Each player starts with a deck of 30 base cards. Each player shuffles their deck and draws 5 cards. Players select a Character or Creature card, and place it face down on the table. This card is the Battle card.
Once both players play their first Battle card, they each roll a dice to choose who plays first. The player who rolls the highest number plays first. Once a player is selected to play first, both players reveal their Battle cards at the same time. The game is then ready to begin.
There are three phases to every turn in Conquest:
Phase 1 - Draw from Deck: Each player can only hold up to 5 cards at the beginning of their turn. If a player holds less than 5 cards, they draw cards from the deck in order to meet their 5 card maximum. For example, if a player is holding 3 cards at the beginning of their turn, they may draw 2 cards from the deck.
Phase 2 - Deploy new Battle Card, Weapons, or Health Cards: If a player's Battle Card was defeated in the previous round, they may play a new Battle Card. If a Battle Card is already in play at the beginning of the turn, a player can play either a Weapon or Health Card to strengthen their attack or health points. Only one card can be played each turn, and only one card type can be in play at any given point. For example, if a player has a Battle Card and a Weapon Card already in play, they cannot play a second Weapon Card. They can only play a card type if none is already in play. If the the playing field is vacant at the beginning of a turn, only a Battle Card can be played as the first card.
Phase 3 - Attack your Opponent: Once a player completes building out their attack and health points, they then attack their opponent. Depending on how many attack points are in play, their opponent's Battle Card health points are reduced. When a Battle Card's health points are reduced to zero, the Battle Card is defeated and all cards in play of the opponent are removed from play and discarded.
Each Character and Creature card has a variety of attack and health points. Players must choose the right card, depending on what their opponent has in play.
Players can attach a series of Support cards which strengthen their Battle card. These include Weapon cards, Health cards, Shield cards, and Blaster cards.
However, players can only attach Support cards which match their Character cards. For example, if a player plays a Pirate Character or Creature card, they can only attach a Support card which is part of the Pirate category.
Each player takes turns in battling their opponent, strengthening their Battle Card each turn, until their opponent's Battle Card health points are depleted. Once this happens, all of their opponent's cards in play are discarded, and you are awarded a Battle Win.
The first player to reach 10 Battles Wins is the winner of the game!
