DARKFUR: Claw & Scale Playing Cards

Final days on Kickstarter, DARKFUR: Claw & Scale is a lavishly produced deck series that merges intricate illustration with luxury finishes, presenting a living bestiary through the medium of playing cards.

Conceived by The Other Self and illustrated by artist Petro Kostiuk, DARKFUR depicts a realm shaped by tooth, claw, and scale. Each of the 54 cards becomes a window into a stark and mysterious landscape where mythical creatures have evolved to survive and dominate. The result is a collection that feels as much like an illuminated manuscript of fantasy natural history as it does a deck of cards.

Two editions anchor the project: Claw and Scale. The Claw Edition comes housed in a dark grey tuck box embossed with rune-like detailing and finished with striking silver foil, echoing jagged mountains and the sharpened talons of beasts. Its borderless card backs are filled with abstract silhouettes that reveal new details the more they are studied, like the fleeting shadow of a winged predator at night.

The Scale Edition, by contrast, embraces a regal draconian theme. The tuck box glows with intricate gold foil that shimmers like the scales of a mythical dragon, while its card backs blend vintage floral patterns with the silhouettes of noble, reptilian beasts. Both editions feature metallic gilt edges, silver for Claw, gold for Scale—that elevate the decks into the realm of collectible art.

Inside, 12 hand-drawn beasts form the heart of DARKFUR, each designed with anatomical precision and layered lore. Together, they populate a world that feels both dangerous and awe-inspiring. The project expands beyond the cards themselves, offering a 32-page bestiary booklet that delves deeper into the stories and illustrations of these creatures.

With production limited to 2,000 copies per edition, DARKFUR: Claw & Scale is positioned as both a deck for gameplay and a work of fantasy art. 

Pledge starts at $25 on Kickstarter.