Joseph Writer Anderson Podcast

Welcome back to the JWA Podcast! Today we're looking at SAKAMOTO DAYS. I'll be walking you through each deck, and analyzing the direction of the UNION ARENA English Version meta. Helpful resources: SAKAMOTO DAYS decks: https://www.josephwriteranderson.com/blog/union-arena-every-sakamoto-days-deck-rankedUNION ARENA Tier List: https://www.josephwriteranderson.com/blog/union-arena-tier-list-english-versionJWA Deck Builder: https://www.josephwriteranderson.com/deck-builder

In this episode, build all the decks from UNION ARENA: Tokyo Ghoul with me as we learn how to use the new JWA Premium Deck Builder. Also get a sneak peek at the Risky Mulligan Trainer App, the world’s first mulligan analyzer built with AI trained on my actual mulligan instincts. Learn more via the following links:https://www.josephwriteranderson.com/blog/play-union-arena-like-a-pro-with-the-new-risky-mulligan-trainer-app https://www.josephwriteranderson.com/blog/union-arena-every-tokyo-ghoul-deck-ranked

The UNION ARENA Sword Art Online Vol. 2 Rare Battle season comes to an end for me with my fourth Asuna UNION RARE Winner card! This was an absolutely insane Rare Battle season for me, topping all six tournaments I went to, winning four of them, and never placing below second overall! In this episode, I'll be walking you through each of my tournaments and the deck building process that went into creating and competing with unique builds such as my custom "Song and Dance" deck and "Mother's Rosario with Lightsabers." This is a fun one, and you can dive deeper on the blog: SAO Vol. 2 Rare Battle Recap:https://www.josephwriteranderson.com/blog/4-asuna-union-rare-winner-cards-later-nbsprare-battle-recap

In this episode, we'll be looking at the upcoming UNION ARENA set, Solo Leveling. We'll be diving deep into prerelease market trends and what they say about this set and the future of UNION ARENA sets.Additionally, we'll be diving into the new decks coming out in Solo Leveling, and the current UNION ARENA meta as well as predictions for post set launch.Helpful links: UNION ARENA tier list: https://www.josephwriteranderson.com/blog/union-arena-tier-list-english-versionEvery Solo Leveling deck: https://www.josephwriteranderson.com/blog/union-arena-every-solo-leveling-deckUNION ARENA: Solo Leveling hype explained: https://www.josephwriteranderson.com/blog/solo-leveling-is-the-most-hyped-union-arena-set-to-date

UNION ARENA NA Finals & LCQ Recap JWA Take a trip through the UNION ARENA LCQ/Finals from a competitor's perspective. Catch the vibe for this hyper challenging event and get an inside look at my X-2 run with Purple Progressive that landed me solidly in the top 32 at the LCQ in Vegas to qualify for the first ever UNION ARENA Championship North America Finals. Get the play-by-play for my LCQ run via the blog.

What happens when you take Purple SAO to an Evangelion dominated case tournament? In this episode, I'll be taking you through the play-by-play of the 28 player Evangelion case tournament I took 3rd at. Playing my beloved Purple Progressive deck, I fought through battle after battle against Evangelion decks. Get insights into the post Evangelion meta from this large UNION ARENA tournament, and check out the full article below for even more insights including the top placing decks and an interview with the tournament winner: https://www.josephwriteranderson.com/blog/i-topped-an-evangelion-case-tournament-heres-how-it-wentPurple Progressive deck guide episode: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eVwxBWmd8Fk&t=1029sSpecial thanks to Constellation Collective for supporting the competitive UNION ARENA scene, and shoutout to both Drewtabulous and Tayxia for inviting me to the epic event! Lastly, don't be like me and play with dirty sleeves – pick up your sleeves from TCGPlayer via my link: https://partner.tcgplayer.com/19aM39#UNIONARENA #SwordArtOnline #Evangelion

