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Certified Community Release Program

Part of: Transformers TCG Releases

The Certified Community Release program marks community and fan-made Transformers TCG releases that meet clear standards for public development, independent design, responsible artwork, Wave 4+ balance, and long-term support.

Certification does not guarantee perfection or universal appeal. It means that the release, its development process, and its continued stewardship meet the standards below. The forthcoming Org Wave 9 Versus Set, Marvelous Heroes VS Rising Villains, is planned to be the first release certified under the program.

Sustained Public Development

The release was developed through substantial playtesting in actual games, lengthy public feedback periods, and meaningful iteration. Community feedback must influence development; a public period that only validates or promotes decisions already made without community participation does not qualify.

Dedicated Design and Competitive Independence

The release was created by a dedicated, accountable design team committed to the long-term health of the game. Competitive players may provide testing and feedback, but conflict-of-interest safeguards must prevent active competitors from receiving privileged design access or disproportionate influence over the environment in which they compete.

High-Quality, Broadly Balanced Design

The release demonstrates purposeful, mechanically coherent design, clear rules, and meaningful interaction with the existing game. It must be tested across multiple levels and styles of play, supporting a healthy range of cards, decks, and strategies rather than the preferences of a narrow design or player circle.

Responsible Artwork and Production Quality

Official Transformers artwork from Hasbro or its licensees may be used when responsibly sourced. Artwork from unrelated properties may not be appropriated, recolored, traced, or altered for use as Transformers TCG artwork. Original commissions must be owned by the producing group, and artwork commissioned by others may not be used without permission. The release must not use generative AI; see the AI Usage Policy.

Each card’s statistics and abilities must pass established design, balance, and rules audits, and the completed release must meet strong standards for crediting, templating, wording, presentation, and usability.

Wave 4+ Balance, Lasting Value, and Stewardship

The release must preserve and expand the Wave 4+ environment created by removing or replacing the small number of Wave 5 cards responsible for its severe power spike and solved metagame. New releases should add diversity without treating that distorted power level as the baseline, reintroducing comparable escalation, or forcing continual power creep.

Responsible maintainers must preserve the release, clarify rules, correct errors, and address serious balance problems in a timely fashion.

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