HOWTOSETUPTHEGAME

1.DISTRIBUTECARDS:
Eachplayerneedsthefollowingcards:Fire,Earth,Water,Ice,Wind,
Lightning,1HealthTracker,1EnergyTracker,1Anima,1Grimslinger.Eachplayeralsoneeds
23targetcards,dependingonhowmanyotherplayersthereare.

Theskullinsigniaonthebackofyourtargetcards,
andthearrowsonthefront,shouldbethesame
color.

*Youdonotneedtousetargetcardsifthereareonly
2players.

2.SELECTANARCHETYPE:
EachGrimslingercardhasa
suggestedArchetypeontheback,belowtheGrimslingers
name.FindthematchingArchetypecard.Youarealsofree
tochooseadifferentArchetypethantheonelisted.

3.CHOOSESIGNATURESPELLS
(OPTIONAL):
Haveeachplayerrollthedice
(rerolliftied)Theplayerwiththehighest
numberwillchoosetheirsignaturespellfirst.
Thenplayerswilltaketurnsselecting
signaturesspellsinaclockwisefashionuntil
eachplayerhas3.

QUICKPLAYOPTION:Randomlydistribute
3signaturespellstoeachplayer.

NOTE:Signaturescanonlybeusedonce
pergame.

4.PUTSPELLSINHAND:
Putyourelementandsignaturespellcardsinyourhand,hidden
fromothers.

5.PLACECARDS:
PlaceyourTargetcards,HealthandEnergyTrackers,Archetype,
GrimslingerandAnimacardsinfrontofyouasshown.SetyourHealthandEnergylevels
accordingtoyourArchetype.Notethepositionofthedeactivatedanddiscardedcardpiles.

6.SETUPTHENUMBERDECK:
Thereare10cards
thatlooklikeplayingcards.Shuffletheseandplace
themfacedownwhereallplayerscanreachthem.

7.SETUPTHEITEMDECK(OPTIONAL):
Thereare
40itemcards.Shufflethesetogetherandplacethem
facedownwhereallplayerscanreachthem.

EXPLANATIONOFCARDTYPESANDHOWTHEYWORK

SPELLS

1.TitleBanner:
Nameof
theSpell.

2.WeaknessBanner:
This
bannerdescribeswhich
elementsthecurrentcardis
weakorstrongto.

3.EffectBanner:
Details
thespecialeffectsthatcan
happenwhenplayingthis
card.Ifaspellseffectis
evermentioned,itis
referringtowhatiswritten
onthisbanner.

4.ResolutionNumber:
Whencardsarerevealed,thisnumberisreferencedtodeterminein
whatordertheyareresolved.

5.Target:
Specifieswhothiscardtargets,itiseitherSelf,Team,AllPlayers,AllFoesora
SingleFoe.IfacardtargetsTeamitalsotargetsSelf.

6.EnergyIndicator:
Onlysignaturespellshavethese.Itshowshowmanyenergypoints(EP)
thiscardcoststoyou.

ITEMS

1.TitleBanner:
Nameoftheitem.

2.DescriptionBanner:
Flavortextrelatedtotheitem
thatdoesnothaveanybearingongameplay.

3.ItemEffect:
Detailsthespecialeffectsthatcan
happenwhenplayingthiscard.Canalsodescribe
specialconditionsforhowthecardistobeused.

4.ResolutionNumber:
Whencardsarerevealed,
thisnumberisreferencedtodeterminetheorderin
whichtheyareresolvedduringtheAftermathphase.
Someitemsdonothavearesolutionnumber.

5.Target:
Specifieswhothiscardtargets.Someitem
cardsdonothavetargets.

6.Type:
Specifiesthetypeofitemthisis.Someitemshavemultipletypes.Possibletypesare:

Standard:TheseareplayedduringtheDrawphaseinsteadofplayingaspellcard.

Combine:Canbecombinedwithaspellcard.Youcannotplaymultiplecombinecards
together.

Standoff:CanonlybeusedduringtheStandoffphase.

Instant:Mustberesolvedassoonasitisdrawn.

Passive:Hasaneffectthatisalwaysactiveoravailableaslongasyouhavethecard.Itisnot
tobediscardedunlessthecardseffectsaystodoso.

HEALTHAND
ENERGYTRACKERS

Thefrontandbackofeach
Trackerhasflavortext
relatedtodifferent
personalitytypes.Choose
thesidethatyoupreferand
placeitfaceup.

Asyoutakedamageor
expendenergy,slideyour
CharacterandAnimacards
up(ordown)accordingly
sothatthearrowispointing
tothecorrectnumber.

ANIMAS

Therearespecialabilitieslisted
onthefrontandbackofthe
Animacard:Reload,Purgeand
Surge.Theseareusedduring
theStandoffPhase.

InordertouseReloadandPurge
youmuststatethatyouaredoing
so,thenfollowtheinstructions
writtenonthecard.

TouseSurge,flipthecardover
andstatethatyouareusingthat
ability,thenfollowthe
instructionswrittenonthecard.

FlipthecardbackoverattheendoftheAftermathphase.

