Card Values & Tactics
| Rank | Combat Value |
|---|---|
| Ace | 1 (Unkillable*) |
| 2 through 10 | Face value |
| Jack, Queen, King | 11 (Combatant) |
*Aces cannot be destroyed by normal damage, but another Ace will destroy them instantly.
The Rules of Engagement
This document provides a scannable overview of Phalanx: Duel’s mechanical framework.
Your Objective
Your goal in Phalanx: Duel is to overwhelm your opponent. You'll deploy cards into a tactical formation and attack in columns, aiming to break through their lines and reduce their Life Points (LP) to zero. Victory can also be claimed if your opponent cannot draw or reinforce, running out of cards completely.
Conditions for Victory
- LP Depletion: Reduce your opponent’s Life Points to zero.
- Formation Collapse: Your opponent has no cards left on the battlefield and cannot reinforce.
- Attrition: Your opponent cannot draw from their deck and cannot reinforce their formation.
Anatomy of a Combat Turn
- Attack: Choose a Front-row card from your formation. Select an opposing column.
- Target Selection: Attacks always target the Front-row card in the selected column first.
- Damage Resolution: Damage cascades down the column: Front-card, then Back-card, then Player LP.
- Suit Trigger: Automated suit powers (Shields and Weapons) activate during resolution.
- Reinforce Phase: Any open position in your formation may be reinforced from your hand.
- Pass Control: Control is handed back to the opponent.
Formation Architecture
Your **Front Row** is your first line of offense and primary shield. The **Back Row** provides tactical depth, absorbs overflow damage from major attacks, and steps into the Front Row if it falls. Mastering this column-based rotation is the key to high-level Phalanx: Duel play.
Note: Canonical draft rules are actively maintained in the main repository RULES.md.