Warhammer Underworlds Card Storage

How to store your card collection for Warhammer Underworlds.

Welcome and greetings to a special post; it’s my 200^th article! Woohoo! As a result I wanted to talk about a subject I see a lot of people struggling with online and regularly asking about. Card storage. Today’s article, like my previous getting started and how to collect articles, will be a resource you and others can use to help you store your Warhammer Underworlds card collection. I’ll be going over what system to use to order your cards in as well as what products are out there which will help you safely and efficient store all your card neatly and safely.

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Why to Store Your Cards

Before getting into the main body of the article, why should you even order your cards in the first place? While having all your Warhammer Underworlds cards amassed in a pile can be…efficient, it doesn’t actually protect them and becomes a pain when building decks with new releases, older warbands or when the Forbidden and Restricted list gets updated. Correctly storing your card collection helps make deck building more efficient, keeps you cards safe and lets you catalogue your collection. It is a time-consuming process but it’s totally worth it in the end.

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How to Order Your Cards

To start things out I’ll begin with how you order your cards, there are many ways to do this and people have varying opinions on what’s best. However, did you know there’s a really simple way to organise your cards? Just follow the card numbering! If you didn’t realise, each Warhammer Underworlds card has a unique numbering. The symbol above the number denotes which season or release of Warhammer Underworlds that it is from. The numbers denote the order of cards in the following order: objectives, then gambits, then upgrades. All of this is done in alphabetical order.

Faction cards always come first and then universal cards. This basically means that the first 250 or so cards (depending on the season) do each warbands’ cards in objectives, then gambits and finally upgrades (so for example you would have all of Grashrak’s Despoilers cards done in alphabetic order of objectives, gambits and upgrades while following numerical ordering which would then follow into Skaeth’s Wild Hunt and so on). Then all the universal cards of the season are done in the order previously mentioned.

This is they system I use to order my cards as:

• it’s the most straightforward due to cards already being numbered
• cards are already grouped in alphabetical order via their numbering
• helps you easily find and store cards going forwards
• can use card numbering to “count” spaces in your storage for missing or as-of-yet unreleased cards

Now there are other ways you can do it too. Some people group ALL their cards together (which could either be multiple seasons or mixing faction and universal cards together) and then ordering them via objectives, gambits and upgrades in orders they desire. There’s nothing wrong with those and if you find them better then more power to you, it just takes more work to organise. Organising your cards is already a time-consuming process but these alternate methods just add to it. You want to be efficient with card storage which is why I always recommend following card numbering.

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How to Store Your Cards

Now we’re at the most important stage: how to store your cards. This is probably the most difficult part, especially for Warhammer Underworlds players who have never played a collectable card game before. It isn’t helped that there isn’t much official guidance on card storage product wise but that will make more sense as to why a bit further on. In this section I’ll be highlighting the most useful options available to you ranking from cheap but reliable options to the more premium versions for players who want to spend a bit more.

Clear Plastic Bags

These are the bags that come in the core sets for Warhammer Underworlds which are great for players who have invested in them (on top of the already great savings from getting a core set). It’s something you won’t have to pay extra for but it’ll only have just about enough for the cards in the core set. You can buy more depending on how much you need but I wouldn’t recommend it as it becomes too much of a hassle the bigger your collection gets.

Pros:

• Cheap and free if only using those found in Warhammer Underworlds core sets.
• Great for players with very small card collections.

Cons:

• Not too durable.
• Gets worse the larger your card collection becomes.

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Deck Boxes

Something everyone should be familiar with. Deck boxes aren’t only great for carrying your current deck around but they can also be used to store your card collection. This allows your cards to be stored safely and conveniently as well as being fairly easy to track. Games Workshop make their own Warhammer Underworlds deck boxes which you can find here. However if you’re using deck boxes for card storage I’d recommend at looking at deck boxes made by other companies like Ultra Pro and Ultimate Guard for example. These are companies who have been making card storage products for years now and they make many affordable and durable deck boxes that also have larger storage capacities depending on whether your cards are sleeved or not. The downside to this is it becomes very expensive the larger your card collection grows. Once again a good option for smaller to medium card collections.

