Neopets Battledome Trading Card Game Rulebook

Table of Contents

Table of Contents

• Deck Construction
• Setting Up
• Turn Phases
• Victory Condition
• Golden Rules
• Card Types
  • Neopets
  • Rainbow Pool Neopets
  • Codestones
  • Equipment
  • Petpets
  • Legends
  • Potions
  • Faeries
  • Hero/Villain
  • Food
  • Map Pieces
  • Locations
  • Factions
• Playing Cards
  • Example One
  • Example Two
  • Example Three
  • Example Four
• Battle Phase Breakdown
  • Compare Dice and Calculate Damage
  • Dice Results
• End of Round Breakdown
• Battlepedia

Deck Construction

You need a 50-card deck made up of a combination of Codestones, Equipment, Food, Faeries, Heroes, Legends, Map Pieces, Paint Brushes, Petpets, Potions, and Villains. Decks can contain no more than 2 copies of any Equipment, Food, Legends, Paint Brushes, and Potions. They may contain no more than 1 copy of any Faerie, Hero, Petpet, unique Map Piece, or Villain and may contain any number of Codestones.

You can have a Neopet Deck of at least 3 and up to 5 Neopets of different species (all 5 must have a different name), and a Rainbow Pool with up to 15 cards with a maximum of 10 unique Rainbow Pool Neopets. Your Rainbow Pool may include Rainbow Pool Neopets, Factions, Tokens, and additional cards with unique rules text having them start in your Rainbow Pool.

Up to 10 six-sided dice will be required for battle.

Setting Up

1. Randomly determine which player decides who goes first. (Die roll, rock paper scissors, etc.).
2. Place your Neopets and Rainbow Pool Neopets in the designated areas. Shuffle your deck and place it in the deck area, then draw a hand of 5 cards into your inventory.
3. You may choose to shuffle all the cards from your inventory back into your deck then draw 5 cards into your inventory. (You may only do this once!)
4. Both players select their starting Neopet and places them face down in the Battledome (Neopet Area).
5. Both players simultaneously reveal their starting Neopet.

Turn Phases

1. Draw Phase: Draw 1 card from the top of your deck to your inventory. If you need to draw a card and cannot, your Neopet takes 1 point of damage.
2. Training Phase: You may attach 1 Codestone from your inventory to raise your Neopet's level by 1 to a maximum of 5. (Note: Codestones are attached and cannot be played.)
3. Preparation Phase: You may play exactly 1 card from your hand with a level requirement equal to or less than your Neopet's level. (Note: Some card abilities allow you to play more than 1 card per turn.)
4. Battle Phase: Your Neopet must battle your opponent's Neopet if able. Battling always ends your turn. (Note: The player going first skips this phase and ends their turn after their Preparation Phase.)

Victory Condition

A complete game is made up of 3 rounds. You win a round when your opponent's Neopet has taken damage equal to or greater than their Hit Points. The first player to win 2 rounds is the Champion of the Battledome. (For a quick game, you can just play 1 round.)

Golden Rules

• Can't Beats Can
  • Whenever a card, ability, or effect states that something "can" happen or directs that thing to happen, but another card, ability, or effect states that the same thing "can't" happen, the "can't" effect will take precedence.
• Card Text Always Take Precedence Over Game Rules
  • Whenever card text contradicts the game's rules, the card text takes precedence.

Card Types

Neopets

• Hit Points: This is your Neopet's health. When your opponent's Neopet takes damage equal to their Hit Points, you win the battle!
• Attack: This number represents the number of dice rolled when attacking your opponent's Neopet.
• Defence: This number represents the number of dice rolled when defending against an opposing Neopet's attack.
• Agility: This number represents your agility. If your agility is higher than your opponents, you are allowed to reroll your Attack or Defence dice up to the difference between both Neopet's Agility.

Attack, Defence, and Agility have a maximum value of 10.

Example Neopet: Gelert (Yellow). Hit Points 10. Attack 3, Defence 3, Agility 4.

Rainbow Pool Neopets

Rainbow Pool Neopets start the game in your Rainbow Pool. You can find the required Paint Brush or Location icon in the top left corner and listed below the name of your Rainbow Pool Neopet. Some Rainbow Pool Neopets have special abilities like equipment!

Example Rainbow Pool Neopet: Gelert (Darigan), required Paint Brush: Form 4. Hit Points 12. Attack 4, Defence 3, Agility 4.

• Card Text: During your Preparation Phase, you may discard 2 cards; draw up to 3 cards.

