The Auroria Codex

Each player draws 7 cards and receives one free mercy mulligan.

• Each player draws 7 cards to form their opening hand.
• Each player may keep any number of cards, shuffle the rest back into their deck, and draw back to 7. This is the mercy mulligan — it is free.
• Each mulligan after the mercy mulligan costs 1 card (you draw back to 7 minus 1 per additional mulligan).
• After mulligans are complete, the game begins.

Win by reducing your opponent's Influence to 0 or by having them start their Draw Phase with 0 cards in deck.

• You win if your opponent's leader influence reaches 0 or less.
• You win if your opponent starts their Draw Phase with 0 cards in deck.
• Some cards may introduce additional win conditions — refer to individual card text.

A player loses at the start of their Draw Phase if they have 0 cards in deck. Skipping the draw does not prevent this loss.

• At the start of a player's Draw Phase, check whether that player has any cards in their deck.
• If that player has 0 cards in deck, that player loses.
• The player loses even if they choose not to draw.
• Choosing to skip the draw does not protect a player from losing to deck-out.
• Deck-out is one of the main ways to win or lose the game.

Influence is the leader-based value players lose during the game. A player loses when their Influence reaches 0.

• A player's starting Influence is determined by their leader card.
• Leader cards show power and Influence — the number on the right is the leader's Influence.
• A player may exceed their leader's starting Influence if a card effect grants additional Influence.
• A player loses if their Influence is reduced to 0.
• Destroying a Frontline or Backline creature does not cause its controller to lose Influence from the power difference. Influence is reduced only by an unblocked attack against a leader, Piercing, or a card effect that specifically causes Influence loss.
• Equal-power combat causes no Influence loss.
• Leaders are in a separate zone and can always be attacked regardless of whether they are ready or exhausted. Other cards may block for leaders when legally able.

Each turn follows: Start of Turn/Ready Step → Draw Phase → Energy Phase → Main Phase → Battle Phase → End Phase.

• Turn order: Start of Turn/Ready Step → Draw Phase → Energy Phase → Main Phase → Battle Phase → End Phase.
• Start of Turn/Ready Step: The active player readies all exhausted cards they control. Readying happens here, before the Draw Phase — not during the End Phase.
• Draw Phase: Draw one card from your deck.
• Energy Phase: Play one Energy card from your hand face-down into your Energy Zone.
• Main Phase: Play creatures, spells, auras, items, or use Activate effects.
• Battle Phase: Declare attacks with eligible ready creatures and your leader.
• End Phase: Clear temporary combat power buffs/debuffs, clear marked damage from every non-Structure creature, reset attack usage, and pass the turn. Structures retain their marked damage.

After the Ready Step, draw one card. If your deck has 0 cards, you lose.

• After the active player readies their exhausted cards during the Start of Turn/Ready Step, they draw one card from their deck during the Draw Phase.
• If your deck has 0 cards at the start of your Draw Phase, you lose — even if you choose not to draw.
• Some card effects allow additional draws; these resolve at the appropriate timing.

Once per turn you may play one Energy card face-down into your Energy Zone.

• Once per turn during the Energy Phase, you may play one Energy card from your hand face-down into your Energy Zone.
• Only cards printed as Energy cards may be placed as Energy — this includes Empowered Energy cards. Other card types (creatures, spells, auras, items, counters) cannot be placed as Energy.
• Energy cards are exhausted (turned sideways) when used to pay a card's cost.
• Energy cards refresh (stand upright) at the start of your next turn.
• Potions are treated as Energy markers — see the Potions rule section.

During the Main Phase, play cards from your hand and use Activate effects.

• During the Main Phase you may play any number of cards from your hand as long as you can pay their Energy costs.
• Creatures are played onto your Frontline or Backline.
• Spells and Aura Spells are cast directly from your hand during the Main Phase.
• Counters are reactive cards — they are not played during your own Main Phase. Counters may only be played during a legal response window when the opponent takes an action you can respond to.
• Items may be played and equipped to a creature or leader, or placed under a leader depending on card text.
• Activate effects may be used once per turn unless stated otherwise.
• You may also manually move one creature once per turn during the Main Phase.

Declare attacks with ready creatures or your leader. A creature must be ready to attack and exhausts when it attacks; leaders do not exhaust. Ready enemy creatures cannot normally be attacked.