Pros:

• Provides more durable and appropriate card storage.
• Easier to track and store at home.
• Doubles up as portable card storage for your main deck.

Cons:

• Becomes more expensive and more difficult to track the larger your collection grows.
• Generally deck boxes only hold 60 to 100 sleeved cards, so if the majority of your cards are sleeved, you’ll need even more deck boxes.

Example Deck Boxes for card storage:

The Ultra Pro Satin tower is great choice. It’s cheap, durable, has a compartment for dice and tokens as well as being able to store 100 double-sleeved cards (which means about 150-200 un-sleeved cards.

The Ultimate Guard Sidewinder is a great flip deck box for card storage. Slightly more expensive than a Satin Tower but comes in their custom Xenoskin fabric and secured with durable magnets. The 100+ double-sleeved card option is great but only hold cards.

The Ultimate Guard Boulder is probably the best value deck box. It’s cheap, durable and can hold 80+ to 100+ double-sleeved cards. Once again these only have space for cards but come in such a wide range of colours that are swappable between boulders. If you’re looking for cheap but tough card storage, these can’t be beat.

The Quiver Game Case isn’t technically a deck box but I’ve included it here. Primarily used for holding large selections of deck boxes or cards, the quiver game case is a great option for card storage. Just remember it does cost a lot and can get a bit difficult to find cards. Still it’s durable and easily portable if you want to bring your cards out and about.

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Trading Card Binders

Now we’re getting into premium territory here. Trading card binders are binders made of either fabric or plastic that contain clear plastic sleeves for holding trading cards. Once again these are products that Games Workshop don’t make but can be found from multiple long term card game card storage companies like the ones mentioned in deck boxes. The good thing is these come in multiple sizes depending on the size of cards (remember to always select standard sized card holders) and how big your collection is or how big you aim it to be. Cost can be quite expensive if you go for more premium and larger options as well as card binder finishes such as cheap floppy outside binder or a classic hard and firm outside binder. They’re great and what most people use. There’s a lot of choice out there so pick what most suits you. Remember that the general card pool of objectives, gambits and upgrades for a Warhammer Underworlds season is 438 cards (slightly more for Nightvault) which is something to keep in mind for players looking to store an entire season in a single card binder. You can even have a small one just to use to take your most commonly used cards around with you to events and gaming nights for quick card swaps.

Pros:

• Great way to neatly store your card collection.
• Usually easy to transport.
• Can store an entire season worth of cards in a single trading card binder.
• Flexible in terms of choice for what you want in regards to how big your collection is.

Cons:

• Can get quite expensive depending on your trading card binder selections.
• Fixed card volume storage which can effect what binder you buy when trying to buy ones for singular seasons.

Example Trading Card Binders:

The Vault X 360 Binder holds up to 360 cards. It’s great, albeit a bit floppy when it comes to outer firmness. It only holds 360 cards so would primarily be used for only a season’s worth of faction or universal cards. Otherwise it’s still a great choice. Note Vault X do a larger-pocket 480 card binder of the same quality as the 360 version, it’s just completely out of stock as the time of writing.

The Ultimate Guard 12-Pocket QuadRow XenoSkin Portfoloio is a premium option for card storage. The other casing is fairly tough and solid although still soft to the touch. Importantly it can hold 480 double-sleeved cards! That’s basically all of the faction and universal cards for a standard Warhammer Underworlds season (excluding fighter cards). It is quite big though so transporting won’t be as easy as other options.

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D Ring Binders and Card Sleeve Pages

This is the most expensive but also the more flexible option out there for card storage. Think of this as the premium level. Despite its status it can still be quite cheap in comparison to previous options. The basic idea is to use a D ring binder (NOT an O ring!) and clear plastic card sleeve sheets. It’s super customisable and entirely up to your needs. You can buy a cheap office D ring binder or a more expensive branded one. You could buy cheap card sleeve sheets or once again premium branded ones. You can also buy as many sheets as you want to hold cards. It’s the best option but takes the most work to buy.

