Anguish CCG is an indie collectible card game that offers a unique deck building experience for 1-4 players with commissioned artwork and in-depth lore. To begin, choose a Species from Colossal, Cosmic, Enchanted, Nightmare, and Survivor to build your Lifeblood (i.e. Deck) to survive up to 11 rounds of summoning Creatures and playing unique Discoveries against an increasingly difficult onslaught from your opponent. Strategize to place your Creatures in either the Arsenal or Protection positions in-play to promote a more offensive or defensive approach, respectively. Protect your Species’ Stronghold long enough to trigger the End Game, where one player will successfully prevent infiltration and eradication of their Species.

2.1         Hours indicate the current turn number and are also the primary resource in the game. Specifically, Hours increment from 1 to 11 to include the 1st to 11th hour, respectively. Hours 1-6 have Light Availability, whereas Hours 7-11 are Absolute Darkness (Refer to Absolute Darkness & Light Availability section below for more details).

2.2         When the game begins, set the Hour to 1 and increment by 1 following each turn (i.e. Each player proceeds through their Action Phase). Hours increase from 1 to 11 unless the End Game is triggered prior (Refer to End Game section below for more details).

2.3       Creatures and Discoveries typically have a corresponding Hour cost at the top left of the card to indicate the number of Hours you must use to play the card. Similarly, some cards have effects that require an Hour cost to trigger. You may play cards that are equal (or less than) the current Hour.

3.1            Each player builds a Lifeblood, which is a 36-card deck composed of a single Species (including Agnostic and Dual Type cards) that contains Creatures and Discoveries that you or your opponent(s) may draw during the game. If your Lifeblood runs out, you do not lose. Instead, the End Game is triggered and Strongholds are then open to infiltration or destruction (Refer to Deck Building section below for further details).

3.2            A primary objective of Anguish CCG is to empty your opponent(s) Lifeblood while keeping your own intact. This provides a greater chance of survival when the End Game commences. Strategize to preserve your Lifeblood while
also preparing for the End Game by strategically deploying forces during each round.

3.3            If there are no Creatures to defend an incoming attack, the attacking cards target the Lifeblood of their opponent(s) directly. If a players Lifeblood is depleted by an attack sequence, the remaining damage, if any, does not carry over to the Stronghold. Players may not target Strongholds until the End Game begins.

3.4 When a Lifeblood is depleted, the End Game is triggered (Refer to End Game section below for further details).

4.1         A standard Lifeblood (i.e. Deck) size is 36 cards, which includes exactly one Stronghold, up to two 10th-Hour creatures (with a minimum of one) and a maximum of 4 copies of every other card (including alternative artwork). Specifically, if a character has two copies with a single name but with a different mechanism, then both copies of this card counts towards the 4-card copy limit for a legal Lifeblood. Cards may have similar names, but only exact names count towards the card copy limit. 

4.2 Players have the ability to adjust for illegal deck building prior to initiating the game but a player forfeits one entire round if an illegal deck build is discovered mid-game. Players are able to correct for an illegal deck build with their sideboard before the start of the next round.

4.2         A Lifeblood must comprise of a single Species but may also include dual-type or agnostic Species, if desired. Cards that have two Species indicated are dual-type and allowed in either Species deck builds. Cards without a designated Species are considered Agnostic and are allowed in any deck build.

4.3         When playing best-of-three (or more), a sideboard of 10 cards is allowed to switch out cards between rounds within a single match. Of note, sideboards may contain different Strongholds of the same Species. Players are not allowed to switch between Species in between rounds during a match unless the cards being swapped are dual-type or agnostic.

4.4         Of note, Lifeblood sizes and limitations may be adjusted for larger player groups within a match. These will be determined at a later date and communicated accordingly.

5.1              Creatures are designated with an Arsenal and Protection Score that typically equates to the total card cost. For example, a 5th Hour Creature may have an Arsenal Score of two and a Protection Score of three, equaling five. Cards without an Arsenal Score may be placed in either the Attack or Defense Lines and may defend against incoming attacks. However, cards without a Protection Score (i.e. 0) cannot be placed in the defense line and, therefore, cannot defend against incoming attacks.

