Rules of Arcana

2–4 players · the 22 Major Arcana · first to win 3 rounds takes the match

Setup

Shuffle all 22 cards. Deal two cards to each player: that's their hand. You may look at your hand.
Deal each player one face-down fortune. You may peek at your own; nobody else can.
The rest of the cards form the shared deck. Played and dead players' cards go face-up into the discard pile.
The first round's first player is chosen by divine revelation (at random). Later rounds start with the last winner, who also turns the top card of the deck as a free fortune and resolves it before the first turn.

Your turn

If it's not your first turn of the round and you're holding Death, take the death token.
Draw a card. If the deck is empty, the round ends: everyone alive reveals their hand and the highest total wins (ties share the win).
Play one card from your hand. This is mandatory; a card with no legal target simply does nothing.
Between turns, you may play your fortune (once per round).
You may spend an extra turn token you didn't create this turn to take another turn. You can chain them.
Otherwise, pass the turn clockwise. If you pass holding the death token, it kills you.

Death & winning

A killed player is out for the round. Their hand and fortune go face-up into the discard pile; their tokens are lost.
The last player standing wins immediately. If everyone left dies at once, nobody wins the round.
The lovers token saves its holder from one death (and that ends the Lovers link). If the player you chose with the Lovers wins, you win too; if they're killed, you die.
Unplayed fortunes don't count toward your hand total.

Table controls

1–9 pick a card · Enter confirm · Esc cancel / close · Y/N answer yes/no · D discard pile · U unseen cards (the deck plus hidden hands, sorted, so order isn't revealed) · C compendium · L log & chat · M mute.

Lessons

1. Draw, play, passEvery turn you draw one card, then must play one. Tokens let you go again. 2. Being killed by a cardSome cards kill outright. Watch the Emperor dismiss you. 3. Winning by hand sumWhen the deck runs out, the highest hand total wins. 4. Shared Lovers winBind your fate to a strong opponent. If they win, you win too. 5. Extra turn tokensThe Hanged Man and the Devil make tokens. Chain them, but not on the turn you made them. 6. The Death tokenStart a turn holding Death and you take the death token. Pass the turn with it and you die. 7. The Tower drawnDraw the Tower and it's discarded, you redraw, and if it's your turn, your turn is skipped. 8. Playing your fortuneYour face-down fortune can be played once per round, right after your turn. 9. The MoonEveryone secretly picks a card to reveal. The lowest dies, and every player tied for lowest dies. 10. The HermitMake an opponent draw, then play the highest card in their hand as your own.

The 22 cards

0 · The Fool

If there are one or fewer cards in the discard pile, gain an extra turn token. Shuffle the Fool and the discard pile back into the deck.

“The hero's journey never ends...”

1 · The Magician

If there are one or fewer cards in the discard pile, exchange a card in your hand for one in the deck. Exchange a card in your hand for one in the discard pile.

“As above, so below”

2 · The High Priestess

Take all players' cards into your hand. Remake their hands from your hand.

3 · The Empress

Choose a player and a random card from their hand. They discard that card. Put a card of your choice from the discard pile into that player's hand.

4 · The Emperor

Choose a player and look at a random card from their hand. If its value is less than 10, kill them.

“Dismissed”

5 · The Hierophant

Redistribute all tokens however you please.

6 · The Lovers

Choose an opponent. Give them the lovers token. If they win, you also win. If they are killed, you also die.

“'Till death do us part”

7 · The Chariot

Choose any number of cards to discard. Draw that many cards plus one.

8 · Strength

Compare the summed value of your hand with a player of your choice. Kill the player with the lower value. In a draw, Strength kills both players.

9 · The Hermit

Choose an opponent. They draw a card, then you play the highest value card in their hand.

10 · Wheel of Fortune

Each player discards a card at random and draws a new one.

11 · Justice

Kill a player who has an extra turn token.

“Blessed are the meek”

12 · The Hanged Man

Get an extra turn token.

“Patience...”

13 · Death

If you start any turn but your first with Death in your hand, you get the death token.

14 · Temperance

Choose a player. If their hand has a total value of 25 or more, kill them.

“Greed is vice”

15 · The Devil

Discard a card. Gain three extra turn tokens.

16 · The Tower

If you draw the Tower, discard it and draw a card. If you have taken an extra turn this round, get an extra turn token. If it is your turn, skip your turn. When the Tower is played, gain two extra turn tokens.

17 · The Star

Take a player's hand into your hand. Remake their hand from yours.

“Zero sum”

18 · The Moon

Each player reveals a card. Kill the players with the lowest card value.

“Awoooo”

19 · The Sun

Draw three cards, then discard three cards.

20 · Judgement

Choose a card in the discard pile. Starting with you, each player takes its effect.

21 · The World

All opponents skip their next turn. All players lose all tokens. Get an extra turn token.