Your opponent's turn isn't a break. Each time they do something, ask: What's on the Chain? What will it do? What can I do about it?
Save your unit. They attack it or aim a spell at it. Make it bigger before the damage.
Counter their spell. To counter a spell is to cancel it while it waits on the Chain: it does nothing. Reaction[Reaction] cards like Defy can do this.
Ambush their move. A unit with Ambush[Ambush] can be played as a Reaction[Reaction] to a battlefield where you already have units, even in the middle of their fight.
Don't answer too early. Wait until you know what they're doing. An answer spent on the wrong thing is gone.
You can only answer with runes you kept. Runes you tap on your own turn stay tapped until your next Awaken, so leave some ready.
Quick check
It's your opponent's turn. You tapped all your runes on your own turn. They cast a spell at your unit. What can you do?
Predict
Darius casts Cleave on his unit at his base, before he has attacked anything. You hold Lord Broadmane (Ambush[Ambush]). When should you play him?
Make your guess, then play the drill to find out.
En Garde: Reaction[Reaction]. Make your unit bigger in their Showdown.
Defy: Reaction[Reaction]. Counter a spell that costs no more than 4 Energy and 1 Power.
Lord Broadmane: Ambush[Ambush]. Play him into their fight.
You may play this unit as a Reaction[Reaction] to a battlefield where you already have units.
From the Core Rules (2026-10-09): 813 — Reaction · 822 — Ambush · 327 — Chains · 341 — Showdowns
Try it on the table
3 drills
1Stand Your Ground
It's Darius's turn. His Vanguard Sergeant (4 Might) is about to attack your Stellacorn Herder (3) at A. You hold En Garde (1 Energy, Reaction[Reaction]: +1 Might this turn, +1 more if it's your only unit there). Press Next to watch him move. When you get Focus in the Showdown, play En Garde on the Herder: it's alone, so it becomes 5.
Need a hint?
Press Next until you have Focus at A, then click En Garde and target your Stellacorn Herder.
Darius's Flame Chompers (3) attacks your Yordle Explorer (4) at A, and he keeps a Fury rune for Cleave (+3 Might while attacking). You hold Defy (1 Energy + 1 Calm: counter a spell that costs no more than 4 Energy and 1 Power) and En Garde (1 Energy), with one Calm rune: tap it and recycle it, and that pays for one of them. When Cleave goes on the Chain, answer it.
Need a hint?
Press Next until Cleave is on the Chain and you have Priority, then play Defy.
Your Stellacorn Herders (3) hold A and B. Darius will Cleave his Vanguard Sergeant (4, so 7 while attacking), then attack one of them. You hold Lord Broadmane (5 Might, Ambush[Ambush]: you may play him as a Reaction[Reaction] to a battlefield where you have units). Keep both battlefields: wait until you see where he goes.
Need a hint?
Pass while Cleave is on the Chain. When he moves, play Lord Broadmane to the battlefield he attacked.
