Gloomhaven ability cards form the tactical backbone of the cooperative campaign, translating your choices into on-board actions. Each card defines how a character moves, attacks, or manipulates the grimy corridors of the city.
Understanding card structure, timing, and synergy is essential for mastering scenario objectives and surviving escalating threats. This guide breaks down the system into focused sections you can apply in every session.
| Card Name | Type | Action Cost | Effect Summary |
|---|---|---|---|
| Break Them | Attack | 2 Move, 1 Attack | Melee 2, Pull, plus damage scaling with condition tokens |
| Rend Flesh | Attack | 1 Move, 2 Attack | Melee 1, Combo plus bleed token potential |
| Serrated Boneblade | Ability | 2 Move, 1 Skill | Range 2, apply immobilize on critical result |
| Shadow Step | Movement | 1 Move, 1 Movement | Teleport to engaged enemy, line of sight required |
| Heed the Whisper | Heal | 1 Move, 1 Support | Heal target adjacent, draw card, remove negative status |
Card Activation Sequence and Timing
During your turn, you select one card from your hand and resolve its phases in order. Activation follows a strict sequence that prevents confusion during hectic combat.
Declare and Resolve
First you declare targets and movement, then apply immediate effects followed by ongoing modifications. Cards specify whether an action consumes Attack, Move, or Skill resources.
Card Rarity and Synergy Considerations
Cards are distributed across rarities, influencing how often they appear in your collected pool. High-rarity options often provide layered effects that reward deck-building patience.
Synergy between card keywords and class traits can amplify damage, healing, or control effects. Tracking these interactions helps you optimize performance across difficult scenarios.
Deck Construction and Card Management
Constructing a legal campaign deck requires attention to hand size, card level restrictions, and scenario-specific limits. A well balanced deck balances burst damage with sustained actions.
Players frequently rotate cards in and out as the story progresses, ensuring that power spikes align with character development. Managing card economy becomes as important as managing hit points.
Advanced Card Interactions
Certain cards trigger reactions when you move, gain tokens, or defeat enemies. These passive abilities can turn the tide of battle if you position characters thoughtfully.
Stacking conditions such as bleeding, vulnerable, or immobilize interacts with specific card text, creating combinatorial complexity. Understanding these nuances separates experienced tacticians from casual explorers.
Mastering Card Economy for Long-Term Success
Tracking card usage across sessions ensures you maintain flexibility when facing pivotal story moments. Efficient resource management directly correlates with party survivability.
- Prioritize cards that remove conditions while dealing damage.
- Maintain a balanced mix of Attack, Move, Skill, and Support actions.
- Anticipate enemy phases that may disrupt your card plans.
- Adjust deck composition as character abilities evolve.
FAQ
Reader questions
How do I determine the correct card order when multiple effects trigger simultaneously?
Resolve effects in the order declared by the active player, then handle reactions from other players in seating order. Specific card text overrides general timing rules when explicitly stated.
Can I spend more than the listed action cost to gain additional benefits?
No, each card grants exactly the effects described; spending extra action cost is not allowed unless a specific ability explicitly permits increased investment.
Do temporary cards introduced by scenarios follow the same rules as standard ability cards?
Yes, temporary cards obey the same activation sequence, but they often include scenario specific text that may suspend or modify normal rules.
What happens to unused cards at the end of a scenario?
Unused cards are discarded, and only cards with persistent effects or acquired loot tokens carry forward into the campaign record.