No famous clock is stopping this countdown. The Flesh and Blood World Tour travels across the pond to London in just a matter of weeks.
It’s a momentous occasion for our community. Seasoned veterans and nervous beginners will come together in one of the most historic cities in the world and leave with a fistful of memories they’ll never forget. World Tour: London is a celebration of everything that Flesh and Blood has become; a seamless blend of competition at its finest and the camaraderie of a game around the kitchen table.
I may only live down the road, but there’s nowhere on earth I’d rather be.
If you’re joining us at this landmark event, there’s so much stuff happening that you won’t want to miss. Let's take a closer look at everything going on at World Tour: London, and make sure you’re best equipped to get the most out of your weekend.
Before the Storm
There are a few small things I want you to know before we buckle up for a weekend of fun.
A World Tour event feels prestigious. There’s an electricity in the air that you cannot find anywhere else. It feels big and it feels important—and that’s because it is. The entire Flesh and Blood community is coming together through the medium of playing great games and that’s something incredibly special. Allow yourself to breathe that in and enjoy the moment.
If you’re hoping to put on an all-star performance, you should be looking to do as much preparation before the event as you can. The less energy you need to burn on trivial things throughout the day, the more energy you’ll have to pour into your games. Schedule in a lunch break or pack some snacks you can easily munch on between rounds. Top up your water bottle and use the bathroom with some amount of consistency. Heck, bring spare sleeves and duplicate accessories to remove all potential panic points. Your body is essentially an extremely complicated machine; if you want it to run at maximum efficiency, you need to take care of it. More importantly, you need to allow it to focus solely on the task at hand.
There’s one other thing, too. I want you to say this one with me:
“You are more than your results.”
When an event begins to feel heavy, sometimes we don’t handle that particularly well. Cards don’t break our way and luck seems against us, and that can be difficult to stomach in the moment. Please remember that a bad day at the office doesn’t make you a bad player. It only hurts because it mattered to you and that’s a good thing.
Everyone is here to have fun, so don’t ruin somebody else’s event if something happens to ruin yours. Be respectful to each other and try to decompress after any high-stakes games you play. It’s okay if a loss stings a little, just don’t tie your sense of identity to them.
After all, you are more than your results.
The Keynote
Psst. Don’t tell anybody... but Legend Story Studios loves to reveal big surprises at the World Tour.
There’s nothing quite like a packed room of impassioned players learning what’s next at the same time. I was standing next to my Warrior-loving teammate as Kassai of the Golden Sand crossed the screens at World Championship: Barcelona, and I made some questionable squeaking noises when introduced to Verdance, Thorn of the Rose at Pro Tour: Amsterdam. All of the biggest news in Flesh and Blood arrives at the dawn of a Pro Tour, and you’ll have the chance to be in the room where that happens.
Consider swinging by the venue on Thursday evening if you want a peek into the future before anybody else!
The Pro Tour
The headline act—the sixth ever Flesh and Blood Pro Tour kicks off the show on April 11, with $175,000 and a menagerie of exclusive prize cards for those who manage to topple the field. A selection of the finest players across the globe have worked tirelessly to earn their invitations to this prestigious event—and it will all boil down to fifteen rounds of Swiss when those doors finally open.
If you’re not playing in the Pro Tour yourself, it’s still magical to be around. These are the best players in the world. Any given table could play host to the best game of Flesh and Blood you’ve ever seen. These players will be juggling the intricacies of The Hunted Booster Draft with a violently different Classic Constructed format than they were playing just weeks ago. What’s the correct choice when you can no longer revel in Viserai, Rune Blood? You’ll need to watch along if you want to find out.
If you have some spare time between all of your other events, I’d highly encourage you to take some rest in the viewing area or spectate from the sidelines. If you’re unable to attend the event, grab some snacks and pull up the broadcast on the biggest screen you have. You never quite know what you’ll see next.
Open Entry Events
Okay, the Pro Tour may have the spotlight, but World Tour: London is an event for everyone. If watching the best do their thing has lit a fire in your stomach, Calling: London is the perfect opportunity to stake your claim to fame. Players of every level will battle it out across two days of Classic Constructed action for a share of $30,000, a selection of Gold Foils and an invitation to the next big dance. Did you see a sweet new deck dominating the Pro Tour? It might well be time to try it out.