• During the Battle Phase, the active player may declare attacks with eligible ready creatures and their leader.
• A creature must be ready to declare an attack unless a card effect explicitly says otherwise.
• Declaring an attack with a creature exhausts that creature immediately, before the attack resolves and before any applicable response window opens.
• A creature may normally attack only once per turn.
• Creatures cannot attack during the turn they are played or summoned unless they have Quickness or another effect permits it.
• Moving a creature does not prevent it from attacking that turn, and movement does not ready or exhaust a creature unless an effect specifically says it does.
• A creature may attack the opposing Leader, or an exhausted enemy creature.
• A ready enemy creature cannot normally be chosen as the target of a creature attack. Card effects may override this restriction if they specifically allow a creature to attack a ready creature or another normally illegal target.
• Leaders do not exhaust when they attack and may normally attack once per turn. A leader can always be attacked.
• When an attack is declared, the defending player may declare one legal blocker or decline to block (see Blocking).
• Combat resolves after blockers are declared or declined.
• After all attacks are resolved, the Battle Phase ends.

In normal Auroria TCG, the non-turn player receives matching action opportunities when the turn player takes certain actions.

• Auroria TCG normally uses Mirrored Action Windows.
• This means the non-turn player may receive an opportunity to take the same type of action after the turn player chooses to take that action.
• The turn player controls whether that window opens.
• Draw Phase: If the turn player draws, the non-turn player may also draw. If the turn player skips their draw, the non-turn player does not get to draw.
• Energy Phase: If the turn player places an Energy, the non-turn player may also place an Energy. If the turn player skips placing Energy, the non-turn player does not get to place Energy.
• Main Phase: If the turn player plays a creature, plays a spell, activates an Activate Main effect, or otherwise takes a Main Phase action, the non-turn player may receive a matching response/action window. If the turn player passes without taking a Main Phase action, the non-turn player does not get a free Main Phase action.
• Battle Phase: Only the turn player may declare attacks. The non-turn player does not get to attack during the turn player's Battle Phase. The non-turn player may still block, use Counters, or use legal battle-speed effects when the rules or card text allow.

• Important

  The turn player may deny the non-turn player a mirrored opportunity by choosing not to take that action themselves.

• Example

  If Player 1 draws, Player 2 may draw. If Player 1 skips draw, Player 2 cannot draw.

• Example

  If Player 1 places Energy, Player 2 may place Energy. If Player 1 skips Energy, Player 2 cannot place Energy.

• Example

  If Player 1 plays a creature during Main Phase, Player 2 may respond with a legal Main Phase action.

• Example

  If Player 1 enters Battle Phase, Player 2 cannot attack, but may block or respond with legal Counters/effects.

A card's power depends on which line it occupies. 0-power cards placed in a line are destroyed.

• Every creature card has a Frontline power and a Backline power shown as Frontline ~ Backline (e.g., 5 ~ 0).
• A card with 5 ~ 0 has 5 power on the Frontline and 0 power on the Backline.
• If a card is placed or moved into a line where it has 0 power, it is destroyed immediately unless protected by a card effect.
• Power can be modified by spells, auras, items, and other card effects.
• Temporary power changes from spells or effects last until the End Phase.

The board has two lines per side with different combat roles. A creature can only be attacked if it is exhausted (see Ready and Exhausted).

• Each player has a Frontline and a Backline.
• The Frontline is the normal attacking line. Creatures normally attack from the Frontline, targeting the opposing Leader or an exhausted enemy creature.
• The Backline is the normal defensive line. Backline creatures normally block attacks aimed at their Leader.
• Any exhausted creature can be attacked regardless of whether it is in the Frontline or Backline. Controlling a Frontline creature does not shield your Backline creatures from being attacked.
• Backline creatures do not normally block attacks targeting creatures; they may only block Leader attacks.
• Frontline creatures do not automatically block for other creatures.
• Leaders occupy a separate zone and can always be attacked directly, ready or exhausted.

Moving a creature between lines does not exhaust or ready it. An exhausted creature remains attackable after moving; a ready creature does not become attackable merely by moving.

• During your Main Phase, you may manually move one of your creatures from one line to the other when timing allows.
• Moving a creature between the Frontline and Backline does not exhaust it unless a card or effect specifically states otherwise.
• A creature may still move and attack during the same turn if it is otherwise legally able to do so.
• Moving does not ready an exhausted creature.
• Moving does not remove damage, counters, effects, or exhaustion.
• A ready creature does not become a legal creature-attack target merely because it moved.
• An exhausted creature remains a legal creature-attack target after moving.
• A card may only manually move once per turn unless moved by a card effect.
• Moving a card does not require Quickness for that card to attack later that turn.
• If a card is moved to a line where it has 0 power, that card is destroyed unless protected by an effect.
• If one or more cards would be moved to a full line, the target player must destroy enough cards on that line to make room for the moved cards.

