Hello Casters,
We’re here with a timeline update on Elestrals TCG: Divine Champions - Snowshade. To cut to the chase, we are pushing the set release by two weeks and rescheduling our prerelease window to October 9th through October 18th, with the official release of Snowshade being October 16th.
What happened?
Unlike previous delays, we didn’t have any manufacturing issues or product quality concerns. Instead, this was a combination of logistical challenges that compounded over multiple sets. The Sunstrike delay pushed back our production queue for everything. We had made up some time in between, but the complexities of Shattered Stars: Ethereal put us back behind schedule. We're adding these two extra weeks so our partners have enough turnaround time to get Snowshade to stores before their Prerelease Events.
Is this the third product delay in a row?
It is. We’re very unhappy that this is becoming something of a pattern for us. We’re actively adjusting our manufacturing process and 2027 product schedule to include additional buffer time to ensure we hit the targets we’re setting. We’ve found our bearings with our current manufacturer and have a firmer understanding of their workflow than we did when we initially picked this date. We will do everything in our power to avoid additional delays moving forward.
When do I get my stuff?
When we receive Snowshade, we will ship it out as quickly as possible. This means we will start by prioritizing bulk shipments to our Distribution Partners so they can get product to stores. These Distributors are aware of the shifted timelines and have been instructed to get Snowshade out as quickly as they can so that your local store doesn’t have to wait.
From there, we’ll start shipping to the stores that ordered directly through us, then prepare customer shipments to ship out on Prerelease day (October 9th). Please note that not all shipments will process immediately on that day.
How will the Prerelease Events work? Does my store need to do anything?
Your store will need to reschedule its Prerelease Event to sometime between October 9th and October 18th. They can do this themselves via the Play Network, or they can contact lgs@elestrals.com. If your store hasn’t scheduled a Prerelease Event yet, they should do so by September 13th to ensure they receive their promos and new tournament packs. If they require additional Organized Play 5 booster packs for prizing, they can contact us - we’ll help them out.
What if my store gets stuff early?
Shipping timelines vary, and while some stores may receive product before the Prerelease window, we wanted to move the dates for everyone just for consistency’s sake. Snowshade won't be distributed or available for play before October 9th at Prerelease-participating stores, or October 16th otherwise.
What about Premiers? Is there any change to Columbus?
We are shifting the Premier schedule and adding another Premier event before Snowshade drops. The new schedule:
- Saturday, September 12th, 7am ET (UK-Friendly)
- Saturday, September 19th, 1pm ET
- Saturday, October 3rd, 10am ET
October 3rd will be our last Sunstrike event. All three of these events will run on the new banlist, which will be announced September 2nd and take effect September 10th. Tadpuff Escaped from Tartarus will also be legal for all three events.
The October 3rd event will include new prizing – players will earn Premier 4 packs, Snowshade packs, and new Snowshade prize cards and playmats. Starting with this Premier, players finishing 17th-32nd will now receive an additional Premier Pack.
The first Snowshade Premier will be on Saturday, October 24th, 2026 at 10am ET. The Columbus Open takes place November 6th-8th, with no changes to that event. We’ll have more specifics about Columbus in a few weeks, so stay tuned!
When does the Organized Play season switch over now? What about my Folk Hero and Divine Favor prizing?
The Organized Play Season will switch over on Friday, October 2nd. From that date, Qualifier Points, Divine Favor, and Folk Hero Points will start counting toward Season 6.
Folk Hero prizing and new Organized Play packs will go to stores alongside their Prerelease Promos. Stores will also receive their Store-Level bonuses. Holo and Stellar Stores will get extra free product, and Stellar Stores will receive their exclusive Winners Pack Organized Play Kits.
Divine Favor prizing will ship out later in October. If you are a qualifying player with at least 1600 Divine Favor points, you will receive an email invoice with your prizing details pre-filled. You'll need to review and submit it for us to process your shipment.
When are you putting the cards on Elestrals Beyond?
Elestrals Beyond is meant to mirror what's playable at your local game store. Snowshade will be added to Beyond on October 9th, in line with the start of Prerelease.
What does this mean for upcoming releases after this?
Our next release is Shattered Stars: Alchemy, and it's planned to launch before the end of the year. Stay tuned for reveals, timelines, and more details soon!
Beyond that, our next expansion, Set 9, hasn’t been announced yet; however, we’re currently targeting a Q1 2027 release and are immensely excited to share the structure of our upcoming block.
Anything else?
One more thing – just thank you. The understanding, patience, and grace given to us over the years have been immense. We know that you’re tired of these delays, and we are too. As we build out our calendar, adapt our approach, and refine our workflow with our manufacturer, we’re going to do everything we can to deliver consistent releases on time moving forward.
– The Elestrals Team