In this episode, we'll be going over my custom Purple Progressive build that I've been topping tournaments with, and looking at actionable insights to help you pilot this underrated deck to victory. Additionally, I'll be sharing my perspective on a few UNION ARENA updates regarding the lack of a restriction to the one-cost Yuna card as well as alleged changes likely to come to how UNION ARENA Rare Battles are conducted. Check out these helpful links for more info: In-depth guide to the Purple Progressive deck: https://www.josephwriteranderson.com/blog/sword-art-online-purple-progressive-deck More info on the news updates: https://www.josephwriteranderson.com/blog/yuna-not-restricted-in-english-version-and-updates-to-rare-battles #SwordArtOnline #UNIONARENA

Dive into the powerful decks coming out in the strongest UNION ARENA set to date: Evangelion! We'll be looking at the top decks from this set as well as looking at how the cards cut from the English Version will impact the UNION ARENA meta. Helpful links: NA Tier List post SAO Vol. 2 and Evangelion: https://www.josephwriteranderson.com/blog/union-arena-tier-list-english-version Every Evangelion deck ranked: https://www.josephwriteranderson.com/blog/union-arena-every-evangelion-deck-ranked Complete Evangelion card list: https://www.josephwriteranderson.com/blog/union-arena-evangelion-card-list SAO Vol. 2 decks: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6G-Uakvbya4&t=1912s

In this episode, we’ll be diving into everything you need to know about UNION ARENA: Sword Art Online Vol. 2 including:The best decksTop chase cardsWinner cards and promosAnd more.Learn more via the blog:Every SAO Vol. 2 deck in detail: https://www.josephwriteranderson.com/blog/union-arena-every-sword-art-online-vol-2-deck-rankedFull card list in English to date: https://www.josephwriteranderson.com/blog/union-arena-sword-art-online-vol-2-card-listAffiliate link to purchase products: https://partner.tcgplayer.com/YROJEBThe journey to 9 Asuna Winner Cards: https://www.josephwriteranderson.com/blog/can-i-get-nine-asuna-union-arena-winner-cards

In this episode we'll be going over the questions YOU sent in about all things UNION ARENA. This includes things like: -optimizing in-game choices for best outcomes -how to build a good UNION ARENA deck -the future of the meta -when it's best to go first or second -buying boxes vs. singles And more! Thanks to everyone for this incredible journey in 2025 and for a lot more to come next year! TCGPlayer affiliate link: https://partner.tcgplayer.com/09gdrOHelpful links:https://www.josephwriteranderson.com/blog/union-arena-qa-with-joseph-writer-andersonhttps://www.josephwriteranderson.com/blog/bleach-thousand-year-blood-war-gets-union-arenas-first-vol-3

Bandai dropped a ton of information this week for what's to come in 2026 including two brand new sets, upcoming set release dates and events, upcoming Rare Battles and prizing, as well as spoilers for Sword Art Online Vol. 2 and Evangelion. In this episode, let's discuss these updates in more detail and what they mean for the very bright future ahead for UNION ARENA in 2026. Learn more via the blog on my site: https://www.josephwriteranderson.com/blog/union-arena-drops-rezero-and-100-girlfriends-and-other-major-news See the full UNION ARENA English Release Schedule here: https://www.josephwriteranderson.com/blog/upcoming-union-arena-tcg-releases

Dive into each and every deck in UNION ARENA: Demon Slayer Vol. 2 in the latest episode from the podcast. From the noble fields where the Hashira do battle, to the real debut of the Demon King in the arena, this expansion has it all. Which deck will end up on top? Listen and find out! Every Demon Slayer Vol. 2 deck ranked: https://www.josephwriteranderson.com/blog/union-arena-every-demon-slayer-vol-2-deck-ranked-1 UNION ARENA NA Tier List: https://www.josephwriteranderson.com/blog/union-arena-tier-list-english-version Rulings, new title, and other news: https://www.josephwriteranderson.com/blog/union-arena-a-new-title-rule-change-and-rukia-zero New winner cards: https://www.josephwriteranderson.com/blog/union-arena-2026-winner-cards-vol-1-revealed

