Elestrals

Some effects tell you to Nexus: this moves Spirits from one of your Elestrals or Runes to a different one! Nexus instructions always tell you how many and sometimes what kind of Spirits you can move. First, pick an Elestral or Rune on your field, and which Spirits you’re taking from it *(You can’t choose set cards, or Invoke or Counter Runes)*. Then pick a different Elestral or Rune on your field to receive them. Those Spirits are Disenchanted from the first and Enchanted to the second at the same time!

If either card can’t receive Spirits, can’t Nexus, or isn’t on the field anymore, then nothing happens.

Game Mechanics

Nexus

Counter Runes and conditional effects (ones that activate “when” an event happens) can form chains! Chains allow players to react to an action and prevent it from happening or change what it does. Cards being Cast, Ascended, or Set can form the base of a chain. So can declaring a battle, activating an effect, even Searching your deck!

To add a link to a chain, a player announces that they’re Casting their Counter Rune or activating their effect “in response to” an action. That effect will resolve - have an impact on the game - before the action at the base of the chain does. More links can be added to a chain the same way, back and forth, and the turn player always gets to add links before the non-turn player.

Once players are finished adding links to a chain, that chain is **closed** \- no more links can be added to it\. Resolve the newest link first\, then the next\, all the way down to the base of the chain\. Any effects that meet their conditions during this process will
wait to go onto the next chain.

If an action gets negated, it counts as spent but nothing happens. If it wasn’t negated but it can’t be finished anymore, it either partially works, or it rewinds; check the rules on Casting and Ascending Elestrals, Casting Runes, and activating effects to know what to do if you can’t finish those actions.

Conditional effects activate only if a chain ends and their condition was *successfully* met during that chain. If an action is negated, it doesn’t happen - so it won’t activate effects. Actions that are rewound also won’t activate them.

Chains

### \- What if a card’s effect contradicts a rule in this guide?

If a card ever directly conflicts with the rules, then the card wins. Follow the rules for as much as possible, but follow the card’s instructions wherever they disagree. In some cases a rule will say that “effects can’t” do something; when that happens, that rule wins instead of the card.
 
### \- If a card says I choose “up to” a certain number\, what can I choose?

Any effect that tells you to choose “up to” a certain number of objects - players, Elestrals, Spirits, cards in your Underworld, etc - asks you to choose between 1 and the number given. If there aren’t enough of that kind of object, you choose between 1 and how many there are.
 
### \- What if an effect does something to “a” card or “an” opponent\, but there’s more than one?

If an effect does something to one card or to one player but there are several that could qualify for it, then you choose which one it applies to unless that effect says a different player chooses.
 
### \- What’s the difference between an action being impossible versus being negated?

Sometimes effects chained from an action can make that action impossible to perform; for example, if you attack an opponent’s Elestral, but then they cast a Counter Rune that changes your Elestral to Defense Position.

If it specifically uses the word “negate” then that action is spent (along with any Spirits Expended) but has no effect. Otherwise, it will partially resolve or it will rewind, depending on what kind of action it is and when it was interrupted. Check the rules for the type of action you’re attempting to figure out what happens when it’s interrupted.
 
### \- If an effect changes an Elestral’s stats or negates its effect\, when does that wear off?

Usually, effects will tell you what their duration is; “until the End Phase” is most common. If an effect doesn’t give a duration, then it works as long as the card with that effect is Enchanted. Once that card stops being Enchanted (either because it’s Misenchanted, or it left the field) the effect wears off. If a card goes to your Underworld, deck or hand after an effect starts applying to it, that effect stops applying to it.
 
### \- When is “damage” dealt?

Rules or effects that refer to Elestrals “dealing damage” mean the results that happen when an Elestral reaches the end of battle. If it’s battling another Elestral, dealing damage means trying to destroy the other. If it’s battling a Spirit Deck, dealing damage means making a player Expend Spirits.
 
### \- Do I lose the game if there are 0 cards in my deck?

You haven’t lost yet! It’s okay to have 0 cards in either of your decks. You only lose if you have to draw from an empty Main Deck, or Expend from an empty Spirit Deck. If you’re at 0 cards but you can win without drawing or Expending then the victory’s yours!
 
