Summoner Wars

SETUP: Each player chooses a Summoner faction and places their Summoner card on opposite ends of a 4x8 grid battlefield. Shuffle your faction deck and draw 5 cards as your starting hand. Place your summoning pool (magic tokens) within reach.

GAMEPLAY: Players alternate turns. On your turn: (1) Gain magic tokens equal to your Summoner's magic value, (2) Play cards from your hand by spending magic tokens—summon units onto the grid or cast magic events, (3) Move and attack with your units—each unit can move once and attack once per turn. Units attack adjacent enemy units or the enemy Summoner. Deal damage equal to the unit's power; destroyed units are discarded. (4) End your turn by drawing back up to 5 cards.

GRID MECHANICS: The 4x8 grid creates a tight tactical space where positioning matters. Units occupy spaces and block movement. Magic events are one-time effects that resolve immediately then are discarded.

WINCONDITIONS: Win by reducing your opponent's Summoner to 0 health. Most Summoners start with 20 health. Alternatively, if a player cannot draw cards (deck is empty and hand is empty), they lose.

TACTICAL DEPTH: Each faction has unique units, events, and Summoner abilities. Some factions excel at swarming small units; others rely on powerful single units. Magic tokens are limited each turn, forcing difficult decisions about when to summon versus when to hold for powerful spells.

TWO-PLAYER FOCUS: Summoner Wars is designed for 1v1 competitive play, making it perfect for two players. Direct confrontation, resource management, and tactical positioning create engaging head-to-head gameplay without downtime. Games naturally balance themselves through faction asymmetry—each player's unique deck creates different strategic paths to victory.