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Keywords

A keyword is an attribute that conveys specific rules to its card.

  • If a card gains multiple instances of a keyword, any additional instances have no effect unless that keyword is followed by a number (e.g. Hinder X, Retaliate X), in which case the numbers for each instance are added together.

The following keywords are used in the game:

  • Alliance: When a player declares their intention to play an alliance card, any player(s) may help pay the costs for that card. (See: Alliance)

  • Assault: When a character makes a basic thwart against a scheme with the assault keyword, that character uses its ATK instead of its THW. (See: Assault)

  • Form: A card with the form keyword grants an identity a unique form. (See: Form)

  • Guard: While a minion with guard is engaged with a player, that player cannot attack the villain. (See: Guard)

  • Hinder X: When a card with the hinder X keyword enters play, place X threat on that card. (See: Hinder X)

  • Incite X: When a player reveals a card with incite X, that player places X threat on the main scheme. (See: Incite X)

  • Linked (Card Title): Cards with the linked keyword are set aside until the card named in parentheses brings the linked card into the game. (See: Linked (Card Title))

  • Overkill: Excess damage from attacks with overkill are dealt to the identity or villain. (See: Overkill)

  • Patrol: While a minion with patrol is engaged with a player, that player cannot thwart the main scheme. (See: Patrol)

  • Peril: While a player is resolving a card with peril, other players cannot help that player. (See: Peril)

  • Permanent: Cards with permanent cannot leave play. (See: Permanent)

  • Piercing: Attacks with piercing discard tough status cards from the attacked character before damage is dealt. (See: Piercing)

  • Quickstrike: After this enemy engages a player, it immediately attacks that player if they are in hero form. (See: Quickstrike)

  • Ranged: Attacks with ranged ignore retaliate. (See: Ranged)

  • Requirement (Resources): A card with the requirement keyword cannot be played unless each resource of the specified type is spent while paying for that card’s cost. (See: Requirement (Resources))

  • Restricted: A player cannot control more than two restricted cards at a given time. (See: Restricted)

  • Retaliate X: After a character with retaliate X is attacked, deal X damage to the attacker. (See: Retaliate X)

  • Setup: Cards with setup start the game in play. (See: Setup)

  • Stalwart: Characters with Stalwart cannot be stunned or confused. (See: Stalwart)

  • Steady: A character with the steady keyword is not stunned or confused unless it has two stunned or confused status cards, respectively. (See: Steady)

  • Surge: After a player reveals a card with surge, that player reveals an additional encounter card. (See: Surge)

  • Team-Up: Cards with team-up cannot be played unless both characters listed by the keyword are in play. (See: Team-Up)

  • Teamwork (Trait): After a minion with teamwork enters play and engages a player, if there is at least one other minion that shares the specified trait in play, the minion that just entered play activates against the player it is engaged with. (See: Teamwork (Trait))

  • Temporary: A card with temporary must be discarded from play at the end of the round. (See: Temporary)

  • Toughness: When a character with toughness enters play, place a tough status card on it. (See: Tough/Toughness)

  • Uses (X “type”): When a card with uses enters play, place X all-purpose counters from the token pool on that card. After the last all-purpose counter is removed from a card with uses (and the effect resolves), discard that card. (See: Uses (X “type”))

  • Victory X: When a card with victory X is defeated, add it to the victory display. (See: Victory X)

  • Villainous: When a minion with villainous activates, give it a boost card. (See: Villainous)

  • Vulnerable (Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D. campaign expansion) : When a character with vulnerable becomes stunned or confused, that character is immediately discarded. That character is not considered defeated, even if it is simultaneously dealt enough damage to defeat it. (See: Vulnerable).