### \- Why does Ascending count as Casting?

Ascending into an Elestral uses almost the same process as Casting an Elestral, except that you have to send an already Enchanted Elestral to the Underworld and re-use its Spirits. You can also siphon Spirits from other Enchanted cards. This counts as a variant on “Casting” that card so that conditional effects “when you Cast” it will still activate when this happens. Otherwise, some cards would have effects that don’t make any sense!
 
### \- If I Ascend an Elestral\, does it get to keep its Artifacts?

Sadly, no. Artifacts get sent to the Underworld if the Elestral they’re Empowering leaves the field for any reason. Ascending sends the Enchanted Elestral to the Underworld; the new Elestral is in the same slot, but it isn’t the same Elestral anymore.
 
### \- What happens when a card’s effect is negated?

When a card’s effect is negated, it’s treated like it doesn’t exist. This can happen if the card is Misenchanted or when an effect says so. Its effect stops applying immediately. If it’s been activated but hasn’t resolved yet, it does nothing. Some effects require a choice when they start applying - if their effect is negated for a while and comes back later, that choice is maintained, you don’t make a new choice.
 
### \- Can an Elestral have more than one effect?

Most Elestrals only have one effect. But some Elestrals will have more than one sentence in their effect, which can either add to or change the first sentence or sometimes give a second effect that’s not related to the first. If that sentence starts with “you can” or “when” then it will usually be a second effect. Otherwise, it’s part of the first effect and clarifies it or gives extra instructions.
 
### \- What if multiple effects activate at the same time?

If a chain ends and more than one effect met its condition during that chain, then each of those effects will be added to a new chain. First, the turn player activates their effects and adds them to the chain in whatever order they choose. Then, the non-turn player does the same. Effects resolve from newest to oldest, so the turn player’s effects will resolve last.
 
### \- If an Elestral has an effect when it’s destroyed\, does that still work even if it’s misenchanted?

If an effect should activate when something leaves the field, it checks what that card looked like right before it left to figure out if its condition is met. That means it refers to the Attack and Defense, Spirits, and Empowering Artifacts it had before it was destroyed. If an Elestral is misenchanted before it left the field, then it had no effect, so it can’t be activated.
 
### \- Can my Artifacts Empower my opponent’s Elestral?

Yes! An Artifact can Empower any Elestral on the field; some of them will encourage you to choose an opponent’s Elestral, but you always have that option even if all it does is make their Elestral stronger.
 
### \- Can I Nexus Spirits onto a Set Rune?

No, Runes that are still Set (face-down) can’t be Enchanted. If any effect tries to Enchant them, that doesn’t happen. You can’t choose them when announcing a Nexus.
 
### \- If an Invoke or Counter Rune says to Nexus Spirits\, can I choose the Spirits Enchanting it?

Clever, but no. When an Invoke or Counter Rune resolves, it is on the field and there are Spirits Enchanting it. But you aren’t allowed to choose those two types of Runes in a Nexus, either to give or to receive Spirits.
 
### \- If a card changes my Elestral’s Position\, can I still change it in my Main Phase?

Yes! If your Elestral’s Position changes for any reason other than you changing it once per turn in your Main Phase, then you’re still allowed to change its position as long as it wasn’t cast this turn. If it was cast this turn, you can’t change it, but cards and effects still could.
 
### \- When does an Elestral “receive” Spirits?

If an effect activates when an Elestral receives Spirits, that includes when you cast the Elestral; when you Ascend into it; when you Nexus onto it; or when you use a Main Phase action to Enchant it. Most effects activate when they receive “one or more” Spirits. If several Spirits Enchant a card with this effect at the same time, such as during a Nexus, it only activates once. But it can activate again in the same turn if it receives Spirits during another action.
 
### \- What if both players are out of Spirits but can’t attack each other?

If both players agree that they don’t have any way of forcing the other to Expend Spirits, then they count how many cards are in their Main Deck. The player with fewer cards left loses the game. If they’re tied, then the next player to draw a card loses.
 
### \- What happens when both players lose the game at the same time?

If both players have to Expend a Spirit they don’t have or draw a card they don’t have at the same time, then the game is a draw. This doesn’t happen often but can be a result of certain effect and Artifact combinations during battle. If one player is going to lose the game but a chained card or effect causes their opponent to lose the game, the chained effect happens first so it’s not a draw!
 