Pros:

• Super flexible way for card storage, design it based on your needs.
• Can be quite cheap depending on your choices.
• Great way to nearly store your card collection.
• Store an entire season worth of cards AND fighter cards too!

Cons:

• Not great at being transported around easily.
• Can be more difficult to buy if brand new to card games as you’ll have to shop around generally for the binder and then card sleeve sheets.
• Can get quite expensive the more premium you go.

Example D Ring Binders and Card Sleeve Pages:

This is just a cheap office D Ring Binder. It’s perfect for what you need it for. Not great for being transported around outside but more than suitable for card storage at home.

The Ultra Pro Card Album is a slightly more expensive option but it’s still fairly cheap. Designed specifically for card use. It even has a nice clear plastic sleeve on the spine that you can use to identify which season of Warhammer Underworlds or type of cards you are storing in it.

The Dragon Shield Slipcase D Ring Card Storage Binder is a premium D Ring Binder with a solid card slipcase to cover the binder. It’s more expensive than the other options but is an excellent choice for people looking for premium and stylish ways to store their cards. It’s difficult to transport but great to store at home neatly. The tough card slipcase also helps keep the cards inside safe and dust free. The dragon designs vary on colour but all offer great artistic choices. The card is also very durable and water resistant so don’t worry about it tearing easily.

Lictin 450 pocket album pages are a nice cheap way for easy card storage. They’re cheap and work as desired. Just keep in-mind that they may not be compatible with some brands of card sleeves like Dragon Shield.

Dragon Shield 18 Pocket Binder pages are the premium choice for card sleeve sheets. Tough and durable while also being able to neatly store Dragon Shield sleeved cards. Crucially each pocket can hold double-sleeved cards which means it’s very efficient in terms of pocket space per card. It’s also fairly affordable too, slightly more than the previous option but well worth the investment. Dragon Shield also do different types depending on whether you want matte or non-glare versions too.

If you’re interested in the Dragon Shield Slipcase D ring binder and card sleeve sheets, I’ve done a review on them which you can find here.

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Conclusion

So there you have it, a fairly comprehensive guide of Warhammer Underworlds card storage. This will be useful no matter your level of card game experience. I myself use a combination of deck boxes, trading card binders and D ring binders with card sleeve sheets. Basically I started off with deck boxes, moved on to trading card binders and now mainly use D ring binders with card sleeve sheets. For the latter I go with the premium option which costs me about £35 a year for card storage. It does cost more than the cheaper options but gives me a solid premium product that will keep my cards safe for years and allows me to easily track where I’ve stored my cards. With the D ring binder option I can now store a whole Warhammer Underworlds season’s worth of cards with fighter cards, promo cards AND any extra cards from stuff like the gift pack. It just gives you so much flexibility and be the option I always recommend.

The important thing to note is that the example products I’ve included in the article are just some of the most well-known products as well as stuff I own myself. There’s so much choice out there that there’s almost too much to mention in a single article. Take some time and search around for products that suits your needs best. Feel free to ask me, your friends or online Warhammer Underworlds community. I use my own research to find such products along with watching reviews by the Professor of Tolarian Community College on YouTube who does comprehensive and honest card game product reviews.

Remember to always buy what suits your needs. If you’ve only got a small card collection and want to keep it that way then deck boxes and or small plastic bags are the better choice for you. Larger or planning to expand? Trading card binders or D ring binders with card sleeve sheets is the better option. At the end of the day, it all comes down to you.

Also, again, this my 200^th article! I wanted it to be something special so settled on this as it’s another way to help the community with a commonly asked question and something that took a lot of learning myself. Thanks for everyone who’s ever read and/or kept reading my articles. Can You Roll a Crit was made to help players of all varieties with Warhammer Underworlds and I’m honoured that people still come to read what I’ve written. I’d never thought I’d get to 100, let alone 200 so thanks for putting up with me. I wouldn’t be writing still if it wasn’t for all of you.

With all that out of the way, I hope you enjoyed my latest guide for Warhammer Underworlds in relation to card storage. Being able to roll crits is important but keeping your cards safe is more so.