Hey there, heroes! Ready for some heart-pounding heroic combat? In this guide, we’ll show you how to play Flesh and Blood, introducing you to the basics so you’re ready to jump into the world of Rathe. We’ll cover everything you need to get started—from rules and deck-building essentials to finding local events and starting your own collection.
Let’s get you battle-ready!
What is Flesh and Blood?
Created by James White, a former professional Magic: The Gathering player, Flesh and Blood is a trading card game (TCG) that reintroduces face-to-face duels and a hero-driven combat style. In fact, the definition of trading card games refers to games like these, wherein players collect cards, build decks, and compete in exciting player-versus-player showdowns.
Unlike other TCGs that rely on summoning creatures, the Flesh and Blood card game rules engage you in direct, in-person battles fueled by weapons, armor, and strategy. Combat unfolds in quick exchanges of attacks and defenses, while a unique resource system adds a refreshing and engaging experience for both new and seasoned TCG players
Raising Your Intellect: Important Flesh and Blood Concepts
Let’s first get you familiar with the key concepts and card types in Flesh and Blood:
- Heroes and Classes: Your hero is your avatar in Rathe, the world of Flesh and Blood. Each hero card determines your starting life total, your intellect (how many cards you draw each turn), and your class (e.g., Wizard Class, Guardian Class, Ninja Class). A standard rule in Flesh and Blood is that your class dictates the types of cards you can include in your deck.
- Action Points and Chain Links: Action points (AP) allow you to perform actions, such as attacking, and a chain link is a sequence of actions (in other words, a combo).
- Weapons and Equipment: Just like any hero, you need the right tools for the job! Weapons and equipment cards represent your hero’s gear, providing bonuses and abilities throughout the game.
- Action, Reaction, and Instant Cards: These cards make up the bulk of your deck and represent the different actions your hero can take during combat.
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Action cards are your offensive moves and are usually the main source of damage to your opponent.
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Reaction cards allow you to respond to your opponent’s moves (either offensively or defensively)
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Non-attack cards boost your abilities, set up for future plays, or provide unique effects.
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Instants are special cards that can be played at any time. They give you the ability to surprise your opponent.
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- Resource Management: Like many card games, you need resources to play powerful cards. In the rules of Flesh and Blood, you generate resources by “pitching” (paying) cards from your hand. Each card has a pitch value (one to three red dots in the top left corner), and a cost (the number in the top right-hand corner).
- Arsenal: Think of this as your pocket for secret tactics. At the end of your turn, you can stash one card in your Arsenal. This lets you potentially set up game-winning combos later.
- Combat Chain: This is a back-and-forth exchange of attacks and defenses, wherein both players can react and counter each other’s moves. The combat chain in Flesh and Blood is where the real excitement happens!
Building Your Arsenal: Deck Requirements
Before we learn how to play Flesh and Blood, let’s talk about building your deck!
The two common formats in the Flesh and Blood trading card game are Blitz and Classic Constructed.
Blitz
- 1 Hero Card: Blitz decks must use the “young” version of a hero card, which typically has a lower life total than the adult version.
- Deck Size: 40 cards at the start of the game
- Total Card Pool: 52 cards, including your hero, weapons, equipment, and the cards in the deck
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Card Limits: A maximum of two copies of each unique card (identified by its name and pitch value) are allowed.
Classic Constructed Deck
- 1 Hero Card: The Classic Constructed format uses the “adult” versions of hero cards (with a higher life total).
- Deck Size: 60 cards at the start of the game
- Total Card Pool: 80 cards, including your hero, weapons, equipment, and the cards in the deck
- Card Limits: A maximum of three copies of each unique card (identified by its name and pitch value) are allowed.
Blitz is a faster, more beginner-friendly format of Flesh and Blood that simplifies deck building and competitive play, making it an excellent starting point for new players.
Into the Arena: How to Start Playing Flesh and Blood
Prepare to fight! Remember, your hero card defines your fighting style and class, and your class determines the actions and resources you can include in your deck.
1. Start of Turn
Any effects that happen at the start of your turn take place here. Prepare your cards and abilities for play.
- Both players must choose their hero, provide them with weapons and equipment, and shuffle their decks.
- Draw cards up to your hero’s intellect (the number in the bottom left corner of your hero card).
- Randomly decide who gets to attack first.
2. Action Phase
This is where the main action occurs! Spend your action points to attack or use special abilities. Create chain links to create combinations of actions for maximum impact.
- On the first turn, the attacker can use one action point to play an action card or activate an action ability (like on your hero or weapon card).
