Player Manual

Chosen Tides is a digital trading card game of Brothers of Light vs Deceptions of Darkness. You collect cards, build decks, and battle across a battlefield of faith, strategy, and destiny. Every card you open, every deck you build, and every battle you win shapes your journey. Will you walk the path of Holy light, or embrace the Evil darkness? The choice is yours. The game is free to play. You earn currency through gameplay, open packs, build your collection, and compete in AI and PvP battles. See Story to learn the lore, or Card Anatomy to understand how cards work.

1. Create an account — Register with your email to save your progress across devices. 2. Receive your Welcome Grant — New players receive 1,000 Holy Shards and 1,000 Evil Shards to open your first packs. 3. Open your first pack — Visit the Pack Store and open a Light or Dark pack. 4. Build a deck — Go to the Deck Builder to assemble your first deck. 5. Battle — Enter AI Battles to learn the ropes, then try PvP. New players also get one free Guest Trial Pack to practice before committing. See Pack Opening for details.

Chosen Tides is free to play. You can earn all gameplay currency through battles and open every pack without spending real money. Real-money purchases (USD packs, Altar Crystals) are optional shortcuts. They are not required to enjoy the game or build a competitive collection. See Altar Crystals for premium currency details.

In the beginning, there was Light. And where there is Light, shadows are cast. The Brothers of Light are the chosen — warriors, prophets, and angels who carry the flame of faith against the encroaching dark. They stand against the Deceptions of Darkness — the fallen, the corrupt, and the beasts that seek to devour all that is good. This is not a war of mere mortals. It is a tide — a Chosen Tide — that washes over the battlefield of destiny. Every card you play is a choice. Every victory is a testament. Every defeat is a lesson.

You are a Pilgrim — a new soul entering the conflict. You must choose your allegiance: will you fight for the Holy faction, defending the light? Or will you embrace the Evil faction, wielding the power of darkness? Your choice is not permanent. You can build decks from either faction and switch allegiances between battles. But your favorite faction defines your identity. See Holy vs Darkness to learn the differences.

The Tides are the turning points of the conflict — moments when destiny shifts. Each battle is a Tide. Each pack opened is a new soul entering the fray. Each card collected is a piece of the eternal story. The Founder Edition marks the first Tide — the opening chapter. Future expansions will bring new Tides, new cards, and new chapters to the story. See Roadmap for what is coming.

Holy cards are the Brothers of Light — angels, prophets, saints, and divine spirits. They fight with faith as their resource and holy attack as their weapon. Holy cards tend to focus on: - Defense and endurance — surviving to outlast the enemy - Healing and protection — shielding your forces - Divine judgment — powerful late-game effects Holy Shards are earned through Holy victories and used to open Light Packs. See Holy Shards for earning details.

Evil cards are the Deceptions of Darkness — fallen angels, beasts, corruptors, and shadow spirits. They fight with faith as their resource and evil attack as their weapon. Evil cards tend to focus on: - Aggression and destruction — overwhelming the enemy quickly - Corruption and control — manipulating the board - Dark power — high-risk, high-reward effects Evil Shards are earned through Evil victories and used to open Dark Packs. See Evil Shards for earning details.

Neutral cards belong to neither faction. They can be included in any deck — Holy, Evil, or mixed. Neutral cards provide utility, flexibility, and surprise tactics. Some of the most versatile cards in the game are Neutral. They bridge the gap between the two factions and enable creative deck strategies.

Your allegiance is your pledge for a battle. When you enter a battle, you declare Holy or Evil. This determines which attack stat your cards use and which currency you earn. You can switch allegiances between battles. Your collection and decks are not locked to a faction — but a single deck is usually built around one faction's strategy. See Building Decks for deck construction rules.

Every Chosen Tides card has these elements: - Name — The card's identity (e.g., *Michael the Archangel*) - Faction — Holy, Evil, or Neutral - Rarity — From Common to Mythic Legendary - Faith Cost — The Faith needed to play the card - Holy Attack — Damage dealt when pledged Holy - Evil Attack — Damage dealt when pledged Evil - Defense — How much damage the card can absorb - Ability — A special effect (see below) - Lore — Flavor text telling the card's story - Artwork — The card's illustration

When you look at a card, the most important numbers are: 1. Faith Cost (top) — Can you afford to play this card this turn? 2. Attack (left) — How much damage will this card deal in battle? 3. Defense (right) — How long will this card survive on the battlefield? The Ability text tells you what special effect the card has. Some abilities trigger when the card enters play, others when it attacks, and others are passive. See Card Types for how different card types use abilities.

