Mage Wars - Official Rules and Codex Supplement
Mage Wars - Official Rules and Codex Supplement
Mage Wars
Official RULES & CODEX
SUPPLEMENT
Written by Bryan Pope, Alexander Mont, and Aaron Brosman
Attack Procedure
Below is a chart which shows all of the different types of attacks in Mage Wars, and the steps you normally take
to resolve those attacks.
= This step is part of the procedure for that attack type.
= This step is irrelevant or skipped for that type of attack.
MELEE
MELEE
MELEE
MELEE
RANGED
RANGED
Single Target
Multiple
Multiple
Counterstrike Single Target
Multiple
Attack
Strike Attack Target Attack
Attack
Strike Attack
(Doublestrike, (Sweeping)
(Doublestrike,
Triplestrike)
Triplestrike)
RANGED
Zone Attack
Declare Zone as
target
If fail this roll, the
entire attack for
the Zone misses.
Damage
Zone attacks are
Barrier attacks
always
are always
Unavoidable.
Unavoidable.
2 Avoid Attack
Choose first
object in zone
and conduct
attack.
3 Roll Dice
Apply Damage
and Effects
5 Additional Strikes
For each additional
attack against the
same defender:
a) Roll to Hit (Daze)
b) Avoid Attack
c) Roll Dice
d) Damage & Effects
4
6 Damage Barrier
7 Counterstrike
8 Attack Ends
DAMAGE
BARRIER
Skip this step Skip this step Skip this step Skip this step
if attack
if attack
if attack
if attack
misses or is misses or is misses or is misses or is
avoided.
avoided.
avoided.
avoided.
Remove
Remove
Remove
Guard marker Guard marker Guard marker
Repeat above
for each
attack against
a different
target.
Must attack if
defender was
successfully
melee
attacked.
Other
Attacks
(Wall Bash,
Explode
spell, etc.)
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Note on the above chart that if the melee attack is a Counterstrike, the defender does not get to Counterstrike
back (it skips the Counterstrike Step). A Counterstrike never triggers another Counterstrike.
When a creature makes an attack, it normally ends its Action Phase after that attack. Conditions that are
normally processed or removed at the end of an Action Phase, such as Stun and Daze, are not processed or
removed if they were just received from a Damage Barrier or Counterstrike attack. In this manner they have
an opportunity to affect the creature for an entire Action Phase (the next time it acts again).
Other Attacks
Attacks without a melee or ranged icon (e.g. Damage Barriers, wall attacks, the attack made by the spell
Explode) are neither melee nor ranged. Thus, they are not affected by Melee +X or Ranged +X traits, or any
effects that work on melee or ranged attacks.
Attack Source
The source of an attack is normally the attacker, unless a rule or effect specifically says otherwise. At present,
the only spells that say otherwise are Chain Lightning and Reverse Attack. See these spells under the spell
section of this FAQ.
Trait or Dice
Modifier
Aegis X
Bloodthirsty +X
Charge +X
Melee +X
Rage +X
Ranged +X
+X vs. Creature
Type or Trait
Damage Type
+X
Tough -X
Does this
modify the
# of Attack
dice?
Does this
modify the
roll of the
Effect die?
Who has
this trait?
Aegis 1
Bloodthirsty +1
Charge +2
Melee +2
Rage +2
Ranged +2
YES
YES
YES
YES
YES
YES
NO
NO
NO
NO
NO
NO
Defender
Attacker
Attacker
Attacker
Attacker
Attacker
YES
Only the first attack
Only the first attack
Only the first attack
Only the first attack
Only the first attack
+2 vs. Flying,
YES
YES
Attacker
YES
YES
YES
Defender
YES
NO
YES
Defender
YES
Example
Lightning +2,
Flame -2
Tough -2
The +X vs. Creature Type/Trait is a special attack trait that appears on a few creatures. It is treated similar to
a Damage Type +X trait, in that it also affects the effect die roll.
For example; Samandriel, Angel of Light has +1 vs. Nonliving or Dark Creatures on her attack. She gains + 1
attack dice, and +1 on effect die rolls, whenever she uses this attack against a Nonliving or Dark creature.
Friendly Attacks
Creatures may attack friendly creatures. This is most frequently done to remove Sleep condition markers.
A creature may even attack itself, if it is a legal target for its own attack. It may also attack an object attached to
itself, for example a Tanglevine conjuration. When a creature attacks itself, or an object attached to itself, it
may ignore guards.
If a creature attacks itself, or an object attached to itself, it does not trigger its own damage barrier (if it has one)
or a counterstrike from itself.
Damage Barriers
A damage barrier is automatically triggered during Step 6 of any melee attack. It is a mandatory, automatic
attack that must occur, unless the attack misses or is avoided.
A damage barrier only attacks other creatures which make a melee attack against the defender they are
attached to. If a creature attacks itself, it does not trigger its own damage barrier. If a creature is Pushed
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through a wall with the Passage Attacks trait, its damage barrier will not attack the wall.
The damage barrier itself makes the attack, not the creature. (Thus, abilities that only affect attacks made by
creatures do not apply to Damage Barrier attacks.) For example, it does not gain +1 attack dice if the defender
has a Marked for Death on it.
Since Damage Barrier attacks skip the Avoid Attack Step, they will not force cards such as Block and Reverse
Attack to be revealed. (This only applies to Damage Barrier attacks; other Unavoidable attacks generally do
force Block and Reverse Attack to be revealed and discarded.)
Each object can have only one Damage Barrier. If a creature has a Damage Barrier it cannot gain a new one. If
an object acquires an additional Damage Barrier, the additional barriers do not function. For example, a
Warlock with a Circle of Fire enchantment on himself decides to cast a Demonhide Armor on himself. The
Demonhide Armors damage barrier does not function, but the Warlock will still gain the +2 armor from the
equipment.
You can make a Damage Barrier attack even if your creature was destroyed by the attackers original attack.
However, if that attack misses, or is avoided, you do not get to make the Damage Barrier attack.
Designer note: The Damage Barrier is considered to be encountered simultaneously with the attack being
made, and thus it cannot be avoided if the attack has hit the defender, even if the defender is destroyed.
Essentially, the attacker has to pass though the barrier in order to strike the target. If the attack misses or is
avoided, then the attacker has not passed through the barrier, and there is no Damage Barrier attack. For game
play purposes the Damage Barrier Step was moved sequentially to Step 6 of the Attack Sequence.
OR Attacks
Some attacks have an OR in their attack bar, which gives you a choice of traits or abilities to use with that
attack. When the attack is declared, the controller decides which of these alternatives will apply for the attack.
In every case, the single trait or ability immediately preceding the word OR is the first alternative, and the
second alternative is everything after the word OR (which may be more than one trait).
For example, Ludwig Boltstorms attack bar presents 2 alternatives; the attack can either have the Sweeping trait
or it can be a Zone attack with the Unavoidable trait.
Zone Attacks
When a Zone attack is resolved, the attacker chooses the order of objects to be attacked in that zone. If the
source of the Zone attack is in that zone, and is attacked and destroyed by its own Zone attack, the Zone attack
will still attack the other remaining objects in the zone.
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The Mountain Gorilla reveals a Divine Intervention on itself, and teleports away (to the same or different zone).
That attack is canceled, and the Dwarf Kriegsbiel may then proceed to his second attack and choose a different
target in the same zone, if any are available. He may not choose the Mountain Gorilla again, even if it
teleported into the same zone, since Sweeping requires the second attack to target a different creature.
If the Divine Intervention were revealed on the Dwarf Kriegsbiel instead, teleporting him into the same or
different zone, the same effect occurs: The attack against the Mountain Gorilla is avoided and canceled, and the
Dwarf Kriegsbiel can choose and attack a different target for his second attack.
Example: A Wizard attempts to cast a creature spell, and targets the zone he is in. During the Counter Spell
Step, the enemy reveals a Divine Intervention on the Wizard, teleporting him to a different zone. The zone he
was targeting has changed, so the spell fails and is canceled. The Wizard will have spent (and lost!) the mana
and creature card for that spell.
Destroyed
An object can only be destroyed from play. It has to have entered play, and then is usually destroyed by a spell
or ability which specifically destroys it (such as Dissolve or Dispel), or if it has Life it can be destroyed when it
receives enough damage to equal or exceed its Life.
Cards can also be discarded without being destroyed, such as when you must discard a duplicate enchantment
when it is revealed, or when you discard an Incantation after casting it, or if you plan a spell to be cast by an
object and then that object gets destroyed. Discarded cards are not considered destroyed.
When an object is destroyed, everything attached to it is destroyed and discarded. This includes damage,
condition markers, tokens, enchantments, and conjurations. Ability markers are returned to the owners Mage.
Then, the object is placed in its owners discard pile.
The object may then resolve a destroyed effect. For example, a Plague Zombie will explode. Some effects
replace being discarded such as Cantrip or Obliterate.
Duplicate Enchantments
When an enchantment is revealed, if it is attached to an object or zone which already has a revealed
enchantment with the same name attached to that same object or zone, the newly revealed enchantment is
immediately discarded without effect.
