, Fairies add a lot of versatility to decks, while Mythic Horses rely on teamwork to get the job done. This pack can complement many basicSmash Upsets, but other factions might be more useful.
6Must Have: Science Fiction Double Feature
Players looking for an upgradedSmash Upexperience can count on their favorite science fiction concepts to help them out. With theScience Fiction Double Featureset, players get access to four factions featuring the most popular sci-fi concepts fans love today. This set includes Time Travelers, Cyborg Apes, Super Spies, and Shape Shifters.
With this set,Smash Upfans can add a lot of suspense to the battlefield. After all, it’s one thing to fight pirates and zombies, but it’s another thing to be facing Super Spies and being chased by Time Travelers.
5No Thanks: Munchkin
Players tired of the regular Smash Up experience would probably consider getting Munchkin. This idea makes sense, as theMunchkinpresents itself as a massive set forSmash Upplayers. After all, the game features eight new factions with a Munchkin twist: Dwarves, Orcs, Rogues, Mages, Clerics, Halflings, Thieves and Warriors.
Players who plan on gettingMunchkinwould want to get this as a base game, not necessarily a faction set. That’s because theMunchkinset already comes with many factions, new challenge types, and even new effects that can spice up yourSmash Upbattle. Gamers can settle with the base game or level up the experience with thisMunchkinset.
4Must Have: What Were We Thinking?
Developers usually throw their first drafts back to the drawing board - but not Alderac Entertainment Group.With What Were We Thinking?,Smash Updevs give fans some of their craziest faction ideas yet. In this set, gamers can use the might of Teddy Bears, Grandmas, Rock Stars, and Explorers to aid them in their quest forSmash Updomination.
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Players should get this set to add something unique to their existingSmash Uplineup. Whereas other collections stick too close to their themes, this collection has four diverse sets of factions that could significantly add color to your playstyle.
3No Thanks: It’s Your Fault
Fans ofSmash Uplove Alderac Entertainment Group for considering fan choice in faction development. Much to fans’ delight,It’s Your Faultreflects this approach. This set mashes up four completely separate factions into an expansion set the fans themselves demanded. These factions are Dragons, Mythic Greeks, Sharks, and even Superheroes.
HardcoreSmash Upfans should probably get this set for itscollector’s value. After all, not all game devs make content about what their fans want. However, players who want to add some real new thrills to their combat should get the other thematic collections first before buying this.
2Must-Have: Cease & Desist
Folks from Alderac Entertainment Group surprised fans when they releasedCease & Desist.After all, gamers knowSmash Uppin pop culture’s best concepts against each other. However, no one anticipated bordering into fandom territory. This set contains four factions, all of which are “totally not” like some of the biggest franchises out there.
Fans that getCease & Desistwill receive these factions: Astroknights (basicallyStar Wars) that use the Fours, Star Roamers (basicallyStar Trek) that explore the stars while protecting their redshirts, Changerbots (basicallyTransformers) that disguise as electronics, and Ignobles (basicallyGame Of Thrones) that keep on waiting for winter.
1No Thanks: Monster Smash
Fans who want an awesome game to play on Halloween should getSmash Up: Monster Smash. Unlike otherSmash Upsets,Monster Smashtakes some of the most legendary creatures and monsters from horror and mashes them in this horrifying delight. As a result, gamers can seek the help of Vampires, Mad Scientists, Giant Ants, and Werewolves in their battle forSmash Updomination.
However, players might consider skipping this set and instead focus on the more quirky releases. Moreover, they may consider getting this as their main deck instead, as the factions presented here seem a bit ordinary compared to other more creativeSmash Upentries. As well, the Vampire faction is considered to be the worst faction in the entire game with pathetic and cumbersome cards.
If you’re looking to buy any of these expansions, check out thegame’s site here.
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