A creature can attack the opposing Leader or an exhausted enemy creature. Declaring a creature as an attacker or blocker exhausts it before the attack resolves. Attacking Leaders do not exhaust. Creature destruction does not automatically reduce Influence. Combat damage is simultaneous and uses each combatant's current power in its occupied line, including modifiers and marked damage. Non-Structure creature damage clears during the End Phase; Structure damage persists.

• Creatures may attack the opposing Leader or an exhausted enemy creature. Ready enemy creatures cannot normally be attacked. Declaring a creature as an attacker or blocker exhausts it before the attack resolves. Leaders may always be attacked unless an effect states otherwise and do not exhaust when they attack.
• Combat damage is simultaneous. Use each combatant's current power in its occupied line, including active modifiers and damage already marked on it.
• Mark the damage dealt to each creature. A creature is destroyed when its marked damage equals or exceeds its current power in that line.
• When two creatures fight, compare their current combat power in their occupied lines, accounting for marked damage.
• If one creature has higher remaining power, the lower-powered creature is destroyed. If both have equal remaining power, both are destroyed.
• Equal-power combat causes no Influence loss.
• Destroying a Frontline or Backline creature does not cause its controller to lose Influence from the power difference. Influence is reduced only by an unblocked attack against a leader, Piercing, or a card effect that specifically causes Influence loss.
• An exhausted creature that is attacked still deals its Power normally during combat — exhaustion does not prevent a creature from defending itself when directly attacked.
• Damage clears from every non-Structure creature during each End Phase. Structures retain their marked damage between turns.
• After combat, perform all normal destruction checks, zero-Power checks, death processing, and triggered effects.
• Creatures destroyed in combat trigger On Death effects if they meet the On Death requirements.

After an attack is declared, the defending player may declare one legal blocker or decline. A normal blocker must be ready and exhausts when declared.

• After an attack is declared, the defending player may declare one legal blocker or decline to block.
• A normal creature must be ready to block. Declaring a block exhausts the blocking creature immediately, before the attack resolves.
• An exhausted creature cannot block unless its card text or a keyword explicitly permits it.
• Backline creatures may normally block only attacks against their leader. Backline creatures cannot normally block attacks targeting creatures.
• Frontline creatures do not automatically block for other cards.
• Defender allows a creature to block for Frontline and Backline creatures when otherwise legal.
• A Planted card cannot block.
• A non-Stealth creature cannot block a Stealth attacker.
• A non-Structure creature may normally block only once per turn unless a card effect says otherwise. Structures may block additional legal attacks during the same turn (see Structure).
• If the attack is successfully blocked, the attacking creature does not deal Power to the Leader unless an effect specifically states otherwise.
• After blocking, the blocker remains exhausted and may therefore be attacked by enemy creatures while it remains exhausted.
• The attacking creature and blocking creature resolve combat according to the existing Auroria combat rules.

Leaders start with influence equal to their printed value, do not exhaust when they attack, and may always be attacked regardless of readiness.

• Each player's leader starts with printed influence (life total).
• Leaders do not exhaust when they attack. A leader may normally attack once per turn.
• Leaders may always be chosen as attack targets unless a card effect or game-mode rule specifically prevents the attack.
• Leader vulnerability does not depend on whether the Leader is ready or exhausted — Leaders remain legal attack targets while ready or exhausted.
• When a leader is attacked and not blocked, the leader loses influence equal to the attacker's power.
• Destroying a Frontline or Backline creature does not cause its controller to lose Influence from the power difference. Influence is reduced only by an unblocked attack against a leader, Piercing, or a card effect that specifically causes Influence loss.
• Equal-power combat causes no Influence loss.
• A player whose leader reaches 0 or less influence loses the game.
• Leaders occupy a separate zone and can always be attacked regardless of board state.
• Items placed under a leader follow the Items Under Leaders rules.

A ready creature may attack, block, move, or activate abilities. An exhausted creature cannot normally attack or block, but may be attacked and still deals its Power when attacked.

• A ready creature may attack, block, move, or activate abilities as permitted by the rules and its card text.
• An exhausted creature cannot normally attack.
• An exhausted creature cannot normally block.
• An exhausted creature may be chosen as the target of an enemy creature attack.
• An exhausted creature still deals its Power normally when attacked.
• An exhausted creature may still be affected by spells, abilities, movement, Power changes, damage, destruction, and other effects.
• An exhausted creature retains passive, triggered, On Death, and other non-activated abilities unless an effect specifically states otherwise.
• A ready creature cannot normally be attacked by an enemy creature.
• Spells and abilities may still target or affect ready creatures normally unless the card text or another rule prevents it.

