Rules reference

The comprehensive rules, reorganised for looking things up. Each page here maps onto a numbered section of the official document and cites it, so you can always jump from a summary to the exact wording.

This track assumes you already know how to play. If you do not, start with Learn to play.

• Golden rules — precedence, impossible instructions, who decides first.

• Zones — all nine of them, and what "public", "hidden" and "ordered" mean.

• Card information — the fifteen printed fields.

• Turn structure and Battle steps — the full phase and step lists with their check timings.

• Abilities and effects — the three ability categories, the three effect categories, and how a check timing resolves.

• Specific actions — the vocabulary: stand, rest, place, exile, shuffle, draw, look, discard, exchange, consume, damage, deploy, butcher, assign, declare.

• Keywords — every keyword ability in the game.

• Rule actions — what the engine does on its own, including how you lose.

• Lucky Pals and deck limits, Miscellaneous, Tournament play, and a Glossary.

This handbook is a fan-written summary, not an official document. Where the two disagree, the official rules page wins.

Source: Comprehensive Rules ver. 1.00 (30 July 2026), and Bushiroad TCG Advanced Floor Rules ver. 1.2.12.