In this episode, we’re going to be covering everything new in UNION ARENA including recent tournament announcements, my Kaiju No. 8 tournament result, the latest online UNION ARENA tournament, every new deck coming out in Goddess of Victory NIKKE, and my predictions for the UNION ARENA Meta (with tier list). It’s a hefty episode that I know you’ll enjoy! Find all the relevant info to learn more about the stuff we talk about in this video via my website: www.josephwriteranderson.com and the links below: Mina deck:https://www.josephwriteranderson.com/blog/how-i-won-the-kaiju-no-8-rare-battle-union-arenaToshiro deck: https://www.josephwriteranderson.com/blog/kenpachitoshiro-green-bleach-deck-list-vol-3Byakuya deck: https://www.josephwriteranderson.com/blog/1st-place-byakuya-deck-vol-3-union-arenaNIKKE decks: https://www.josephwriteranderson.com/blog/union-arena-every-nikke-deck-rankedTop UNION ARENA deckshttps://www.josephwriteranderson.com/blog/the-best-union-arena-tcg-decks-right-nowLancelot deck: https://www.josephwriteranderson.com/blog/top-32-lancelot-deck-list-and-matchup-guideEgman tournament decks: https://egmanevents.com/union-arena-q4-2025/egman-events-and-gg-haven-quad-win-a-box

In this episode, we’ll be taking a look at the new Kaiju No. 8 UNION ARENA set and going over its four new decks, as well as diving into what makes this set an ideal jump-in point for new UA players.Check out my complete Kaiju No. 8 deck ranking for more info: https://www.josephwriteranderson.com/blog/union-arena-every-kaiju-no-8-deck-rankedAnd here’s the Toshiro/Kenpachi deck I topped the case tournament with: https://www.josephwriteranderson.com/blog/kenpachitoshiro-green-bleach-deck-list-vol-3

n this episode, let's dive into the state of the UNION ARENA TCG meta one year after the game's initial debut. Is Kenshin tier zero? What decks benefit from the massive meta shakeup the Kenshin set has caused? What decks have lost ground? We'll get into all of this and more in today's episode. Check out the full guide below for more info on the site!https://www.josephwriteranderson.com/blog/the-best-union-arena-tcg-decks-right-now

In this episode, we're diving into everything I experienced at the UNION ARENA Los Angeles Regional including my matchups, why you shouldn't stay at a party hotel before a tournament, and what happens when you bring SAO Goddesses to a Kenshin dominated meta!Check out the link for more info on the regional: https://www.josephwriteranderson.com/blog/rurouni-kenshin-red-dominates-la-union-arena-regional

In this episode, we'll be diving deep into each of the new Rurouni Kenshin decks coming out with the latest set. Don't miss some of the latest UNION ARENA news, set releases, and thoughts on the UNION ARENA meta after Kenshin. Full Rurouni Kenshin deck ranking: https://www.josephwriteranderson.com/blog/union-arena-every-rurouni-kenshin-deck-rankedWe'll also be looking at the decks coming out with Hunter x Hunter Vol. 2: https://www.josephwriteranderson.com/blog/union-arena-every-hunter-x-hunter-vol-2-deck-ranked

In this episode of the JWA Podcast, I’ll be taking a deep dive into the UNION ARENA: Code Geass VOl. 2 Rare Battle format, as well as diving into each of the top Code Geass decks to know about. Listen to this episode and gain tangible insights into what deck you should bring to your Rare Battle competition, and why.Check out the full deck list for the format via my guide: https://www.josephwriteranderson.com/blog/union-arena-every-code-geass-vol-2-deck-ranked

In this episode from the podcast, we'll be taking a look at the decks coming to UNION ARENA post Attack on Titan and Code Geass Vol. 2, as well as diving into my predictions for the meta and what decks will be on the top after these sets release. Attack on Titan decksCode Geass Vol. 2 decks

