Reference

Union Arena card game glossary.

A quick reference for the stats, zones, and keywords you'll run into while playing Union Arena on Cardboard Kitsune. New to the game? Start with our How to Play guide first for the full walkthrough.

Stats & Resources

AP (Action Point): A separate 3-card resource pool spent to move cards from your deck into your Energy Line, letting you generate more energy for the turn.
BP (Battle Point): A Character's combat strength. When two Characters fight, the one with lower BP is sent to the Sideline.
Energy: Colored resource generated by resting cards in your Energy Line, spent to deploy Characters and pay for other card costs.
Color: Every card belongs to one or more colors, which must be paired with matching energy to be played - the backbone of most deck-building decisions.

Zones

Front Line: Holds up to 4 Characters - the only zone Characters can attack or block from.
Energy Line: Holds up to 4 cards that rest to generate energy for playing Characters and other cards.
Life Area: Your 7 starting life cards, kept face-down. Losing all of them (or being unable to draw) loses the game.
Sideline: Where defeated Characters and resolved Events go - out of play, but still in the game rather than removed entirely.
Removal: A separate out-of-play zone for cards taken out of the game entirely by specific card effects.

Trigger Types

Get Trigger: The baseline trigger - its effect is unique to the specific card, so you read the printed text when it's revealed.
Draw Trigger: Draw an additional card on top of the Life card you just took.
Color Trigger: A steady effect tied to your deck's color identity, usually offering reliable value.
Special Trigger: A powerful, card-specific effect - typically the strongest and most build-around trigger type.
Active Trigger: Returns a Character on your field to active status, often with a temporary bonus, opening up a surprise block or extra attack.
Final Trigger: Designed for comebacks - these effects are printed to be especially strong when you're low on Life.

Common Actions & Keywords

Deploy: Playing a Character from your hand onto your Front Line by paying its energy cost.
Raid: Playing a stronger Character directly on top of one you already control, upgrading it in place at the cost of AP and energy instead of playing it as a fresh deploy.
Block: Using an active Front Line Character to intercept an attack aimed at you, forcing a BP comparison instead of taking direct damage.
Rest / Active: A card is "rested" (turned sideways) after it is used to attack, block, or generate energy, and becomes "active" again at the start of your next turn.
Sidelined: What happens to a Character that loses a BP comparison in combat - it is moved to the Sideline zone.
Life Trigger: A general term for the Trigger check that happens automatically whenever a Life card is taken from damage.