Codestones

During your Training Phase, you may attach 1 Codestone from your inventory to raise your Neopet's level by 1 to a maximum of 5, and they gain an additional boost to one of their stats. Your Neopet's level is equal to the number of Codestones attached to them. (Note: Codestones are attached and cannot be played.) Codestones are not considered to be "in play" nor "in the Battledome."

Example Codestone: Mau (Attack +1).

Equipment

You may have up to 3 Equipment equipped to your Neopet at any time. To play an Equipment while there are already the maximum amount of Equipment in play, you first send an active Equipment to your discard, and then play the new Equipment.

Example Equipment: Jeran's Sword (Level Requirement 5).

• Card Text: During your Battle Phase, while calculating damage, increase the damage dealt to your opponent's Neopet by each critical success by 1.

Petpets

When you play a Petpet they are placed in an Equipment slot. You may only have 1 Petpet in play at any time. During either player's Battle Phase, you may choose to have your Neopet gain the Attack, Defence, or Agility of your Petpet until the end of your turn. You may only choose a stat that was not chosen this round.

Example Petpet: Turmac (Hit Points 5. Attack 2, Defence 1, Agility 2).

• Card Text: Fetch 1 Food with "berry" in its name from your deck, discard, or Void. (To fetch a card, put this card into the corresponding zone, then add the specified card to your inventory from that same zone.)

Legends

When you play a Legend, resolve all effects on the card then send it to your discard.

Example Legend: Nilo (Level Requirement 1, Team Icon: Neopia Central).

• Card Text: Search your deck for 1 card with a Level Requirement of 1 and play that card.

The Team Icons printed on the Legends page of the Rulebook are: Defenders of Neopia, Villains of Neopia, Darigan, Meridell, Awakened, Brute Squad, Neopia Central, Order of the Red Erisim, Seekers, Sway, Thieves Guild, Obelisk, Allies of Nyx, Council of Leaders, and Void Cabal.

Potions

When you play a Potion, resolve all effects on the card then send it to your discard.

Example Potion: Kayla's Little Pick Me Up (Level Requirement 1).

• Card Text: Roll 3 dice; for each success, heal 1 damage from your Neopet.

Faeries

When you play a Faerie, they remain in play until the end of the round. You may only have 1 Faerie in play at a time. To play a Faerie while there is already a Faerie in play, you first void the active Faerie, and then play the new Faerie. When a Faerie would go from the Battledome to your discard, void it instead.

Example Faerie: Psellia.

• Card Text: Once per turn, whenever you would add 1 or more cards to your inventory, you may play 1 of those cards.

Hero/Villain

When you play a Hero or Villain card, they are played in the same slot as a Faerie. They follow the same rules as a Faerie but include an additional Team Icon which can be referenced in card effects. When a Hero or Villain would go from the Battledome to your discard, void it instead.

Example Villain: Lord Kass (Team Icon: Darigan).

• Card Text: Once per turn, during your Battle Phase, if you have 10 or more cards in your inventory, your Neopet may make an additional attack.

Food

When you play a Food, resolve all effects on the card then send it to your Void. If you play a Food and it does not resolve, it goes to your discard.

Food does not count as a card played and can be played at any time, on any turn, in any phase, unless the card states otherwise (in which it must be played in the first instance available to play that Food).

Example Food: Darigan Hot Dog (Level Requirement 2).

• Card Text: Discard 2 cards from your inventory. Draw up to 3 cards from your deck.

Map Pieces

Anytime you can play a card, you may collect a Map Piece. Map Pieces remain in play for the rest of the game (they are not sent to the discard between rounds). Map Pieces are not considered to be in the Battledome. You may collect any number of Map Pieces on your turn, and collecting a Map Piece does not count as a card played. There is no specific zone for Map Pieces, but we recommend keeping them in your Play Area.

Example Map Piece: Lab Ray 1.

• Card Text: You may collect this card as a Lab Ray map piece. When you have collected all 4 Lab Ray map pieces, put them into your Rainbow Pool and place the Lab Ray location in play.

Locations

When you play a Location, they remain in play for the rest of the game (they are not sent to the discard between rounds). Locations are not considered to be in the Battledome. There is no specific zone for Locations, but we recommend keeping them in your Play Area or on top of your Rainbow Pool.

Example Location: Lab Ray.

• Card Text: (This card begins the game in your Rainbow Pool.) Once per turn, during your Preparation Phase, you may transform your Neopet.

Factions

Factions start the game in your Rainbow Pool. When you play a Legend with a matching Team Icon of a Faction in your Rainbow Pool, you may reveal your Faction and "pledge your allegiance" to that Faction. You may only pledge your allegiance to one Faction and cannot pledge your allegiance to another Faction after the first. Factions remain in play for the rest of the game (they are not sent to the discard between rounds). Factions are not considered to be in the Battledome. There is no specific zone for Factions, but we recommend keeping them in your Play Area.