Players cannot cast an enchantment which targets a zone or object if there is either (a) a friendly hidden
enchantment with the same name attached to that zone or object, or (b) a revealed enchantment with the same
name (friendly or enemy) attached to that zone or object.
Note that it is possible to attach a duplicate enchantment to the same zone or object as an opponents hidden
enchantment. This would be unintentional or accidental, because you will not know that the duplication exists.
Later, if the enemy hidden enchantment is revealed, you will realize that you have attached a duplicate
enchantment to the same object. When this occurs, you may leave the duplicate enchantment in play as a
hidden enchantment. If you later reveal that enchantment while the duplicate is still attached, you will have to
destroy and discard the newer copy which you just revealed without it having any effect.
When you reveal an enchantment, you only discard it without effect if there is another revealed enchantment of
the same name attached to that zone or object. A hidden enchantment of the same name does not cause you to
discard the newly revealed enchantment.
Effects
If an object is affected by multiple effects, they are applied in order from earliest to latest effects. When an
enchantment is moved to a new target, it changes its order it has amongst effects in play, and acquires a new
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later timestamp.
Example: If the Beastmaster had summoned an animal and made it his Pet, before Deathlock came into play,
the animal would be able to keep the 3 Life it had gained from being a Pet. However, once Deathlock is in play,
if the Beastmaster attempts to make a new Pet, the new Pet cannot gain 3 Life if Deathlock is in play.
Some rules and effects apply modifications to objects that apply continuously as long as the effect is active.
For example, Eagle Wings gives a creature Flying as long as it is attached to that creature. If Eagle Wings is
removed from that creature, its effect immediately ceases to apply.
Example: A Stonegaze Basilisk, with a printed life of 10, is enchanted with Bull Endurance (giving him +4 life.)
He now has 14 life. After the enchantment is put on the Basilisk, a Deathlock is cast (giving it Finite Life.) The
Basilisk will still have 14 life, because the Bull Endurance effect is applied before the Deathlock effect, and
Finite Life only prevents further gain of life; it does not remove Life already gained.
If the Bull Endurance is then moved to a Timber Wolf (also with a printed life of 10) , the Basilisk will go down
to 10 life (because the Bull Endurance effect stops applying to the Basilisk) but the Timber Wolf will still be at
10 life (because the Deathlock effect was in play earlier than the Bull Endurance, so the Deathlock gives the
Timber Wolf the Finite Life trait first, and the Bull Endurance attempts to give the Timber Wolf +4 life but fails
to do so due to the Finite Life). If the Deathlock is later destroyed, the Timber Wolf will go up to 14 life
(because the Deathlock effect stops applying, allowing the Bull Endurance effect to work.)
If an object has conflicting effects, one of which causes it to gain a trait or ability, and the other to lose that trait
or ability, the later effect always takes precedence.
Example: A creature that is not naturally Flying is enchanted with Eagle Wings (enchanted creature gains
Flying) and is later enchanted with Maim Wings (enchanted creature loses flying). Since the Eagle Wings came
into play earlier, the Eagle Wings gives the creature flying and then the Maim Wings makes the creature lose
flying, so the creature will not have flying.
If the Eagle Wings is moved to another creature and then back to the first creature, the Eagle Wings will then
occur later in the order of effects. Thus the Maim Wings will be applied first (and have no effect, since the
creature does not have Flying to start with) and the Eagle Wings would apply to give the creature Flying, so the
creature would have Flying.
If an effect, spell, or condition says this creature loses and cannot gain X, then that creature cannot have X,
regardless of what other effects were put on it, and in what order.
Example: The traits Rooted, Restrained, and Incapacitated say a creature loses and cannot gain Flying. A
creature with one or more of these traits loses and cannot have or gain Flying, regardless of what other effects
were put on it, and in what order. If it gains an Eagle Wings enchantment later, it still will not have Flying.
Entering a Zone
A creature only enters a zone if it moves there using a move action, or is Pushed or Teleported. Being
Summoned or otherwise put into play in that zone does not count as entering the zone. Thus, traps and spells
like Mangler Caltrops are not triggered when a creature is Summoned.
Equipment
Equipment Control
The Mage to whom the equipment is attached controls that equipment. For example, if you cast Sectarus on a
friendly Mage, he will be able to attack with Sectarus, and plan curse spells for it. This is different from other
spells, such as enchantments and conjurations, in which case control is retained by the caster of the spell.
Note that you cannot cast, control, or use equipment which you are restricted from. For example, A Priestess
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cannot cast, control, or use a Staff of Beasts which is Beastmaster Only. See Spell Restrictions.
Replacing Equipment
You cannot have 2 pieces of equipment attached which have the same name or the same location. For example,
you cannot have 2 Leather Gloves attached (same name). You cannot have both or a Bearskin and a
Dragonscale Hauberk attached (same location).
If an equipment object of the same name or location is cast upon a Mage, if the spell is friendly controlled, the
new equipment object is placed on the Mage, and the duplicate item (the original one which has the same name
or location) is removed and placed in its owners spellbook. In this manner, friendly Mages can replace
equipment on each other with newer or better choices. This might be useful for removing equipment armor
which is no longer useful because it is corroded (see Corrode).
Note that if an enemy-controlled equipment object of the same name or location is cast on a friendly Mage, the
new equipment object is destroyed and placed in its owners discard pile. Enemies cannot replace equipment
items on friendly Mages.
If an equipment item is being replaced, the Mage follows this procedure:
1.
First, unattach and remove the original equipment object, with a duplicate name or location. This item
is then placed back into its owners spellbook.
2.
If this Mage has any Corrode markers on himself (see Corrode), remove any excess markers so that
his armor value is not less than zero.
3.
Guarding
While a creature has a Guard marker, it loses, and cannot gain, the Flying trait.
A Guard cannot prevent a creature from attacking itself or an object attached to itself. Thus, a creature with a
Tanglevine spell attached to it, may ignore enemy guards in its zone to attack the Tanglevine.
Under Protect the Zone, on page 33 of the original first edition rulebook, replace the current description with:
If there is an enemy Guard (a creature with a guard marker) in a zone, then you cannot melee attack any object
in that zone other than enemy Guards. This condition is checked when the attack is declared.
Whether or not you must attack a guard is only checked for once at the time you declare an attack. Once the
attack is declared and legal, the presence of guards or ability to ignore them is no longer considered for that
attack. For example, if you declare an attack on a creature, and then a guard is Pushed into the zone, your attack
against the non-guard does not become illegal. As Walls occupy zone borders and not the zones themselves,
they cannot be guarded.
Hindering
The official rule: If a creatures moves out of zone with enemy creatures in it, or if it moves into a zone with
enemy creatures in it, it is hindered. A hindered creature must stop moving and cannot take any more move
actions this Action Phase (even if it has the Fast trait). Normally this will limit the creature to moving just one
zone that round.
A creature may be able to become unhindered before its first move action, by being able to ignore enemy
creatures in its zone. For example, the Necropian Vampiress could gain Flying before she moves. If there are no
flyers in her zone before she moves, then she could exit the zone unhindered. If she is unhindered in the new
zone, she can move again as a second move action. The same would apply with a creature revealing an Eagle
Wings before it takes its first move action.
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Movement by Teleporting ignores the hindering restriction. If a creature teleports before it takes any move
actions, it can become un-hindered if it Teleports into a zone without any enemy objects that can hinder it.
Note that if a creature has moved one zone while unhindered, and is unhindered in its new zone, it can move a
second time into a zone with enemy creatures in it (where it will be hindered for its next action phase).
Initiative
If you win the initiative roll on the first round of the game, you may choose to allow the other player to have
the initiative first.
Mage Death
Once a Mage dies, he cannot perform any further actions, pay mana costs, cast spells, make a counterstrike, etc.
Any enchantments and equipment attached to himself are immediately destroyed. Other objects he controls in
the game remain in play.
If a Mage dies, continue play until the end of that Phase (e.g. the Upkeep Phase, or the current creature's Action
Phase.) If all remaining Mages die before the end of that Phase, the game is a draw.
Example: In a two-player game, a Wizard with 1 remaining health and enchanted with Magebane casts an
attack spell on the enemy Warlock to kill him. The Warlock is killed and the Wizard will die from the Magebane,
and the game will be a draw.
Mandatory Actions
Some effects will require a creature to perform a specific action, such as making a melee attack against a
particular enemy creature in its zone. Currently, the only such effects are Bloodthirsty and Taunt. These effects
are referred to as mandatory actions.
A creature must perform a mandatory action if it is possible to do so when it chooses what action to perform. If
the creature is under multiple mandatory action requirements, the creature may choose which one of the
requirements to obey. These effects do not allow a creature to perform an action that would be otherwise
forbidden, such as attacking a creature that would otherwise be an illegal target (for example attacking a
creature when a different one is guarding, or attacking a Flying creature if the attacker is not flying).