5.2              Players must declare which cards in the Arsenal are attacking, if any, for the current turn. The opponent has the opportunity to declare Protection by metaphorically aligning cards in their Defensive Line with the opponent’s cards in the Attacking Line. Cards may be rearranged in the Attack or Defense Lines for easier alignment of cards, as the position of each card within these Lines does not matter. From here, Arsenal Scores are compared against the current Protection Scores for each card. Cards without a Protection Score are sent to the discard pile. Otherwise, cards with a Protection Score will deduct the Arsenal Score from the opposing card(s).

5.3              Following an attack sequence, if a card results in a Protection Score of zero or below, send the card to the discard pile. Excess damage from an attack does not carry over to the Stronghold. Protection Scores and the inflicted damage carry over to subsequent rounds and the total remaining Protection Scores are indicated by a D6 placed on top of corresponding cards. If there are any cards from the Arsenal that were not paired against an opponent’s Protection, then these cards are open to attack Lifeblood directly. Specifically, the player without Protection will discard cards from their Lifeblood to the discard pile equal to the Arsenal Score of the attacking player’s card(s). Remember - you cannot attack a Stronghold directly until the End Game, unless a card mechanic specifically states to do so. Once all attacks are resolved and no further Discoveries are to be played, the turn is over.

6.1 Hours 1-6 have Light Availability, whereas Hours 7-11 are Absolute Darkness (Refer to Absolute Darkness & Light Availability section below for more details). Species have adapted in ways to harness light and/or darkness for improved capabilities. Others have mastered ways to control the availability of light such that light outshines the darkness or darkness overwhelms the light. Specifically, some abilities effectively changes the current light availability from light or darkness, respectively. 

6.2 The default light availability in the End Game is absolute darkness, which may be altered in response to a corresponding card effect.

7.1         The Play Area is comprised of a grid with twos rows and four columns for each player.  The top row is the Arsenal (i.e. Attack Line) and the bottom row is the Protection (i.e. Defense Line). Only cards played in the top row are allowed to attack and only cards played in the bottom row are allowed to defend. Cards may move between Attack and Defense Lines on a player’s turn. However, moving a card from Protection to Arsenal forfeits the cards ability to attack for the current turn. If all friendly locations on the play area are full, you may swap a Creature from the Attack Line for another Creature on the Defense Line, if desired. Similarly, if your Play Area is full, you may replace a Creature by discarding it and paying the cost for the new Creature. 

7.2         Player’s must not play more than four cards in the Arsenal and four cards in their Protection at any given time. The exception to this rule are Discovery cards that explicitly state to place the card under another. Cards do not need to be aligned positionally with opposing cards to attack or defend. For example, any card in the Defense Line may protect against an attack from any opposing card from the Attack Line.

8.1         Decide which player begins the round (For consecutive matches, the loser of the previous game chooses which player begins the next round). Set the Hour to 1, also indicating there is light availability during this Hour. Each player draws 5 cards with the chance to mulligan up to 5 new cards. When a mulligan is enacted, place up to 5 cards from your current draw at the bottom of your Lifeblood and draw an equal number up to 5 new cards and place them in your hand. 

8.2         The starting player will not draw cards at the beginning of the 1st Hour. The starting player may attack the opponent's Lifeblood if they play a Creature with the Ambush ability. Note, the opponent may play a Discovery to prevent this from occurring, if applicable. After the first action round of the starting player, the next player(s) draw two cards at the start of their turn and decide one card to add to your hand and the other is placed on either the top or bottom of your Lifeblood.

9.1              At the beginning of each Hour after the 1st Hour, players draw two cards at the beginning of their turn and decide which card to add to their hand and which card to place on the bottom of their Lifeblood. Players must never have more than 8 cards in their hand at the end of their turn. If a player's hand exceeds the maximum limit of 8 at the end of their turn, that player must place card(s) at the bottom of their Lifeblood so their hand size equals 8. Players may not return more than the required number of cards to their Lifeblood.