Example Faction: The Thieves Guild (Team Icon: Thieves Guild).

• Card Text: You have pledged your allegiance to the Thieves Guild. Whenever you play a Thieves Guild Legend, add 1 Allegiance counter to this card. As long as this card has 5 or more Allegiance counters, it has the following effect: Once per turn, during your Preparation Phase, you may play 1 card you have stolen.

Paint Brushes

Example Paint Brush: Darigan Paint Brush (Form 4).

• Card Text: When you play a Paint Brush, your Neopet transforms! Search your Rainbow Pool for the matching Neopet, place your active Neopet into the Rainbow Pool, and place the painted Neopet into play keeping all Codestones, equipment, and damage they may have already taken. Then the Paint Brush goes to the discard. (Note: You can use a Paint Brush on a Rainbow Pool Neopet.)

Playing Cards

When playing a card, you must successfully meet these requirements:

• Level Requirement: The minimum number of Codestones which need to be attached to your Neopet.
• Timing: The phase/time in which a card can be played or an effect can be activated. (Ex: "During the Battle Phase", "When your opponent plays a Legend", etc). (Note: Many cards do not have specific timing).
• Additional Cost: Additional costs are conditions that must be met to put certain effects into the queue. Additional costs are indicated by text preceding a semi-colon.

When a card is played and begins the process of resolving, this creates the queue. The player who played the card has a chance to respond (i.e., playing an additional card or activating an effect), this is referred to as priority. A player can pass priority to their opponent, which allows them to respond to any cards in the queue. Once both players pass priority, then the last card in the queue resolves. These steps repeat until all cards in the queue resolve.

Example One

• Player 1 plays Korbat Defender, beginning the queue.
• Player 1 does not respond to Korbat Defender.
• Player 2 gains priority and does not respond to Korbat Defender.
• Korbat Defender resolves, allowing Player 1 to draw two cards from their deck.
• Korbat Defender goes to the discard.

(Korbat Defender: Legend, Level Requirement 1, Team Icon: Defenders of Neopia. Card Text: Draw 2 cards from your deck.)

Example Two

• Player 1 plays Korbat Defender, beginning the queue.
• Player 1 does not respond to Korbat Defender.
• Player 2 gains priority and plays Hot Dog of Justice in response.
• Player 1 gains priority and does not respond to Hot Dog of Justice.
• Hot Dog of Justice resolves, negating the effect of Korbat Defender. Hot Dog of Justice goes to the Void.
• Korbat Defender goes to the discard.

(Hot Dog of Justice: Food, Level Requirement 3. Card Text: When your opponent plays a Legend, you may play this card. Negate that effect.)

Example Three

Additional cards played by another card's effect are added to the queue and resolve (or are negated) before the original card is sent to the discard due to resolution.

• Player 1 plays Vira, targeting Siona in the discard, beginning the queue.
• Player 1 does not respond to Vira.
• Player 2 gains priority and does not respond to Vira.
• Vira resolves, playing Siona. Siona is now the last card in the queue.
• Siona targets Korbat Defender and Usul Defender. (Note: Siona cannot target Vira, because she is still in the queue and not in the discard.)
• Player 1 does not respond to Siona.
• Player 2 gains priority and does not respond to Siona.
• Siona resolves, adding Korbat Defender and Usul Defender to Player 1's inventory.
• Siona goes to the discard.
• Vira goes to the discard.

(Vira: Legend, Level Requirement 3, Team Icon: Villains of Neopia. Card Text: Target a card in your discard; play it. Siona: Legend, Level Requirement 2, Team Icon: Defenders of Neopia. Card Text: Target up to 2 Legends in your discard; add them to your inventory.)

Example Four

Cards or effects that include a player rolling one or more dice require their dice be rolled as the card/effect enters the queue. Meaning, both players will see the result of the roll prior to the card resolving.

• Player 1 plays Exploding Potion, immediately rolling the required 1 die (with a result of 2), beginning the queue.
• Player 1 responds with Teeny Hot Dog.
• Player 2 does not respond to Teeny Hot Dog.
• Teeny Hot Dog resolves, changing the result of Exploding Potion's roll to a critical success (6).
• Teeny Hot Dog goes to the Void and is removed from the queue. Exploding Potion is now the last card in the queue.
• Player 1 does not respond to Exploding Potion.
• Player 2 does not respond to Exploding Potion.
• Exploding Potion resolves, with a die result of 6, and deals 2 damage to Player 2's Neopet.

