--- title: "Guide: Trading Cards - Overview" description: "Guide: Trading Cards - Overview" url: https://support.goalunited.org/en/articles/179-guide-trading-cards-overview collection: "Starter Guides" updated: 2026-10-24 language: en alternates: [fr, de, it, pl, es, tr] --- # Guide: Trading Cards - Overview Guide: Trading Cards - Overview Trading cards are items that trigger one-off events in the game. They give you advantages in training, matches, player development, and club management. You will start collecting them from your very first booster pack, and they become a useful tool throughout the entire game. Open your card collection at any time using the card deck shortcut on the left edge of the screen, or via Cards → Card Deck in the main menu. ## **Card Rarities** Every card has a rarity level that determines how powerful it is and how often it appears in booster packs:

Rarity	Drop Rate in Standard Packs
Common	~4 per 7-card pack on average
Uncommon	~2 per 7-card pack on average
Rare	~1 per 7-card pack on average
Ultra-Rare	Occasional — replaces the rare slot

> **Info:** Cards that come in multiple rarities (e.g. Encourage common and Encourage uncommon) have the same impact, just a stronger effect at higher rarity ## **How to Get Cards** ### **Card Shop (Cards → Card Shop)** The main source. You can buy standard booster packs (7 random cards each) or special themed packs (when offered) focused on specific aspects of the game. Buying 3 or 5 standard packs at once gives a discount. Special packs and one-off items like Plus Staff coupons and building upgrades are also sold here (available only occasionally, most of them once a season) ### **The Bazaar (Cards → Bazaar)** The player-driven marketplace. Search for any specific card and buy it instantly or via auction. You can also sell cards you do not need; a 15% listing fee applies (minimum 2 GU STARS), and listings run for 72 hours. Cards from free promo packs and special cards cannot be sold at the bazaar. > **Info:** The bazaar is the best place to get a specific card you need right now without opening packs. Watch prices for a day or two before buying to know what fair value looks like. ### **Goal Wall (Cards → Goal Wall)** A daily mini-game where you attempt a shootout to win a card that you select in the dropdown. You are required to use a goalwall coupon or 5 cards for each attempt. ### **Scratch Cards (Cards → Scratch Cards)** Purchasable scratch cards that reveal a guaranteed prize. The main prize tier can include loan player coupons and sometimes special cards. One free scratch card per day and club ## **The Four Card Categories** ### **1. Training Cards** Played into your daily training slot to add an extra training benefit that day. These are the cards you will use most often. Click the Carddeck on the left in your game account and select the Training tab (green)

Card	Effect
Relaxation (common/uncommon/rare)	Increases energy of the entire squad by 2 / 4 / 6 points
Mental Training (common/uncommon/rare)	Increases form of the entire squad by 2 / 4 / 6 points
Endurance Training (common/uncommon/rare)	Increases endurance of the entire squad by 2 / 4 / 6 points
Combo Training (rare)	Boosts form, energy, and endurance each by +2 in a single card
Pressing / Counter-attack / Powerplay etc.	Adds one extra training unit toward that specific tactic
Team Spirit (Special)	Raises team spirit by 25 points instantly
Special tactic cards (Defensive Fortress, Wing Dominance etc.)	Adds a training unit for that special tactic; only available via special offers

> **Info:** Tactic training cards are very efficient — they let you train a specific tactic twice in one day, bypassing the normal one-session limit. Useful when you want to get a new tactic up to 80% quickly. ### **2. Action Cards** Played during a match; either pre-loaded in the formation screen or dropped into the live ticker up to 50 minutes after kick-off. They take effect at the start of the second half. Click the Carddeck on the left in your game account and select the Action tab (red)

Card	Effect
Encourage (common)	Raises team effort by 25% (max 150% total)
Encourage (uncommon)	Raises team effort by 50% (max 150% total)
Take It Slow (common)	Reduces energy consumption by 50% in the second half
Full Attack (rare)	More chances created; higher counterattack risk
Full Defence (uncommon)	Fewer opponent chances — and fewer of your own too
Play for Free Kicks (rare)	More free kicks won; increased yellow card risk
Get Penalties (ultra-rare)	Team tries to win penalties; very high yellow card risk
Midfield Control (rare)	Team focuses on midfield sectors 4, 5, 6; risk of gaps elsewhere

> **Info:** Keep 'Take It Slow' cards in reserve for matches where you are winning comfortably at half-time and need to protect player energy for the next fixture. ### **3. Player Cards** Applied directly to one player. These cover a wide range of individual boosts from energy top-ups to contract extensions.

Card	What It Does
Extra Energy (uncommon/rare)	Instantly adds 5 or 8 energy to one player
Increase Form (uncommon)	Raises one player's form by 2
Cross-Country Running (common)	Raises one player's endurance by 5
Vitamin Shot (uncommon)	Makes a bruised player fit for 3 days — can play in upcoming match
Rehab (common)	Shortens an injury by 1 day
Instant Heal (Special)	Instantly fully heals an injured player (max 2 per club per season)
Long-Term Commitment (rare)	Extends a player's contract to 40 weeks
Silent Support / Pep Talk / Confidence Boost	Raises one player's morale by +2 / +4 / +6
Instant Morale (Special)	Raises morale by +25 instantly (max 2 per player, 6 per club per season)
Talent Slot (uncommon/rare/ultra-rare)	Opens an additional talent slot for one player
Improve Talent (uncommon/rare/ultra-rare)	Fills a talent slot with +1 / +2 / +4 training points
Switch Position (rare)	Instantly changes a player's position with no penalty
Fountain of Youth (Special)	Player feels 1 year younger (must be 21+; max 2 per season)
Fountain of Youth Gold (Special)	Player feels 3 years younger (must be 24+; max 2 per season)
Youth Scout (common/rare/ultra-rare)	Reveals a youth player's average strength (at least 1.6 / 2.0 / 2.4)

> **Warning:** Player Morale cards are not tradeable on the bazaar. You can only get them from booster packs or special events. ### **4. Coupon Cards** Coupons unlock premium features or give one-off club benefits. Most are only available through special offers or events.

Coupon	What It Unlocks
Loan Player	Signs a loan player for 18 weeks, slightly stronger than your best player (max strength 10.0)
Elite Loan Player	Signs a loan player for 24 weeks at strength 10.0; also gives +0.5 XP/week to all your players
Bonus Payment (500k / 1M / 5M / 15M)	Direct cash injection to your club balance
Worker	Cuts current construction or repair time in half
Practice Match	Free challenge for a practice match (saves 150 GU STARS)
Plus Staff	New staff member with motivation locked at 100 for 90 days
United Cup / League / Tournament / 1on1	Free participation or creation of a United competition
Building GU STARS (200 / 1000)	Discount on a STARS-priced building

## **Card Limits** Some cards have per-season limits. The card deck shows greyed-out cards you already own but can no longer use this season; this is normal. Limits reset at the start of each new season. > **Info:** Double-clicking any card in the deck, even ones you do not own yet, opens its detail popup with a full description of the effect and any limits. Use this to learn about cards before deciding whether to buy them. ## **A Quick Strategy for New Players** 1. Use Relaxation and Combo Training cards when player energy is getting low, cheaper and faster than waiting for your physio. 2. Save Encourage cards for cup ties and critical league matches, not routine games. 3. A Vitamin Shot on a key bruised player before a big match is often worth more than any other card you could play. 4. Sell duplicate or unwanted cards on the bazaar rather than letting them sit unused in your deck. 5. Visit the Scratch cards section and scratch the daily free scratch card; it costs nothing and adds up over a season. [Starter Guides](https://support.goalunited.org/collections/31)