How To Play (In Depth)

Rule Update: 11/18/2025

Game Setup (2–6 Players)

Deck should include:

• 1 YCH card per player
• At least 32 Role cards (50 Role cards max)
• Max 4 of each Role card with the same name
• Max 2 of each Role+ card
• For each Role+ card, replace a Role card of the same name.
• Example: 3 Aristocrats, 1 Aristocrat+
• At least 8 Quest cards (no max on Quest cards)
• Max 2 of each Quest card with the same name
• 30 coins
• 1 coin for flipping

Each player takes:

• 1 YCH card (face up in your play area)
• 4 Role cards (hand)
• 4 coins

The rest of the cards and coins:

• YCH cards set aside
• Quest card pile set aside (face down)
• Remaining Role cards form the Role pile (face down)
• Use 5 coins to form the Kingdom pile
• Any remaining coins are set aside

Game Flow

One round consists of:

• Round start, draw a Quest card to play face up beside the Quest pile
• Each player takes a turn to attack someone, this is a battle
• Starting bids are placed, battle commences
• Starting bids increase based on the round (i.e. round 2 is 2 coins)
• After all players attack, the round ends

End of 3 rounds: 

• Game ends
• Fulfill any quests in the order they were revealed
• Fulfill them in your player order
• If Kingdom Bankruptcy happens, pause, pay in and resume fulfilling

YCH Cards

• Play at any time during the game, then flip to discard
• Keep card in front of you, even when discarded
• Doesn’t count as Role card tax
• YCH cards can’t disrupt abilities immediately. Fulfill ability, then play in order.
• Can be used during other players’ battles

Role+ Cards

• Role+ cards are stronger Role cards
• Think of them as evolutions
• Can only be activated by playing it stage 2 after it’s lesser version was already played. (i.e. play a Joker card first stage, play a Joker+ card next)
• You can play it any stage, but if it’s not after it’s counterpart, it has no effect.
• You must discard both cards after the battle if activated.
• Role+ cards still share the same name as Role cards when fulfilling quests.

Quest Cards

• Draw a Quest card at the start of each round
• Play it face up
• Each Quest card has a number:
• 0 = Ends after the quest is completed
• 1 = Ends after 1 round 
• 2 = Ends after 2 rounds 
• 3 = Ends after 3 rounds (end of game)
• Fulfill quests for rewards
• Discard Quest card once completed or when rounds end 
• Keep uncompleted Quest cards in order in which they were pulled
• If tied, those players earn the reward or play out the ability
• If a quest is drawn mid round with a (1) it ends after that round
• This applies to all Quest card numbers

Additional Rules

• If the Kingdom hits 0 coins (Kingdom Bankrupt)
• Pause everything
• All players pay half of their pools to the Kingdom immediately, round down 
• Once paid, continue game (i.e. a Quest card or starting bid being fulfilled)
• Battle call outs:
  • Players that were just called out (defense) can refuse an immediate attack
  • However, you cannot refuse if you have 5 or more coins
  • You can challenge a player who just attacked, even if they lost
  • During 2 player games you cannot refuse battles
• Players can skip playing one Role card in a battle
• At least 1 Role card must be played in battle (unless you’re out of cards)
• You may take coins from the Kingdom only for starting bids
• You may not discard cards from your hand unless stated by an ability
• If you run out of cards in your hand, you do not get to draw cards

Battle Phase

• Choose a player to call out
• Both players put in the starting bid based on the round
• If you don’t have enough coins for your starting bid, take coins from the Kingdom
• Attacker plays a card face up for stage 1
• Defender then plays their card face up for stage 1
• Defender plays a card face down for stage 2
• Attacker plays a card face down for stage 2
• Reveal and resolve cards in order: Defender → Attacker
• Order: Attack, Defend, Defend, Attack
• Battle ends, player with the most coins wins the entire bid (unless stated by a Role card)
• Discard one Role card (tax), return the other card to your hand
• YCH cards don’t count towards card tax.
• Loser draws card from the Role pile
• At the end of their battle, the two players can pay the Kingdom 2 coins to draw a card
• No limit to how many times you may purchase.

If a battle ends in a tie:

• Both players reclaim bids
• Pay Role card tax
• Flip a coin
• If heads, both players draws a Role card

Tied Game

• If there’s a tie after fulfilling all quests, game continues
• All Quest cards are discarded
• If not a part of the tie, you’re out (discard cards and coins)
• Kingdom resets to 5 coins 
• Tied players keep their coins and hands
• Draw a new Quest card to start the round
• Bids are now 4 coins
• End of 4th round, most coins wins

Additional Information

• Custom cards!
• Get a custom card made by us to use in your game
• Build and customize your own decks
• Mix and Play
• Try out a friend’s deck
• Have each player submit and pick their own cards to put in a deck to play
• Try dividing up who’s picking however many Quest and Role cards 
• Competitive play:
  • 1 on 1 playstyle
  • Each player has their own decks
  • 16 Role cards each (6 Unique Roles Max)
  • Usual Role limits only apply to each player, not to the combined deck.
  • This means you can have 8 Jokers if you both had 4.
  • Minimum 4 Quest cards each
  • 1 YCH card per player (Additional YCH’s may be available)
  • Shuffle the decks together
• Adapt and claim the crown
• Break a few rules:
• Let players have two YCH cards
• Try playing on teams
• Make your own rules or come up with creative ways to play
• Grow your collection!
• Find new YCH, Role, and Quest cards in booster packs
• Trade with others
• Get YCH cards signed at meetups
• Watch out for special online events

We hope you’re enjoying Royalty CG!