An Altador Cup Reading List for the Grey Year

     So what are you waiting for, fellow fans? You're going to want to add the following books to your to-be-read lists, pronto!

     A Fans Guide to the Altador Cup

     True to its name, this box set is a one-stop shop for any and all Altador Cup fans! With overviews of teams, players, and gameplay strategies, you'll come away from this set with a good knowledge base on the Cup as a whole. It's especially perfect for new fans who are curious about what a normal season looks like, but even veteran fans will find lots to love here. For those who support Team Altador like me, info on our beloved home team specifically can be found in volume 1, chapter 1 ("Origin of the Altador Cup") and in volume 2, chapter 3 ("Team Altador 101").

     The Altador Cup Media Books

     For those of you who are more visual learners, this series of books is full of excellent photographs of the Cup teams, accompanied by stats and player biographies. There's a Media Book for nearly every one of the teams (apologies to Dacardia, Kreludor, and Moltara fans!), so feel free to pick up a copy for the land you'll be supporting. Or, read them all to be the ultimate expert on team lineups!

     Altador Cup 15 years of Legends and Statistics

     This book may be a little dated (published Y22), but it's still a great place to look if you're interested in old stories and statistics. It was written by beloved Altador Cup commentators Tobias Sigmir and Hovri Sweet, so you can bet it's filled with insight and charm! Who knows, you may even find yourself picking up some commentating skills yourself to wow and delight your friends once the Cup is up and running again!

     Altador Cup Almanac

     For the superfans and the history nerds! Everything you'd ever want to know about the Altador Cup and its history can be found in this almanack. Each year the Cup has been held has its own mini-book in the set, for easy reference if you're interested in a specific year. A word to the wise: if purchasing this book second-hand, do be sure to double-check that all the mini-books are present and accounted for! The set I got is sadly missing the Y24 book... so if anyone has an extra copy floating around, don't hesitate to reach out. I'd be happy to take it off your paws!

     Altador Cup Cookbook

     Are you one of those fans whose favourite part about the Cup each year is the food? If so, this is the cookbook for you! Inside you'll find every recipe for the delicious food served in the Colosseum -- yes, even for the official Altador Cup Hot Dog(TM)! Since it’s unclear whether the usual food stands and restaurant pop-ups will be open this year, you'll definitely want to practice cooking your Cup treats ahead of time to provide your friends and family with all their usual favorites (and of course, avoid any disasters in the kitchen!).

     Altador Cup Magazine

     Looking for a bit of lighter reading while you're waiting for all those yummy Cup-themed treats to finish cooking? You'll definitely want to check out these magazines! The older issues are a fun blast to the past, and the recent issues have all the latest news and gossip behind the altered format of this year’s Altador Cup. Great for casual and super-fans alike!

     Altador Cup Rule Book

     Curious about the finer nuances of Yooyuball? Wondering if that play you saw in last year’s replays was actually legal? Think you'd be a better ref than that darn Red Scorchio? This is definitely the book for you! There's something about knowing the intricacies of the game that just makes it so much more satisfying to watch... or is it just me who feels that way?

     Altador Cup Through the Ages

     This one's a classic! It has great stories from every year's tournament, spotlights on every team, and interviews with players and fans. Re-released every year with updates and addendums from the previous year's cup, this is an absolute must-read for any fan of the Altador Cup. The most recent edition is especially fun, with a deep dive into the newest Altador Cup team: Dacardia!

     Guide to Collecting Altador Cup Gear

     This is an excellent reference text for any collectors who want to make sure their Altador Cup collection is complete! It was last published after Altador Cup VII, so any newer items that have been released since then won't be included. However, this book is still a great place to start, especially for collectors looking for vintage items, or those new to Altador Cup collecting. Who knows, maybe reading this will even help you find the perfect new items to show up to this year's version of the Cup in style!

     Miniature Altador Cup Story

     This one may be tiny, but it's no less interesting! It manages to tell the entire story of the first Altador Cup in glorious detail, and all in under 100 pages. So no excuses that you don't have the time to read up before games return to normal! Pro Tip: unless you've got the eyesight of an Eyrie, I highly recommend using a magnifying glass.

     Places to Visit During the Altador Cup

     Did you know that there are places in Altador that are open to tourists only during the Cup? Since there aren't any games to watch this year, you should definitely check out some of the exclusive tours, pop-up shops, and special events detailed in this brochure. My particular favourite is the Colosseum Ghost Tour! While it’s possible that some of these activities will be unavailable this year, it’s still a good idea to do your research. Some of the best activities can book up nearly a year in advance, so you might just find yourself in time to book for next year’s Cup!

     Techos Guide for Altador Cup Fanatics

     A humorous take on prepping for the Altador Cup, as shared by the infamous Techo Fanatic! If you're looking for ways to cheer even louder for your team, you'll definitely appreciate this book. Even if they’re not playing this year, your favourite players will all still appreciate your enthusiasm! There's also, believe it or not, a truly excellent recipe for throat-soothing tea in the last chapter.

     The Official Altador Cup Cheer

     If you’re a new Altador Cup fan, or a casual fan who has somehow never learned the official cheer, this year is the perfect time to learn it and practice it to perfection! After all, you don't want to be the only one in the crowd next year who doesn't know the official Altador Cup cheer! That would just be embarrassing.

     Tourists Guide to Altador During the Cup

     Speaking of first-time visitors, if you've never visited Altador during the Cup before, this book is a must-read! It's full of all kinds of tips for making the most of your visit; even without the usual games and events, it’s still bound to be a busy time to visit the city. The last thing you want during your visit is to waste half the day stuck in the crowds or miss out on any conciliatory fireworks shows because you didn't know the best places to view them!

     The Altador Cup Encyclopedia

     Last but not least, if you're looking for nothing more than a few facts to refresh your Altador Cup knowledge, this book has them all! Seriously, if there's a fact about the Altador Cup or any of the teams, no matter how obscure, you'll find it in this book. Excellent reading for all you fact-checking nerds or for anyone hoping to perform better in trivia nights!

     There you have it, a comprehensive list of recommended reading to prepare for this year's altered Altador Cup season. It's quite a lot, I know, but trust me when I say it's worth every word. Even if you only manage to snag a few of the books on this list, I promise that you won't regret it. They should help fill the gap left by the lack of normalcy this year, and make next year’s Altador Cup even more thrilling when you show up fully prepared. Happy reading, my friends! (And even though there’s no actual competition this year… go Team Altador!)