If you prefer something of a finer vintage, Battle Hardened: London will showcase the Living Legend format on the grandest stage. The most prominent heroes of yesteryear will return in full force to remind us of what has been... and maybe convince a new face or two to align with Prism, Sculptor of Arc Light. If you enjoy swinging Winter’s Wail or ushering in an Eclipse, Living Legend captures the brightest moments of Flesh and Blood history in the perfect way. I will be activating Waning Moon repeatedly and loving every second of it.
If none of the above appeals to you; don’t fret. Every way of playing Flesh and Blood is available across the weekend in one form or another. Want to demonstrate your mastery of The Hunted limited? We’ve got you. Clown people in Commoner for a chance at a Gold Foil? I’ll see you there. Perhaps you’d just like to lock up some of those snazzy tea-and-biscuit Sink Below promo cards? There’s an event on the schedule for you. Take a peek at the full list of options today and pencil yourself in for whatever fits best.
Exclusive Swag
No trip is complete without a memento.
If you’re hopping into any of the aforementioned events or grabbing a Fabled Package, you’ll have some exclusive swag waiting for you on the other side, but you can go a little bigger if you’re so inclined. Much like the incredible bundle at World Championship: Osaka, there’s an event-exclusive bundle available for anybody that wants to remember their weekend in style—and boy howdy, this thing is stuffed.
Containing a Command and Conquer playmat, matching sleeves, a Pursue to the Edge of Oblivion themed deck box, an entire box of Archive Pack: Part the Mistveil, and a complete set of Sink Below promos, there’s no better way to celebrate the weekend. I’d probably grab another one if I could.
Meet Your Heroes
With thousands upon thousands of players in the room, there’s no better time to say hello to all those people you’ve always wanted to meet.
Many of the biggest cheeses from Legend Story Studios regularly make appearances at World Tour events. James White will often set up dedicated slots during the weekend for meet-and-greets, signings and photographs! Regardless of who you want to see, most people are more than happy to stop for a chat and a snap when they’ve got the time to do so—so don’t be afraid to flag them down when they’re not horrifically busy.
It’s a similar story for your favorite professional players. Household names from Yuki Lee Bender to Pablo Pintor will be rocking the show all weekend, and they’re always happy to meet a fan whenever they’ve got the time. Whenever somebody says hello to me, I positively melt. It makes my weekend. Just remember to be respectful of any games they may be playing, or any conversation they might currently be in.
Finally, you’ll even get the chance to meet your favorite heroes in the Flesh and Blood. There’s a robust cosplay community deeply entrenched in the world of Rathe, and these talented tailors are constantly bringing iconic heroes and stunning artwork to life right before our eyes. The game wouldn’t be the same without them, so consider swinging by the Cosplay Contest or saying hello to your favorites if you see them passing by.
Artist Alley
What’s the best part of Flesh and Blood for me? The artwork. The artwork rocks.
Some of the brightest talent in our game will be joining us in World Tour: London, and they’ll always have a wide selection of playmats, prints and artist proofs available for purchase. I’ve got a canvas print of Sonata Arcanix on my living room wall thanks to Saad Irfan and I’m certainly buying far too many pretty things across the weekend as I thank these artists for bringing our game to life. Keep an eye out for anyone hidden amongst the card vendors!
In a similar vein, there’s no end of exclusive merchandise available at headlining World Tour events. You’ll find everything from custom clothing to limited-run playmats adorning the booth throughout the weekend, with some of these items only available for just one event. I practically live in my anime-infused hoodie from World Championship: Osaka and I’m constantly picking up more Dash I/O sleeves that I can’t get anywhere else. They make my heart happy. If that’s wrong, I don’t want to be right.
Most of All - Have Fun!
I know it’s a little mushy — but I’m an emotional soul.
Card games are something different for everyone. Do you know how cool that is? We can all crack open paper packages of cardboard squares and find a different strain of legend waiting inside. World Tour events are designed to have something for everybody, but whatever you do; enjoy it.
The event is better because you’re involved. I hope you enjoy the show!