Our first UNION ARENA regional for the English Version of the game is here, and with it a brand new top meta deck has proven its salt in the competitive scene – Roy Mustang with an incredible 7 out of the top 16 decks sporting different versions of the archetype. In this episode we'll be diving into the decks and tactics used to top the biggest UNION ARENA tournament to date. For more info, get the full event coverage on my blog: https://www.josephwriteranderson.com/blog/mustang-fma-blue-deck-dominates-the-first-union-arena-regional-tournament And special shoutout to LullabyAnto for his excellent coverage of the event which was instrumental in putting this piece together. Follow him on X @Antothewayward. More info on the event can be found via EXBURST: https://exburst.dev/ua/en/tournament?id=7407

Looking for a unique way to build Purple BLEACH that feels fast, powerful, and consistent? Then this is the deck for you! Leaning heavily into the Rukia Raid engine, leverage your most powerful Raid Ichigo effects early and often thanks to a rapidly fueled sideline. For more about how this deck works, check out the guide on my website: https://www.josephwriteranderson.com/blog/union-arena-ichigorukia-turbo-deck-guide

In this episode of the Joseph Writer Anderson Podcast, we’ll be discussing the meta post Fullmetal Alchemist Brotherhood. We’ll be looking at the top decks you should know about, as well as diving into a broader tier list looking at where the majority of UNION ARENA decks stand today.For more info, checkout the guide to the best UNION ARENA decks on the website:https://www.josephwriteranderson.com/blog/the-best-union-arena-tcg-decks-right-now

Wondering what deck to play in Fullmetal Alchemist Brotherhood? We’ll be taking a look at each and every FMA deck and ranking them from strong to strongest. To follow along while listening, check out the complete guide on my site: https://www.josephwriteranderson.com/blog/union-arena-every-fullmetal-alchemist-deck-ranked

In this episode, we’ll be taking a look at first place winning deck lists from each of the four UNION ARENA Rare Battles happening this summer. These decks were all shared via my Discord. Get the Discord Invite and join to share your own wins and get featured on future episodes! See the deck lists featured in this episode via the following link: https://www.josephwriteranderson.com/joseph-writer-anderson-podcast/whats-winning-at-rare-battles-jjk-black-clover-bleach-sao

In this episode of the Joseph Writer Anderson Podcast, we’ll be discussing the UNION ARENA meta post Jujutsu Kaisen Volume 2. In the JJK Vol. 2 format, already powerful decks look to leverage site cards like Malevolent Shrine and Royal Palace to gain an unprecedented advantage over the competition. For this reason, strong decks with the capabilities to remove site cards from the game will fare far better than those that can’t do a thing about them. Meanwhile, consistent favorites like Purple Code Geass, Yellow Saitama, and Blue SAO Aincrad continue to be a solid pick for competitive play.Get the full rundown of how the top tier UNION ARENA decks stack up against one another via the full podcast.

Wondering what happens in Unital Ring – the next big Sword Art Online arc beyond where the anime left off? In this episode, we’ll be reviewing the highlights from the SAO light novels following the Alicization arc – volumes 19-27.Don’t miss SAO volume 28 releasing on July 8, 2025 – click the link below for more info: https://www.josephwriteranderson.com/blog/sword-art-online-unital-ring-complete-overview

I did it! I got the Kirito UNION RARE Winner card after going undefeated at my first ever Sword Art Online Rare Battle! This was an epic feat for me after having played SAO decks almost exclusively since the set came out, testing their matchups and pitting them against the most extreme situations to glean info into their strengths and weaknesses.Join me in this podcast as we discuss matchups piloting my Yellow Goddesses deck against three fantastic players and three solid decks including:Blue AincradMother’s RosarioIntegrity Knights.Hopefully this helps stir up some ideas for your own SAO Rare Battle! For a more detailed look at the entire format, check out my SAO Rare Battle Guide: https://www.josephwriteranderson.com/blog/union-arena-sao-rare-battle-guide

In this episode, let’s talk about the top BLEACH Vol. 2 decks to look out for in the UNION ARENA Rare Battle format!You know you want to bag that Rukia UNION RARE card. But how do you do it?In this episode, I’m going to be talking about four different decks that are going to be popular in the Rare Battle format, as well as specific matchup info to look out for.Follow along via the complete guide on my website: https://www.josephwriteranderson.com/blog/union-arena-bleach-rare-battle-guide-vol-2

