Scott Mines

There are some special connotations that come with the title of “World Champion”…

Winning a Pro Tour? An incredible feat. That’s something little more than a handful of people will ever achieve… but a World Championship? That’s a universally understood accolade. It comes with the praise and celebration of all your family and friends that never quite understood what you get up to each weekend. You’re the best in the world. The peak of the mountain. There is no higher prize than that.

However, a World Championship weekend isn’t complete without the world that gave it weight. The Flesh and Blood World Championship is the biggest event of the year because of the hundreds of thousands of players enjoying the game worldwide, not in spite of them. A main event to crown the best of the best is one thing, but this is supposed to be a celebration where everybody is welcome: a loving reminder that we’ve built something bigger across the globe.

That’s why I’m so glad to have the pleasure of breaking down the grand finale in Philadelphia for you – there’s something here for everyone. If you’re not qualified for the main event, you can still compete in open-entry events of all shapes and sizes. If you’re hunting for exclusive swag or artist signatures, there’s no end of options to explore. Heck, even if you’re brand new to Flesh and Blood and simply wish to be a part of something amazing, let me know how I best make you feel welcome.

Great games and better people. Superstars and storylines. It’s all coming right at you on November 13-16, so let’s make sure you’re clued up on everything that’s going down.

GET IN THE RING!

We don’t talk about the preparations for an event of this magnitude nearly enough, so I like to make sure I dedicate a section to it each time I write a “What to Expect” article. If you’re competing on the grandest stage, most of the hard work is done in the runup to the event, and if you’re hoping to follow in the footsteps of our household names, you’ll need to adopt a similar mentality.

Above all else: take care of yourself! The human body is an overly complicated machine with some accessories screwed on. If you want to succeed at a specific task, it needs to be well maintained and packing enough unassigned memory to focus on it. A good night of sleep is worth than any 80th card, and a prepared lunch will keep your body ticking over like nothing else. Hit the gym and stretch those muscles in the morning if you can stomach it. Card games come down to which player makes the final mistake – that’s less likely to be you if you’re looking after yourself.

The other side of that coin is your mental state. It’s incredibly easy to tie your sense of self-worth to your performance, especially when you’ve poured in so much effort and time. Sometimes cards don’t break your way. A lapse of judgement drives a nail through your dream. Neither of those things is an excuse for ruining somebody’s event and neither of them makes you any worse of a player.

You are more than your results. Never forget that.

Keynote

I’ll be real with you: you never want to miss a Keynote from Legend Story Studios. But this one? You really don’t want to miss this one.

Late on Thursday evening, Bryan Gottlieb will take center stage in front of an eager crowd to share more information about the future of Flesh and Blood. Thanks to the 6th Birthday live stream a few short weeks ago, we know this Keynote will highlight more details about Silver Age, Set 18 (PEN), and the future of organized play. Who knows what else might be waiting in the wings?

I cannot wait to talk to you all about [REDACTED]. You’re going to lose your mind.

tHE wORLD cHAMPIONSHIP

Three days. Two formats. One title.

From November 13 to 16, the best players in the world will come together at the Pennsylvania Convention Center for the 4th Flesh and Blood World Championship. This invite-only event offers a share of $300,000 in prize money to the brave souls who can conquer both Classic Constructed and Living Legend. Professional Tournament Invitations, lucrative Gold Foils, glittering trophies, and World Championship stamped prize cards probably don’t hurt either.

This year’s event is the debut of a best-of-3 Top 8. Players will need to consider the implications of either choosing to play/draw, or selecting the format for each game. This extra layer of depth might leave our finalists fighting for $100,000 with up to 26 games already played. That level of fortitude will have earned their place in the history books.

If you’re not qualified for the main event, you should still come and check it out. You can either watch along with the official broadcast from the comfort of your pajamas, or you can step into these hallowed halls and meet your favorite players in the Flesh and Blood. Either way, it’ll be one hell of a show.

Open Entry Events

You can’t stand in a room full of shuffling sounds without wanting to play some games. If you’re not involved in the main event, World Tour: Philadelphia also features an open entry Calling and a pair of Battle Hardened events alongside a robust schedule of choices.