At the start of your turn (Ready Step), ready your exhausted cards. A creature that becomes ready is no longer normally a legal creature-attack target.

• At the start of a player's turn, before the Draw Phase, that player readies all exhausted cards they control (the Ready Step) unless an effect states otherwise.
• Readying happens during the Start of Turn/Ready Step — not during the End Phase.
• When an exhausted creature becomes ready, it is no longer normally a legal target for creature attacks.
• Readying does not remove counters, attachments, or continuous effects — it only changes whether the card is exhausted.
• Marked damage clears from every non-Structure creature during each End Phase. Only Structures retain marked damage after the End Phase. Readying itself does not clear marked damage.

Leaders do not exhaust when they attack. A leader may normally attack once per turn and can always be attacked. When a leader attacks a creature, that creature must still be exhausted.

• Leaders do not exhaust when they attack.
• A leader may normally attack once per turn.
• A leader can always be attacked, regardless of whether it is ready or exhausted.
• When a leader attacks a creature, the targeted creature must still be exhausted — a ready creature cannot be attacked unless a card effect explicitly permits it.
• Because leaders do not exhaust from attacking, the once-per-turn attack limit is tracked separately from leader exhaustion.
• Card effects may allow a leader to attack additional times or impose additional restrictions.

Attackers and blockers are already exhausted during the response window that follows their declaration — exhaustion is not delayed until after damage.

• Because attackers and blockers exhaust when they are declared, they must already be considered exhausted during the response window that follows their declaration.
• Any spell, Counter, triggered ability, or effect that checks whether a creature is exhausted recognizes the declared attacker or blocker as exhausted during that response window.
• Exhaustion is not delayed until after damage resolution.
• Counters and other response-window effects still resolve through the existing Auroria response-window system.

Cards occupy specific zones: Deck, Hand, Battlefield (Frontline/Backline), Energy Zone, and Graveyard.

• Deck: Your shuffled library. Draw from the top.
• Hand: Cards you hold privately.
• Battlefield: The Frontline and Backline where creatures, items, and planted cards are placed.
• Energy Zone: Where Energy cards are placed and exhausted to pay costs.
• Graveyard: Cards sent here after being destroyed, used, or discarded. Cards in the graveyard are face-up.
• Leader Zone: A separate zone where your leader resides for the entire game.

Aura Spells create ongoing effects and remain in their controller's Aura Spell zones while active. Each player has exactly 5 Aura Spell zones.

• Each player has exactly 5 Aura Spell zones.
• Aura Spell cards are played from your hand into your Aura Spell zones.
• Aura Spells create continuous effects that last as long as the Aura remains on the field.
• Aura Spells remain in their controller's Aura Spell zones while active unless removed by a rule or card effect.
• Aura Spells can be destroyed by effects that target auras or spell zones.
• Unlike one-time spells, Aura Spells do not go to the graveyard when played — they persist.
• Multiple Aura Spells may be active at the same time, up to the 5 available zones.
• Aura Spells may have passive effects, On Play effects, or Activate effects.

Damage assigned to a creature is marked damage. Marked damage clears from non-Structure creatures during each End Phase.

• Damage currently assigned to a creature or Structure is called marked damage.
• When a spell or creature effect reduces a creature's combat power, that reduction is a temporary power modifier that lasts until the End Phase.
• Mark the damage dealt to a creature. A creature is destroyed when its marked damage equals or exceeds its current power in its occupied line.
• Marked damage clears from every non-Structure creature during each End Phase. Only Structures retain marked damage after the End Phase.
• Temporary combat power modifiers (buffs and debuffs from spells or effects) also clear at the End Phase.
• Permanent power changes (from equipped items or auras) persist beyond the End Phase.
• Damage dealt to a leader's influence is permanent — it does not reset at the End Phase.

A deck can only include 4 enhanced cards total.

• A deck can only consist of 4 enhanced cards of any type.
• Enhanced cards have different effects and can be used when their condition is met.
• Temporary enhancements expire at the End Phase.
• Permanent enhancements from items, auras, or on-play effects remain until the source is removed.

Items represent weapons, tools, treasures, and equipment that can equip to creatures or leaders.

• Item cards represent weapons, tools, treasures, and equipment.
• Items are not creatures unless their card text specifically states otherwise.
• Items may be played and equipped to a creature, to your leader, or placed under your leader depending on the card's text.
• Items cannot attack or block independently unless they become creatures via card effect.
• Items placed on the board occupy a battlefield slot.