Wondering what deck you want to bring to your next UNION ARENA: Sword Art Online Rare Battle?In this podcast episode, we’re going to be looking at everything SAO Rare Battle, and helping you decide what deck to bring to your tournament in hopes of bagging the iconic Kirito five-cost UNION RARE card.For more info, check out my SAO Rare Battle Guide: (https://www.josephwriteranderson.com/blog/union-arena-sao-rare-battle-guide)

The UNION ARENA format has changed drastically in the last month since I updated my best UNION ARENA decks list: https://www.josephwriteranderson.com/blog/the-best-union-arena-tcg-decks-right-nowIn this podcast episode, we’ll be diving into my predictions for what decks are going to be on top following the release of BLEACH Vol. 2 and Black Clover sets.Love the podcast? Support my work! Purchase your TCG cards and products via my partners at TCGPlayer and I get a percentage of every purchase!

In this episode, we’ll be taking a look at the decks currently seeing the most play and performing the best at UNION ARENA tournaments in the Sword Art Online format.Thanks to Unionversity for his weekly meta updates which were instrumental to me in making this episode as well as the Draw 3! tournament.

In this episode we're talking about the Mother's Rosario Sword Art Online deck in UNION ARENA.Learn how powerful Asuna can be when you have eight Yuuki in your sideline, and how to use this deck to compete in your next event.Get the full guide via the following link: https://www.josephwriteranderson.com/blog/sword-art-online-mothers-rosario-deck-guide

Get pumped for BLEACH Thousand Year Blood War Vol. 2 coming out on May 30, 2025. The first Vol. 2 UNION ARENA set in the English Meta, BLEACH decks are about to get a whole lot stronger thanks to powerful new cards like the four-cost raidless Ichigo capable of having damage 2 and Impact depending on the cards in your sideline.Checkout my ranking of the best BLEACH decks for more info on the lists discussed.Check out my BLEACH Vol. 2 spoiler guide for more info on the cards coming out later in the year.

SAO Yellow Goddesses is my favorite deck to come out of the latest UNION ARENA set. Check out this episode for some pretty deep insights into how to play this deck, my custom build, and how it compares to other decks dominating the meta.See the full guide via this link: SAO Yellow Goddesses Deck.

Today we’re going to be reviewing the latest Egman UNION ARENA Tournament results as well as taking a look at my predictions for the best decks in the Sword Art Online format. Don’t miss it!Also check out Unionversity mentioned in the episode!

In this episode, we’ll be ranking each of the new decks in the UNION ARENA: Sword Art Online set. For a full look at the decks covered in this episode, see my SAO deck ranking.

In this episode we’ll be looking at the broader UNION ARENA TCG meta currently, including decks that are competitively viable if not top tier. For more info on the top tier decks, check out my Best UNION ARENA Decks guide.UNION ARENA TIER ListBLUE JJK Nanami Purple Code GeassYellow SaitamaGreen Code GeassPurple BleachYellow TanjiroTier 2KurapikaPsychic SistersMetal BatAshfordToshiro/YamamotoGarouYellow JJKTier 3Gyutaro/DakiSpeed O Sound SonicGreen SaitamaPizzaHashira

UNION ARENA hasn’t been out for a year yet but already there are plenty of solid sets to choose from. In this podcast episode, we’ll be talking about each and every UA set and ranking them based on playability, competitiveness, and collectibility. Listen in to find out which set is best for you!Make your purchases via my best UNION ARENA sets article following and support what I do!

In this episode we take a deep dive into the UNION ARENA: One Punch Man Speed-o’-Sound Sonic deck and my custom build I used to take first at a store tournament.Full deck list can be found on my website.

