Start Balanced Build 8-12 unique cards with a mix of lower-cost plays, defenders, spells, and expensive payoffs.
Respect Defense A deck that cannot stop pushes will lose before its best attackers matter.
Know Your Plan Every card should help pressure towers, protect your Keep, control enemies, or create mana advantage.

Starter Deck Shape

Recommended shape for a legal eight-card starter deck.
Deck SlotPurpose
2 cheap pressure cardsForce responses and test the enemy's defense.
2 defendersStop pushes and protect your side of the arena.
1 area damage spellPunish grouped enemies or finish damaged buildings.
1 control or healing spellBuy time, preserve a push, or interrupt danger.
1 support or aura cardMake ordinary units more valuable when grouped.
1 expensive payoffCreate a push that can break towers or threaten the Keep.

Eight cards is the minimum and twelve is the maximum. Duplicate card IDs are not allowed. Extra slots beyond this eight-card shell can add matchup answers, but they also lengthen the ordered card cycle.

Useful Card Families

Deck Checks

  • Can you answer flying or ranged threats?
  • Can you stop a large grouped push?
  • Can you pressure towers without spending all your mana at once?
  • Can any card turn a defended push into damage on a remaining base tower or Keep?
  • Do your expensive cards have cheap support around them?