Welcome to the Official Zulu’s Board Game Cafe Newsletter!
Fall is one of our favorite times of year here at Zulu's. The leaves are changing, the evenings are beautiful, and the air has a bit of a chill. Which gives us even more excuses to stay inside and play some games!
The last month had so many exciting new products, and exciting events that came with them. Players got ready for the spooky season by slinging webs with the Spider-Man MTG Release. Everyone got inspired for our Halloween costumes from all the new Pokémon Mega Evolution Cards. Zulu's also hosted hundreds of people and thousands of gently loved games in our regular Board Game Bazaar!
As we move further into Fall, there are so many exciting things happening at the store. New card games are launching, seasonal themed events are occurring, and before you know it the holiday season will be here.
This month we will take a look at the release of UVS and Riot Games new TCG - Riftbound, based on League of Legends characters. We'll hear about the launch of Gundam's second TCG set. Magic will be hosting a Halloween themed commander event, which we will preview along with all the releases and hype. And no newsletter would be complete without an update on all the exacting opportunities to join us and play board games at the store.
Thank you for following along and we hope to see you at Zulu's through the fall so we can share all the fun we are having here. Now on to the good stuff!
It’s Finally Riftbound Time!
The Event Center calendar is always filled to the brim with cool activities and meetups, from One Piece TCG tournaments to Warhammer: Age of Sigmar Spearhead Leagues, but if you’re both a TCG enthusiast and a passionate gamer, there’s probably a single question swirling in your head right now: When’s Riftbound?
This highly anticipated TCG published by UVS Games officially launches at the end of the month – our pre-release is scheduled for November 8th at 11AM, so mark your calendars and keep an eye on our Discord to find out how to sign-up – but we just started hosting weekly learn to play sessions on Tuesdays, starting as early as 4PM. They will be available until the beginning of November.
So, how does this all work and how can you join?
Jordan, one of our Events Runners (you might have met him if you dabble in Star Wars: Unlimited), is meeting with groups of 2 to 4 players every hour to show them the ropes as they go through a full game of Riftbound together. There are four demo decks available, each centered around a different champion and showcasing very different playstyles and strategies. Volibear, for instance, is a slow deck that likes to come back for an explosive finish, while Viktor floods the board with tokens and forces opponents to sacrifice creatures to maintain control of the board. It’s pretty exciting stuff! The only drawback? The decks have to stay at the store and you can’t take them home :<
Joining these events is easy, all you have to do is sign up using the link provided on our Discord, and then you will be assigned a time slot on a day you expressed availability for. Please bear in mind, however, that the demand for this game is high and there have been a lot of people queuing for these demos, so your session might be scheduled for a different day from what you desired! We’ll try our best to accommodate everyone, though.
Personally, I’m not very familiar with the League of Legends videogame (but I have watched Arcane…that counts for something…right?), but I can immediately see that the team at UVS and Riot did a great job at turning all these characters and their signature mechanics into cardboard rectangles, and even as a complete newbie to this world, I immediately find myself wanting to play one more games, and being eager to try the full product line when it finally releases in a few weeks!
So yeah, come try Riftbound with us and get ready for the release events and the start of the weekly local tournaments! Remember to check our Discord for more information on how to join these events, when product drops, and, of course, to chit chat with other members of the community who are excited to make new friends!
Gundam TCG: What’s the Story?
Just a couple of months ago, the Gundam TCG launched to great fanfare. You might have spotted the lines outside the store, and an increasing number of customers hanging out wearing apparel branded with characters and logos from this legendary IP.
If you are hearing of Gundam for the first time here, the best way I can explain why it’s a huge deal is by saying it is on the same level as Star Wars when it comes to being the point of origin for many contemporary sci-fi things. Before its release, I heard all sort of whispers about how this was the most pre-ordered TCG in history, and given the success of One Piece TCG and Bandai’s track record in the recent years I completely understand why. But even so, seeing the crowd rallying for the first release events and local tournaments, when all these theories about the hype turned into reality, I was pleasantly surprised.
Cards on the table here: I am a huge Gundam fan. I grew up building the model kits, and in a way it’s what got me into miniatures gaming (which is ironic, considering Gundam Assemble is just around the corner…stay tuned for more info) and some of the Gundam shows are my go to recommendations anytime someone is looking for something new to watch. What I’m trying to say here is that I’ve been wanting a successful Gundam TCG for a long time now, and it looks like we finally made it!
Events for Gundam TCG happen at the EC every Friday evening, with some extra meetups popping up on other days as needed – check the Discord for more details! Bandai has supported the game’s launch with a number of premium events that have done a great job at keeping the excitement levels high. The second set drops at the end of October, and I would say if you’re even remotely curious, this is a perfect jumping-on point!
I’m not here to tell you how this tcg works (there’s tons of youtube videos on the subject, or you could come say hi in store on Friday if you’re feeling curious), but I think it’s worth explaining what kind of events we have run so far because as we all know, history repeats itself, and it’s good to get an idea of what’s to come for perspective new players.
- Release events -
These pre-release tournaments are a celebration of the new products being launched. Unlike other games such as Magic, Bandai games love having these kind of tournaments not only when a new set drops, but also when new precons land on the shelves. They’re great ways to see if the game is compatible with your taste!
