How to Play
There are several ways to learn the game, and the basics take only 10 minutes. Join the official Discord if you have questions or want a hands-on game.
How to Play video
Get into your first game right away with this video guide.
The game in five steps
Build a deck
Bring a deck of at least 50 cards and one Catalyst. Your deck is called your Vault.
Set up
Each player starts with 25 Resonance (your life) and 0 Dominance (your victory points) in a standard game. Put your Catalyst into play, shuffle, and draw 6 cards.
Take your turn
Each turn has three phases. In the Start Phase you Deactivate your cards, pay Upkeep and draw. In the Action Phase you have 3 Actions to Deploy cards, Strike, Reposition and more. In the End Phase damage is cleared and you adjust your hand.
Fight for position
Each card's Battle Map shows where it can be played and what it can reach. Damage that reaches an open position on your opponent's Battlefield reduces their Resonance.
Win
Reduce your opponent's Resonance to 0, reach 25 Dominance by Destroying their cards, or complete a special objective printed on a card.
Learn the basics
Each page takes a few minutes and summarises one part of the rulebook.
- The Arena: the Battlefield, the Foundry and the other zones.
- Card Types: Creatures, Relics, Artifices, Augments, Traps, Forges and Catalysts.
- Deckbuilding: deck size, copies and rarity limits.
- Turn Structure: the three phases and your Actions.
- Victory Conditions: Resonance, Dominance and special objectives.
- Factions: the eight factions and how they play.
- Glossary: every rules term, searchable.
Downloads
Quick Start Guide
The essentials to jump straight into battle, with a streamlined introduction to the core rules. PDF, 16 MB.
Download the Quick Start Guide
Guided Tutorial
Learn while you play: a step-by-step walkthrough of your entire first game. It is being updated and fully redesigned. 110 MB.