Note that declaring the action includes paying any costs, so one would be required to pay any costs required to
perform the action. Determining whether or not the condition is possible is checked only at the moment that the
creature would be choosing its action (or target); the controller of the creature is not required to do anything
beforehand that would make the action possible. For example, the controller does not have to activate the ability
of another card (like using Archers Watchtower to give a ranged attack the Indirect trait) in order to make the
action possible.
Example: A creature with Bloodthirsty is in a zone with two other enemy creatures, one of which is Guarding
and undamaged, and the other one of which is damaged. Since the damaged creature is not a legal target for the
attack, the creature is free of any obligation to attack, so it could either attack the Guard or take another action.
Example: A creature with Bloodthirsty is in a zone with three enemy creatures, two of which are damaged, and
it uses a Sweeping attack action. The first attack must target one of the damaged creatures. For the second attack,
it cannot target the creature it attacked in the first attack but it can still target the other damaged creature, so it
must do so. If there were only one damaged creature and multiple undamaged creatures, then the first attack
must target the damaged creature but the second attack could target any of the undamaged creatures.
Example: A creature is in the same zone as an enemy Sosruko which has Taunted him. When the creature
activates, since it is possible to attack Sosruko he must do so; he may not move out of the zone to avoid the
effect. Note that you could use your quickcast action to teleport the creature out of the zone before it activates,
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so it wouldnt be able to attack Sosruko and would not be bound by the Taunt effect.
Example: A Wizard is in the same zone as an enemy Sosruko which has Taunted him. When the Wizard
activates, he chooses to use his Quickcast action immediately before his activation to cast a Teleport spell to
teleport the Wizard out of Sosruko's zone. Then, when the Wizard is choosing his normal action, he is no longer
in Sosruko's zone so he is not bound by the Taunt effect.
Example: A Goran, Werewolf Pet with Bloodthirsty is in the same zone as a damaged enemy Wizard equipped
with Cloak of Suppression, with no other enemy creatures. When Goran activates, if Goran's controller has 2 or
more mana in his mana supply, then Goran must attack the enemy Wizard and the controller must pay the 2
mana. If Goran's controller does not have 2 or more mana in his mana supply, Goran is unable to attack, so he
is not forced to attack and can take another action.
Example: Thorg taunts an enemy creature one zone away. When that creature is activated, its controller must
determine if it can make a ranged attack against Thorg, or move into Thorgs zone. If it is able to do either of
these, it must take one of those actions. If it is able to take both of these actions, it may choose which one it will
perform.
Note that Thorgs taunt will not force the taunted creature to move through a wall with the Passage Attacks trait.
If this is the case, then the creature must make a ranged attack if possible. If it cannot make a ranged attack,
then it is free to choose other actions.
If the taunted creature finds itself in Thorgs zone at the beginning of its action phase, or if it moves into Thorgs
zone, then it must attempt to make a melee attack against Thorg. If it has no actions left (for example a Slow
creature), then it does not have to attack.
If it moved into Thorgs zone because it was taunted by Thorg, but then once in the zone it finds itself also under
other mandatory action requirements (perhaps because it is Bloodthirsty and other damaged targets are in the
zone), then it may choose which mandatory action to take.
Move Action
When a creature moves from one zone to another, there is a specific sequence of events which must be followed.
A creature might move to a new zone by taking a move action, or it might be Pushed or Teleported.
Regardless as to how it moves to the new zone, it follows the move sequence below, although some parts or
steps might be irrelevant. For example, a Teleport bypasses Walls and ignores Step 3 below.
1. Declare Move
Choose which zone the creature will move to. Check to see if the move is possible (for example, make
sure no wall will block the move), and make sure the creature has an available action and is not
Restrained, Rooted or Incapacitated. If you discover you made a mistake and the creature cannot be
moved (for example, the wall is Passage Blocks, not Passage Attacks), you can cancel the move
action and choose a different action instead.
Then, pay any costs associated with the move (taking damage, or paying Suppression Orb's mana cost,
etc.). At this time the move is committed to. If you cannot pay all of the costs, the move is cancelled, and
you have lost the action.
2. Leaving Zone Effects
Some spells or abilities might have an effect which triggers when a creature is leaving a zone. Note that
there currently are no Leaving Zone effects in the game, but future ones will be added.
3. Walls
The creature encounters any intervening walls (unless it is Teleporting, in which case it ignores walls).
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If a creature has been Pushed into a wall with the Passage Blocks trait, it becomes Bashed and receives a
Bash Attack now.
If the creature is moving through a wall with the Passage Attacks trait, it conducts that attack at this time.
4. Move to New Zone
The creature must be moved into the new zone.
It is possible that a wall attack might Restrain or Incapacitate a creature, in which case it will not be able
to complete its move action, and will not be able to move into the new zone. See Walls below.
5. Entering Zone Triggers
Any spells, abilities, or effects which trigger for a creature entering a zone occur at this time. Examples
include a trap or Mangler Caltrops spell.
You do not get a chance to reveal enchantments after each of the 4 events above, like you do with the attack and
casting sequences. (However, if there is a wall attack, you can reveal enchantments after each Step of the attack
as normal. See Walls below.)
If a creature becomes unable to move during the move action, it stops the move sequence at that point, and the
rest of the move action is canceled. For example, a creature could become Restrained from a Leaving Zone
Effect. If this happens, the rest of the move action is canceled, and it will not encounter any walls, nor actually
be moved into the new zone.
Owner
The owner of a card is the player who started with the card in his spellbook when the game begins.
When a card is moved to a discard pile, spellbook, or hand of a player, it moves to its owners discard pile,
spellbook, or hand. However, some spells or effects may specifically move it to a different players location
instead.
Of course, at the end of the game, all cards should be returned to their owners.
Revealing Enchantments
The process for revealing enchantments is as follows:
1. Flip over the hidden enchantment card showing it to all players.
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2. Counter the Enchantment: A player may reveal an enchantment or use an ability which specifically
allows it be used during this step. For example, a Mind Shield can be revealed to counter and cancel a
psychic enchantment. Other enchantments cannot be revealed at this time. As of this printing, Mind
Shield is the only enchantment with this ability.
3. Pay Reveal Costs
4. Resolve the Enchantments Effects
Removal Cost
The removal cost of a condition is only used if a card or ability specifically references it. You cannot just
spend the removal cost to remove a condition unless an effect specifically allows you to do so.
You do not have to pay the removal cost if the condition is removed by another means (e.g. damaging a
Sleeping creature).
If an L is listed in the removal cost on a condition, it refers to the creatures Level. Example: The Sleep
condition marker.
Rings
There are several mana cost discount rings available, including Arcane Ring, Force Ring, and Druids Leaf
Ring. Most of these rings can only use their ability once per round, and you can use a ready marker to help
recall whether or not the rings ability has been used.
These rings reduce the amount of mana the Mage has to pay, but doesnt reduce the spells cost for the
purpose of other effects (such as the cost to Dissolve the equipment).
Normally, these rings can only be used on spells cast by the Mage, not on spells cast by Familiars or
Spawnpoints. An exception is the Necromancers Death Ring, which reduces casting costs for spells cast by his
spawnpoints.
Spell Range
The range indicated on the top of the card (e.g. 0-0 for creatures and 0-2 for equipment) applies when casting
the spell.
In the case of Attack Spells, which make an attack, the range for the attack is the same as the spell casting range
at the top of the spell.
If the card is an object which has an attack (such as a Royal Archer creature with a Longbow ranged attack) the
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range for that attack will be listed on its attack bar (the Longbow has a range of 1-2).
Spell Restrictions
Some spells are restricted to a particular Mage or school of training, For example Beastmaster Only or Holy
Mage Only. Unless the Mage is trained in that particular school or is that particular Mage class, then the
restriction prevents 3 things:
1) A restricted Mage cannot place that spell in his spellbook when building his spellbook before the game
begins.
2) A restricted Mage cannot cast that spell during the course of the game.
3) A restricted Mage cannot take control of that spell during the course of the game.
Examples:
If the Forcemaster casts Steal Equipment, she can target a Warlocks Lash of Hellfire, which has the
Warlock Only trait. However, since she cannot use this spell, it is destroyed instead.
Steal Enchantment cannot be used to take control of an enchantment you might otherwise be restricted
from. For example, the Wizard cannot take control of a Forcemasters Forcefield.
If the Priestess steals a Mage Wand with a Drain Life (Dark Mage Only) spell bound to it, she cannot
cast that spell. She can steal the wand, but the wand would be of no use to her unless she chooses to bind
a new spell to it. If she binds a new spell to the Mage Wand, the original bound spell is returned to its
owners spellbook (the player who owns the spell being returned).
The Forcemaster cannot cast Mind Control on Huginn, Raven Familiar because it has the Arcane Mage
Only trait.
Targeting
In order to successfully target an object, 3 conditions must be met.
1) You must be able to see the object trace LoS (Line of Sight) to the object.
2) If the spell, effect, or ability you are targeting with specifies a range, then the target must within the
specified range. If a range is not specified, then ignore this requirement and assume any range is
permissible.
