Fate/Grand Order Baseball Cards: Collecting the Servants of Chaldea
Introduction
Fate/Grand Order, often abbreviated to FGO, is a massively popular mobile game based on the popular Fate franchise. Since its release in 2015, FGO has amassed a huge following of dedicated players from around the world. At its core, FGO is a story-driven RPG that tasks players with summoning Heroic Spirits known as Servants to do battle. These Servants are heroic figures from all of history and mythology that have been summoned in a weaker form by the Masters of Chaldea.
With over 200 unique Servants to collect across numerous rarity tiers, the idea of transforming these iconic characters into collectible baseball cards was too good an opportunity to pass up. In 2018, Aniplex partnered with Topps to release the very first official set of Fate/Grand Order Baseball Cards. Featuring artwork and stats of popular Servants, the cards were an instant hit with collectors both within and outside the FGO community. Since then, Topps has continued to release new FGO Baseball Card sets on a yearly basis.
In this article, we will take an in-depth look at the history, design, and collecting aspects of the Fate/Grand Order Baseball Card series. From rare chase cards to special promotional items, learning the ins and outs of this unique crossover collectible can make the experience of building your Servant roster that much more enjoyable. So let us embark on a journey through the world of summoning heroes…in card form!
The Origins of FGO Baseball Cards
When Topps first announced a partnership with Aniplex and Delightworks to produce an official FGO trading card set in 2018, anticipation was high within the fan community. As the largest sports card manufacturer, Topps was a perfect fit to translate the diverse cast of Servants into the traditional baseball card format.
The inaugural 2018 set featured 100 total cards split between Common, Uncommon, Rare, and Super Rare rarities. Fan favorites like Artoria Pendragon, Gilgamesh, and Jeanne D’Arc led the Rare cards at only 1 per pack on average. Meanwhile, ultra-scarce Super Rares like Merlin and Scáthach promised to be the white whales of devoted collectors.
Additional inserts included Special Arts cards highlighting beautiful Noble Phantasm animations and Bond Level 10 cards denoting a Servant’s max bond. The front designs placed the Servant art within a decorative border imitating a Saint Graph. Meanwhile, the back featured stats, biographies, and bond lines just like in the mobile game.
This authentic translation of FGO’s gameplay elements into the physical card realm was a huge hit. The 2018 set sold out within months and demand remained high in the secondary market. This success paved the way for Topps to continue expanding the franchise with new annual releases and special promotional partnerships.
Yearly Expansions and Promotional Partnerships
In 2019, Topps followed up the debut set with a highly anticipated second edition. This 126 card set introduced new Servants that had been added to FGO since the previous year. Notable inclusions were popular characters like Kingprotea, Murasaki Shikibu, and Oui.
The set also featured several new insert types such as Event Memories highlighting story chapters and Craft Essences depicting powerful support items. Topps also experimented with parallel rare card variants like Rainbow and Prism rarities for the first time. Overall reception was again very positive, cementing FGO Baseball Cards as an annual tradition for the community.
2020 saw the introduction of the first Special Edition set. Featuring only 48 cards, this set focused exclusively on popular Servants from the Apocrypha storyline. Parallel to the main 2020 expansion, Topps also partnered with popular Fate merchandise brand Aniplex+ to produce a limited lottery box set exclusively available through their online store.
This set contained serial numbered parallels and rare Memorandum cards only obtainable through Aniplex+. Such specialty partnerships have become a hallmark of the FGO Baseball Card program, providing exclusive access for super fans. 2021 saw a similar Aniplex+ box featuring Fate/Grand Order -Moonlight/Lostroom- themed cards.
Card Design and Rarity Structure
Across all yearly sets and special releases, Topps has maintained a consistent card design language inspired by the source material. The front of each card places a beautiful full art render of the Servant within an ornate border replicating the appearance of their in-game Saint Graph.
Text boxes along the bottom provide class, attribute, and rarity information. Meanwhile, a decorative strip along one side lists the Servant’s True Name and Noble Phantasm. This layout perfectly captures the essence of summoning a Heroic Spirit within FGO.
The back of each card features a short biography of the Servant as well as their Bond Craft Essence effect text. A barcode and set information round out the reverse design. Meanwhile, parallel rare variants utilize alternate color schemes and foil stamping to stand out.
In terms of rarity structure, each main set contains:
Commons: Most abundant at 1 per pack. Feature basic art.
Uncommons: Around 1 in 3 packs. Include background effects and foil stamping.
Rares: Approximately 1 in 10 packs. Highlighted with additional foil and parallel variants.
Super Rares: Extremely rare pull rates under 1%. Premium parallel foil variants.
This balanced approach makes regular collecting fun while still providing ultra-scarce chase cards. Special inserts, promos, and Aniplex+ exclusives then take rarity to the next level.
Expanding the Collecting Experience
While the cards themselves remain the core collectible element, Topps has expanded the FGO Baseball Card experience in other ways. Special promotional packs have included bonus items like acrylic standees of popular Servants. Meanwhile, Aniplex+ exclusives come packaged with serial numbered art prints.
Topps also produces annual FGO Trading Card Games utilizing the same card art assets. These affordable box sets allow fans to play customizable TCG battles in the Fate universe. Popular streamers have even hosted tournaments using the games.
The mobile companion app MyTopps serves as a digital card book and marketplace. Here, collectors can track their growing collections, trade with others, and potentially win special online-only cards. These extra features continue enriching the overall IP crossover experience.
Final Thoughts
Since 2018, Fate/Grand Order Baseball Cards have grown into a beloved collectible franchise adored by fans of the mobile RPG and card collectors alike. By faithfully translating the diverse cast of Servants into a traditional sports card format, Topps has created a unique crossover IP that captures the essence of summoning heroes.
Through high quality yearly expansions, special partnerships, and added experiences, the program continues to evolve while maintaining that authentic Fate flair. For dedicated Masters, few joys compare to the thrill of the gacha pull in search of that ultra-rare foil Super Rare. The future remains bright for ever more summons on the diamond as FGO Baseball Cards cement their place amongst the all-time great anime and gaming crossover collectibles.