Each card has two attack values: Holy Attack and Evil Attack. Which one is used depends on your pledge for the battle. - If you pledge Holy, your cards use their Holy Attack. - If you pledge Evil, your cards use their Evil Attack. Defense is the same regardless of pledge. It determines how much damage a card can take before being destroyed. See Attack and Defense for detailed battle mechanics.

Faith is your primary resource in battle. Every card has a Faith Cost shown in the top corner. You spend Faith to play cards from your hand onto the battlefield. You start each battle with a small amount of Faith. Each turn, your Faith increases — allowing you to play more powerful cards as the battle progresses.

Your Faith pool grows over the course of the battle: - Turn 1: You have a small starting Faith pool. - Each turn: Your maximum Faith increases, letting you afford bigger cards. - Unspent Faith: Faith does not carry over — you start each turn with your current maximum. This means early turns are for low-cost cards, and late turns are for your most powerful Legendary and Mythic plays.

Good Faith management is the key to winning: - Curve out — Play cards that use most of your Faith each turn. - Save for big plays — Sometimes it is worth waiting a turn to play a powerful card. - Do not overcommit — Playing all your cards leaves you with no answers to your opponent's moves. See Winning Battles for strategy tips.

Every Unit card has two attack values: - Holy Attack — Used when you pledge Holy - Evil Attack — Used when you pledge Evil When a card attacks, it deals damage equal to its current attack value (modified by any buffs or debuffs). See Card Anatomy for where to find these numbers.

During your turn, your Units on the battlefield can attack: 1. Attack the opponent's Units — Deal damage to an enemy Unit. If the damage exceeds the enemy's Defense, the Unit is destroyed. 2. Direct attack — If the opponent has no Units (or you have a card that allows direct attack), you can attack the opponent's score directly. Attacking the opponent's score is how you win. See Winning Battles for the win conditions.

Once your Faith reaches 5 or more, a High Faith attack limit kicks in to keep battles balanced. This limit applies in both AI battles and PvP. - Low-cost cards (Faith Cost under 4): You may make up to 3 attacks per turn with these. - High-cost cards (Faith Cost 4 or more): You may make up to 2 attacks per turn with these. Each limit is tracked separately, so mixing card sizes lets you spread your attacks across both tiers. This rule gives players with smaller, cheaper decks a fighting chance — they can swing more often per turn even in the late game. Below 5 Faith there is no limit at all; each Unit simply attacks once as normal.

Some cards and abilities modify attack: - Buffs — Increase a card's attack temporarily or permanently. - Debuffs — Decrease a card's attack. - Abilities — Some Enchantments and Events change attack values. Watch for these modifiers — a card with 0 attack can still be useful if it has a powerful ability.

Defense is a card's health. When a card takes damage (from Attack or abilities), the damage is subtracted from its Defense. - If Defense drops to 0 or below, the card is destroyed and removed from the battlefield. - Some cards have abilities that restore Defense (healing). - Some abilities deal damage directly, bypassing attack.

When a Unit attacks another Unit: 1. The attacker deals its attack value as damage to the defender's Defense. 2. The defender deals its attack value as damage to the attacker's Defense (if it survives). 3. Any Unit whose Defense reaches 0 is destroyed. This means even a small card can destroy a big one if the big one is already damaged. See Winning Battles for combat strategy.

Some Holy cards and abilities can restore Defense to damaged Units. This can save a key card from destruction and turn the tide of battle. Healing is a hallmark of the Holy faction. Evil cards rarely heal — they prefer to destroy rather than protect.

Units are the backbone of your army. They stay on the battlefield turn after turn, attacking and defending. - Units have Attack and Defense values. - Units can attack the opponent's Units or score directly. - Most Units have an ability that triggers when they enter play or under certain conditions. Units are the most common card type. A typical deck has 15–20 Units.

