How to Play
Master the art of commanding your Monster Ghost Army
Game Overview
Monster Ghost Army Cards is an epic deck-building battle game for 2-8 players. Command your army of fantastical creatures and ghosts as you clash against your opponents in strategic combat.
Each player builds their army by drafting cards, then battles until only one player remains standing. Victory requires careful selection during drafting and clever tactical decisions during battle.
The 8 Elements
Every card belongs to one or two elements. Understanding elements is crucial for maximizing damage and building effective defenses.
Some cards have two complementary elements, giving them versatility in both attack and defense!
Element Interactions
Each attack and defense move is associated with a single element. Element interactions between the attack's element and the defending card's elements determine damage modifiers. Learning these interactions is key to victory!
↔ Opposite Elements
Attacks against opposite elements deal 50% less damage
vs
vs
vs
vs
✔ Complementary Elements
Attacks against complements deal 50% more damage
→
→
→
→
Attacking a card with the same element as your attack deals the base damage amount (no modifier).
Drafting Phase
Before battle begins, each player must assemble their army through a strategic drafting process. The number of cards per player is configurable.
- Setup: Before drafting, choose the number of players (2-8) and cards per player (5-25). The game ensures there are enough cards for everyone.
- Turn Order Established: At game start, a random turn order is generated ONCE. This same order is used for ALL drafting rounds AND battle rounds, ensuring fairness (round-robin style).
- Choose One Card: When it's your turn, browse the available cards and select one to add to your army. Click a card and confirm your pick.
- Build Your Army: Continue drafting until each player has their full deck. Then the battle begins!
Consider element variety when drafting! Having multiple elements gives you flexibility against different opponents. Also watch what your opponents are drafting to counter their strategies.
Battle Phase
Once drafting is complete, the battle for supremacy begins!
- Turn Order: The turn order established at game start (during setup) carries over to battle. The same order used for drafting is used for all battle rounds.
- Select Attacker: On your turn, choose one of your remaining cards to be the attacker.
- Select Target: Choose any card from any other player to attack.
- Choose Attack: Select which attack move to use from your attacker's available attacks.
- Defense Response: The targeted player may choose a defense move (if available) to reduce damage.
- Apply Damage: Calculate final damage and apply it to the target's health.
When a card's health reaches 0 or below, it is eliminated from the game and returned to the deck. Lost cards cannot be recovered!
Attacks & Damage
Each card has one or more attacks with varying power levels.
Damage Calculation
The element modifier is determined by comparing the attack's element to the defending card's element(s):
- Opposite elements: 0.5x damage (50% reduction)
- Same/Neutral elements: 1.0x damage (base)
- Complementary elements: 1.5x damage (50% bonus)
Defense Moves
When your card is attacked, you may use a defense move to reduce incoming damage. Each defense move subtracts its protection value from the final damage.
If your card has multiple regular defense moves, the game automatically selects the best available defense (the one that minimizes damage).
Special defensive abilities (like Bounce Back or Teleport) require your explicit confirmation. When attacked, you'll be prompted to use them or decline. If you decline, the game falls back to your best available regular defense.
Save your limited-use defenses for critical moments! Regular defenses are always available, but special moves like Teleport only work once per card.
Special Moves
Special moves are powerful abilities with limited uses. All special moves have sensible limits to prevent game-breaking strategies. Use them wisely!
Legendary cards each have unique special abilities that set them apart from other cards. These can turn the tide of battle when used strategically!
Core Attack Specials
Black Hole / Infinite Black Hole
Devastatingly powerful cosmic attacks that deal massive damage. Cannot be bounced back or reflected.
Uses: (Number of Players - 2) per gameGhost Army Caller
Call forth spectral warriors to overwhelm your opponent with supernatural might. Cannot be bounced back.
Uses: (Number of Players - 2) per gameDoubler
Double the effect of your next attack or defense. Stacks with element bonuses for devastating combos.