Items are played during the Main Phase by paying their energy cost and equipping them as directed.

• Items are played during the Main Phase by paying their energy cost.
• Follow the card's text to determine where the item is placed: equip to a creature, equip to your leader, or place under your leader.
• An item can only be equipped to an eligible target as described on the card.
• Playing an item does not count as summoning a creature.

Equipped items grant their bonuses only while attached to a creature or leader.

• An equipped item gives its effects only while it is attached to the target.
• When an equipped creature is destroyed, the item drops onto that battlefield slot.
• A dropped item does not give bonuses while dropped — see Dropped Items rules.
• An equipped item can be destroyed by item-destruction effects.

When an equipped creature dies, its item drops to the battlefield slot. Dropped items give no bonuses.

• When an equipped creature is destroyed, the item it was carrying drops onto that creature's battlefield slot instead of going to the graveyard.
• Dropped items cannot attack, block, or be attacked.
• Dropped items do not give any bonuses while in dropped state.
• Only the original owner may Discover a dropped item unless a card effect specifically says otherwise.
• Leaders do not Discover dropped items unless a card effect allows it.
• Dropped items remain on the battlefield until Discovered or destroyed.

Discover allows a creature to pick up a dropped item and equip it.

• When a creature Discovers a dropped item, the item moves from the battlefield slot and equips to that creature.
• Only the original owner of an item may Discover it unless a card effect says otherwise.
• Leaders cannot Discover dropped items unless a card explicitly allows it.
• Discovering an item is not the same as playing an item — no energy cost is paid.
• A creature may only Discover an item in the same line or as specified by the card effect.

Items can be destroyed by card effects that specifically target items.

• Items can be destroyed by card effects that specify item destruction.
• When an equipped item is destroyed, it goes to the graveyard.
• When a dropped item is destroyed, it goes to the graveyard.
• Items under a leader can also be destroyed by item-destruction effects.
• Destroying an item removes its effect immediately.

Some items are placed under your leader and are not equipped. They use special rules.

• Some items specify they are placed under a leader rather than equipped.
• Items under a leader are not equipped unless the card text specifically says they are.
• Items under a leader cannot be Discovered.
• Items under a leader can be destroyed by item-destruction effects.
• Gold Coin is a specific example of an item placed under the leader — see the Gold Coin rule.

Gold Coin is placed under the leader, is not equipped, and cannot be Discovered.

• Gold Coin is placed under your leader when played.
• Gold Coin is not equipped — it does not use the Equip rules.
• Gold Coin cannot be Discovered by creatures.
• Gold Coin can be destroyed by item-destruction effects.
• Gold Coin provides its effect while placed under the leader.

Planted cards cannot equip items and cannot Discover items.

• Planted cards cannot equip items.
• Planted cards cannot Discover dropped items.
• Attempting to equip or assign an item to a Planted card is not a legal action.

Bloom cards may use Planted cards as cost payment, but this does not involve items.

• Using Planted cards as Bloom payment is separate from item rules.
• Planted cards used as Bloom payment are sent to the graveyard.
• This interaction has no overlap with item equip or Discover rules.
• See the Bloom and Planted rule sections for full details.

Activate: Main effects can be used once during your Main Phase each turn, or during legal mirrored windows.

• Activate: Main effects can be used once during your Main Phase, once per turn.
• Activate Main effects can also be activated during legal mirrored action windows on either player's turn.
• The non-turn player can only Activate Main in response to the turn player's legal Main Phase action.
• If the turn player does not open a Main Phase action window, the non-turn player does not receive a free Activate Main opportunity.
• Some Activate effects may have an energy or resource cost — pay it when activating.
• Activate effects may be responded to by Counters if they are spell-like in nature.
• Slow Mode removes mirrored Main Phase windows unless a card or Counter allows a response.

Bloom allows a card to use Planted cards as cost payment or reduction.

• Only cards with the Bloom keyword can use Planted cards as cost reduction or payment.
• Planted cards are not general Energy — non-Bloom cards cannot use Planted cards to pay for anything.
• When a Bloom card uses Planted cards as payment, the used Planted cards are sent to the graveyard.
• Each Planted card used reduces the cost by 1. A Bloom card cannot reduce its cost below 0.
• Bloom payment is separate from Energy payment — you may use both Energy and Planted cards to pay a Bloom card's full cost.

Spell chains resolve last-in-first-out. Counters end the chain except for other Counter responses.

