Star Wars Unlimited Rules for Beginners

Game Overview

Star Wars: Unlimited is a Trading Card Game (TCG) that immerses players in the iconic Star Wars universe. The game was developed by Fantasy Flight Games and allows 2 players to take on the role of a leader, an iconic Star Wars character, rallying their forces into battle against their opponent's base. Each player uses a 50-card deck containing units, events, and upgrades to engage in a series of rounds. The game is ideal for ages 14 and up and can be purchased as the starter set on Amazon.

Objective

The objective of Star Wars: Unlimited is to reduce your opponent's base HP (hit points) to zero before they do the same to yours, thereby winning the game. Each base starts with 30 HP.

Setup

Using the two-player starter set, each player chooses one of the decks – either Luke Skywalker or Darth Vader. The leader cards, base cards, token cards, and the remaining 50 cards are separated from the rest. Players use the provided playmats to set up their cards facing each other, with helpful rules reminders and instructions on how to lay out the cards.

1. Place your base into play, facing your opponent’s.
2. Put your leader into play below your base, with the horizontal (non-unit) side faceup.
3. Randomly determine which player starts the game with the initiative, and give the initiative counter to that player. Set aside all other counters and token cards, out of play.
4. Shuffle your deck. Draw 6 cards from your deck to form your hand.
5. You may take a mulligan by shuffling your entire hand into your deck, then drawing a new hand of 6 cards. You must keep the new hand. Strategy Tip: We recommend taking a mulligan if your hand contains no units that cost 1 or 2 to play on the first round.
6. Choose 2 cards from your hand and put them into play facedown near your base. They are now resources – you will use resources to pay for cards you play during the game.

When both players are ready, start the game with the first action phase.

How to Play

The game consists of a series of rounds, with most of the gameplay happening during the action phase. Players go back and forth taking 1 action at a time, starting with the player who has the initiative counter. The actions available to a player are:

• Play a card
• Attack with a unit
• Use an action ability
• Take the initiative
• Pass

To play a card, reveal it from your hand and pay its cost by exhausting that many resources (see “Ready & Exhausted” below). Units enter play exhausted and remain in play until defeated. Units have a power and HP value, with power indicating how much damage a unit deals in combat.

READY & EXHAUSTED: Units and resources enter play exhausted (turned sideways), then become ready (turned upright) at the end of the regroup phase each round. Many cards must exhaust in order to be used. Resources exhaust to pay for the cards you play from your hand. Units exhaust to attack or use certain abilities, but only if they are ready.

Attacking is the primary way to deal damage to the opponent’s base and win the game. A unit must be ready in order to attack. Only 1 unit can attack in a single action. To attack, follow these steps:

• Exhaust the attacker and choose what to attack. You may attack any enemy unit in the same arena (ground or space) as the attacker, or you may attack the opponent’s base directly.
• If an enemy unit in the same arena as the attacker has Sentinel, it must be chosen as the defender unless the attacker has Saboteur.
• If the attacker has Saboteur, defeat all Shields on the defender.
• If the attacker has Restore, heal damage from your base equal to its Restore value.
• If the attacker has any On Attack abilities, use them now.
• Deal damage. If your unit is attacking:
  • a base, it deals damage equal to its power to that base.
  • a unit, the attacker and defender simultaneously deal damage equal to their power to each other. If either unit has damage on it greater than or equal to their HP, the damaged unit is defeated (put in its owner’s discard pile).

Scoring and End of Game

The game continues until one player's base HP reaches zero, at which point that player loses, and the other player wins.

Common Variants

While the basic rules cover most aspects of the game, there may be variants specific to certain cards or events. It is essential to familiarize yourself with each card's unique abilities and keywords to understand their impact on gameplay.

Beginner Mistakes to Avoid

1. Neglecting resource management: Ensure you have enough resources (cards in play) before playing expensive cards to avoid running out of options.
2. Ignoring the importance of initiative: The player with initiative can make the first move and potentially gain an advantage, so paying attention to this aspect is crucial.
3. Failing to read card abilities carefully: Each card has unique keywords, powers, and abilities that can significantly impact gameplay. Take the time to understand them before making decisions.
4. Underestimating defense: Paying too much attention to offense and neglecting defense can lead to a quick defeat. Make sure you have sufficient units and defenses to protect your base.
5. Ignoring synergy between cards: Some cards work better together than others, so it's essential to consider the overall strategy of your deck when making card choices.