The first step in playing Warcardz is learning the card layouts and building a deck. You will need 10 character cards - 5 starters and 5 reserves - as well as 3 tactics cards. Building and arranging your deck is a very personal and strategic part of the game. As with most collectible card games, your deck will reflect your personality, style of play, and strategy. The following illustrations will help you learn and understand the card layouts and what all the different parts of the card are used for.

The Warcardz table layout consists of 5 cards laid out in a row parallel to your opponent's 5 starting cards and a side deck on either side. Your remaining 5 reserve cards and your 3 tactics cards are held in your hand until used. Initially, the starting 5 cards for each player are laid face-down on the table. Once a card is engaged in battle or moved it is flipped over and remains visible for the rest of the game.

Once the starting cards are laid out, players flip over an attribute and variable card on each of the side decks. These two cards will determine the battle conditions.

Players can flip a coin to choose who starts the game, and play begins. The diagram below will help you understand the general table layout.

The anatomy of a turn... (actually, a few turns)

The diagram to the left further illustrates the table layout... for the sake of visual clarity, all cards are shown face up.

In the next diagram, the near-side player initiates an attack using his NewTek card in the Guard position vs his opponent's Merc card also in the Guard position. The NewTek card wins the battle and the Merc card is removed from play.

The NewTek card can now be moved into the Guard positon that was vacated when the Merc card was defeated. Players don't HAVE to move into vacated positions, it is merely an option.

The farside player can now take his turn. He cannot fill the vacancy in the nearside position, so he attacks with his Flank Merc card, winning the battle. The NewTek card is removed from play.

The farside player chooses to occupy the vacated position with his victorious card. This leaves the nearside NewTek flank card without any direct enemies.

To begin his turn, the nearside player fills the vacant position in his ranks with a card from his hand.

The nearside player then uses his Post Resistance card to attack his opponent's Post Merc card, defeating it. The Merc card is removed from play. He then moves his victorious card into the vacated position in his opponent's ranks.

The farside player then begins his turn by filling a vacant spot with a reserve card from his hand. Play continues in this manner until one player surrenders or has no more cards in play.