Events are one-time effects. You play them, their effect resolves, and then they go to the discard pile. - Events do not stay on the battlefield. - Events can deal damage, draw cards, buff Units, or trigger powerful effects. - Events are flexible — they can turn the tide of a battle instantly. Events are like spells. Use them at the right moment for maximum impact.

Spirit Animals are special companion cards. They provide passive bonuses or unique abilities that enhance your strategy. - Spirit Animals often have ongoing effects while they are on the battlefield. - They can buff your Units, debuff enemies, or provide utility. - Some Spirit Animals are Neutral and can be used in any deck. Spirit Animals add a layer of strategy — choose companions that synergize with your deck's plan.

Enchantments are persistent effects attached to the battlefield or to specific Units. - Enchantments modify the rules of the game while active. - They can buff your Units, weaken enemies, or change how combat works. - Enchantments can be removed by specific counter-abilities. Enchantments reward long-term planning. A well-timed Enchantment can dominate the late game.

Chosen Tides has seven pack types: | Pack | Cards | Cost | Currency | |------|-------|------|----------| | Guest | 5 | Free | Free (one-time trial) | | Basic | 5 | $1.00 or 10 Altar | USD or Altar Crystals | | Light | 5 | 500 | Holy Shards | | Dark | 5 | 500 | Evil Shards | | Altar | 5 | $2.99 or 25 Altar | USD or Altar Crystals | | Ultra | 7 | $9.99 or 50 Altar | USD or Altar Crystals | | Emerald | 20 | Founder Edition | Real-money (Founder) |

The Guest Pack is a free one-time trial. It gives you 5 practice cards to try the game before you commit. - Free — No currency required. - One-time only — After you open your first real pack, the Guest Pack is no longer available. - Practice cards — These cards are marked as temporary and are cleared when you open a real pack. See Pack Opening for the opening experience.

Light Packs and Dark Packs are the primary gameplay-earned packs: - Light Pack — 500 Holy Shards. Contains Holy-faction cards. - Dark Pack — 500 Evil Shards. Contains Evil-faction cards. Both guarantee at least one Rare card. See Pack Odds for the full rarity distribution.

Altar Packs and Ultra Packs are premium packs available for real money or Altar Crystals: - Altar Pack — $2.99 or 25 Altar Crystals. Better odds than Light/Dark. - Ultra Pack — $9.99 or 50 Altar Crystals. 7 cards with the best odds, including a chance at Legendary and Mythic cards. Ultra Packs are the best way to get rare cards quickly. See Pack Odds for exact probabilities.

The Emerald Pack is the exclusive Founder Edition pack. It contains 20 cards and is only available to Founders who purchase the Founder Edition. Emerald Packs include both digital cards and a physical card fulfillment option — Founders can receive real printed cards. See Founder Edition for details.

A legal Chosen Tides deck follows these rules: - Deck size — A deck must contain a minimum number of cards (typically 20–30, depending on format). - Faction restriction — A deck can contain cards from one faction (Holy or Evil) plus Neutral cards. You cannot mix Holy and Evil cards in the same deck. - Card copies — You can include up to a limited number of copies of each card (usually 2–3, depending on rarity). - Starter deck — New players get an auto-generated starter deck after opening their first pack.

A good deck has a plan. Common strategies include: - Aggro — Low-cost cards, aggressive attacks, win fast. - Control — Defensive cards, removal, win in the late game. - Midrange — A balance of early and late game power. - Combo — Cards that synergize for a powerful combo finish. Your deck's Faith curve — the distribution of card costs — should match your strategy. Aggro decks want low costs; control decks want high costs.

The Deck Builder screen lets you: 1. Browse your collection — Filter by faction, rarity, and card type. 2. Add cards — Tap a card to add it to your deck. 3. Set your active deck — Choose which deck you will bring into battle. 4. Validate — The builder warns you if your deck is illegal. You can have multiple decks and switch between them. Your active deck is the one used in AI Battles and PvP.

