How to Play Keyforge

Introduction

Keyforge is a unique card game that’s easy to learn, but difficult to master. It’s set in a sci-fi universe where players take on the role of Archons, powerful beings who can harness the energy of the Crucible to forge keys and unlock vaults. The game’s objective is to be the first player to forge three keys, or to have the most Aember at the end of the game.

How to Play Keyforge Step by Step

1. Setup:

To begin the game, each player shuffles their 36-card deck and draws a hand of six cards. Aember, which is the energy used to forge keys, is placed in the center of the play area. The remainder of each player’s deck is placed face down in a pile called their library.

2. Turns:

On your turn, you can take three actions in any order:

Choose a House: Select one of the three Houses printed on your identity card. This determines the cards you can play and the abilities you can use.
Play Cards: Choose up to three cards from your hand and play them face up in front of you. Each card has a printed cost in Aember. If you have enough Aember, you can pay the cost and put the card into play.
Reap: Collect Aember from your active cards. Each active card has a printed Aember value. You can collect Aember from your own cards or from your opponent’s cards if they don’t have creatures in their active zone to defend them.

3. Forge Keys:

When you have enough Aember to meet the cost of a key, you can forge it. This is done by placing the required number of Aember on the key card. Once a key is forged, it’s placed in your score pile.

4. Win the Game:

The first player to forge three keys, or to have the most Aember at the end of the game, wins.