### \- What happens if an effect says to target a particular card\, but it can’t be targeted?

Some effects will require you to pick a target, but also restrict which cards you’re allowed to target. If the only cards you’re allowed to pick can’t be targeted then that part of the effect does nothing. For example: if you cast Resting on your Laurels, and your opponent’s only Elestral can’t be targeted, then your Rune is spent without doing anything.
 
### \- How does “taking control” of an opponent’s Elestral work?

One card, Carryon, lets you take control of an opponent’s Elestral. When that happens, move that Elestral and the Spirits Enchanting it to an open slot in your Elestral Row (you can’t take control of something if you don’t have an open slot). It counts as “your” Elestral until you lose control of it, and it’s in the same Position and has the same Artifacts Empowering it as before.

If it’s your turn then you can change its Position (unless it was Cast this turn), and you can attack with it, use it to Ascend, or use its Spirits to fuel an Invoke or Counter Rune. If that Elestral or its Spirits would go to your deck, hand, or Underworld, they go to their owner’s instead.
 
### \- If multiple effects change an Elestral’s Attack or Defense\, what order do they happen?

If one Elestral has several effects attempting to change its stats, they apply in this order:

1. First, any effects that set a stat to a particular number.
2. Second, any effects that increase or decrease the stat.
3. Last, any effects that swap stats.

Two or more effects that apply in the same step are applied in the same order they were cast or activated, relative to each other. If an Elestral swaps its Attack and Defense twice, it ends up back at the stats it started with!
 
### \- How can you tell the rarity of a card?

Each Rune and Elestral has a rarity indicator below its effect that tells you how often the card is likely to show up in boosters.

* Common
* Uncommon
* Rare
* Stellar

 
Stellar Elestrals are among the rarest Elestral cards in the world! Stellars have a distinct color palette that sets them apart from normal versions of the card, and are usually numbered to show exactly how many copies exist. This makes each one a precious and unique treasure; perfect for dedicated collectors!
 
### \- What do the symbols at the bottom of a card mean?

The symbols to the left indicate what set the card was released in, and if it’s a special printing. Elestrals will also have symbols to the right that indicate their subclasses! This is the list:

* Aquatic
* Archaic
* Avian
* Behemoth
* Brute
* Dragon
* Dryad
* Eldritch
* Ethereal
* Insectoid
* Golem
* Oceanic

Advanced Rules

**Active**: a category of effect that players announce and add to the chain, so that it eventually resolves and impacts the game. They can be used once per turn. (11, 25)

**Artifact:** a type of Continuous Rune that Empowers an Elestral. You choose which at the time you cast the Artifact. (11, 24)

**Ascend:** a way to Cast an Elestral that includes sending an Elestral already on your field to the underworld and re-using its Spirits. (22)

**Attack:** part of an Elestral card used to decide the outcome of a battle when that Elestral is in Attack Position. (8, 27)

**Attack Position:** when an Elestral is placed upright on the field, facing its owner. (20, 23, 27).

**Battle:** a process for attacking an opponent or their Elestrals, using your own. (26, 27)

**Battle Phase:** the part of a turn where one player can declare battles against the another. (26, 27)

**Cast:** the typical process for playing Elestral or Rune cards from your hand to the field. (21, 24)

**Chain:** a system that allows players to act in response to an opponent’s action, sometimes preventing it. (31)

**Closed:** a chain closes when players have finished adding Counter Runes and effects to it. Once a chain closes, it fully resolves before the next chain opens. (30, 31)

**Conditional:** a category of effect that can be activated only after a certain event or during part of a turn. They can be used once each time their condition is met. (11, 25)

**Continuous:** a category of Runes that includes Artifact, Divine, and Stadium. These Runes stay on the field until they are destroyed or aren’t meeting their Enchantment Cost. (11, 24)

**Counter:** a type of Instant Rune that must be Set for a turn before use, but can then be Cast on any player’s turn. Counter Runes can form chains. (11, 24, 31, 32)

**Defense:** part of an Elestral card used to decide the outcome of a battle when that Elestral is in Defense Position. (8, 27)

**Defense Position:** when an Elestral is placed sideways on the field, not facing a player. (20, 23, 27).

**Destroy:** to move a card from the field to its owner’s Underworld as a result of battle or because an effect says to do so. (13)

**Discard:** to move a card from a player’s hand to that player’s Underworld. (15)

**Disenchant:** to remove one or more Spirits that are currently Enchanting a Rune or Elestral on the field, usually as a cost to activate an effect or as part of a Nexus. (7, 29)

