How to Play

Basic Rules

Cards

The 22 Major Arcana (0 to 21), one of each

Deck

One deck shared by both players. Shuffle the 22, deal 2 each, and the other 18 form the deck

Card value

Same as the card number (The Fool = 0 ... The World = 21)

Hand

Always 2 cards, hidden from your opponent

Turn timer

180 seconds per turn (60 in Ranked)

The Match Screen

Flow of a Turn

1. Draw

   Draw one card from the deck. You now hold three.

2. Play one

   Play one of the three to the field. Its effect activates and you are back to two cards.

3. Opponent’s turn

   The played card goes to your discards, visible to both players. Take turns until the end.

Pass

Before drawing, you may pass once per game. You do nothing and the turn goes to your opponent. Effects that were due on that turn (the reservations of The Fool, The High Priestess, The Empress and The Chariot, and The Devil’s forced play) are cancelled too.

How a Game Ends

The turn in which the last card of the deck is drawn is the final turn. The card played on this turn has no effect.

The higher total of the two cards left in hand wins. Equal totals are a draw.

So every turn you are choosing which two cards to keep. Use a strong effect and your total drops; hold a high card and it becomes a target.

Special Wins and Losses

The winner is decided in this order. Higher entries take priority.

1. The World (21)

   If The World is in your hand when the game ends, you win regardless of totals.

2. Special losses

   You lose if your Judgement count reaches 0, if The Hanged Man guesses a card in your hand, or if The Star makes you discard The World.

3. Hand total

   The higher total of the two cards kept wins.

4. Wheel of Fortune (10)

   While active, the lower total wins instead. Playing it again restores the rule.

Time-outs and Leaving

If the timer runs out, the card you drew is played as is (with no effect). Two time-outs in a row lose the game. Leaving a match is also a loss.

Tips for Reading

• Watch the discards. There is only one of each card, so a played card is in neither the deck nor a hand.
• The World (21) is the strongest, but The Star and The Hanged Man hunt it. Don’t let them know you hold it.
• If Judgement is placed on you, remove it with The Emperor or The Tower. If you can’t, end the game within three turns.
• When Wheel of Fortune is played, strong cards become weak. Switch to keeping low cards.

See all card effects