(Exploding Potion: Potion, Level Requirement 1. Card Text: Roll 1 die. On a success, deal 2 damage to your opponent's Neopet. Teeny Hot Dog: Food, Level Requirement 1. Card Text: Change the result of 1 die roll to a critical success.)

Battle Phase Breakdown

Your Neopet must battle your opponent's Neopet if able. Battling always ends your turn. (Note: This phase is skipped on the first turn of the game.)

The Battle Phase is performed as followed:

1. Attack: The attacking Neopet rolls a number of dice equal to their Attack. A result of 4 or 5 is a success, and a 6 is a critical success.
2. Defend: The defending Neopet rolls a number of dice equal to their Defence. On a result of 4, 5, or 6 the defending Neopet successfully blocks a blockable attack. (Note: You cannot block a critical success.)
3. Compare Agility: Compare each Neopet's Agility. The player whose Neopet has the higher Agility may reroll their dice equal to or less than the difference. That player may not reroll these dice more than once.
4. Calculate Damage: Add up the number of successful hits and successful blocks. If the number of successful hits is higher than the number of successful blocks the defending Neopet takes 1 damage per the difference. If the number of successful hits is equal to or lower than the number of successful blocks the defending Neopet takes no damage. An attack which results in a critical success always deals 1 damage per critical success.

Example: Kau and Poogle are in combat. Kau will roll 5 dice to Attack Poogle. Poogle will be on the Defence and roll 5 dice. Once these rolls are complete, the difference in Agility is determined. Kau has an Agility of 5 while Poogle has an Agility of 3. This is difference of 2 (5 minus 3), therefore Kau can reroll 2 of their dice.

(Kau: Hit Points 8. Poogle: Attack 2, Defence 5, Agility 3, Hit Points 10.)

Compare Dice and Calculate Damage

The printed example shows the following dice. Attacker: 6 (Critical Success), 4 (Success), 4 (Success), 3 (Fail), 1 (Fail). Defender: 5 (Success), 3 (Fail), 2 (Fail), 2 (Fail). The 6 is unblocked and deals 1 damage. The 4 facing the 5 is blocked. The 4 facing the 3 is unblocked and deals 1 damage. Damage: 1, 1. Total: 2.

Dice Results

Attacking:

• 6: Critical Hit
• 4 or 5: Successful Hit
• 1, 2 or 3: Miss

Defending:

• 6, 5, or 4: Successful Block
• 1, 2 or 3: Miss

End of Round Breakdown

When a Neopet has taken damage equal to their Hit Points, the round ends. All cards in play go to the respective player's discard/Void. The winning Neopet is placed face up in "Round Results" above the winning player's Rainbow Pool. The losing Neopet is placed face down in the losing player's "Round Results". The winning player then selects a new Neopet from their Neopet Deck and places them face up in the Battledome. Once the winning player has selected a new Neopet, the losing player selects their Neopet and places them face up in the Battledome. Play then continues as normal with the player who lost the previous round as the starting turn player. (Note: This is NOT the first turn of the game, so the first turn player attacks on their turn.)

Battlepedia

• Abandon: You lose the round and your Neopet is placed face down in the round results.
• Add: Place a card from the designated area to your inventory. When you add a specific card type to your inventory you always show the card to your opponent.
• Battledome: All cards currently in play for both players.
• Bury: Flip a card in your discard from face-up to face-down or put a card from a designated zone into your discard face-down.
• Collect: Anytime you can play a card, you may collect a card which states it can be collected. You may collect any number of cards on your turn, and collecting a card does not count as a card played.
• Counter: A marker placed on a card that interacts with an ability or effect.
• Critical Success: A die roll with the result of a 6.
• Discard: Send a card from your inventory to the discard.
• Enter the Shadows: When a Neopet "enters the shadows" they cannot attack, be attacked, or be affected by status effects until the start of your next turn. During the turn this effect ends, that Neopet deals double damage during that Battle Phase.
• Exhume: Flip a card in your discard from face-down to face-up.
• Failure: A die roll with a result of 1, 2, or 3.
• Fetch: Add the card to your inventory from the specified zone, then put this card into the specified zone. If the specified zone was your deck, shuffle it.
• Foresee: Look at a certain number of cards from the top of your deck and put any amount of those cards to the bottom of your deck in any order and the rest back on top in any order.
• Freeze/Frozen: The frozen Neopet cannot attack during their next Battle Phase.
• Immune: Cannot be affected by the designated ability or effect.
• Inventory: Your hand of cards. The maximum amount of cards in your inventory is 50.
• Level: The number of Codestones attached to your Neopet.