Chapter 8 · Lesson 7 of 7

Reading Your Opponent

Before you attack, put them on a hand: work out what cards they could be holding. Four clues:

Then play around it. Send enough Might to win anyway. Make every fight bait and hold your [Ambush] until they show the trick. Or take the empty battlefield instead.

Don't play around a card they can't pay for, one they'd have used already, or one that doesn't stop you winning. And an attack that makes no sense, like a 2 into a 3, means a trick.

Quick check

Sett attacks your 3-Might unit with a 2-Might unit. He has [Body][Body] open and 2 cards. What does it tell you?

Predict

Sett has 2 cards, a Punch First in his trash, one Body rune and one Order rune ready, and two Order runes tapped. Can he pay for Punch First (1 Energy + [Body][Body])?

Make your guess, then play the drill to find out.

Words from this lesson

Put them on a hand
Working out which cards your opponent could hold, from their Legend, the cards you've seen, how many they hold and their ready runes.
Play around
Choosing a line that still wins if they have the card you fear: worth it only when they can really play it.

From the Core Rules (2026-10-09): 164 — Basic Runes · 806 — Action · 341 — Showdowns · 822 — Ambush · 813 — Reaction

Try it on the table

4 drills

  1. 1Count the Punch In

    You're on 7 and B is already scored: take A and you win. Sett (Body/Order) holds A with a Vanguard Sergeant (4). He has 2 cards in hand and two Body runes ready, and you saw him play Punch First ([Action], 1 Energy + [Body][Body]: +5 Might this turn) two turns ago. Your Direwing (7) and Kinkou Initiate (3) are ready.

    Need a hint?

    Send the Direwing and the Initiate to A together: 10 still wins if the Sergeant becomes 9.

    Start drill 1
  2. 2Make Him Show It

    You're on 6: take A and B to win. Sett's Vanguard Sergeant (4) holds A and his Pit Rookie (2) holds B. He kept [Body][Body] open with 2 cards in hand, and there's a Punch First in his trash. Your Direwing (7) and Kinkou Initiate (3) are ready, and you hold Lord Broadmane ([Ambush], 5 Might) with exactly the runes to pay for him. He can only Punch one fight.

    Need a hint?

    Send the Initiate to B and pass, then the Direwing to A. Keep Broadmane until he plays Punch First, then play him into that fight.

    Start drill 2
  3. 3Why Attack a 3 With a 2?

    It's Sett's turn: his Pit Rookie (2) is about to attack your Flame Chompers (3) at A. He has 2 cards in hand and two Body runes open; a Punch First is in his trash. You hold En Garde (1 Energy, [Reaction]: +1 Might, +1 more if it's alone) and Lord Broadmane ([Ambush], 5 Might), and your 5 Fury runes pay for En Garde (1 Energy) or Broadmane (5 Energy + [Fury]), not both. Keep A.

    Need a hint?

    Pass. If he plays Punch First, play Lord Broadmane to A.

    Start drill 3
  4. 4Not With That Rune

    You're on 6: take A and B to win. Sett's Vanguard Sergeant (4) holds A and his Pit Rookie (2) holds B. He has 2 cards and a Punch First (1 Energy + [Body][Body]) in his trash. His runes: one Body and one Order ready, two Order tapped. Your Direwing (7) and Kinkou Initiate (3) are ready.

    Need a hint?

    Direwing to A, the Initiate to B. He can't pay [Body][Body].

    Start drill 4