Raw Deal Revolution Guide
by Christopher “CREED” Pate

The Raw Deal Revolution is coming! In addition to being the newest release for the Raw Deal game, this new set has the added function of stand-alone playability, as the cards in Revolution can be played by themselves in a new format. As expected, the news of Raw Deal Revolution has brought about a lot of questions, often and repeatedly asked as people want to know more about the upcoming set and the new format for playing the game.

Q. Can I pack Revolution cards in All Axxess, Afterburn, and other format matches?
YES.

Just like any expansion, all cards in Revolution are legal in every previous format. While Revolution cards are the only things you can play in Revolution format matches, every Revolution card can also be played in All Axxess and Afterburn (and Steel Cage, Velocity, etc).

Q: Does this mean my old cards are banned or not useable?
NO.

Raw Deal has no banned cards, and as always, all cards are playable in All Axxess.

Q: Is All Axxess and/or Afterburn going away?
NO.

All Axxess is the primary format, and this includes the new Revolution cards as well. Afterburn also continues with the addition of Raw Deal Revolution. However, there is a third format: Revolution.

Q: Which cards can be played in the Revolution format?
CARDS WITH THE REVOLUTION LOGO.

It’s as simple as that. Unlike Afterburn, which included prize cards and other ‘exceptions’, Revolution format play only includes cards with the Revolution logo. Note that the ‘new look’ of the cards in Revolution also makes it quite easy to identify which cards are legal for the format.

Q: Is the Revolution format different from All Axxess and Afterburn formats?
YES.

There are three special rules for the Revolution format:
If your turn ends without playing a maneuver (even if the maneuver was unsuccessful), overturn 6 cards.
You reveal your superstar, draw your starting hand, and THEN play Pre-match cards.
You may only pack up to 6 Pre-match and 6 Mid-match cards, and the maximum number of each you may have in your Ring Area is 3.

Q: Is a Strike the same as an Assault, Grapples and Throws, and so on?
NO.

These are brand new maneuver types, and for the most part they are not reversed by previous types of reversals. For example, an Assault is not reversed by Step Aside or A Revolution of the Mind – however, it could still be reversed by another type of reversal: a 7D or less Assault can be reversed by Elbow to the Face, and a non-unique Assault could be stopped with This Is Going Nowhere Fast.

Q: What about “Trademark” – is it different from “Trademark Finisher”?
YES.

They are two different maneuver types, as different as Grapple and Strike. This means that a reversal which reverses ‘any non-Trademark Finisher’ can reverse a Trademark.
(The same applies to Antics and Actions)

Q: Are my old maneuvers now Cores, Means, and Colossals?
NO.

These are printed traits on the Revolution cards, such as “Assault: Mean” or “Tradmark: Colossal”. While they describe the damage of the maneuver, they are specific to Revolution maneuvers only.

Q: Can I use these new Revolution maneuvers, like Punch and Arm Bar, with Back to Basics?
NO.

All of the cards in Revolution have the Revolution logo as part of the title, so “Revolution Punch” will not interact with Back to Basics. Revolution European Uppercut gains no benefit from Randy Orton’s Superstar Ability. And Revolution Triple H is not the same as Triple H.

Q: Can I pack my old Triple H cards with the new Triple H, and vice versa?
YES.

The logo on Revolution Triple H means he can pack cards with that logo. The new Triple H cards in Revolution have the same logo, so they can be packed by the original Triple H and Revolution Triple H (as well as The Game, DX, and Two-Man Power Trip)

Q: Do Revolution Batista and Batista count as different Superstars for tournaments and diversity?
YES.

Q: When can I play a Storyline card?

During the Event phase, along with Pre-match: Objects like Title Belts.

Q: If I play a Storyline card, do I have the new ability instead of the ability printed on the Superstar card?
YES.

This takes place immediately, so that if DX plays Ten Time World Champion, they no longer have their printed ability (which will not make their deck illegal, of course) and will not search for a card at the end of the Pre-match phase.

Q: So can I pack 3 Revolution Punch and 3 Punch cards?
YES.

These cards have different titles, so you may pack the different cards without interfering with each other. (Test and René Duprée obviously don’t pack 3 of each, but the principle remains the same.)

Q: What is Momentum?

Cards with Momentum, whether they have Momentum or have been given Momentum by another card, can only be reversed by cards that specifically reverse Momentum cards. For example, if an opponent played Shock the World, which gives the next card Momentum if it is a maneuver, you would need a card like Inertia or You Telegraphed It to reverse that maneuver.

Q: What is a Follow-up?

A Follow-up is a card with a requirement, such as Follow-up: Maneuver or Follow-up: Card, which means the card can only be played if a card of that type was the last card successfully played this turn. If the Follow-up is not Unique, you may pack any number of that card (but you must still meet the Arsenal size limitation rule, of course).

In conclusion, we’re all looking forward to Raw Deal Revolution, due in stores the middle of December. ¡Viva la revolucion!