Welcome to the universe of UniVersus—a highly collectible trading card game based on anime, fighting games, and other pop culture franchises. Our UniVersus Collecting Guide is here to help you understand the ins and outs from rarity to parallels and beyond. And when you’re ready, it’s time to send off your first UniVersus grading submission to PSA.
Overview
This collectible card game was published by UVS Games as “Universal Fighting System” in 2005 before being rebranded to UniVersus in 2021. Since its inception, UniVersus has been rooted in the fighting genre of video games, incorporating characters from Street Fighter, TEKKEN, and Soulcalibur, however it also has adopted other pop culture franchises, such as My Hero Academia, Godzilla, Attack on Titan, Yu Yu Hakusho, and Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles. With these various properties colliding, UniVersus answers the age-old schoolyard debate of “Which character would win in a fight?” with exciting gameplay and highly collectible cards.
Sets
There are several sets within UniVersus, each with its own unique theme, character lineup, and inserts. Products can range from booster boxes to starter decks to Challenger Series sets. To denote when and where a card came from, nearly all cards use set codes and symbols that correspond to specific product releases.
In the image shown here, “CHA03-GMM” is the set code, which identifies this as a card from the Challenger Series Deck: Godzilla + Mothra. This code is followed by the card number, “1/22,” denoting the card’s placement in the overall checklist. This card also features a symbol (known as the set “bug”) in the lower left corner of the card that corresponds with the same set.
1st Edition
1st Edition cards represent the first-ever cards printed for a particular UniVersus set. Identified by the “1st Edition” text located near the bottom of the card, these cards are typically considered more desirable and valuable on the secondary market than their Unlimited counterparts, which lack the “1st Edition” text. More recent UniVersus releases have moved away from using 1st Edition designations.
Common
The most common cards found in a booster set
Typically no foil treatment
“C” designation next to the set code and card number
Cards found as Commons have also been found in other rarities
Uncommon
Rarer than common cards, but not as scarce as Rares
Typically no foil treatment
“UC” designation next to the set code and card number
Cards found as Uncommons have also been found in other rarities
Rare
Traditionally one in every pack—sometimes may be replaced with an SR or UR
Card usually has foil treatment but not always
“R” designation next to the set code and card number
Cards found as Rares have also been found in other rarities
Ultra Rare
Insertion rates vary based on the set
Card has foil treatment
“UR” designation next to the set code and card number
Cards found as Ultra Rares have also been found as Alternate Arts or in other rarities
Xtra Rare
Traditionally found one in every six packs
Card has foil treatment
“XR” designation next to the set code and card number
Cards found as Xtra Rares have also been found in other rarities
UniVersus has moved away from issuing Extra Rares in its most recent releases
Secret Rare
Typically found one in every 72 packs, with some exceptions based on the set
Card has foil treatment
“SR” designation next to the set code and card number
Card number exceeds the number of cards listed in the checklist
Cards found as Secret Rares have also been found in other rarities
Xtra Secret Rare
Typically rarer than Secret Rares
Card has foil treatment
“XSR” designation next to the set code and card number
Card number exceeds the number of cards listed in the checklist
UniVersus has moved away from issuing Xtra Secret Rares in its most recent releases
Character Rare
Typically one in every pack
Card can have foil treatment but not always
“CH” designation next to the set code and card number
Character Extra Rares are rarer versions with designations of “XR-CH” next to the set code and card number
Alternate Art
These parallel cards are some of the most collectible and rare cards in the CCG, featuring the same text as other cards with different artwork. Foil varies per set but can include texturing, color isolation, and other treatments. While insert rates vary from set to set, they can be parallels of a number of different rarities, each with their own corresponding designations next to the set code and card number:
Commons (C-ALT)
Uncommons (UC-ALT)
Rares (R-ALT)
Ultra Rares (UR-ALT)
Character Rares (CH-ALT)
Chrome Rare
Chrome Rare cards represent the rarest and highest-value cards pulled from packs.
Serial-numbered, usually out of 100
Card has foil, often with other treatments, including but not limited to: texturing, embossment, stamped signatures, and foil accents
“CR” designation next to the set code and card number
Gameplay
In UniVersus, players square off in battle using decks of at least 60 cards. The object of the game is to reduce your opponent’s health to 0, which can be done through Attacks and other card effects. PVE boss fights are another format of the gameplay, allowing for four players to team up against a common enemy. Both players play a Character Card, which remains in play for the duration of the game. This serves as an avatar for the player, and the rest of one’s deck is built around supporting that particular character. Supporting cards include Foundation cards, Action cards, Asset cards, Backup cards, and more. For more in-depth information on how to play UniVersus, see the official UniVersus How to Play guide HERE.
Promo Cards
UVS Games has distributed several promo cards in promotion of the UniVersus collectible card game. These cards are often given out at organized play events, conventions, or as part of specialty products or promotions and include a “P” designation next to the set code and card number. Promos are not exclusively character cards—they may be any card type, such as attacks, foundations, actions, etc. One of the most sought after types of promos are prize cards, which are given out to top competitors in regional and worldwide tournaments.
With this guide, you now have everything you need to start your UniVersus collecting journey. Submit your UniVersus cards to PSA today.