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Community Update #1


Welcome to the first edition of the community update blog! We have been absolutely overwhelmed with the support we have received so far so thank you for all the comments, like and follows! Its been a busy week at BattleGuard:


  • We ran our first competition (due to finish 1st May. If you haven't already entered, head over to our Instagram!)

  • We celebrate a birthday internally (41!!đź«Ł)

Product Updates


We eagerly await the delivery of our first product launch, which will be our standard and perfect fit sleeves. We anticipate these to be ready late May so will be ramping up over the coming weeks. We are also working hard in the background to finalize the launch of next ranges including:


  • Toploaders

  • Binders

  • Mats

  • Hard Protection (Cases...etc)


We want to ensure each product has a smooth launch so will focus on one at a time.



What's New In TCG?


With some great TCG (Trading Card Game) sets launching soon across the board, we take a look below at what players and collectors can expect from these exciting new releases:


Wilds Unknown is the highly anticipated 12th set from Lorcana. It is due for release on May 15th, with special pre-release events taking place from 8th May.


The set features the first major integration of Pixar IPs with Toy Story, The Incredibles and Brave all making an appearance.


Our favourite card has to be Alien True Believer.....the claaaw.....he has been chosen. Fingers crossed we pull this one!




Chaos Rising is the next installment in the Pokemon Mega Evolution series due for release on 22nd May 2026.


The set features numerous Mega Evolution Pokemon with the Mega Greninja taking the spotlight as the main mascot and chase card.


We haven't seen many cards being released yet but if the Japanese set is a anything to go by we cant wait to see an English version of surfing beach!




Magic The Gathering invites players to assemble on June 26th 2026 with their latest offering Marvel Superheroes. The new set brings the broader Marvel universe to the game with a specific focus on the Avengers.


Whilst MTG isn't our first love we look forward to the comic accurate art style its set to deliver, with our favourite card being the Doctor Doom Comic cover full art!





Community Spotlight


We have been building our community reaching almost 800 followers on Instagram, so thank you to all those that have supported us so far.


We were pleased to launch our first competition where the winner can receive either:


3 x Ascended Heroes Booster Packs


OR


3 x Winterspell Lorcana Booster Packs


OR


3 x TMNT MTG Booster Packs


To enter you just need to follow our Facebook or Instagram page, like the post pinned and comment either Pokemon, Lorcana or MTG!


We are also working on our Founding Creator program, which is an opportunity for creators to work with us and be part of what we're building at BattleGuard.


Upcoming Events - Where We Will Be...


  • 8th May 2026 - Lorcana Wilds Unknown Release Event, Portsmouth

  • 13th June 2026 - South Coast Card Con, Fratton Community Centre, Portsmouth (Attending)

Knowledge Corner: Protection 101



When it comes to protecting your collection your can never be too cautious, we explain the basics below on how you can protect your cards for years to come.


First things first, you need to know what you are protecting. TCGs can come in all shapes and sizes, the most popular have been listed below:


Pokemon = 63mm x 88mm

Lorcana = 63mm x 88mm

MTG = 63mm x 88mm

Yu-Gi-Oh= 59mm x 86mm


Sleeves


Your first line of defence is a sleeve (sometimes referred to as penny sleeves). These are typically 50micron thick, clear and manufactured from polypropylene. These sleeves provide a barrier against dings, scratches, dirt, dust and oils.


In addition to standard sleeves there are also different types of sleeves that serve different purposes. This includes:


Perfect fit sleeves (inner sleeves) are similar to standard sleeves but are smaller to better suit the size of the card being sleeved. These are perfect for double sleeving where the card is placed inside a perfect sleeve followed by a standard sleeve. These can also be used when a card is to be placed inside a hard plastic case.


Competition sleeves are a lot thicker then standard sleeves and incorporate one clear side and one coloured opaque side. This allows cards to be used for competition decks by concealing any damage or marking and stopping the identification of specific cards. They also typically provide a easier shuffling due to the smoother surface.


Toploaders


Toploaders are a rigid plastic holder designed to protect cards from bending, creasing or physical damage. Unlike soft sleeves they provide a hard outer layer and are great for displaying, storing or posting cards.


Toploaders are typically one size (3" x 4") but come in various opening sizes to allow storage of TCG cards like Pokemon, Lorcana or MTG all the way up to a Booster pack.


Semi Rigid Sleeves


Semi rigid sleeves are a cross between a sleeve and toploader. They are generally used for submitting cards for grading services such as PSA, ACE, CGC...etc as they provide more then support then just a sleeve while still allowing easy insertion and removal.


Binders:


A binder is a storage folder designed to store and organise your TCG collection using built in page pockets. They protect cards from dust and handling whilst still making it easy to view your collection without removing them.


Binders come in a variety of colours and sizes making them perfect to tailor to your style or the set it protects. They can hold from 20, all the way up to 1280 cards!!! You can also purchase variants that are adapted to hold toploaders and graded cards.


These are the basics when it comes to card protection and they are many many other ways to display and protect your cards! From magnetic holders to card grading and rigid cases.


Taking steps to protect your cards ensures your collection is protected for years to come. Even starting with sleeves makes a difference as every layer of protection counts. If you have any questions on protecting your cards please feel free to contact us.


Whats next!


Were just getting started and there is plenty more to come from BattleGuard. Here's what you can expect over the coming weeks:


Sleeve launch (fingers crossed)

Discord Server for our community to connect, share grow.

Launch of our Founding Creator program


If there is anything you would like to know or want us to discuss or showcase just reach out and we will try to include it where we can!



Play. Preserve. Protect.

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