3) The target must be a legal target and match whatever requirements are specified for that spell, effect,
or ability. For example, a spell might say Flying Creature in the target line, and thus it cannot target a
Nonflying creature.
Note that the first requirement (LoS) is mandatory for targeting, and the second 2 requirements may or may not
be required by the particular spell, effect, or ability.
Teleporting
The Teleported creature is moved directly to the target zone. It does not enter or move through any zones in
between its starting and ending zone, thus it bypasses walls and other objects along the way. For example, it
will not trigger any traps in the zones in between.
Movement by Teleporting ignores the hindering restriction. If a creature teleports before it takes any move
actions, it can become un-hindered if it Teleports into a zone without any enemy objects that can hinder it.
A creature which can move by Teleporting (such as Blue Gremlin and Grey Wraith) does not require LoS to an
adjacent zone in order to Teleport there.
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When a creature Teleports, it removes and destroys any attached conjurations. This is a good way to destroy
Quicksand and Tanglevine.
A creature may Teleport into the same zone it started in. If it does, it will still unattach and destroy any
conjurations.
A creature may Teleport even if Unmovable or Restrained.
Traps
A creature only enters a zone if it moves there (either uses a move action or is Pushed or Teleported). Being
Summoned or otherwise put into play in that zone does not count as entering the zone and will not trigger a
trap.
Walls
The walls around the outside of the arena are "high walls" and thus will block the movement of Flying creatures.
If a Flying creature is Pushed into an outside Wall it is bashed, just as if a non-Flying creature were pushed into
the wall
In order for a creature to be able to perform a ranged attack against a wall, it must (1) have LoS to the wall
(trace LoS to the center of the border where the wall resides), and (2) be in range of at least one of the zones the
wall borders. Also see Extendable in the Codex section.
A Bash attack will trigger a Block, Reverse Attack, or similar enchantment. (Since the Bash attack is
Unavoidable, the Block will be discarded without effect.)
Zone borders are not considered to be inside the zones they border, so a Zone attack will not affect walls.
Normally movement through a wall cannot be interrupted once it has begun. See Move Action above. If a
creature is moving through a wall with the Passage Attacks trait, players may reveal enchantments as normal
after each Step of the walls attack. An enchantment could be revealed which makes the creature unable to
move (such as Force Hold granting the Unmovable trait). If this should occur, the wall attack is canceled
immediately at the point in which the enchantment is revealed (which means it may not have yet received any
damage or other effects), and the creature does not move into the new zone. Likewise, a wall attack could Stun
or Restrain a creature during its attack, and the creature would be unable to move, and would not complete its
move into the new zone.
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Burn
Flame +X and Flame X effects do not affect the die roll made during the Upkeep Phase for the Burn
condition. However, these traits do affect the Effect Die roll for flame attacks.
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Fox, lowering the creature back to 0 armor. If Redclaw moves out of the Foxs zone, the Corrode marker will
be immediately removed, because it would give the Bitterwood Fox -1 armor. If Redclaw later moves back into
the Foxs zone, then the Fox will have 1 armor again.
Removing excess Corrode markers can occur while changing equipment on a Mage. See Equipment. When a
Mage replaces a piece of equipment in the same location (for example, casts a new Chestpiece to replace his
original Chestpiece) that Mage will temporarily have less armor when the first piece is removed, and before the
second piece is attached. At that moment while the Mage has neither Chestpiece attached, you will check his
armor and remove any excess Corrode markers. This is an excellent way for Mages to replace Corroded
equipment and regain armor.
Example: A Mage has 2 Corrode markers, a Bearskin (Armor +2), and a Leather Gloves (Armor +1). This gives
him an armor value of 1. If the Mage casts a Dragonscale Hauberk on himself, it will replace the Bearksin
(which has the same location; Chestpiece), he follows this procedure:
1. First, remove the original Bearskin, which is placed back into his spellbook.
2. Now his current armor value, without the Bearskin, is -1, so he immediately removes a Corrode
marker to bring his armor to 0.
3. Next, he attaches the Dragonscale Hauberk to himself, increasing his armor by 2. He now has an armor
value of 2.
If the Mage later casts a second Leather Gloves to replace the first one, when the first Leather Gloves comes off,
the Mage will still be at positive armor, so no Corrode markers will be removed, and the Mage will still have 1
Corrode marker at the end of the process.
Daze
The chance to miss is always rolled for at the end the Declare Attack Step, or as soon as the attack starts (if
there is no Declare Attack Step).
This is necessary, because some attacks do not have a Declare Attack Step, like the second and third strikes of a
Triplestrike attack. A Dazed creature must still roll for each attack it makes, including all 3 strikes of a
Triplestrike attack, or both attacks of a Sweeping attack.
On a Zone attack, one roll is made for Daze, which applies to the entire attack action. If the attack misses
then no targets are attacked in that zone.
If the attacker misses with a melee attack, treat this as if the attack had been avoided: The defender will still
remove a guard marker from itself, and the defender may still conduct a counterstrike (if it has one). However,
a Damage Barrier is not triggered.
Extendable
The correct wording is as follows:
When you cast this wall, you may pay an additional cost equal to the mana cost of the wall, plus the wall's Level,
as part of the cost of casting the spell. If you do, when this spell resolves, you may take an additional wall of the
same name out of your spellbook and place it on any zone border connected to the first wall. The second wall
must be placed in LOS as normal.
The new wording clarifies that the second Wall is not an additional spell being cast, and thus does not trigger
effects like Magebane or Gate to Voltari a second time. Since Extendable only triggers once per cast, each
casting of an Extendable wall will place at most two walls.
Note that the second wall is not required to be placed within range; only within LoS. The first wall placed is not
taken into account when determining LoS to the second wall. Thus the first wall cannot block LoS to, and
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prevent placing, a second wall.
Example: If you cast a Wall of Fire (a Level 2 spell with 7 mana cost) and used Extendable, you would pay 7
mana plus an additional cost of 9, for a total of 16 mana. If the spell was countered with Jinx, you would get all
16 mana back, but would place no walls.
Flying
A creature can ignore minimum range when making a ranged attack against another object in its zone if either
the attacking creature or the defending creature (or both) have the Flying trait.
A creature loses, and cannot gain, the Flying trait if it is Restrained, Rooted, or Incapacitated.
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Incapacitated
While a creature is Incapacitated, it loses and cannot gain the Flying trait.
Life +X/-X
If a creature has a Life X effect applied to it (or loses a Life +X effect) such that the damage on it is now
greater than its Life, the creature is destroyed. This does not count as being destroyed by damage for effects
that trigger off of that.
Novice
Novice spells always cost just 1 spellpoint to include in your spellbook, regardless as to what they would
normally cost the Mage. For example, if a Warlock buys a Level 1 Holy Novice spell, it still costs him just 1
point, even though normally he'd pay 3 for the spell.
Poison
We added a new damage type poison (skull and crossbones symbol).Poison attacks have no effect on
creatures with the Poison Immunity trait.
Push
A push effect always pushes the target one zone in the same direction as the line from the source to the target.
(Note that some push effects will specifically override this: e.g. push in a direction of your choice or push in
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a random direction.) If this line is diagonal, the controller of the push effect can choose either of the two
closest cardinal directions. If the target is in the same zone as the source then the controller can choose any of
the four directions.
Example: The target is one zone east of the source. The push must be in the east direction.
Example: The target is one zone east and one zone north of the source (diagonal to the source). The Push can
be in either the east or north directions (the source chooses).
Rage +X
You only gain Rage tokens from attacks made by enemy creatures. Damage from things other than attacks, or
attacks made by things other than enemy creatures, do not count. For example, attacks from conjurations or
friendly creatures do not count.
Ranged +X
Updated wording:
This creature gains +X attack dice when it makes a ranged attack. Has no effect on zone attacks. Does not grant
a ranged attack if this creature does not have one. If the creature makes multiple attacks during the same attack
action, it gains this bonus only for the first attack it can make with this bonus.
Ranged +X only increases the amount of dice the creature rolls when making ranged attacks. It does not
increase the range of the attack, and it does not give the creature the ability to make ranged attacks if the
creature does not already have that ability.
Restrained
While a creature is Restrained, it loses and cannot gain the Flying trait.
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Thus, a Slam will not prevent a creature from taking their Action Phase. The Daze will then go away at the end
of that Action Phase as normal.
Slam is useful for removing a Guard marker, or temporarily taking away Defenses, or the Flying trait (which all
occur because of Incapacitation).
Sleep
The L for the removal cost on the Sleep condition marker is equal to the creatures Level.
Slow
A creature checks whether or not it can take an additional action at the moment it would declare the action. If it
acquires the Slow trait before it takes the action, it may not be able to take the action. If it acquires the Slow
trait after it is already in the process of taking an action, the Slow trait will not prevent or restrict it from taking
that action.
Likewise, if it loses the Slow trait just before it would take an action, it might be able to take an action.