- If your action is an attack, you enter combat. Place the attack card in the combat chain, and add its attack value to the current attack chain link.
- Keep in mind this basic Flesh and Blood rule: actions have resource costs. To pay for them, pitch (pay) other cards from your hand. When you pitch, you gain a certain number of resources, which you can use to activate your abilities or play your action card.
- For example, if you want to attack with Leg Tap, it’ll cost 1 energy resource. If you choose to gain resources using the Whelming Gustwave card with 3 resources, this means you will have 2 resources left until the end of your turn.
- Place the card you want to pitch in the Pitch Zone.
- Some actions, like Leg Tap, have “Go Again.” This gives you an extra action point for more moves in a single turn.
After the first attack chain link is done, the defender can now block with cards from their hand.
- The defending player can block the attack by playing cards with defense values. This will not cost any resources, but cards used to defend can no longer be used for the next turn.
3. Reaction Phase
- Both players can then use reaction cards according to the Flesh and Blood guidelines: attack reactions for the attacker, defense reactions for the defender, or instant cards for both. This is for enhancing attacks or defenses, respectively.
- The attacker goes first with attack reactions, and the defender responds with defense reactions. Defense reaction cards are the only defense cards that require you to pitch resources.
- Cards from previous attacks remain in the combat chain and can affect subsequent attacks and defenses. This continues until both players pass.
- Calculate the total damage. The attack’s total power (including modifiers from reactions) is reduced by the defender’s total defense. Any remaining damage is dealt to the defending hero’s life total.
4. End Phase
Conclude your turn by resetting any resources and preparing for the next round.
- Discard the cards used from the Combat to their owners’ graveyards (except for equipment cards).
Put the pitched cards to the bottom of your deck in any order. - Optionally, you can place one card from your hand face down in your arsenal, a special zone where the card is saved for a later turn.
- Finally, draw cards up to your hero’s intellect again.
5. Winning the Game
- Bring your opponent’s life total to zero before they do the same to you.
- Take turns attacking and defending. This may sound straightforward but this requires careful timing and tactical plays to win.
Once you get the hang of the basic rules, each game of Flesh and Blood will feel like an intense duel, with every choice pushing you closer to victory or defeat!
Equip Your Hero: Start Your Personal Card Collection
Now that you know how to play the Flesh and Blood card game, get ready to dive deeper into the action and create your personal deck! Building a collection in Flesh and Blood is half the fun, and there are multiple ways to start.
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Preconstructed Blitz Decks: For those new to the game, preconstructed decks are a fantastic starting point. These decks come fully balanced and ready to play so you can jump right into the action.
- 1st Strike is a great starting point and features the decks of heroes Aurora and Terra.
- Rosetta includes the Florian, Verdance, Aurora, and Oscilio Blitz decks.
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Part the Mistveil is another collection recommended for beginners, featuring Enigma, Nuu, and Zen.
- Booster Packs: Once you’re comfortable with the basic rules of Flesh and Blood, you can expand your collection with booster packs. Each booster offers a mix of cards that can be added to any deck, allowing you to gradually refine and customize your strategy.
Sets like Tales of Aria and Uprising are packed with powerful cards to enhance your deck and expand your strategy options. Many players enjoy the thrill of discovering rare and powerful cards through boosters!
Find Your Fellow Heroes: Joining the Community
One of the best parts of Flesh and Blood is its focus on in-person gameplay (hence the game’s name!). Flesh and Blood thrives on its passionate community, and there are plenty of ways to find regular games.
Want to know where to play Flesh and Blood? Here are some ways to connect with other players and find your place in Rathe:
- Armory Events: These are weekly tournaments held at local game stores worldwide, providing a casual and fun way to play Flesh and Blood, win prizes, and connect with the community.
- All aBoard XP Bloody Wednesdays: For those in the Philippines, All aBoard XP by Gaming Library hosts special Flesh and Blood events every Wednesday! Players of all levels can explore the Flesh and Blood card game rules, guided by skilled game coaches. Plus, participants get to keep the Ira Welcome Deck on Learn to Play events!
- Online Communities: Platforms like Discord, Reddit, and Facebook groups have active Flesh and Blood communities where players can discuss strategies, ask questions, and arrange meet-ups. These platforms are a great way to stay up-to-date on the latest news, discuss strategies, find opponents, and connect with players from all over the world.
Your Legendary Hero Clash Awaits!
Now you know how to play the Flesh and Blood card game! Pick your hero, equip your weapons, and get ready for an unforgettable adventure. See you at the Gaming Library arena!
About Gaming Library
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