• When multiple spells and effects are chained together, they form a spell chain that resolves last-in-first-out (the last spell played resolves first).
• A Counter card played in response to a spell negates that spell and immediately ends the spell chain.
• After a Counter is played, only another Counter may be played in response — no other spells may be added to the chain.
• If a Counter is not responded to with another Counter, the Counter resolves, negating the targeted spell.
• Spell chains continue until no more responses are declared, then all effects resolve in reverse order.
• If a summon or card effect is negated by a Counter, that card is treated as never successfully played — On Play effects do not trigger.
• Counters can only be played during the opposing player's action — not during your own turn except in response to your opponent.

Defender allows a ready creature to block attacks beyond normal blocking limits. Declaring a Defender as a blocker exhausts it.

• Backline cards can normally block only attacks against the leader.
• Frontline cards do not block for other cards by default.
• A ready creature with Defender may block a legal Leader attack when it would otherwise be eligible to do so, and may also block for frontline and backline cards when legal.
• When declared as a blocker, the Defender becomes exhausted before the attack resolves.
• An exhausted Defender cannot normally block another attack.
• While exhausted, the Defender may be attacked by enemy creatures.
• Defender does not allow a Planted card to block.
• Defender does not bypass Stealth restrictions. A non-Stealth Defender cannot block a Stealth attacker.
• Defender does not allow a card to block more than once per turn unless another effect says otherwise.
• Defender remains a battlefield-position rule — it is not a general creature-protection rule unless its card text already says so.

Discarded effects trigger when the card is sent from hand to the graveyard by a discard effect.

• Discarded effects trigger when the card is sent from your hand to the graveyard via a discard effect.
• A card played normally is not discarded.
• A card destroyed on the battlefield is not discarded — it is destroyed.
• A card milled from the deck is not discarded unless a card effect specifically says it is.
• Discarded effects may trigger from your own effects or an opponent's forced discard.

Dual Attack — This creature can attack twice during the same turn. After its first attack resolves, ready it. After its second attack resolves, it remains exhausted and moves to the Backline.

• Dual Attack — This creature can attack twice during the same turn. After its first attack resolves, ready it. After its second attack resolves, it remains exhausted and moves to the Backline.
• The creature does not move after its first attack.
• It moves only after completing its second attack.
• If it does not make a second attack, it does not receive the final movement from Dual Attack.
• The movement after the second attack does not ready the creature.
• Dual Attack does not let a card attack the same turn it is played unless it also has Quickness or another effect allows it.
• Dual Attack does not bypass Stealth, Planted, exhaustion, or target legality rules.

On Death effects trigger when the card is destroyed on the field, before it enters the graveyard.

• On Death effects trigger when a card is destroyed on the field — in combat, by a spell, or by any removal effect.
• A card must be on the field of play for On Death to trigger.
• On Death effects resolve before the card moves to the graveyard.
• Multiple On Death effects from different cards resolve in stack order.
• A card discarded from hand does not count as On Death unless a card specifically says otherwise.

On Play effects trigger when a card is successfully played from your hand to the battlefield.

• On Play effects trigger when the card is played directly from your hand.
• A card must be successfully summoned or played to trigger On Play.
• If a card is negated before it enters play, it was never successfully played — On Play does not trigger.
• On Play effects resolve immediately when the card enters the battlefield.
• On Play effects can be responded to by Counters.

Overgrowth plants cards from the graveyard or expands the Planted board state.

• Overgrowth effects typically relate to planting additional cards from the graveyard.
• The number after Overgrowth tells how many cards are selected.
• Cards planted by Overgrowth become Planted cards.
• Planted cards created by Overgrowth can be used by Bloom cards.
• Overgrowth effects interact with Bloom and Planted card rules as described in their respective sections.

Piercing — When an attack deals more damage than the targeted creature's remaining power in its occupied line, the excess reduces the defending player's Influence.