The Calling will feature Living Legend. There’s $30,000 of cold hard cash, exclusive Gold Foils, and Pro Tour Invitations on the line for any player who thinks they’ve mastered the titans of our history. It’ll also be the first opportunity to win the new Quickdodge Flexors Marvel Gold Foil prize card. Are we still playing games in a Runeblade playground? You’ll have to come and show me.

Philadelphia also gained a second Battle Hardened because the first one sold out too fast. I believe the second has now sold out too! The community is clearly eager to clash in Classic Constructed for a total of four PTIs. I guess we’ll have to try to wrangle some more chairs…

If you prefer a different way to play, fear not. Check out the full event schedule and find the best fit for you. Try to make time for those Double Prize Sealed Events at the end of each day if you can – they’re the best way to secure those fancy diner promo cards!

swag and souvenirs

Speaking of…

We don’t like people going home without a memento, so there’s a variety of exclusive merchandise and goodies available exclusively at the World Championship. The headliners? Three alternate art promo cards that place three of our favorite heroes into a traditional American diner setting.

World Championship players will receive one hero at random alongside their Warmonger’s Diplomacy playmat and Lyath Goldmane sleeves. The Souvenir Package will guarantee all three heroes alongside a panorama playmat and a smattering of other goodies. Somehow, these are far from the only things to look out for this year!

If you spend $150 or more at the merchandise stall, you’ll be gifted a variant of Rhinar, Reckless Rampage and Romping Club that are way above par. The booth is stocking everything from Runechant card binders to Savage Lands polo shirts, so I’m sure you’ll find something that tickles your fancy.

I heard there’s also a foil Shiyana, Diamond Gemini playmat. Hmm. I’m sure that’s probably nothing…

Cosplay

I have an undying appreciation for the Shapeshifters of Rathe. These gifted tailors are constantly breathing life into our beloved game through woven thread and unforgiving hours. If you’re similarly inclined, suit up in your finest attire and join us at the annual World Championship Cosplay Contest.

This is the first opportunity for the community to get their hands on the brand-new cosplay-exclusive Frankie, Make Ends Meat. You’ll also be able to shake hands and snap some pictures with foundational members of the community like Carolina Victoria and Max Ferocity, so make sure to pop down to the stage and enjoy the show, costume or otherwise!

Who’s going?

If you’re looking to secure some signatures or to say hello to your favorite members of the community, there’s a good chance you’ll be able to do so at the World Championship. Most folks are more than happy to take a picture if you’re willing to be patient – just try to wait until they’re not halfway through a game or running across the hall!

Artists

Meet some of the legendary artists who bring our game to life. Six of the most hotly requested talents will be setting up shop at the World Championship to sign cards, whip up alters, and hold my finances at knifepoint.

Isuardi Therianto – The Indonesian all-star is one of the most recognizable artists in Flesh and Bood, lending their talent to everything from Arakni, Marionette to Sawbones, Dockhand. Therianto’s Soul Shackles have been haunting me since 2021 and I’m sure they’ll be doing the same in the feature match area this weekend.
Frederico Musetti – This Italian illustrator has been defining the worlds of sci-fi and fantasy since he was sketching comics for his schoolmates. Musetti is a recurring juggernaut of Flesh and Blood, featuring on cards such as Great Library of Solana and Command and Conquer across his tenure. Half of your deck probably doesn’t exist without this master of his craft.
Mateusz Wisniewski – Wisniewski is the Polish Powerhouse behind many of my victories and losses. Cold Snap, Emeritus Scolding, and Invoke Vynserakai all feature in his portfolio, but so does Poison the Well and Oasis Respite. I’ll have to ask him to decorate my Spike with Bloodrot with tally marks for all the lives they’ve claimed.
Mark Poole – Poole has been creating impeccable work for trading card games since before I was born. The award-winning artist has lent his talents to Aether Wildfire, Waning Moon, Plague Hive, and many more: all of which I’d be asking them to sign if I hadn’t done so already. Verdance players can also bring their copies of Cadaverous Tilling and Ring of Roses along if they’d like something unique for their deck.
Tomasz Jedruszek – Fun fact: Jedruszek was the first artist I ever approached for signatures at an event! Face Purgatory, Destructive Aethertide, and Art of the Dragon: Blood stand out as personal highlights of the poles’ impressive portfolio, but that catalog extends to cards like Return Fire if that’s more your speed.
Nathaniel Himawan – Himawan has been practicing some absurdly elaborate new signature options over the last few weeks and I can feel myself getting poorer by the minute. Thankfully, my copies of Teklo Core, Gravy Bones, and Blaze Headlong will look much better by the end of it. I’m sure I’ll be just fine.

