With Ultraman’s 60th Anniversary fast approaching, the tokusatsu icon has been expanding beyond the small screen and now into a new kind of battlefield with the Ultraman Trading Card Game (TCG). The game’s fifth booster pack, Heroes of the Radiant Dawn, is set to release on October 31st. At New York Comic Con, Kaiju United had the opportunity to experience the game firsthand during a demo at the Ultraman TCG booth, learning its rules and how the game functions to give our readers a tutorial on the new game. Guided by the members of the TCG team, we dove into a course of strategy and combat.
How the Game Works
Ultraman TCG pits heroes or kaiju against one another in “lanes”, each representing a battlefront. To win, you must claim victory in either three battles during a single turn.
The two main types of cards are:
1. Character Cards: Your Ultraman or Kaiju Fighters
2. Scene Cards: Environmental or situational effects that can shift the battle.
Each Round begins with players drawing six cards to form their opening hand. You’ll choose one character to place face down in a line. When revealed, battles are resolved based on Battle Power (BP), a number that grows as your characters “level up”
Leveling Up
Each Ultra Hero or Kaiju has multiple levels: Level 1, 2, and 3. You can only level up using the same character. For example:
● Leveling up a Level 2 Ultraman Zero into a Level 3. It increases BP and sometimes
unlocks new effects, making your fighter stronger.
● It isn’t mandatory for each turn, but it is recommended if you want to win!
● You can’t skip levels, either, so there’s no going from level 1 to level 3! As the demo leader explained, “You have to build them up. But once you start stacking, that’s when the real power comes in.”
Winning the Round
Every lane is a one-on-one battle. Compare BP – the higher value wins the lane. If you win three battles in one turn, you win the game. The thing is, BOTH players take their turns simultaneously. Making the game feel more interactive than your traditional Magic: The Gathering match. It’s overwhelming at first, but once you start playing, it’s actually pretty simple!
Playing the Demo: Our Experience
I was joined by KU Contributor Mario Macchiarulo, who was able to enjoy the time playing the demo with me! The game’s learning curve felt steep initially, as there was a lot of terminology and structure to absorb, but by the second turn, the flow became clear.
We started by rolling the dice to determine the lead player, who gets the advantage of setting the scene and activating effects first. Each turn followed a rhythm:
1. Start Phase
2. Draw Phase
3. Set Character Phase (Cards must be placed face down)
4. Level-Up Phase (If available in your deck)
5. Reveal Phase
6. Effect Activation
7. Judgment Phase
During our matches, we mostly got Ultraman Zero and Ultraman Blazar, using scene cards to change battle mid-round. The instructor encouraged us to think tactically about timing and leveling up.
Insight From Ultraman TCG Team
After the demo, we spoke briefly with the Ultraman TCG team, including Shun Furusawa (Overseas Sales Team), and Kazu Konishi (Manager of the UX Strategy Group & Sales Strategy Group).
Shun stated, “Our goal is to turn fans of the Ultraman TV series into fans of the Ultraman Trading Card Game. We want to see more players join in our tournaments, which will lead up to the Ultra League World Championship in Tokyo in May 2026. The game is already very popular in Southeast Asia and China, and it continues to rank as one of the top ten card games in Japan.”
He also encouraged fans to stay updated through the game’s official website and social media channels, where news about events, releases, and tour dates will be posted.
A big thank you to the wonderful team at the Ultraman Trading Card Game booth for their hospitality and for giving us a glimpse into their incredible work. We greatly appreciate the time they took to speak with us and share their vision for the game’s future.
As the Ultraman TCG continues to expand internationally, it’s clear the team is focused on more than just gameplay. This is a new way to celebrate Ultraman’s 60-year history, connecting fans in fun and intense friendly competitions, and keeping the spirit of the hero alive across generations.
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