How to Get More Character Cards in Genshin Impact‘s Genius Invokation TCG
Genshin Impact‘s version 3.3 update introduced an exciting new gameplay mode – the Genius Invokation TCG. This strategic card battling mini-game allows you to collect cards representing various Genshin characters, form powerful decks, and compete against NPCs and other players. At the heart of the TCG are the character cards, which form the backbone of your deck. The more character cards you collect, the more options and synergies you have available when crafting your ultimate deck.
In this guide, we‘ll cover all the ways you can get more character cards in Genshin Impact‘s TCG mode. By taking advantage of these methods, you‘ll be able to expand your collection, build stronger decks, and climb the ranks to become a top player. Let‘s jump in!
Leveling Up and Claiming Rewards
One of the primary ways to earn character cards is through the TCG‘s level-up system. As you play matches, you‘ll gain experience points that gradually raise your TCG level. Each time you reach a new level, you can visit Prince the cat at The Cat‘s Tail tavern in Mondstadt to claim a level reward. These rewards often include character cards.
According to the official patch notes, reaching certain milestone levels will guarantee specific character cards as rewards:
- Level 4: Klee
- Level 7: Yoimiya
- Level 10: Cyno
So by simply playing TCG matches regularly, you‘ll automatically acquire some starter character cards for your collection. Make sure to check in with Prince whenever you level up to grab your well-earned rewards.
Challenging NPCs to Matches
Scattered throughout the world of Teyvat are various NPCs who are eager to play the TCG against you. Interacting with the NPC, at a Cat‘s Tail bulletin board or through a world quest, will allow you to challenge them to a match. If you emerge victorious, you‘ll often be rewarded with brand new character cards to add to your library.
Some of the NPCs who reward character cards for beating them include:
- Timmie in Mondstadt
- Viktor in Mondstadt
- Shitou in Liyue Harbor
- Junkichi in Inazuma City
- Samail‘s father in Sumeru City
The cards rewarded by each NPC will rotate periodically to encourage repeat challenges. According to data mined information, it appears each NPC has a pool of 3-4 character cards they can give out. So if you‘re looking for a specific card, you may need to rematch an NPC a few times until they offer it as a reward.
As you progress further in the TCG, higher level NPCs will become available to challenge, offering more powerful character cards for beating them. So be sure to check back with the various NPC opponents as you get stronger to see what new cards they have to offer.
Purchasing Cards from The Cat‘s Tail Shop
Another reliable way to get select character cards is by purchasing them from The Cat‘s Tail tavern shop. Prince‘s shop offers a rotating selection of character cards, along with support cards and other items, in exchange for a currency called Lucky Coins. You can earn Lucky Coins by playing matches, completing daily tavern challenges, and from the battle pass.
The shop‘s offerings refresh with each version update, usually every 6 weeks. While the prices can be quite steep, this is a good option if there‘s a specific character card you‘ve been unable to get through other means and you have plenty of Lucky Coins to spare. Some of the best cards are often featured in the shop, so keep an eye out for any meta-defining characters you need for your decks.
If you‘re short on Lucky Coins, a few ways to get more include:
- Doing your dailies at The Cat‘s Tail, which award 80-100 coins
- Buying them with Mora, Genshin‘s general currency, at a rate of 1500 Mora per coin
- Leveling your battle pass, which has Lucky Coin rewards on the free track
Though purchasing cards isn‘t the most efficient method, it‘s an option to acquire specific characters you want if you have the resources.
Completing Tavern Challenges and Missions
Each day, Prince will offer a selection of tavern challenges and missions you can complete to earn various rewards, including character cards. These challenges change daily and weekly, offering a variety of ways to expand your card collection.
Some common tavern challenges that award character cards are:
- Defeat X opponents with a specific deck
- Win X matches without a loss
- Win a match in X turns or less
- Reduce your opponent‘s HP to 0 with a specific character‘s card effect
Missions, on the other hand, are more long-term goals you work towards over multiple play sessions. An example mission could be to accumulate 1000 total damage dealt with Pyro character cards. Completing missions earns you big rewards, often including a character card.
Be sure to check Prince‘s challenge and mission offerings frequently so you know what objectives to work towards while playing. With some focused effort, you can rake in quite a few character cards from these goals over time.