PLAYINGTHEGAME

PregameKnowledgeandGlossary

WINCONDITIONS:Theduelwillendwhenallbutoneplayer/teamhas0HP.Thusthelast
player/teamalivewinstheduel.

HPisshortforHealthPoints,EPforEnergyPoints,DMGforDamage,RNforResolution
NumberandDNCforDrawanumbercard.

ROLLreferstorollinga6sideddie.

Theduelisbrokendowninto3phases(whichconstituteoneturn)thatoccuroveragainuntil
thegameisover.

WhenyourHPreaches0youarenoteliminatedfromthegamebutyoucannottypicallyuse
anyofyourabilitiesorcards(therearesomespecialcircumstances).Ifanotherplayerorcard
givesyouHPyouwillbeallowedtouseyourcardsandabilitiesagain.

Toplayinteamssimplydosoanddontattackyourteam,friendlyfireison!Thusyoucanuse
cardsthattargetaSingleFoeandAllPlayersonyourteammates.

CardsthattargetTeamalsotargetyourself.

Anactivecardisonethatisinyourhand.

Aninplaycardisanycardthatwasplayedthatturnthathasnotyetbeenresolved.

UnlessacardstatesthatitdoesdamageorDMG,itseffectsarenotconsideredtobe
damage.Ex:ReducetargetsHPto1isnotdamage.

IfplayersmustDNCforacardseffect,theyarerequiredtoreshuffleaftereachdraw.Thisrule
doesnotapplytoFaceoffs.
PhaseOneTheStandoff

1.Youmaydothefollowingandmusttelltheotherplayerswhichactionsyouaretaking:

Sacrificehealthpoints(HP)forenergypoints(EP).Theconversionrateis1HPfor1EP.You
cannotsacrificehealthifyouareatfullenergy.Youcannotsacrificeto0HP.


UseyourSurge,Purgeand/orReloadabilities.Eachabilitycanonlybeusedonceper
StandoffPhase.

Tradeactive(orinhand)cardswithteammates.Youmayalsotradepassiveitems.Youmay
onlytradecardsoncewithasingleperson(thusnobackandforth).

Drawanitemcard.Ifyoudrawanitemcardyouarenotallowedtoperformanyotheraction
duringtheStandoffphasebesidesplayinganitemcardorusingyourArchetypeability.Ifyou
havealreadyperformedoneoftheotheractionsyouarenotallowedtosearchforitems.

>ThiscanonlybedoneonceperStandoffphase.

>AttheendoftheStandoffphaseyouareonlyallowedtohavetwoitemcardsinhand
andonepassiveitembesideyourcharactercard.Discardextras.

>Iftheitemdeckiseverdepleted,shuffletheitemdiscardpileandplaceitfacedown.
Thiswillbethenewitemdeck.

PlayanitemcardwithaStandofforPassivetype.Youmayonlyplayoneitemcard.

UseyourArchetypeabilityifitcanbeusedduringtheStandoff.

2.Whenyouarefinished,sayReady.Whenallplayersareready,moveontophase
two,TheDraw.

PhaseTwoTheDraw

1.Selectaspellandatargetcard(evenifyourspelldoes
nottargetasinglefoe).Playthemfacedown.

Ifyouwanttopassinsteadofplayingacardyoumuststillplay
aspellandtargetcard.

OR
insteadofplayingaspellyoucanplayastandard
typeitem.Ifyouhaveanitemcardwithacombinetype
youmayplaythatwithaspell.

Ifthecombinecardstipulatesaspecificspellthenitcanonlybeplayedwiththatspecificspell.

YoucanonlyuseonecombineitemperDrawphase.

2.WhenallplayershaveplacedtheircardsshoutDraw!andrevealthem.Thenmove
ontotheAftermathphase.

Onceallcardshavebeenplacedandbeforetheyarerevealed,youmaystatethatyouare
passing.

Ifpassing,gain2energy.Ifyoupassedbecauseofacardseffectyouwillstillgain2energy.

PhaseThreeTheAftermath

1.Deductanyenergycostsofthespellyoujustplayed,includingthosethatmaybe
describedinthecardseffect.

IfyouplayedacardthatyoudonothaveenoughEPfor,itwilldeducttheEPyouhaveleftand
thenbediscarded.

2.ResolvecardsstartingwithaResolutionNumberof1andcontinuethroughto10.

Ifyouaredefeated(0HP)beforeyourcardisresolved,itwillnotberesolved.

IfmorethanoneplayerhasacardwiththesameresolutionnumbertheymustROLLto
determinewhoswillresolvefirst,second,third,etc.Rerolliftied.

IftwoplayersplayedaspellwithaRNof9andtheytargetedeachother,thecardsare
consideredcontested.ContestedcardsmuststillROLLtoseeiftheyresolvebefore
uncontestedcardswitharesolutionnumberof9.YouonlyneedtoDNConceforeachpairof
contestedcards.

FollowstepsA,B,Ctoresolvecontestedcards:

A)Checktheweaknessbanneronyourelementspell.Ifyourelementisbeatenbythe
opposingcard,yourcardmustbeimmediatelydiscarded.Thecardthatwasnotbeaten
isconsideredasuccessfulattack.