We’re covering A LOT in this Pokemon TCG podcast episode focused on the upcoming Journey Together set releasing on March 28, 2025. See everything I’m talking about via the list below (and find relevant links to follow along with the decks and card).Journey Together Prerelease PromosNew decks in Journey TogetherMost Expensive Journey Together CardsSurging Sparks market guideEnjoy!

JWA #11 My Second Place Metal Bat Deck <figure class=" sqs-block-image-figure intrinsic " > The Metal Bat deck is one of the strongest new decks in the UNION ARENA: One Punch Man set. In this episode, learn about the deck I used to get second place at my One Punch Man Rare Battle. Dive deep into matchups you’ll be likely to face as well as an overview of every single card and why it’s included!

Before the UNION ARENA: One Punch Man set released everywhere, I did a preliminary ranking of the new decks available in what is undoubtedly one of the best sets to date. After serious testing, that ranking largely stayed the same with just a few noteworthy changes.Here is my up-to-date tier list for the One Punch Man Rare Battle format from best to worst. Listen to the full episode for more details on these decks.#1 Yellow Saitama#2 Speed-o’-Sound Sonic/Boros#3 Green Saitama/King#4 Metal Bat#5 Yellow Psychic Sisters#6 Garou

In this episode of the Joseph Writer Anderson Podcast, we’ll be taking a deep dive into the One Punch Man UNION ARENA meta and the top dog of the set which is Yellow Saitama.Yellow Saitama has the opportunity to change the way the game is played, enabling more varied decks to do well in a meta that has become largely a contest of who has the better removal.Checkout the full guide to play Yellow Saitama on my website.

Code Geass Purple is one of the strongest UNION ARENA decks, using a combination of forced blocking and BP reducing effects to dominate the competition. In this podcast, take a look at my custom Code Geass Purple build and learn advanced techniques to pilot this deck to success.

In today’s episode, we’ll be looking at each of the major UNION ARENA One Punch Man decks to watch once the set releases in a few weeks. For the full story and deck lists for each major archetype, check out my One Punch Man UNION ARENA deck ranking.

In this podcast episode, I’ll be taking you through the UNION ARENA Demon Slayer Rare Battle format looking at the best Demon Slayer decks and analyzing strengths and weaknesses to help you succeed.

In this episode I dissect the Gyutaro Demon Slayer Purple deck for the Union Arena trading card game. The podcast details every card in the deck, its purpose, and how it synergizes with others to form powerful combos. I also discusses matchups for the deck, highlighting strategies against popular decks like Code Geass Purple and Blue JJK. Lastly, I discus the Demon Slayer rare battle format, evaluating strengths and weaknesses against Yellow Tanjiro, Muzan, and Red Demon Slayer decks. This deck's strength lies in its consistency, speed and strong draw engine.For more info on this deck, checkout my article on the Gyutaro Purple build.

This podcast episode details my winning custom-built "yellow Tanjiro" deck for the Demon Slayer Union Arena card game. In this episode I explain each card choice, emphasizing synergy and strategic advantages, with a special highlight on the deck's strong removal capabilities. I also dive into the relevant matchups vs other popular decks, offering advice on how to best utilize this powerful build. As if that weren’t enough, we’ll dive into the importance of trigger balance and energy generation to maximize the deck's potential in competitive play.See the complete guide for more info on Demon Slayer Yellow.

Join me for this episode as I share a unique UNION ARENA BLEACH Purple build centered around Ichigo and Byakuya. In this podcast I will be:Highlighting individual card choices and their synergiesEmphasizing the deck's ability to gain strength through sideline manipulation and aggressive play. Diving into matchup analysis against various meta decks, such as Lancelot and Blue JJK to illustrate the deck's strengths and weaknesses.This deck is my favorite way to play BLEACH Purple right now with a powerful high end character in the form of Byakuya. We’ll dive into why this deck that won me first place at a store tournament is so strong. And don’t forget to check out the deck list below as you listen!For those listening on other platforms, click the link to see the full deck list.

Wondering what TCG to pick up next?Each of the major TCGs I cover have their pros and cons. In this podcast, I compare them side-by-side to help you decide which game is best for you!