Crafting Character Cards
A lesser known method to obtain specific character cards is through the crafting system. At the crafting bench in The Cat‘s Tail, you can convert unwanted cards into a material called Stardust, then use Stardust and Lucky Coins to craft character cards of your choice.
Different rarity character cards require varying amounts of materials to craft:
- 3-star character: 500 Stardust + 30 Lucky Coins
- 4-star character: 750 Stardust + 60 Lucky Coins
- 5-star character: 1000 Stardust + 120 Lucky Coins
To get Stardust, you‘ll need to disenchant duplicate or unwanted cards. The amount of Stardust gained depends on the card‘s rarity:
- 1-star card: 10 Stardust
- 2-star card: 30 Stardust
- 3-star card: 100 Stardust
- 4-star card: 250 Stardust
- 5-star card: 500 Stardust
While dismantling your cards may seem counterproductive, it‘s a worthwhile tradeoff to craft the specific characters you need if you have plenty of unneeded cards piling up. This is especially useful for getting extra copies of a character you want to upgrade, as you‘ll need duplicates to ascend them to higher rarity.
Just be very judicious about which cards you choose to dismantle, as you don‘t want to get rid of anything that could be useful later. Stick to crafting characters you‘re sure will improve your decks.
Earning Card Rewards from Events
Genshin Impact frequently runs limited-time events that offer exclusive rewards, and this applies to the TCG as well. During certain events, you‘ll be able to earn character cards by completing special objectives or milestones.
For example, the Windblume Festival in update 1.4 had a mini TCG event where you could collect "Invokation Cards" featuring Mondstadt characters by playing a certain number of co-op matches. Other events may have TCG tournaments where character cards are the top prizes for placing high on the leaderboard.
Be on the lookout for event announcements and keep track of the rewards to see if any character cards are up for grabs. Events are great opportunities to get your hands on special cards that may not be available through the usual methods. Plus, you‘ll get to try out fun new TCG challenges and battle against other players, which is always good practice.
Best Character Cards to Collect
With so many character cards to acquire, it can be difficult to know which ones to prioritize adding to your collection. While any character can be viable with the right deck build, some characters stand above the rest in terms of power and versatility. According to analysis from top players, a few of the best character cards currently in the game are:
5-star characters:
- Ganyu: Cryo sniper with high damage and AOE potential
- Zhongli: Geo tank with strong shields and crowd control
- Raiden Shogun: Electro archon with energy recharge and burst damage
- Ayaka: Cryo swordswoman with swift attacks and self-buffs
4-star characters:
- Bennett: Pyro support with healing and attack boost
- Xingqiu: Hydro support with damage reduction and off-field Hydro application
- Fischl: Electro support with deployable turret for constant Electro damage
- Sucrose: Anemo support with grouping and elemental mastery sharing
Of course, the meta is always shifting as new cards are released and strategies evolve. Don‘t be afraid to experiment with different characters and find the ones that fit your playstyle best. Building around your favorite characters is part of the fun!
Future Updates and Card Additions
Genshin Impact is constantly growing, with new updates arriving in a steady cadence that add more features, content, and collectibles. This means the TCG will also continue expanding its card pool over time. Each patch tends to introduce the latest characters from the main game as playable cards in the TCG.
Some upcoming characters to look forward to seeing as TCG cards include:
- Baizhu: the mysterious Dendro doctor from Liyue
- Kaveh: the intrepid architect from Sumeru
- Mika: the Cryo spear-wielder affiliated with the Knights of Favonius
- And many more as the game‘s story progresses!
In addition, major updates may add entirely new ways to obtain cards beyond the current methods. Perhaps a future region will have its own tavern with a unique card acquisition mini-game, or a new permanent game mode will use character cards as rewards. Only time will tell, but it‘s exciting to imagine the possibilities!
No matter what the future brings, you‘ll have plenty of opportunities to expand your TCG card library as Genshin Impact continues to evolve. By utilizing all the methods outlined in this guide, you‘ll be able to build an impressive collection of characters and create the ultimate decks to take on any challenger.
So get out there and start collecting those character cards – adventure awaits in the world of Genius Invokation TCG!