B)IfneithercardisbeatenbytheotheryouwillhaveaFaceoff.SeeResolving
Faceoffs.

C)Forsuccessfulattacks,applyallapplicabledamages(Surging,Apexing,Exhausting,
etc.)andeffectsthathavenototherwisebeennegatedbyaspellseffectorpreviously
applied.

IfyouplayedacardwithaRNof9andyourtargetdidaswell,butdidnottargetyou,youmust
stillcheckyourweaknessbannertoseeiftheircardbeatsyours.Ifitdoes,thenyourcardmust
beimmediatelydiscarded.Ifitisnotbeaten,applytheeffectswrittenonthecard.

Ifyoumustdiscardcards,shufflethecardsthatcouldbediscardedfacedown.Onceshuffled,
drawtherequiredamountofcardsandputtheminyourdiscardpile,facedown.

Ifyoumustdeactivatecards,shufflethecardsthatcouldbedeactivatedfacedown,excluding
anycurrentlydeactivatedcardsandthecardyoujustplayed.Onceshuffled,drawtherequired
amountofcardsandputtheminyourdeactivatedpile.Placethemfacedownandsideways.
NotethatDeactivatedcardswillreturntoyourhandafteroneturn.

2.Putdeactivatedcardsfromthepreviousturnbackinyourhand.

3.Ifyousurged,fliptheAnimacardbackover.

4.Discardthecardyouplayedunlessotherwisestatedonthecard.Thenmoveontothe
nextStandoffphase.

Regardlessofwhoplayedit,alldiscardeditemcardsgointothesamediscardpile,right
besidethedeckofitems.

Ifyouareplayingafreeforallwith4ormoreplayersandyouplayedaspellthattargeteda
singlefoe,youmustdeactivatethetargetcardyouused.

ResolvingFaceoffs

AFaceoffiswhentwoelementalbeamsofenergycollide,resultinginacontestofstrength,
luckandwillpowertooverthrowtheother.

Faceoffsoccurwhentwoplayerstargeteachotherwithspellcardsthathavearesolution
numberof9(elementspells),andneitherisweaktotheother.

Faceoffsconsistofeachplayertakingturnsdrawingcardsfromthenumberdeck.Thegoalof
eachplayeristohaveatotalvalueofcardsinhandequaling11orasclosetoitaspossible
withoutgoingover.

TERMINOLOGY:


PUSH
Whenplayersdrawanumbercard.Thismeanspushingwithgreaterforceagainstthe
opposingspell.

HOLD
Whenaplayerdecidestorefrainfromdrawinganothercardontheirturn.Thusyouare
goingtorefrainfrompushingwithmoreforceagainsttheopposingspell.

EXHAUST
Whenaplayerdrawsanumbercardthatputstheirtotalvalueofnumbercardsin
handover11.Thetotaldamagefromanopposingspellwillbedoubledifaplayerisexhausted.
Thusyoutriedtopushwithmoreforcethanyouwerecapableofsustaining,causingyourspell
tofailandleavingyourselfvulnerable.

APEX
Whenaplayersnumbercardsinhandtotal11,inwhichcasethespellwillget+1dmg
toitsattack(ifitissuccessful).Thisisthegreatestamountofforceyouareabletoapplytoyour
spellwithoutgivingintothestrainoftheact.

TheresolveaFaceoff,followthesetwosteps:

1.Drawonecardforeachplayerfromthenumberdeckfaceup.
Theplayerwiththehighest
cardgoesfirst.Thesecardscounttowardsyourhandtotal.Drawanothercardforeachplayerif
youtied.

2.PlayersfacingoffthentaketurnsPushingorHolding.
Pushingmeansdrawinga
cardfaceup.Ifyouhold,yourefrainfromdrawinganumbercarduntilitisyourturntodraw
again.

Takenote!There10cardsinthenumberdeck,twosetsofnumbers15.Besuretotryand
calculatetheoddsofdrawingthecardsyouneedasyouprogressthroughtheFaceoff.

Ifbothplayershold,oneaftertheother,thefaceoffendsandtheplayerwiththehighesttotal
valueinhandwins.Thewinnersspellwillapplyanyapplicabledamageandeffects.

Ifaplayerexhauststheyloseandthefaceoffends.Thewinnersspellwillapplyany
applicabledamagesandeffects.Additionally,anyDMGtobeappliedtotheexhaustedplayer
willbedoubled.

Example:JillapexesandJackexhausts.JillhadplayedLightning,whichdoes3DMGandhas
aneffect.BecauseJillapexed,herLightningwillnowdo4DMG.However,Jackexhausted,so
insteadoftaking4DMGJackwilltake8DMGandtheeffectsofLightning.Also,Jacksspellwill
donothingbecausehelostthefaceoff.

Ifbothplayershavethesametotalvalueitisatieandneitherattackissuccessful(i.e.neither
spellwilldoDMGorapplyitseffects).

Questions?Emailthemto:
isaacblackstudio@gmail.com