**Divine:** a type of Continuous Rune that lets you Enchant it with additional Spirits, then Disenchant it once per turn for an effect. (11, 23)

**Draw:** to move a card from a player’s Main Deck to that player’s hand. If a player tries to draw a card when they have no cards in their Main Deck, they lose the game. (15, 19)

**Draw Phase:** the first part of a turn, when one player draws a card. (19)

**Effect:** text that an Elestral or a Continuous Rune has that impacts the game. There are three categories: active, conditional, and passive. Invoke and Counter Runes also have effects, but they don’t fall into these categories. (9, 11, 25)

**Elestral:** a card type that has an Attack and Defense stat and is used to attack your opponent. (8)

**Empower:** a relationship between an Artifact and the Elestral chosen for it. An effect impacting an Elestral this way can be positive or negative. (11)

**Enchant:** to put one or more Spirits beneath a face-up Rune or Elestral on the field, as part of Casting it or when a rule or effect tells you to. (7, 21, 23)

**Enchantment Cost:** part of an Elestral or Rune card that shows how many Spirits it needs to be cast and to remain on the field. See also “Misenchanted”. (8-10)

**End Phase:** the final part of a turn, where effects often wear off or can be activated. (28)

**Expend:** to move a Spirit card from a player’s Spirit Deck to their Underworld. If a player tries to Expend a card when they have no cards in their Spirit Deck, they lose the game. (17, 27)

**Field:** where cards that have been Cast or Set are placed between players. This area is broken up into several zones. (12-15)

**Hand:** where cards that you have drawn from your deck but haven’t played yet are kept. There is no limit to cards you can have in your hand at once. (15)

**Instant:** a category of Runes that includes Invoke and Counter. These Runes immediately impact the game, then are sent to the Underworld. You can Disenchant Spirits that are already on your field to cast these. (11, 24)

**Invoke:** a type of Instant Rune that is Cast during your Main Phase. (11, 24)

**Main Deck:** where your Rune and Elestral cards are stored in a face-down pile. Your Main Deck is shuffled at the start of a game and also every time you Search it. (14, 16)

**Main Phase:** the part of a turn where one player takes most of their actions like Casting or Setting cards or changing Elestrals’ Positions. (20-25)

**Misenchanted:** when there are enough Spirits Enchanting an Elestral to meet its Enchantment Cost, but their types do not match the Cost. It stays on the field and can still battle, but has no effect. (9)

**Negate:**

1. To Remove a Rune or Elestral’s effect, because it is Misenchanted or as a result of an effect. (9)
2. To cancel a card, an effect, or a turn action before it is performed. (31)

 
**Nexus:** to Disenchant Spirits from one of your cards and Enchant them to another card at the same time. (30)

**Passive:** a category of effect that has an impact on the game constantly as long as the card it’s on is on the field and Enchanted. These effects can’t be activated. (11)

**Rune:** a card type broken into two categories: Instant and Continuous. They are often less powerful than Elestrals, but easier to Cast. (8)

**Search:** to look through your Main Deck for a card and reveal it to all players, usually in order to add it to another zone. Whenever you Search your deck, shuffle it afterwards. (14)

**Set:** to place a Rune that isn’t a Stadium facedown in your Rune Row, to be cast on a later turn. Counter Runes can only be cast this way. (23, 24)

**Special Ascend, Special Cast:** a way of modifying the Cast or Ascend process based on a card’s instructions. Casting an Elestral this way doesn’t count as your once per turn Normal Cast or Normal Ascend. (21, 22)

**Spirit:** a card type that acts as both your life total and your resource for playing cards. Each Spirit has an elemental type associated with it. (6, 7)

**Spirit Deck:** where your Spirit cards are stored in a face-down pile. You can look through this deck at any time during a game. (14, 16)

**Stadium:** a type of Continuous Rune that impacts all Elestrals on the field. Only one Stadium can exist at a time; Casting a new one replaces any currently Enchanted. (11, 13)

**Target:** a temporary designation that some effects give to cards, zones, or players to indicate that they’re going to perform an action involving the designated object. (25)

**Underworld:** where cards that you have spent in a game - usually discarded, Expended, or destroyed - are kept in a face-up pile. (13)

Glossary

Month 1 of Shattered Stars packs are expected to be shipped by January 31, 2024. Month 2 will not be charged until AFTER Month 1 has been shipped.

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