Published by White Wolf (2000/10)
Release date: November 17, 2003
Total cards: 286 (145 new cards)
Boosters: 11 cards (pool of 136 - 7C, 3U, 1R)
Decks: 4 non-random preconstructed decks, Malkavian antitribu, Nosferatu antitribu, Toreador antitribu and Tremere antitribu (each deck contains 2 new vampires that aren't found in the boosters) containing 89 cards
Black Hand is the sixth set released by White Wolf for Vampire: The Eternal Struggle, and the second to focus on the vampires of the Sabbat. The booster packs were to be all-new. Due to a printing error, however, the booster packs contain two reprints of previous cards; two advanced vampires were accidentally replaced with their base counterparts on the uncommon sheet. One of the advanced vampires is still to be found in a starter. The other is not found at all in this set, but will be printed in the upcoming Gehenna set instead.
The two vampires, Jessica and Hannibal, who were replaced by their base counterparts in the booster assortment, as well as Yong-Sun, who was replaced by his advanced counterpart in the Nosferatu antitribu starter, will be printed as promos (without the Black Hand expansion symbol). These promos will be distributed in the usual manner (at tournaments and conventions) and by an exchange program via postal mail (and SASE).
Legal for V:EKN constructed deck tournaments on December 17, 2003.
New Rules/Errata
This set introduces no new rules. Some rules have been reformulated, however. For instance, the burn option has been extended to cover any "ready minion" requirement, not just a clan requirement.
Imogen was reprinted in the Malkavian antitribu starter with an incorrect capacity of 8. Her capacity is still 9 (errata to the Black Hand version).Â
Black Hand Card Exchange - Due to a printing error, three cards were accidentally swapped in Black Hand with their base or advanced counterparts. White Wolf is pleased to announce a free exchange program for any players who received any of these cards in error. (In addition, the correct copies of these cards are also being included in tournament prize support packs, while supplies last.)