Casters

The last time I wrote a What to Expect article for fabtcg.com, I spoke to you about four exceptional talents who would rotate across the weekend to provide you with some of the best coverage in trading card games. Today, I’m honored to be able to add my own name alongside them to bring that count to five.

Sam O’Byrne – The Coverage Producer for Legend Story Studios will be leading from the front across the weekend. O’Byrne is unquestionably one of the most recognizable voices in Flesh and Blood today and brings a unique excitement and energy to the show.
Bryan Gottlieb – I’m unsure if Bryan likes the title of “Godfather of Flesh and Blood” but I’ll keep trying to make it stick until he stops me. Gottlieb unsurprisingly has a level of insight that no external talent could match, and a whopping eight years of shoutcasting experience to back it up.
Pankaj Bhojwani – Bhojwani has been hosting top level events longer than any other talent on the roster. The renowned podcaster’s knowledgeable perspective has perfectly framed Pro Tours, World Premieres, and previous World Championships. He’s also probably the best Iyslander player in the booth. Probably.
Mitch “UberShouts” Leslie – Uber is the voice of gaming broadcasts today. The award-winning play-by-play has proven to be a generational talent across numerous games, famously calling the shots throughout Arthur Trehet’s Pro Tour victory. It’s both an honor and terrifying to share the booth with him.
Scott Mines – I don’t know how it happened, but here I am. Over the last 12 months, Legend Story Studios has trusted me to become the voice of both European coverage and the World Premiere circuit. Thanks to the positive feedback from all of you at home, that extends to a World Championship job this weekend. I can never thank you enough and I promise I’ll knock this dead.

Players to Watch

There are countless stories to follow across the World Championship weekend. The inaugural Player of the Year race comes to a head in Philadelphia, and several previous champions are returning for another crack at the crown. We’ve all got our favorite players we’ll be scouring the standings for – but these are my picks for the names you need to follow.

Michael Hamilton, Grzegorz Kowalski – Two of our former World Champions are entering the field once more for a chance to become the two-time. Pablo Pintor has already managed to do so on the Pro Tour; it’d be quite the story to see Hamilton or Kowalski one-up him.
Brodie Spurlock, Jacob Clements – These two players are the final fighters standing in the Player of the Year race. Clements has been on a record-breaking run over the last few months to cut Spurlock’s unattainable lead to just 9 points. Can the wunderkind hold off his competitor one final time?
Pablo Pintor, Michael Feng, Shoma Yamamura, Arthur Trehet, Shirui Wu – Five different Pro Tour Champions will enter the battle with the dream of becoming the first player to secure the double-crown. I love the GOAT discussions in Flesh and Blood, but it’ll be hard to deny the claim of anybody who achieves both.
Nick Butcher, Justin Cu, Pudding Tam – The fate of the Asia-Pacific region lies in the hands of these three players. Butcher has held onto the lead by the thinnest of margins for most of the year, but Tam and Cu are both coming off the back of impressive performances at Calling: Sydney. This one is anybody’s race.
Mercy Bickell – Last year, Mercy Bickell came just one untimely Command and Conquer short of becoming a World Champion. While there are many other competitors from that previous Top 8 worth watching, Bickell is easily my dark horse pick for the event. Can you imagine the fireworks if she manages to go one better?

An entire year of organized play is about to culminate in an event for the ages. World Championship: Philadelphia isn’t an event you can afford to miss. If you’re standing in the room or just watching along at home, grab yourself a cheesesteak and enjoy the spectacle.

I’ll be appreciating every minute. See you there?