Description
Cardia (originally Duel for Cardia) is a fast card game for two players. In the magical city of Cardia, four factions – the Rebellion, the Academy, the Guild and the Dynasty – are fighting for power, and you try to win their favour and their mighty signet rings. Whoever is first to collect five seals becomes the new ruler of the city.
How to play Cardia
Both players have an identical deck of 16 cards with values from 1 to 16. Each round you both choose a card at the same time and reveal it. The card with the higher influence wins a seal, while the card with the lower influence triggers its ability: your opponent discards cards, the influence of cards changes, or the outcome of an earlier clash is reversed.
The cards stay on the table, so abilities can also change clashes from earlier rounds and move seals to the other side. You win when you have at least five seals at the end of a round or when your opponent can no longer play a card.
Why you will like it
- Sometimes it pays to lose a clash on purpose to trigger a powerful ability.
- Because you play at the same time, every round is a small guessing game about your opponent's move.
- Past clashes are never truly over – seals can still move.
- A second deck of cards and eight locations bring plenty of variants for experienced players.
Who is Cardia for
For two players aged 9 and up, a game takes about 15 minutes. The rules are simple, while the card abilities offer plenty of tactics. It suits couples and anyone who enjoys short duels.
What you might not like
The game is a direct duel in which you constantly disrupt your opponent's plans. It may not suit those who prefer calm games without confrontation.
What's in the box
- 64 character cards (two decks of 32 cards)
- 4 summary cards and 8 location cards
- 12 seals and 6 persistent effect tokens
- 22 modifiers
- rulebook
