Blog
Which Summoner Wars Faction Should You Start With? A Buyer’s Guide
If you are trying to work out which Summoner Wars faction to start with, the most helpful approach is not to chase completion straight away. Start by matching a faction to the kind of duel you actually enjoy. Some decks reward careful hand management and sequencing. Others thrive on momentum, aggression or battlefield disruption. Because Summoner Wars is built around head-to-head tactical play, it also sits naturally alongside other two-player games when you are deciding what deserves a regular place in your collection.
The good news is that GameSummon’s current range gives you more than one sensible way in. You can begin with the Summoner Wars: 2nd Edition Master Set if you want breadth and replayability from day one, or you can start smaller with a single faction deck if you already know the kind of play style that appeals most. The aim of this guide is to make that decision easier without turning your first purchase into guesswork.
Master Set or Single Faction?
Your first real decision is not which faction is objectively strongest. It is whether you want variety first or focus first. GameSummon describes the Master Set as a fully expandable tactical duelling card game box with six faction decks and the option to build your own. That makes it the cleaner entry point if you want to learn the system by trying several approaches rather than committing to one identity immediately.
A single faction deck makes more sense when you already know what you enjoy in competitive card play. If you tend to latch on to one play pattern and refine it over time, beginning with one faction can be more satisfying than opening a larger box and feeling pulled in six directions. It is the sharper path for players who like learning a deck deeply, especially if Summoner Wars is only one part of a wider board game collection.
The practical rule is simple. Buy the Master Set if you want the game to teach you what you like. Buy a faction deck if you already know what sort of tactical rhythm keeps you interested.
Best Factions by Play Style
The easiest way to choose a first faction is to think in terms of tempo and decision style. Are you happiest when you are building combinations, forcing awkward retreats, charging forward, or grinding value out of layered effects? The current Summoner Wars range gives you a strong answer for each of those instincts.
Choose Eternal Council if you like planning ahead
Summoner Wars 2nd Edition: Eternal Council Faction Deck is a natural recommendation for players who enjoy feeling clever more than feeling explosive. GameSummon’s product description frames Praefectus Edia as a summoner who can draw rapidly through the deck and combine event cards efficiently. In buyer-guide terms, that means this faction is likely to suit players who enjoy sequencing, hand quality and finding the right moment to convert planning into board pressure.
If your favourite games reward patience and information management, Eternal Council is a better first buy than a faction built around raw force. It gives you room to feel the tactical texture of Summoner Wars without pushing you towards reckless play.
Choose Storm Goblins if you want speed and pressure
Storm Goblins are a strong fit for buyers who want their first deck to feel lively straight away. GameSummon’s current product copy describes them as charging the battlefield, discharging electricity, overcharging troops and overwhelming the enemy with numbers. That reads as an aggressive, momentum-heavy entry point for players who would rather ask constant questions of the opponent than sit back waiting for the ideal setup.
This is the sort of faction to start with if you value energy over elegance. New players who get bored when a game asks them to wait too long between payoffs often do better with a deck like this than with something slower and more technical.
Choose Shimmersea Fae if you enjoy tempo tricks
Shimmersea Fae look especially attractive for players who enjoy tempo play and positional disruption. GameSummon describes them as controlling the ebb and flow of battle, stealing momentum, flipping between defence and offence quickly, and even disappearing before returning later in the fight. That points to a faction for buyers who like unsettling the opponent rather than simply overpowering them.
For a first purchase, Shimmersea Fae are probably best for someone who already knows they enjoy reactive or slippery strategies. If you want every game to feel like an argument over spacing, timing and initiative, this is one of the most distinctive routes into the range.
Choose Deepwood Groaks if you like layered effects
Deepwood Groaks are easy to recommend to players who enjoy abilities that stack pressure over time. GameSummon currently presents Hekateia and the Groaks as potion-brewers who can enhance manoeuvrability and strength or poison the enemy and let them wither. That combination suggests a faction for players who like choosing between immediate improvement and gradual punishment.
This is a very appealing first faction if you want your deck to feel characterful without becoming unreadable. It should particularly interest buyers who enjoy tactical games where one turn can be about preparation and the next about exploiting the weakness that preparation created.
Other good starting points worth browsing
If none of those three directions feel right, there are still good beginner-friendly themes elsewhere in the range. High Elves Faction Deck: Summoner Wars is framed around holy laws that alter the rules of engagement, which may appeal to players who like structured control. Summoner Wars: Mountain Vargath is described around brute force, smashing and shoving, which makes it a sensible browse for players who want straightforward battlefield dominance.
The point is not to find the faction with the loudest reputation. It is to find the one whose decisions you will still enjoy after several sessions. That is what turns a first purchase into a lasting favourite instead of a curiosity that never quite returns to the table.
Quick Comparison Table
| Buyer type | Best place to start | Why it fits |
|---|---|---|
| Want variety and replayability immediately | Summoner Wars: 2nd Edition Master Set | Multiple factions give you room to test different styles before specialising. |
| Prefer setup, card flow and planning | Eternal Council | Strong fit for players who enjoy sequencing and finding efficient combinations. |
| Want your first deck to feel aggressive | Storm Goblins | Pushes fast pressure and a more proactive rhythm. |
| Like tempo swings and tricky movement | Shimmersea Fae | Built for buyers who enjoy stealing momentum and changing pace quickly. |
| Enjoy layered effects and attrition | Deepwood Groaks | Buffs, poison and flexible decision-making give the faction a distinctive feel. |
What to Buy After Your First Deck
Once you know that Summoner Wars works for your group, the next purchase should usually solve a clear need rather than just expand for the sake of it. If your first deck made you want more matchup variety, move towards the Master Set or another faction from the wider category page. If your first games convinced you that the system will stay in rotation, accessories such as the Summoner Wars: Playmat or Summoner Wars: Premium Tokens become more reasonable follow-ups.
The stronger long-term habit is to expand in response to what you actually enjoyed. If you loved studying options, add another faction that asks different questions. If you mainly loved the duel format itself, keep browsing GameSummon’s two-player games tag as well and decide whether your next purchase should deepen Summoner Wars or diversify your shelf.
For most buyers, that is the sweet spot. Start with one clear identity. Learn what kind of summoner you like being. Then expand with purpose.
Frequently Asked Questions
Should I start with the Summoner Wars Master Set or a faction deck?
Start with the Master Set if you want several factions and more replayability straight away. Start with a single faction deck if you already know the play style you want and would rather learn one identity deeply first.
Which Summoner Wars faction is best for beginners?
There is no single best answer for every buyer, but Eternal Council, Storm Goblins and Deepwood Groaks each make sense as first factions depending on whether you prefer planning, aggression or layered effects.
Is one faction deck enough to start playing Summoner Wars?
A single faction deck is the right first buy only if you already have a suitable opponent deck or you know you will add one immediately. If you want an out-of-the-box starting point with more built-in variety, the Master Set is the cleaner option.
What should I buy after my first Summoner Wars deck?
Usually the smartest next step is either another faction with a contrasting play style or a practical accessory once you know the game will stay in rotation. Browse the wider Summoner Wars range first, then add depth based on what you most enjoyed about your opening matches.