• Piercing — When an attack deals more damage than the targeted creature's remaining power in its occupied line, the excess reduces the defending player's Influence.
• Remaining line power equals the target's current Frontline or Backline power, including active modifiers, minus damage already marked on it.
• Authoritative formula: remainingDamageNeeded = max(0, activePower - existingMarkedDamage).
• Authoritative formula: piercingDamage = max(0, finalCombatDamage - remainingDamageNeeded).
• Piercing Influence loss equals the attacker's final combat power minus the target's remaining line power, to a minimum of 0.
• Piercing works through either a Frontline or a Backline creature.
• Exactly lethal damage produces 0 Piercing damage.
• Nonlethal damage produces 0 Piercing damage.
• Power increases reduce Piercing damage; power reductions increase Piercing damage. Moving a creature between lines updates the active power used.
• Piercing does not make an otherwise illegal attack target legal. The targeted creature must still be exhausted.
• Piercing works when a Piercing creature directly attacks an exhausted creature, and when a Piercing creature attacks a Leader and is blocked.
• Piercing does not trigger from spell destruction, ability destruction, sacrifice, zero-Power destruction without relevant combat damage, a creature dying later from persistent damage, non-combat damage from the Piercing creature, a negated attack, or fully prevented combat damage.
• If the Piercing attacker and defender destroy each other through simultaneous combat damage, the Piercing damage still resolves unless the attack or its damage was negated.
• Leader damage prevention applies normally to Piercing damage.
• If multiple effects grant Piercing, the keyword does not stack stronger unless a card specifically says it does.

A Planted card is a face-down card. Planted cards have strict restrictions on actions.

• When a card becomes Planted, it is placed face-down as a Planted card.
• Planted cards cannot attack.
• Planted cards cannot block.
• Planted cards cannot be targeted for attacks.
• Planted cards cannot equip items.
• Planted cards cannot Discover items.
• Planted cards become the same color as your leader.
• Planted card effects (On Death, etc.) happen after destruction but before the card is flipped face-down.
• Planted cards are not general Energy — only Bloom cards can use Planted cards as cost payment.
• Only cards with the Bloom keyword may use Planted cards as cost reduction or payment.
• When a Bloom card uses Planted cards as payment, those Planted cards are sent to the graveyard.

Potions are treated as Energy markers and are sent to the graveyard when used for payment.

• Potions are treated as Energy markers, not as creatures or spells.
• When a Potion card is played, it goes to the Energy Zone exhausted (turned sideways).
• A Potion in the Energy Zone can be used to pay a card's Energy cost.
• When a Potion is used to pay an Energy cost, it is sent to the graveyard instead of simply refreshing.
• This makes Potions a limited but immediately available Energy source.
• Potions are not placed as face-down Energy — they go into the Energy Zone in their Potion form.

Quickness lets a card attack the same turn it is played. It does not allow attacking while exhausted or attacking a ready enemy creature.

• Cards normally cannot attack the same turn they are played or summoned.
• A card with Quickness can attack the same turn it is played or summoned.
• The creature must still be ready when the attack is declared; Quickness does not allow an exhausted creature to attack unless an effect specifically states that it may do so or first readies it.
• When it attacks, it becomes exhausted normally.
• Quickness does not allow a creature to attack a ready enemy creature unless an effect specifically overrides the exhausted-target restriction.
• Cards can attack the same turn they move. Quickness is not required for attacking after movement.
• Quickness does not grant additional attacks.
• Quickness does not remove other attack restrictions such as already attacking this turn, being unable to attack by card effect, being paralyzed, being planted, or lacking a legal target.

Ranger allows a card to attack from the backline.

• A card with Ranger can attack while it is in the backline.
• Ranger does not allow a card to attack the same turn it is played unless it also has Quickness or another effect allows it.
• Ranger does not ignore Stealth, Planted, or other targeting restrictions.
• Ranger only changes where the card may attack from.
• Ranger does not remove the normal once-per-turn attack limit unless another effect says otherwise.

Stealth protects a card from being attacked or blocked by cards without Stealth.

• A card with Stealth cannot be attacked by a card without Stealth.
• A card with Stealth cannot be blocked by a card without Stealth.
• A card with Stealth may still be affected by effects that do not require attack targeting, unless the card text says otherwise.
• A Stealth card can attack another Stealth card if the attack is otherwise legal.
• Stealth does not allow a card to attack the same turn it is played unless it also has Quickness or another effect allows it.
• Exhaustion does not override Stealth — an exhausted Stealth creature still cannot be attacked by a card without Stealth.

Structure — This card retains marked damage during the End Phase. A Structure may block while exhausted when otherwise legal, and immediately readies after being declared as a blocker.

• Structure — This card retains marked damage during the End Phase. A Structure may block while exhausted when otherwise legal. When a Structure is declared as a blocker, exhaust it, then immediately ready it after the block is declared.
• Structures retain their marked damage between turns.
• A Structure is destroyed when its marked damage equals or exceeds its current power in its occupied line.
• Because a Structure immediately readies after being declared as a blocker, it may block additional legal attacks during the same turn.
• Structure does not ignore other blocking restrictions unless its card text says otherwise. A non-Stealth Structure still cannot block a Stealth attacker, and a Planted card cannot block.
• A Structure may block while exhausted, which is an exception to the normal rule that an exhausted creature cannot block.