Example: A creature begins its Action Phase by taking a move action to move into another zone. After it moves
into the new zone, the opponent reveals an Enfeeble enchantment on the creature, which gives it the Slow trait.
The creature was planning to make a quick melee attack on an enemy creature in the zone it just entered.
However, because it acquired the Slow trait before it makes the quick action melee attack, it can no longer take
that action and must end its Action Phase instead.
Example: The same creature above enters the new zone and the opponent does not reveal Enfeeble on it, yet. It
then declares a quick action melee attack against an enemy creature in that zone. During that melee attack, the
opponent reveals the Enfeeble enchantment on the creature, giving it the Slow trait. Since it acquired the Slow
trait after it has already started its attack action, the Slow trait does not affect or prevent that attack from
continuing.
Example: A zone enchantment gives all creatures in that zone the Slow trait. A creature begins its Action Phase
in that zone by taking a move action to move out of the zone. It has the Slow trait as it moves out of the zone,
but as soon as it completes its move action it no longer is Slow. After moving out of the zone it may now take a
quick action.
Spellbind
When a card with Spellbind is cast, or when the bound spell is replaced, the bound spell is taken from the
Mage's spellbook, not from his prepared spells.
If a Mage casts an equipment with Spellbind on another Mage, then the recipient of the equipment chooses a
bound spell from the recipient's own spellbook.
If a bound spell is countered, the spell effect is canceled, but the bound spell still remains bound (it is not
destroyed or discarded). This includes if the spell is canceled or fails, such as with a Jinx spell, or if the target
changes or is moved.
If an item with a bound spell is stolen (such as with the Steal Equipment spell) the bound spell is stolen along
with the item. If it was a face down spell (not revealed yet because it had just been bound) the new controller
may look at the spell. The new controller may cast that bound spell, as long as it is not restricted for their Mage
school or class (for example, the Priestess cannot cast a Drain Life spell (Dark Mage Only) bound to a Mage
Wand).
When a bound spell is changed, the original spell is returns to its owners spellbook. In the example above, if
the Priestess has stolen a Warlocks Mage Wand, and then changes the Drain Life spell bound to it, the Drain
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Life spell is returned to the Warlocks spellbook.
Stuck
The Stuck condition cannot be placed on, nor has any effect on, a creature with the Uncontainable trait. Note
that all Incorporeal objects have the Uncontainable trait.
Summon
Summoning is the act of bringing a creature into play and placing it in the arena. Usually this occurs when a
creature spell has been cast and successfully resolves. Some spells or abilities, such as Reanimate, Ziggurat of
Undeath, or Eternal Servant, enable a Mage to Summon a creature in a different manner other than casting the
spell.
Sweeping
A creature must be legally able to attack both targets with its Sweeping attack.
A creature cannot gain or lose the Flying trait in the middle of an attack action. When a Flying creature uses a
Sweeping Melee attack, if the first target has Flying, the second target must also have Flying. If the first target
does not have Flying, then the Flying creature will have to lose the flying trait to attack them, thus their second
target must also be non-Flying.
For example, if a Flying creature with a Sweeping Melee attack makes its first attack against a Flying creature,
it will not be able to make its second attack against a non-Flying creature (since it is in the middle of the attack
action, so it cant lose Flying), or vice versa.
If a non-flying creature uses a Sweeping Melee attack that also has Reach it is legally able to attack Flying and
non-Flying, and so it may target both Flying and non-Flying targets. Similarly, a Sweeping Ranged attack may
target both Flying and non-Flying targets.
Taunt
See Mandatory Actions under Rules above.
A creature cannot Taunt itself. If such a situation should occur, the Taunt is canceled.
Upkeep +X
If an enchantment has the Upkeep +X trait, the upkeep must be paid by the controller of the enchantment, not
the controller of the creature to which the enchantment is attached. (Essence Drain is unusual in this regard: it
has no Upkeep cost itself but gives the creature it is attached to Upkeep +2; the controller of the enchanted
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creature must pay the upkeep cost as normal.)
Vampiric
Damage dealt to the creature in excess of its remaining health does not count toward healing.
A creature's remaining health is its life total minus the amount of damage currently marked on it (i.e., the
amount of damage needed to kill it.)
Note that if an attack places a condition on a creature which counts as damage (such as the Tainted condition),
the condition does not count as damage dealt by the attack. Therefore, it will not count as damage dealt for the
Vampiric trait.
Example: A creature with a Vampiric attack makes a melee attack on a Living creature, dealing 4 damage and
causing the Tainted condition. The attack has dealt 4 damage (not 7), and thus can heal a maximum of 2
damage from the attacker.
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(which is 0-2) by an extra zone. She destroys the Vine marker as part of the cost of casting the Tanglevine
spell.
Note that instead of casting one of the spells above, she could instead choose to cast a Bloodspine Wall (which
has the vine subtype) on a border of that same zone which has a friendly Vine marker in it. Not only does this
extend the range of that wall spell (which is normally range 0-1), but she can use the walls Extendable trait
to extend the wall even farther (assuming she has the extra wall spell and the mana to do so).
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ABILITIES: Clarifications
Beastmaster (Straywood)
If an opponent gains control of the Beastmasters Pet, the additional Melee +1 still applies if the Pet is in the
same zone as the Beastmaster.
Priestess (Westlock)
Her Restore ability is not limited to once per round. For example, if she uses Restores quick spell ability to
remove a single condition marker, she could cast it twice per round using both her normal action and quickcast
action.
Her Restore ability is an untyped spell. This means it will not trigger anything that looks for specific spell types,
like Nullify.
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Wizard (Sortilege)
The Voltaric Shield must be used if the attack would damage the Wizard. You cannot save it for another attack
later in the round. Receiving a Tainted condition marker does not count as being dealt damage from an attack,
and will not trigger the Voltaric Shield.
Prevention effects are applied in the order of your choice. Thus if you have another effect that would prevent all
the damage from the attack, you may apply that first, and there would not be any damage to trigger the Voltaric
Shield.
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Banish
While the creature is outside of the Arena, it is still considered in play.
It is out of range and LoS of all other objects, even other objects that are outside of the Arena.
It can still be affected by its own traits and abilities, and by cards attached to it.
Abilities which look for things happening in play, but dont have a specific range or require LoS, still work.
(For instance, a banished Valshalla, Lightning Angel can still gain Wrath tokens.)
Since its action markers status cant change, it wont reset its action marker during the Reset Phase. Thus, it
will return to the Arena with its action marker in the same state that it was in when Banish first resolved.
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Battle Fury
Current Text: "The next time this round that target creature makes a melee attack, if that attack is not a
Counterstrike, at the end of that attack action it may immediately make another quick action melee attack. This
extra attack counts as part of the same attack action. Only one Battle Fury spell may be cast per round on the
same creature."
The extra attack can be made against the same or a different legal target.
If the extra attack is made against a different Defender it is treated like a Sweeping Attack, and starts a
new attack sequence (with all of the normal steps, including a damage barrier and counterstrike).
If the extra is made against the same defender, it will not trigger an additional Counterstrike or Damage
Barrier. If the attacking creature becomes affected by a condition acquired from the counterstrike or
damage barrier (such as being stunned or dazed), its extra attack will be affected, and the condition
marker will remain on the creature until end of the next round (if it has an end of action phase effect,
as per rules for conditions acquired from a damage barrier or counterstrike).
Since the extra attack is still part of the same attack action (it occurs during the Attack Ends Step of the original
attack action), attack bonuses such as Melee +X do not apply to the extra attack.
If you cast Battle Fury on a creature, and the next melee attack that creature makes is a counterstrike attack,
Battle Fury will be wasted. (It will not have its effect on a later melee attack that round.)
The effect Only one Battle Fury spell may be cast per round on the same creature. is part of the spells effect.
Thus, if Battle Fury is countered, this effect will not occur, and you would be able to cast a second Battle Fury
on this creature this round.
Block
This still works even if the creature is Incapacitated.
Blue Gremlin
When this creature is activated, you may pay 1 mana. If you do, Gremlin gains the Fast trait until end of round,
and until end of round he cant take normal move actions but can Teleport to an adjacent zone instead of a move
action.
He does not need to have LoS to the zones he Teleports to.
Teleporting to a zone counts the same as a move action for the purpose of the number of actions you can
perform in a round, but are not move actions for any other purpose. Thus, by paying the 1 mana, Blue
Gremlin could teleport twice, and then take a quick action. He can do this even if hindered (hindering has no
effect on Teleporting).
Blue Gremlin can Teleport even if Unmovable or Restrained.
If a mandatory action effect would force Blue Gremlin to move, and this move could only be performed by
using the Teleport ability, Blue Gremlin would not be forced to use that ability. (This is because the mandatory
action effect only applies at the moment Blue Gremlin would be choosing an action, which is after the time that
the Blue Gremlins ability is used. If Blue Gremlin did choose to use the Teleport ability, it would then be bound
by the effect.)
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Bull Endurance
If an enemy is attacking this creature and rolled enough damage to destroy your creature, you can reveal Bull
Endurance at the end of the Roll Dice Step before the damage is applied, which may be enough to save your
creature.
