Pack Alpha
| Name | Pack Alpha |
|---|---|
| Type | Combat |
| Description | A vampire can play only one Pack Alpha each round. [ani] Only usable before range is determined. Employ an animal retainer from your hand (requirements and cost apply as normal). [ANI] Burn an animal retainer employed by this vampire to put this cardSee more |
| Artist | Travis Ingram, Noora Hirvonen |
| Set | Fifth Edition (Companion) #101342 |
| Wallpaper |  Download wallpaper |
| Image |  Download image |
| Artists | Travis Ingram, Noora Hirvonen |
| Krcg Id | 101342 |
| Disciplines | ani |
| Legal Since | 2005-02-21 |
| Printed Name | Pack Alpha |
- Standard
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About Pack Alpha
Pack Alpha, Combat, designed by Travis Ingram, Noora Hirvonen first released in February 2005 in the set Kindred Most Wanted and was printed exactly in 3 different ways.
Pack Alpha fits an Animalism combat deck that expects its vampires to fight repeatedly and already runs animal retainers. Its best use is to employ a useful retainer during combat at [ani], or to turn an expendable one into a permanent +1 strength at [ANI] without spending an action. It is less attractive if you need that retainer’s ability—burning a Raven Spy, for example, gives up its intercept. There is no universally better replacement: Carrion Crows is generally better for dealing damage in a single fight, while Pack Alpha pays off only if the vampire survives to use its strength in later combats. I’d consider one or two copies in a retainer-heavy Animalism combat deck, but leave it out of decks that fight infrequently or cannot spare their retainers.
Rules
10/08/2026
[ani]Cost reductions that are not referring to an action apply . [ANK 20230824] [RTR 20070707]
10/08/2026
[ani]Requirements apply but do not count as requirements for the action (eg. you cannot use CrimethInc. if the card requires an Anarch). [LSJ 20100725] [LSJ 20100303] [ANK 20180817]
10/08/2026
[ani]The card is not "played" by the minion (e.g. {Louhi}'s ability cannot cancel it). [ANK 20201229]
10/08/2026
[ani]This does not count as performing the action to employ/recruit/equip this retainer/ally/equipment in respect to section 3 of the rules. The same vampire can play the respective card in a normal fashion during their turn, if unlocked. [LSJ 20080815]
10/08/2026
[ani]This is not an action, so cost reductions referring to an action do not apply. (e.g. {Charisma}, {Erichtho}) [LSJ 20090115-1] [ANK 20170309]
10/08/2026
[ani]Cannot select cards that are "playable as if in hand" (e.g. from {The Erciyes Fragments}) [LSJ 20050913]
10/08/2026
[ani]The equipment or retainer must be announced by name, and in hand, when the card or effect is declared (before the card, if any, is replaced), but need not to be shown until the effect resolves. [LSJ 20100130] [ANK 20180925-2] [LSJ 19991207]
10/08/2026
Cost reductions apply. [RTR 20070707] [ANK 20230824]
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Frequently asked questions about Pack Alpha
What type of card is Pack Alpha?
Pack Alpha is a Combat card in Vampire: The Eternal Struggle vtes.
What is the effect of Pack Alpha?
A vampire can play only one Pack Alpha each round. [ani] Only usable before range is determined. Employ an animal retainer from your hand (requirements and cost apply as normal). [ANI] Burn an animal retainer employed by this vampire to put this card on this vampire. This minion gets +1 strength. A minion can have only one Pack Alpha.
What is the original set of Pack Alpha?
Pack Alpha was first released in the set Kindred Most Wanted, illustrated by Travis Ingram, Noora Hirvonen.
What is the legality of Pack Alpha?
Legality depends on the tournament format -- Pack Alpha can be legal in some formats and banned or restricted in others. See the full breakdown per format in the Legality section above.