Swift moves a card after it attacks or blocks. Swift movement does not ready the creature.

• Swift — After this creature attacks and survives, move it to the Backline. After this creature blocks and survives, move it to the Frontline.
• Swift movement does not ready the creature.
• Swift does not automatically give Quickness.
• A card moved by Swift must still follow normal line power rules.
• If a Swift card would move to a full line, resolve the full-line movement rule.

A legal Auroria TCG deck contains 51 to 61 cards total, including the leader, with up to 4 copies of each non-leader card (Basic Energy unlimited; Empowered Energy limited to 4).

• A legal Auroria TCG deck contains 51 to 61 cards total, including the leader.
• You may include only 1 leader.
• You may include up to 4 copies of a non-leader card unless that card says otherwise.
• Basic Energy cards are not limited by the four-copy rule.
• Empowered Energy cards are limited to 4 copies.
• A side deck contains exactly 10 cards when used for best-of-three matches.
• Your leader opens deck identity channels based on its color, race, and trait.
• Non-leader creatures are legal only if they match at least one of the leader's open identity channels.
• Your deck identity narrows by intersection: every non-leader creature in the deck must share at least one leader identity channel with every other non-leader creature.

• Example

  a white Human Bandit leader can start as white, Human, or Bandit. Adding a non-white Human closes the white and Bandit channels, making the creature lineup Human-only.

• Example

  adding a white non-Human non-Bandit creature closes the Human and Bandit channels, making the creature lineup mono-white.

• Example

  adding a white Bandit keeps both the white and Bandit channels open.

• Spell-like cards and Energy must match the leader's color.
• Structure decks are pre-built starting points.
• The Set 1 structure decks are: The Traveling City (White), The Burning Valley (Red), Potion Spells (Blue), and Verdant Overgrowth (Green).
• Deck construction rules may be updated as new sets are released.

Frequently referenced rulings and clarifications for common game situations.

• Influence loss is permanent — it does not reset between turns.
• When a creature with 0 power is placed in a line, it is destroyed immediately (before any other effect triggers).
• A card cannot be targeted by the same destruction effect more than once in the same chain.
• Cards can only be in one zone at a time.
• If multiple On Death effects trigger simultaneously, the active player chooses the order they resolve.
• Protection effects do exactly what they say. If a card says a creature cannot be destroyed this turn, destruction effects do not destroy it during that turn.
• If a Planted card is destroyed after it is already planted, it goes to the graveyard as a Planted card object unless a card effect says otherwise.
• If you are unsure about a ruling not covered here, ask on the Auroria TCG Forum for clarification.

Effects that exhaust or ready creatures now change creature-attack legality. Review cheap, repeatable, or mass-exhaustion effects for balance because exhaustion is more strategically powerful.

• Any effect that exhausts an enemy creature now also makes that creature a legal target for creature attacks.
• Any effect that readies an enemy creature makes it an illegal creature-attack target unless another effect allows the attack.
• Effects that read a creature's exhausted state recognize declared attackers and blockers as exhausted during their response window.
• Effects that allow a creature to attack while exhausted, attack any creature, attack again, block an additional attack, or that redirect, negate, or change an attack target follow the new system without changing their printed intent.
• Effects that state a creature cannot attack or cannot block still apply normally.
• Cheap, repeatable, or mass-exhaustion effects are flagged for later balance review because exhaustion is now more strategically powerful.
• Card costs and stats are not automatically rebalanced by this rules update.

Slow Mode is an alternate way to play where the non-turn player does not receive mirrored action windows.

• Slow Mode is an optional alternate game mode that should be agreed on before the game begins.
• In Slow Mode, Auroria plays more like a traditional TCG. The turn player takes their turn normally, and the non-turn player does not receive mirrored Draw, Energy, or Main Phase action windows.
• In Slow Mode: the turn player draws during their Draw Phase — the non-turn player does not draw just because the turn player drew.
• In Slow Mode: the turn player places Energy during their Energy Phase — the non-turn player does not place Energy in response.
• In Slow Mode: the turn player takes Main Phase actions — the non-turn player does not get matching Main Phase actions.
• The non-turn player may still use legal Counters, blocks, or effects when the rules or card text allow — this applies in both normal and Slow Mode.
• Slow Mode is useful for: new players, tutorial-style games, players who want a more familiar TCG pace, and testing decks without the full mirrored-action system.

• Remember

  Normal Auroria TCG uses Mirrored Action Windows. Slow Mode is optional.