If Bull Endurance is destroyed, its life bonus will stop applying. If this causes the creatures damage to be equal
to or greater than its Life, the creature will immediately be destroyed. (This doesnt count as being destroyed by
damage or being destroyed by a particular attack.)
Chains of Agony
The damage is taken immediately when the move is declared, and before it actually takes its move.
After the creature declares a move action, there is no opportunity to reveal Chains of Agony and have it trigger
on that move action. The latest you could reveal it and still have it take effect is at the beginning of the
creatures activation, or immediately after the previous action.
Chain Lightning
Updated wording:
Each time Chain Lightning damages a target, the attacker may immediately make another Chain Lightning
attack against another target as part of the same attack action. The source of this attack is the just-damaged
target, and the new target must be within range 0-1 and LoS of the source, and not already have been damaged
by Chain Lightning during this attack action. The new attack rolls 1 fewer attack dice and subtracts 1 more
from the effect die roll (cumulative for each subsequent attack).
Any modifiers that apply to one attack do not affect the number of dice rolled during subsequent attacks.
Example: The first target of a Chain Lightning has Lightning +2, the second has no traits, and the third has
Lightning +1. The first target would be hit for 5+2=7 dice, the second would be hit for (5-1)=4 dice, and the
third would be hit for (5-2)+1 = 4 dice.
Since range is always counted from the source, the subsequent targets must be within range 0-1 and LoS of the
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previous target, not within range and LoS of the caster.
Since an attack cannot be reduced below 1 die, Chain Lightning can keep going as long as it deals damage and
has available legal targets.
If Chain Lightning destroys a target, it can still continue with the next target.
If Chain Lightning is reversed by a Reverse Attack enchantment, the attack is redirected to the last target of
Chain Lightning, not to the caster. Even though the source of the attack (for purposes of Reverse Attack) is the
last target damaged by Chain Lightning, the attacker is still the original attacker.
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Death Link
The amount of damage dealt is equal to the amount actually healed from Death Links ability. If Death Links
controlling Mage didnt heal (such as because it had Finite Life), no damage is dealt. If the healing effect from
Death Link was increased somehow, then the amount of damage dealt would also increase.
Death Links controlling Mage can heal more damage than the enchanted creatures remaining health.
Preventing direct damage from being placed on the enchanted creature will not prevent Death Links controlling
Mage from healing.
Decoy
If Decoy is destroyed while still unrevealed (e.g. by a Seeking Dispel), its controller still gains the 2 mana.
If Decoy is countered (e.g. by Nullify), its controller does not gain the 2 mana, because the enchantment never
resolved to have its effect.
If Decoy is discarded from somewhere other than play, such as if it had been planned to be cast with a familiar
which then is destroyed, it does not gain its owner 2 mana.
Dispel
This targets an enchantment, not the object to which it is attached. Thus, a Nullify enchantment on that object
cannot counter Dispel.
Divine Intervention
See Changing the Range or Target of a Spell or Attack under Rules above.
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Drain Life
This is not an attack.
You can only heal up to as much damage as the amount you deal to the target. Drain Life cant deal more
damage to the target than what it takes to destroy that target. For example, if the target has 12 Life and 9
damage on it, Drain Life can only deal a maximum of 3 damage (and then it would destroy the target). In this
case, you could heal up to 3 damage.
The roll is made as part of the resolution of the spell. There is no opportunity to reveal enchantments between
when the roll is made and when the damage is dealt.
Drain Power
The target cant lose more mana than he has in his mana supply, and the caster cannot gain more mana than the
target loses.
The roll is made as part of the resolution of the spell. There is no opportunity to reveal enchantments between
when the roll is made and when the mana is transferred.
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Enfeeble
After this creature takes a move action, you could immediately reveal Enfeeble to give it Slow, thus preventing
it from taking another action.
If you wait until after this creature declares a second action (such as an attack or a second move action) and then
reveal Enfeeble in the middle of that action, it will not cancel the action.
Explode
This isnt a melee attack or a ranged attack.
This targets the Mage, not the chosen equipment. (For instance a Nullify on the target Mage can counter
Explode).
Explode itself makes the attack, not the caster. (Thus, traits on the caster that affect attacks the caster makes will
not affect this attack.)
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When casting Force Bash, the first part of the spell is handled exactly like a Force Push. Once that it done, then
the second part takes place - the Slam effects. The target creature receives the Slam condition. And, any other
target creature in the new zone it is moved to may also receive the Slam condition. This occurs after the Push
part, and after the creature is moved into the new zone.
If there are no enemy creatures in the zone it moves to, then the spell is effectively slamming the first creature
into the floor, and this occurs after they have moved into the new zone.
The spell can target a flying creature and Slam him into a non-flying creature, or visa-versa. Again, this occurs
after the first creature is Pushed. For example, a non-flying creature is first Pushed one zone, then is "raised"
and slammed into a flying creature (or visa-versa).
Note, in order to receive the Slam condition, the target must be Pushed one zone away. It cannot be slammed
right into another creature in its same zone, nor be slammed after a failed Push. It requires some momentum to
do a proper Slamming!
If you use Force Bash to Push the creature into a wall with the Passage Blocked trait, it will be Bashed (receives
an unavoidable attack of 3 dice damage). Afterwards the creature will not receive the Slam condition, because it
was not Pushed one zone.
You must be able to target the second creature in the new zone in order to give that creature a Slam condition. If
you cannot target that creature, you cannot give them the Slam condition. For example, if you cast Force Bash
on a creature and Push them one zone into a zone with the Invisible Stalker, you cannot Slam the Stalker while
it is Invisible because it cannot be targeted.
The spell will not trigger a Nullify or similar spell on the secondary target.
Force Bash vs. Unmovable: You cannot Push an Unmovable creature, so you cannot Push an Iron Golem into
another creature with Force Bash.
However, even an Unmovable creature can feel some force from a heavy blow. The rule for Slam says:
"Unmovable creatures receive a Daze condition instead of Slam."
So, if another creature was Force Bashed into an Iron Golem, the Iron Golem would be Dazed.
If instead the Force Bash tries to first Push an Iron Golem, that part fails. The Iron Golem would remain in its
zone, would not receive a Slam condition, and you would not be able to Slam a second target.
Force Hold
See Force Crush above.
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Force Push
Current Text: "Target creature is Pushed 1 zone in the direction of your choice. This will not Push it through a
wall with the Passage Attacks trait, unless you pay an additional 3 mana when this spell is cast."
Designer note: This extra mana represents the extra power required to force a creature through an attacking
wall.
Note that if the mana is not paid, the creature cannot be Pushed through a wall with the Passage Attacks trait. If
there is a wall with the Passage Attacks trait in its path, the creature is not Pushed through it, and it is also not
Bashed into that same wall. Instead it is not Pushed at all.
If the creature cannot be Pushed (for example, during the Counter Spell Step of Force Push, a player reveals a
Force Hold on the creature which makes it Unmovable), any extra mana spent on Force Push is lost.
When a Flying creature is Pushed it ignores walls, and cannot be Bashed or attacked by a wall with the Passage
attacks trait. Exception: If Pushed into the walls around the outside of the arena, it is Bashed.
Skip the Avoid Attack Step (a Block enchantment will not be forced to be revealed)
Skip the Roll Dice Step, and Assign Damage and Effects Steps. No damage or effects will occur.
Skip the Damage Barrier and Counterstrike Steps. However a Guard marker is still removed.
Note: The Forcefield only cancels one attack, not the entire attack action. If the attack action makes multiple
attacks, proceed with those additional attacks as normal. Unless the Forcefield cancels one of those attacks,
they could trigger the Steps above as normal.
If Forcefield has no more tokens on it, it remains in play attached to the Mage, it just wont be able to cancel
any more attacks (until it gets another Forcefield token next Upkeep Phase).
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zone, regardless of range or LoS."
The choice to place the creature in Garrison Posts zone, or in your own zone, is made when the creature spell
resolves.
Gate to Hell
The action to Open the Gate must be performed by the controlling Mage, and may be performed from
anywhere in the Arena.
When the gate is opened, the controller decides the order for each attack to be resolved. Resolve the attacks one
at a time, fully resolving the first one before going onto the next.
Gate to Voltari
The comes-into-play ability on this does not target the chosen Mage. (It has no range or LoS restrictions.)
This will trigger off of the enemy Mage casting a spell off a Wand, or using an ability that can be used as a
quick spell or as a full spell.
Geyser
The ability to cancel the attack to remove Burn conditions is not optional. If the target has any Burn conditions,
the effect must occur.
The Geyser attack spell may target an object with the Hydro Immunity trait. If it does, the attack deals no
damage or effects to the object, other than to remove all Burn conditions. In this manner, a Geyser attack can
be used to extinguish the fires of a burning plant object.
Ghoul Rot
Current Text: "Each Upkeep Phase, this creature receives 2 direct poison damage."
