As part of the Alpha Kit gameplay guide, the developers included a deckbuilding section for pre-constructed 30-card decks. The guide introduced "an important mechanic subtly supporting our game system from the shadows: RAM."
RAM functions as "a hidden balancing knob that adds complexity and flexibility to card creation," enabling designers to develop powerful cards without destabilizing competitive play.
Deckbuilding Requirements
Four rules govern legal Cyberpunk TCG decks:
- Use exactly 3 Legend cards with unique names
- Include 40–50 cards (excluding Legends)
- Use no more than 3 copies of identical cards
- Maintain cards within the RAM limit set by Legends
"Cards can only be included in decks with sufficient RAM. Your Legends set the RAM limits for your deck." Each Legend displays a colored border and RAM limit in the top right corner. For example, Goro Takemura: Hands Unclean carries 2 Green RAM, permitting any Green cards with RAM value ≤ 2.
The cumulative RAM of three Legend cards establishes maximum RAM values for color-specific cards. Building multi-color decks requires selecting Legends with RAM in each included color. In the provided example using Goro Takemura (2 Green RAM), Saburo Arasaka (2 Green RAM), and Yorinobu Arasaka (2 Red RAM), Green cards may reach 4 RAM while Red cards max at 2 RAM.
Wait a Second…
Alpha Kit decks actually violate multiple deckbuilding rules. These 30-card decks include only half the required minimum, and contain cards — Armored Minotaur and Jackie Welles: Ride or Die Choom — exceeding available RAM.
The developers deliberately created "a very simple and distilled version of the game that focused on demoing the core gameplay mechanics." This prioritized learning accessibility over tournament legality.
An Important Balancing Tool
Despite Alpha Kit liberties, RAM proves "extremely important to balancing the Cyberpunk TCG metagame outside of the Alpha vacuum!"
The system balances versatile multi-color and specialized single-color decks through reciprocal advantages. Multi-color strategies offer broader, shallower card pools; single-color approaches provide narrower but deeper options. This creates "a new layer of skill expression for players."
High-RAM cards deliver greater power but predictability, allowing rivals to anticipate deck strengths based on color identity. From a design perspective, "RAM is a unique and exciting development knob. It allows us to restrict a card's use without restricting its gameplay abilities."
The system enables designers to create "lots of cool and powerful effects, without worrying about players stacking their decks with all of them at once."
Players are invited to strategize in the official Cyberpunk TCG Discord server.
Until next time, happy gaming! — The Weird Crew