9.2              Players may play cards with the total card cost of the turn equal to or less than the current Hour. For example, at the 7th Hour players may play any number of cards adding up to a total Hour cost of seven. Any remaining card costs for a given turn are forfeited and do not carry over to the next turn. Opponents may have card abilities that prevent players from playing certain cards or negating cards following their play. If a card is negated through an opponent’s card effect then the card cost still counts towards the current turn total. The negated card(s) are discarded unless specified otherwise.

9.3              Cards without an indicated Hour may be played free of cost on a players own turn during any Hour. Additionally, cards without a designated card cost with the Ambush ability may be played free of cost on either the players turn or during their opponents turn, so long as the card being played is in direct response to an opponents play.

9.4              Creatures cannot attack or activate abilities on the Hour they were played unless specified. Specifically, cards with the Ambush ability may attack or activate abilities on the Hour they are played. Without Ambush, Creatures or other cards must wait until the following Hour before attacking or activating abilities. Players may play cards with the Ambush ability even if they do not wish to attack or activate abilities at the time of play.

9.5              Players may not change their minds when playing a card, especially when an opponent responds to a play by playing an additional card. Players must declare their intentions when playing a card and stick to their declaration. Once their hand is removed from the card in play, that move is locked. A player may return a card that is played back to their hand and change their mind only if their hand does not leave the card played. The opponent should wait to respond to a given card being played until the player removes their hand from this card. If a player wishes to respond to a card being played, they should be provided reasonable opportunity to do so (i.e. The speed of play should be at a tempo slow enough to respond to cards being played). This ensures there is no confusion as to the legitimacy of a card being played and/or deciding to play a different card, especially if an opponent wishes to respond.

10.1         The End Game is triggered once one player runs out of Lifeblood or at the end of the 11th Hour, whichever occurs first. The End Game is the final phase of the game where Strongholds are prone to infiltration or destruction and a player will be crowned victorious.

10.2         Once the End Game is initiated, both players may draw up to three cards if either have Lifeblood remaining. If a players hand exceeds the 8-card limit, discard cards from their hand until they have 8 cards remaining. Once the End Game begins, both players discard their Lifeblood, if applicable.

10.3         The player with Lifeblood remaining initiates the End Game. If both players have Lifeblood remaining (or if neither do), then the player who started the game initiates the End Game.

10.4         From here, this player will begin the round by playing cards free of cost and then initiating the attack sequence. An attack sequence is initiated by declaring their attacks and any card effects. Their opposing player may declare counter offenses and the process is repeated until no plays are available.

10.5        Cards may only defend attacks from the Protection line and only attack from the Attack line. During the course of the exchange, players may move a card from the Arsenal line to the Protection line (and vice versa) during their turn, however this costs as a move.

10.6      During the End Game, players are still prone to card effects that target Lifeblood. However, players without Lifeblood remaining during the End Game will convert Lifeblood attacks to Stronghold attacks. Specifically, if a player must draw, discard, or adjust their Lifeblood without having any Lifeblood remaining in the End Game, then the equivalent damage will be done to their Stronghold. For example, if a player forces an opponent to discard two cards from their Lifeblood without having any Lifeblood remaining, then two damage is inflicted on the opponent Stronghold. Similarly, if a player plays a card that requires them to draw cards from their Lifeblood without any Lifeblood remaining, then the equivalent amount of damage is inflicted on their own Stronghold equal to the amount of cards required to draw.

10.7         Players will resolve card effects in the order they are played (from most recent) until cards can no longer be played. Remove defeated creatures or cards with single-use abilities. Calculate the total damage inflicted on both Strongholds. If no Strongholds are completely destroyed during this interaction, the player with lifeblood remaining may draw up to two additional cards, if any Lifeblood remains. A second round of the End Game commences even if no cards were drawn. Players will alternate gameplay as previously and the final calculations for Stronghold damage are performed at then end of the action sequence. At the conclusion of the second End Game phase, the player with the highest remaining Stronghold wins the round. 

COMING SOON!

COMING SOON!

COMING SOON!