Uses: 1 per cardCore Defense Specials
Bounce Back
Reflects 75% of incoming damage back to the attacker. Cannot reflect Black Hole, Infinite Black Hole, or Ghost Army Caller attacks.
Uses: 2 per cardTeleport
Completely dodges an incoming attack. The attack misses entirely and deals zero damage.
Uses: 1 per cardSlime Cover
Cover spikes with slime. Especially effective against Mecha attacks. Blunts the attack AND reduces that attack's power by 75% for the rest of the game.
Uses: 2 per cardUtility Specials
Bakes Into Bread
A unique transformation ability. Can convert resources or provide special healing effects during battle.
Uses: 1 per cardLegendary Special Moves
The following special moves are exclusive to Legendary cards. Each legendary card has access to one or more of these powerful abilities!
Spike Wall Series
Spike Shield
Reflects 50% of physical damage back to the attacker. A deadly counter for aggressive opponents.
Uses: 1 per gameChain Lightning
Lightning arcs from your target to hit an additional enemy card for 50% of the original attack damage.
Uses: 2 per gameCosmic Barrier
Become completely immune to the next attack regardless of element. Blocks all damage from one attack.
Uses: 1 per gameTidal Wave
A devastating area attack that hits all enemy cards for 40% of your normal attack damage.
Uses: 1 per gameFlame Aura
Inflicts burn damage equal to 20% of your attack each turn for 3 turns. Cumulative damage over time.
Uses: 1 per gameRegrowth
Heal 25% of your card's maximum HP. Essential for sustaining your key cards in battle.
Uses: 2 per gameEarthquake
Stuns the target opponent, causing them to skip their next turn. A powerful control ability.
Uses: 1 per gameElemental Trio Series
Undertow
Reduces the target's defense by 50% for their next defense. Leaves enemies vulnerable to follow-up attacks.
Uses: 2 per gameTremor
50% chance to stun the opponent, making them skip their turn. A risky but potentially game-changing ability.
Uses: 2 per gameIgnite
Sets the target ablaze, dealing 15% of your attack damage for 3 turns. Burns through enemy defenses over time.
Uses: 1 per gameOther Legendary Abilities
Gravity Well
Target cannot dodge or teleport for their next 2 turns. Locks down evasive enemies.
Uses: 1 per gameCore Meltdown
Deal 200% damage but take 25% recoil damage. High risk, high reward devastation.
Uses: 1 per gameAftershock
Your next attack deals 50% bonus damage. Stack with element advantages for massive hits.
Uses: 2 per gameEmber Storm
Rain fire on all enemies, dealing 30% damage to each enemy card. Excellent for weakening multiple targets at once.
Uses: 1 per gamePhase Shift
50% chance to completely avoid the next attack. A gamble that could save your card.
Uses: 2 per gameUnlock Potential
Boost another friendly card's attack by 50% for their next attack. Empower your allies for devastating combos.
Uses: 1 per gameSticky Trap
Target's attack is reduced by 30% for their next 2 attacks. Weaken aggressive opponents over time.
Uses: 2 per gameWhirlwind
Randomly shuffles card ownership among all enemies - each enemy keeps the same number of cards but may end up with different ones. All card stats are preserved.
Uses: 1 per gameBurrow
Automatically dodge the next attack completely. Guaranteed evasion - no chance involved.
Uses: 1 per gameSpecial Move Limits Summary
Once a special move's uses are exhausted, it becomes unavailable for that card for the rest of the game. Plan carefully!
Winning the Game
- Card Elimination: When a card's health reaches 0, it is eliminated from the game.
- Player Elimination: When a player loses all their cards, they are out of the game.
- Victory: The last player remaining with at least one card wins the game!
- Draft a balanced army with multiple elements
- Target opponents' powerful cards early
- Save special moves for critical moments
- Use element advantages to maximize damage
- Protect your strongest cards with smart defense