- Locals -
These are weekly gatherings, and usually run for four 30 minutes long best-of-1 rounds. They’re perfect for testing decks, checking the competitive meta scene and, more importantly, earning highly sought after promos. If you go undefeated, you get even nicer promos! The Zulu’s community averages between 40 to 60 players, which means it’s a great way to meet people and socialize. It’s a lovely gathering of people.
- Newtype Challenges -
Once per set we are able to host a huge tournament called a Newtype Challenge. Our first one had well over 90 participants, and we expect the second one to be just as big (sign-ups will open soon). These are the high-end competitive events in which you can REALLY test your mettle. Not only they serve as great practice for regional tournaments, but they also yield some really unique promos that command a high price on the secondary market! Obviously, most players are just happy to get them as a trophy to show off how good a player they are.
- Team Battles -
Gundam TCG fully supports 2v2 and free for all multiplayer games as well. We have already run one 2v2 tournament and, frankly, it was the most fun I’ve had with this game so far! If it were up to me, we’d exclusively run this format. It’s that good.
To sign up for any Gundam TCG events, all you need is an account on the Bandai TCG+ website. There is also a really nice mobile app you can use to check tournament statuses, report match results, etc. It’s nifty stuff, and if you’ve played Union Arena, Digimon or One Piece in the last couple of years, you already know how this all works. I do recommend being on our Discord as well to stay up to date on last minute communication about events, and get info that it’s not as easy to publish on the app!
I strongly recommend checking this game out if you’re interested in TCGs in general (and it’s really a no-brainer if you like the IP). Come check out the scene at the Event Center, and ask for Fran if you wanna take a look at some cards or need help with suggestions on how to start getting into the game!
Oh and if you’re looking for recommendations for an anime to watch, definitely try out “The Witch From Mercury”. You can thank me later.
Gamers Unite!
Here’s a quick update on the state of (organized) BG play at Zulu’s:
In early October we launched the Dominion weekly league, strongly supported by the Sunday regulars. We’re currently in week 3 of 6 of league matches. It’s too soon to say who’s favored to win. If you’re interested in learning more, I suggest you check out the #Dominion channel on Discord or drop by on a Sunday afternoon to check out the action. Games are relatively quick and easy to follow.
Two weeks ago, we held a one-day DUNE Uprising tournament at our Event Center.
Pictured below are the finalists: Ean, Angela, Ray and Ryan, looking confident as they get ready to dive into their championship match.
About 90 minutes later it was time to congratulate Angela, a true champion, who went undefeated in each of her games, playing as Lady Jessica & Gurney Halleck in the swiss rounds and Lady Margot in the finals.
When I asked her how she got so good at DUNE, Angela shared that she enjoyed playing it digitally and gets in multiple games online per week. Practice pays off! In case you missed out, we’ll do another full day DUNE tournament next Summer.
Next up: Ark Nova (3 & 4 player) league, starting the first week of November. Registration and event details can be found here, on our website.
For November we also have a one-day Wingspan tournament, planned for 3pm Saturday the 22nd at the main store.
As always, if you’re interested in getting more board gaming into your schedule, or if you just want to learn a new game in a fun environment, we have a great turnout at our Monday and Tuesday night Meetups. Join us there (at the main store) or pop into our Board Game channel on Discord to learn more and find your next favorite game!
Zulu’s Updates on MTG for October and November
Last month we chatted about MTG x Marvel: Spider-Man, and while it has been fun to play and a quick draft, it’s time to look ahead. There’s a ton of great Magic in store in October & November. Here’s what you need to know:
AVATAR: The Last Airbender is the next Standard legal set and in-store preorders are available now. Another reason to celebrate and to visit the in-store preorder kiosk: we’re bringing back Collector’s Sealed on the Sunday of prerelease weekend! This is a very limited event and tix are only available initially in-store.
Between now and the November 14th TLA prerelease, Zulu’s is hosting a two-seater, double header RCQ weekend! On Saturday, 25 October, we’ll be playing Spider-Man sealed. And on Sunday, 26 October, we’ll be playing Edge of Eternities sealed. Four local players will win invitations to the RQ in either Portland or Milwaukee for early 2026!
If you’re a Standard fan, there is one more event before the Nov 10 banlist update: the FINAL battle. In addition to the usual glory and store credit, the winner of this event will receive a limited edition #1 the Amazing Spider-Man comic book.
Speaking of Local competition, we’re rapidly coming up on the AUTUMN draft series Finals! Halloween week we have one last qualifier, and then we’ll be playing our Open Invitational Finals on 1 November. The format is DELUXE CHAOS draft, followed by a top 8 draft of Mystery Booster 2. Details here. Reminder: this is an OPEN event, so you can buy tix to the final either from Zulu’s or from another player who has already won one!
Lastly, Friday Night Magic is currently offering two choices for players until Avatar releases: either 2-pick Spider-Man or… Final Fantasy (single pick). Players can pick whichever they like in store or can pre-purchase their seats here.
Zulu’s clearly loves Magic, and whichever format or day you like to play, we’ll be here for you! >> Thanks! Eric & the Zulu’s crew
PS: if you’re new to MTG and looking for a little 1:1 instruction, our next Magic Academy is scheduled for 3pm, 22 November. This is a great way to discover what all the excitement is about.
Did you miss last month's Newsletter? Check it out here.
Thank you again for making Zulu's Board Game Cafe a special place!