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Hand of Bim-Shalla
This spell now has the Unique trait.
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Harmonize
Harmonize cannot be cast on an object such as Mana Crystal or Mana Flower, because those cards do not have
their own Channeling attributes.
Helm of Fear
Updated wording:
Whenever this Mage is targeted by a melee attack that is not a Counterstrike, at the beginning of the Declare
Attack Step roll the effect die. On a 9+, the attack is canceled and the attacker may not attack this Mage for the
rest of the round, except as a Counterstrike. Also, the attacker may immediately perform the same attack against
a different target; this additional attack counts as part of the same attack action as the original attack. If this
was the first attack of this attack action, the attacker can alternatively cancel the entire attack action and
choose to Guard instead. Attackers with Nonliving or Psychic Immunity are immune to the Helm of Fear's
effects.
Example: An attacker with a Sweeping attack is in a zone with an enemy Warlock, Firebrand Imp, and
Flaming Hellion. The Warlock has a Helm of Fear, and the attacker chooses the Warlock as his first target. The
Warlock rolls a 9+ on the roll, and the attacker chooses to make his attack against the Imp instead. On the
second attack of the Sweeping attack, the Hellion is the only legal target (he cannot attack the Warlock because
of the Helm's effect, and cannot attack the Imp because that was the target of the first part of the Sweeping
attack.)
Example: Same as the first example, except that the attacker chooses to Guard instead. In this case, the entire
attack action is canceled (not just the first attack) so the attacker does not get to make any attacks.
Example: Same as the first example, except that the attacker attacks the Imp first, and then attacks the Warlock
as the second attack of the Sweeping attack. The Warlock rolls a 9+ on the roll, and the attacker cannot choose
to Guard instead, and the only legal target for the replacement attack is the Hellion.
Example: Same as the first example, except the attack is Triplestrike instead of Sweeping. The attacker attacks
the Warlock, the Helm of Fear rolls a 9+, and the attacker chooses to attack the Hellion instead. Then the
Hellion would get attacked with all three Triplestrike attacks (because the second and third Triplestrike attacks
are made against the same target as the target of the first attack, which is now the Hellion.)
Idol of Pestilence
Current Text: "During the Upkeep Phase, each Living creature is dealt 1 point of direct poison damage."
Invisible Stalker
As soon as the Invisible Stalker declares an attack, he loses the Invisible trait. This means he will have lost the
Elusive trait (which is part of the Invisible trait). He does not have to attack any guards in the zone though, even
though he is no longer Elusive, because he has already bypassed guards. Whether or not you must attack a
guard is only checked for once at the time you declare an attack. See Guarding in the rules section.
Jinx
Refunds the amount actually spent to cast the spell, after applying any cost reductions or additional costs. For
example, if you cast a Force Push, and paid the extra 3 mana, and reduced the cost by 1 with a Force Ring, you
would have spent a total of 5 mana to cast the spell, and 5 mana would be the amount refunded.
This will trigger off of abilities that are performed as a quick spell, like the Wizards Arcane Zap.
If used to counter a familiars spell, the mana is refunded back to the original sources. For example, if the
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familiar spent 4 mana and the Mage spent 1 mana, then the familiar is refunded 4 mana and the Mage is
refunded 1 mana.
If Jinx is used to counter a Spellbound spell, the spell card stays on the equipment to which it was Spellbound,
as per the rules of Spellbind.
Knockdown
Since the Incapacitated effect ends at the beginning of the creature's next Action Phase, that creature will get to
act normally during that Action Phase. Knockdown is useful for removing a Guard marker, or to cause the target
to temporarily lose Defenses or Flying all of which occur while the creature is temporarily incapacitated.
Designer note: The knockdown spell was the precursor to the later Slam condition.
Magebane
Magebane deals its damage after the spell that triggered it has been resolved. For example, when this creature
casts a spell, you could reveal this at the end of the Counter Spell Step, and then at the end of Resolve Spell
Step, after the spell resolves, this creature will take 1 direct damage.
If the Mage destroys Magebane with a Dispel, it will still do a point of damage to him for casting the Dispel.
In a duel, if a Mage casts a spell that kills the opposing Mage, and then dies due to Magebane damage, the game
is a draw.
Malacoda
Malacoda has the Poison Immunity trait.
Current Text: "Each Upkeep Phase, all other Living creatures in Malacoda's zone are dealt 2 direct poison
damage."
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transferred to Mana Prism, your opponent does not gain any mana.
In order to pay costs, you still have to have enough mana to pay the cost. For example, if you have a Pacify
controlled by the opponent on your creature and only 1 mana in your mana supply, you still cant declare a
melee attack with that creature. (If you had 2 mana, you could declare a melee attack, and the 2 mana for the
cost would be transferred to Mana Prism rather than going away.)
Mana Siphon
The selection of the target occurs when the Mana Siphon comes into play (i.e., when the spell resolves), and is
not optional. For instance, if the Mage casting the spell is the only one within range when Mana Siphon
resolves (e.g. because the opponent somehow teleported away during the Counter Spell Step) the caster will be
forced to target himself.
The range and LoS is determined from Mana Siphon, not from the controlling Mage.
If there are no legal targets for Mana Siphons enters-play ability when Mana Siphon comes into play, it will
come into play with no effect.
If Mana Siphon leaves play and then returns somehow, a new target will be selected. (This may be the same as
the previous target, if legal.)
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The restriction that Mind Control cannot be moved to a new target means that it cannot be moved through
spells such as Shift Enchantment and Steal Enchantment.
You cannot take control of creatures which your Mage is restricted from. For example, the Forcemaster cannot
cast Mind Control on Huginn, Raven Familiar, which has the Arcane Mage Only trait.
If you take control of a familiar you are legally allowed to control, you take control of any spell which was
planned for it to cast (unless that spell is restricted from your Mage class or school, in which case it is
immediately returned to the owners spellbook instead). You can use the familiar to cast that spell, and you will
have control of that spell after it is cast. Alternately, you can change out the spell on a future planning phase, at
which time it is returned to its owners spellbook.
During the Upkeep Phase, the upkeep cost for Mind Control must always be paid first, before any and all of the
enchanted creatures upkeep costs. If you cannot pay, or choose not to pay, the upkeep cost for Mind Control,
then Mind Control is immediately destroyed and the enchanted creatures control reverts to its owner, and any
upkeep costs for that creature (if any) can be paid by the new controller.
Example: A Warlock owns and controls a Darkpact Slayer creature, which has an Essence Drain enchantment
on it. The Forcemaster decides to take control of that Darkpact Slayer, and casts Mind Control on it. The
Darkpact Slayer has 2 enchantments on it now; Mind Control and Essence Drain.
During the next Upkeep Phase, the Forcemaster has to decide whether or not to pay upkeep costs. Mind Control
has an upkeep cost of 3, and the Darkpact Slayer has an upkeep cost of 2 (from the Essence Drain). The
Forcemaster must decide whether or not to pay Mind Controls upkeep cost first before she pays the upkeep
cost for the Darkpact Slayer.
If she pays Mind Controls upkeep cost, then she can decide whether or not to pay the Darkpact Slayers upkeep
cost. If she does not pay the Darkpact Slayers upkeep cost, it is destroyed.
If she does not pay Mind Controls upkeep cost, then Mind Control is destroyed, and control of the Darkpact
Slayer immediately reverts to the Warlock. The Warlock must now decide whether or not to pay the Darkpact
Slayers upkeep cost.
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Moonglow Amulet
This spell now has the mana subtype.
Necropian Vampiress
If you use her ability to give her the Flying trait in a zone with only enemy non-Flying creatures, she will not be
hindered when she starts her Action Phase.
Nullify
Even if the spell has multiple targets, a Nullify revealed on any of the targets will counter the entire spell.
This only counters spells, not other abilities (unless the ability says it counts as a spell)
Pacify
The payment of 2 mana is part of the cost of making the attack. Thus, you cannot declare the attack if you don't
have the 2 mana to pay.
You cannot reveal Pacify in response to the declaration of an attack in order to force the opponent to pay 2
extra mana. Pacify can be revealed before the Declare Attack Step, or after it, but not during it. (Once an
attack is declared, the earliest opportunity you could reveal Pacify is at the end of the Declare Attack Step,
which is after costs are calculated and paid.)
Pacify will work against spell attacks. On a spell attack, since the attack is actually made when the spell
resolves, the additional 2 mana is paid when the spell resolves. (For example, if a Familiar is casting an attack
spell, his opponent could reveal a Pacify at the end of the Counter Spell Step. During the Resolve Spell Step,
the spell would resolve and the attack sequence begins, at which point the Familiars controller would have to
pay 2 mana if able; if not, then the attack would not happen and the spell would be wasted.)
Pentagram
The wording the creatures must be different applies only within each round.For instance, if you damage an
enemy Firebrand Imp and Flaming Hellion, you will get one mana on the Pentagram each time, for a total of
two. If you damage the same Imp and Hellion again next round, you would get another two mana for that next
round.
