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While we wait for Parallel’s next announcement and the official date for PDVI, I thought it would be fun to reflect on a specific type of card in the game, the Relics.
Parallel cards can be broken down into four main categories: Units, Effects, Upgrades, and Relics. From the #gameplay-faq channel in Discord, Relics are defined as “non-combat permanents that can occupy the board and have varying effects, be they persistent, activated, or temporary.”
Like the other card types, Relics bring another layer of strategy and creativity to every game. They’re not easy to destroy and can quickly turn the tides of a battle.
Real-life relics are often regarded as spiritual archetypes in the purest sense. Like the Shroud of Turin or Buddha’s Tooth, many have legendary origin stories and are imbued with esoteric or mystical powers. They aren’t everyday objects like shards of pottery. They’re something much more revered and admired, often by entire societies.
Similarly, there are already some wonderful Relics scattered throughout Parallel’s base deck, so I’ve highlighted one of my favorites from each faction.
Function: You do not draw cards at the start or end of your turn. When an effect is played, pick one of the following: Draw a card from your deck or draw a random card from your Singularity.
If you dare to peer into the open panel of the Pocket Dimension, expect the unexpected, for it is full of alternate realities. This design by Oscar Mar is a PDI classic, as the mysterious object is nestled softly on a bed of ferns somewhere deep in Earthen (possibly) territory.
Shroud decks are all about control, so if you choose to include this relic in your deck, make sure you have plenty of Effect cards to support it. Otherwise, you run the risk of self-destruction by squeezing off your own energy supply.
But in the heat of a Parallel battle, fortune often favors the bold.
Other Shroud Relics: Void Crystal, Paradox, Dimension Shifter, Collapsing Star
Function: At the beginning of each player’s turn, give one of that player’s units Pacifist at random. Put a counter on this relic. When there are 6 counters on this relic, destroy it.
This is easily one of my favorite cards in the entire base deck. In fact, I’d say nothing reflects the Earthen mythos more than this item.
Not only does this relic have a custom-made physical 1/1 copy, but an entire fan club. It also made a cameo on the PE cover of Issue 1 of The Priming comic.
Gaffar, while pondering his next move, tokes on his pipe while in deep contemplation. I’d like to think the pipe is stuffed with some of the finest herbal and cosmic blends from the sublime groves of Primea, as the magical smoke rises to the heavens.
Other Earthen Relics: Life Vault, The Staff of Shoshanna, Hallowed Burial Ground, The Tree of Nehemiah, Shoshanna’s Standard, Gaia’s Call
Function: The first time a friendly Kathari iterant is created on your turn, trigger the ‘Muster’ abilities of a non-leader unit of your choice.
The Kathari is pretty light on Relics, yet each one has a quality function. If you build a deck with the likes of Alkaline Hydrolist, Saboteur, Mantis Corsair, and TE4 Interceptor, the Rousing Signum can be a huge thorn in your opponent’s side.
As if the additional Muster effect wasn’t enough, this relic is only a 3-energy card, so you can stack a deck with three of them and play them all with relative ease.
Other Kathari Relics: Nucleotic Synthesizer, Tome of Aetio, Beacon of Gnaeus, Hydrolist Chamber
Function: When a friendly non-token unit enters the field, deal 1 damage to the enemy, and gain 1 health.
The sheer repetitive onslaught of the Marcolian army is enough to drive even the most embattled warrior insane. Tactical Display plays straight into that playstyle, as it offers a persistent effect during its time on the field.
This is one of those pesky relics that can cause your opponent inner conflict. How and when do you destroy it? If you wait too long, the next thing you know it’s getting close to 10 rounds deep, and suddenly a third of your health is gone.
Other Marcolian Relics: First Son of Mars and Interrogation Tools.
Function: The first time each turn a friendly unit is destroyed, gain 1 extra energy this turn. If this card is banked, gain 1 extra energy this turn.
Augencore decks have a bounty of relics to choose from, which plays nicely into their reliance on Upgrades and various Shielded units.
More specifically, Reclamator is a nice relic in the Augencore toolbox due to its versatility. If you have no options and need to bank it, you get one extra energy to work with. If you destroy a friendly unit, you gain one energy as well.
This multi-faceted function makes it an easy addition to your general strategy, giving you a marked advantage over your opponent.
Other Augencore Relics: Machine-Learning Matrix, Repurposed Arms, Jump Recovery, Point Defense Turret, THUNDR-01 Munitions