KARDS: Wild Companions Deploys in June

Good day, Commanders!

A new kind of reinforcement is on the way.

We're thrilled to officially announce Wild Companions, an upcoming expansion deploying this June. Featuring 87 brand-new cards, Wild Companions draws inspiration from the remarkable service animals of World War 2 - who served alongside soldiers across every theater of war, often under the most extraordinary circumstances. The expansion also introduces new mechanics, with full details to be revealed as spoiler season unfolds.

Across every theater of war, animals served alongside soldiers in countless ways - as mascots, messengers, rescue animals, symbols of hope, and steadfast companions in the harshest of conditions. Wild Companions draws on those remarkable stories, bringing them to the battlefield in true KARDS fashion.

The spoiler season for Wild Companions begins now! From now until launch, we'll be revealing cards, mechanics, and the stories behind them across official KARDS channels and through select community partners.

Meet the First Wild Companions

Spoiler season begins with a first look at some of the remarkable service animals joining the fight in Wild Companions.

UNSINKABLE SAM - Britain

The legendary black-and-white ship's cat who survived the sinking of three warships, becoming one of the most unlikely, and enduring, symbols of naval luck in the Second World War.

SMOKY - USA

A Yorkshire Terrier who served in the Pacific, assisting with communications work and becoming one of the earliest documented therapy animals - small in stature, outsized in legacy.

DZHULBARS, MINE DETECTION DOG - Soviet Union

A mine-detection dog who located over 7,000 mines and 150 shells during the war. Dzhulbars was wounded shortly before Victory Day and was carried across Red Square at Stalin's personal order.

BATTLEFIELD MEDIC DOG - Germany

Based on the trained medical and search dogs deployed near the front lines, these animals were used to locate wounded soldiers and bring aid - a vital and often overlooked part of battlefield care.

HOMING PIGEON NETWORK - Japan

Inspired by the use of carrier pigeons as a communications backbone, particularly in areas where radio silence was essential or lines had been cut.

WOJTEK, THE HAPPY WARRIOR - Poland

The brown bear adopted by soldiers of the Polish II Corps, who learned to carry artillery shells at Monte Cassino and was formally enlisted as a private - one of the most beloved animals in the history of the war.

UNDERGROUND COURIER DOG - France

Based on the many dogs used by the French resistance as message carriers during the war, moving through dangerous terrain when other means of communication had failed or been compromised.

PACK MULE CONVOY - Italy

In mountain terrain where vehicles couldn't pass, mules were indispensable - carrying ammunition, rations, and supplies through the Italian campaign when no other option existed.

REINDEER SLED PATROL - Finland

In the frozen north, reindeer sleds were a practical and proven method of moving supplies and personnel across terrain that would have stopped most conventional transport cold.

Together, these cards offer an early look at what Wild Companions is about: stories of loyalty, resilience, and the many unexpected ways animals became part of the war effort - on all sides, across all theaters.

A New Breed of Reinforcement

Wild Companions introduces a new set of cards built around the real stories, symbolism, and battlefield presence of service animals from across the KARDS nations.

Some are remembered for bravery. Others for loyalty, resilience, or sheer improbability. Together, they form a collection unlike anything we've brought to KARDS before - while staying rooted in the strange, surprising, and very real history of World War 2.

From beloved mascots to legendary survivors, Wild Companions adds a fresh dimension to the battlefield while opening up new deckbuilding possibilities across all nations.

More Intel Coming Soon

This is only the beginning.

More Wild Companions cards will be revealed in the days ahead across official KARDS channels and through community partners as we march toward the June launch. Stay tuned - there's a lot more still to arrive in the field.

Keep your eyes on the frontline, and look out for emergency carrier pigeons, Commanders. More intel is coming soon.