Perfect Strike
This only affects the next attack, not the entire next attack action.
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Piercing Strike
This only affects the next attack, not the entire next attack action.
Poisoned Blood
For example, if an opponent casts a Heal spell on this creature, and you reveal Poisoned Blood at the end of the
Counter Spell Step, then the Heal spell will still resolve, but will not provide any healing to this creature.
Reverse Attack
Updated wording:
When this creature is attacked, you must reveal Reverse Attack during the Avoid Attack Step. The attack is
avoided and then redirected back; this creature becomes the new source (although the attacker stays the same),
and the original source becomes the new target (even if the original source would not normally be a legal
target), for the next 2 steps (Roll Dice and Damage and Effects).
Then, destroy Reverse Attack. If the attack is Unavoidable, destroy Reverse Attack without effect.
For clarification, consider the case where a Warlock is attacking a Wizard, and the Wizard reveals Reverse
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Attack. Then we have the Warlock attacking himself. Thus, for instance, if the Warlock's attack has Vampiric
and he hits himself for 6 points of damage, he will take 6 damage and then heal 3, so he will end up with 3 more
damage on him than when he started. Note that if the 6 damage were enough to destroy him, he will die before
the healing could take place.
The Wizard is considered the source of the attack; this generally only matters in cases where the effect of the
attack depends on the range.
If the Warlock's attack action had additional attacks, the Warlock may make these additional attacks now. For
instance, if the Warlock's attack was a Doublestrike, the second attack of the Doublestrike would be made
against the Wizard, because the second Doublestrike attack is made against the same target as the target of the
first attack, which at this time is again considered to be the Wizard.
For the Damage Barrier and Counterstrike steps, the attack continues as originally intended, with the Wizard as
the defender. Thus, the Wizard will not get to use a Damage Barrier (since the attack was avoided), unless there
was another attack against the Wizard in the same attack action that was not avoided. The Wizard may still use a
Counterstrike.
Suppose that a Chain Lightning attack is made by an attacker X, and the first target is A, and the second target is
B. A Reverse Attack revealed on target B will redirect the attack to target A (even though Target A was already
attacked before; this is the reason for the wording about even if the original source would not normally be a
legal target). Then after that attack, the chain could continue; it would still be controlled by the attacker X, and
the attacker would have to choose a different target (other than A or B).
Reverse Attack still functions even if the creature is Incapacitated.
Reverse Magic
Current Text: "When this creature is targeted by an incantation or enchantment spell controlled by an opponent,
you must reveal Reverse Magic during the Counter Spell Step. Redirect it back to the caster, who now becomes
the target of the spell. You become the caster of that spell, and now control that spell, and may reselect any other
choices the spell requires you to make. Recalculate the total mana cost of the spell; if the new cost is higher than
the original cost, you must pay the difference. Then, destroy Reverse Magic."
If the spell has secondary targets you can choose new secondary targets.
If a hidden enchantment is Reversed, the new controller of the enchantment may look at it. However, you may
not look at it before deciding whether or not to pay the reveal cost of Reverse Magic.
If you cannot or do not want to pay the difference after recalculating the mana cost, you may cancel the spell
instead.
Example: A Warlock casts Dissolve on a Wizard, and selects the Wizard's Regrowth Belt (cost 6). The Wizard
reveals Reverse Magic, paying the reveal cost of 5. The Wizard can then reselect one of the Warlock's
equipment to destroy. For example, suppose the only equipment the Warlock has is a Lash of Hellfire (cost 8).
In that case, the Wizard could reselect that, paying 2 additional mana, and destroying the Lash of Hellfire, or he
could just cancel the spell instead. (If he did not have the 2 additional mana available, he would have to cancel
the spell.) If the Warlock had an equipment with cost less than 6, and the Wizard chose that piece of equipment
instead, the Wizard would not get mana refunded.
Example: A Warlock casts Force Push on a Wizard without paying the additional 3 mana to push through a
wall, and the Wizard reveals Reverse Magic, paying the reveal cost of 5. The Wizard could pay the additional 3
mana to push the Warlock through a wall if he wanted to. (Effectively you recalculate the cost, and with the
additional cost the new cost is 6 while the original cost was 3, so the difference is 3 and that's what you have to
pay.) If the Warlock had cast the spell and had paid the additional 3 mana, then the reversed spell could push the
Warlock though a wall without the Wizard having to pay any extra.
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Only one of the targets of the reversed spell needs to be the original spells caster. The caster of the reversed
spell is free to select any other targets, as well as any other choices made when you cast this.
If a spell has multiple targets, a Reverse Magic on any of the targets will cancel (and reverse) the whole spell.
Sacrificial Altar
This does not target either the creature destroyed or the creature it gives the bonus to.
Seeking Dispel
This targets an enchantment, not the object to which it is attached. Thus, a Nullify enchantment on that object
cannot counter Seeking Dispel.
Steal Enchantment
Steal Enchantment cannot be used to take control of an enchantment you are restricted from. For example, the
Wizard cannot take control of a Forcemasters Forcefield. See Restricted Spells under Rules above. You can
still move the spell, you just cannot take control of it.
When you cast Steal Enchantment, you can re-target the same target the enchantment is currently attached to.
For example, you may want to take control of a Charm spell, and put it back on the current target creature. You
must pay the casting cost for Charm to be placed on that same target again (as described on the Steal
Enchantment spell).
For example, if you were to move a Ghoul Rot from a non-Mage creature to another non-Mage creature, it
would cost 12 mana. To move it from a non-Mage creature to a Mage would cost 14 mana. To move it from a
Mage to a Mage would cost 16 mana.
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then attach the new equipment to yourself.
Steal Equipment cannot be used to take control of an equipment item you are restricted from.
Example: If the Forcemaster casts Steal Equipment, she can target a Warlocks Lash of Hellfire, which has the
Warlock Only trait. However, since she cannot use or equip this spell, it is destroyed instead.
Example: If the Priestess steals a Mage Wand with a Drain Life spell bound to it, she cannot use cast that spell,
because it is Dark Mage Only. She can steal the wand, but the wand would be of no use to her unless she
chooses to bind a new spell to it.
See Restricted Spells under Rules above.
Suppression Cloak
Does not affect Counterstrikes.
You cannot declare the attack if you do not have the 2 mana to spend. If a Mage with Suppression Cloak is
Guarding, and the attacker doesnt have the 2 mana to spend, he cant attack the Mage or any of the other nonGuards in the zone (because of the Guarding restrictions).
Suppression Orb
The mana payment is a cost to make the movement, and is paid first before the move is taken. Thus, while
Suppression Orb is on the field, if a non-Mage creature's controller has no mana, that creature cannot take a
move action. It could, however, Teleport or be Pushed.
Suppression Orb affects each move action a creature takes; if a creature takes 2 move actions during its Action
Phase, its controller must pay 1 mana for each one.
Tanglevine
Current Text: "Target is Restrained and gains the Unmovable trait. Tanglevine cannot target creatures with the
Flying or Uncontainable traits. Ranged attack cannot target Tanglevine."
This spell now has the vine subtype.
Note, a creature may attack Tanglevine, if it is attached to itself, ignoring any guards in the zone. Also, attacking
the Tanglevine will not trigger a Damage Barrier or Counterstrike from yourself.
Zone attacks targeting Tanglevines zone can still affect and damage Tanglevine, because Zone attacks do not
target the Tanglevine.
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Teleport
You can teleport a creature into the same zone as it was in. (This costs 3 mana.)
Both the target creature and target zone it is being moved to must be within the range 0-2 from the caster.
Teleport Trap
This does not target the zone you Teleport the enemy to. (Thus, you dont need LoS to it.)
Temple of Light
Current Text: Once each round, before or after any friendly creatures Action Phase, you may choose a value
of X between 1 and the number of temples you control, and pay X mana to make the above attack, adding X to
the effect die roll. Use a Ready Marker to keep track of this ability.
For example, if you control 4 temples, you may pay either 1, 2, 3, or 4 mana. If you choose 3, you pay 3 mana,
then make the above attack rolling 3 attack dice and adding 3 to the effect die roll.
You choose the value of X each time you use the ability. (For example, you could choose X=3 while using the
ability one round, and X=1 while using the ability on a different round.)
Temple of Light can attack the round that it comes into play.
The effect die results, 9-10=stun, 11+=daze, are correct as printed. (As X increases, the chance to Daze
increases, but not the chance to Stun.)
Vampiric Strike
This only affects the next attack, not the entire next attack action.
Wall of Fire
Its attack is Unavoidable.
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Wall of Thorns
Its attack is Unavoidable.
Mages are level 6, so this will attack a Mage 5 times.
This will not attack a level 1 creature at all. No attack sequence will be performed.
Each attack is resolved separately, using the rules for additional strikes in the attack sequence.
Whirling Spirit
If the attack Pushes its target out of the Whirling Spirits zone, the target will not get a Counterstrike, but will
still lose its Guard marker (if it has one). Whirling Spirit will still be attacked by a Damage Barrier on the target
(if it has one).