You win a battle by meeting one of these conditions: 1. Score victory — Reduce the opponent's score to 0 by attacking directly. 2. Board control — At the end of the battle (turn 20), the player with the higher score wins. 3. Concession — If your opponent concedes or disconnects, you win. 4. Final Judgment — A special end-game mechanic (see below).

Every battle has a 20-turn limit. If neither player achieves a score victory by turn 20, the battle goes to Final Judgment. This means you cannot stall forever — you need to build an advantage before the clock runs out. Manage your Faith and Attack to ensure you are ahead when turn 20 arrives.

Final Judgment is the end-of-battle resolution. When the 20-turn limit is reached: - The player with the higher score wins. - If scores are tied, the player with more Units on the battlefield wins. - If still tied, the battle is a draw. Final Judgment rewards players who maintain board control throughout the battle. See Rewards for what you earn when you win.

Board control means having more Units and more power on the battlefield than your opponent. Each turn you maintain board control, you earn a board control reward bonus. Tips for board control: - Trade efficiently — Destroy enemy Units without losing your own. - Do not overextend — Keep some cards in hand for answers. - Use Events wisely — Save removal for key threats. Board control is the path to Final Judgment victory.

The Collection screen shows every card you own. You can: - Filter by faction — Holy, Evil, or Neutral. - Filter by rarity — Common through Mythic Legendary. - Search — Find cards by name. - Sort — By name, rarity, or faction. Each card shows how many copies you own. Tap a card to see its full details, including Card Anatomy, abilities, and lore.

Each card has a maximum ownership cap. Once you own the maximum number of copies of a card, opening more will trigger Duplicate Protection — you will receive currency instead of a duplicate. This ensures you always get value from every pack. See Duplicate Protection for details.

Cards from the Guest Trial Pack are temporary. They are marked as trial cards and are automatically cleared from your collection when you open your first real pack. This prevents the Guest Pack from inflating your permanent collection. Your real cards — from Light, Dark, Altar, Ultra, and Emerald packs — are permanent.

Chosen Tides cards come in these rarities, from most to least common: 1. Common — The most common cards. Basic but reliable. 2. Uncommon — Slightly rarer. Often have useful abilities. 3. Rare — Powerful cards. Guaranteed at least one per Light/Dark pack. 4. Epic — Very powerful. Game-changing abilities. 5. Ultra Rare — Extremely rare. Dominant cards. 6. Legendary — The rarest standard cards. Iconic, powerful. 7. Mythic — Beyond Legendary. Unique, story-defining cards. 8. Mythic Legendary — The absolute rarest. The pinnacle of collection.

Higher rarity cards are not automatically better — but they tend to have: - More powerful abilities — Game-changing effects. - Higher stats — Better Attack and Defense. - Unique effects — Abilities no other card has. - Lower supply — Fewer copies exist in the game (see Collection Completion). A well-built deck of Common and Uncommon cards can beat a deck of Legendaries. Skill matters more than rarity.

Each rarity has a distinct color and visual treatment: - Common — Gray/silver - Uncommon — Blue - Rare — Gold - Epic — Purple - Ultra Rare — Rainbow shimmer - Legendary — Golden glow with special frame - Mythic — Unique animated frame - Mythic Legendary — The most elaborate frame and animation When you open a pack, the reveal animation reflects the rarity — watch for the glow!

Every pack has a rarity distribution — the probability of each card being a given rarity. The odds vary by pack type: - Light/Dark Packs — Standard odds, guaranteed Rare+. - Altar Packs — Better odds, higher chance of Epic+. - Ultra Packs — Best odds, chance at Legendary and Mythic. - Emerald Packs — Founder-exclusive, premium odds. The exact odds are configured by the game administrators and can be viewed on the [Pack Odds](/pack-odds) page in the app.

Most packs guarantee a minimum rarity for at least one card: - Light/Dark — At least one Rare card guaranteed. - Altar — At least one Epic card guaranteed. - Ultra — At least one Legendary card guaranteed. This means you will never open a pack with all Commons. The guarantee ensures every pack has value.

Chosen Tides is committed to transparent odds. The exact probability for each rarity in each pack type is published and visible to all players. - Visit the Pack Odds page in the app for live odds. - The odds are versioned — when odds change, the version updates. - Every pack opening is logged with the odds version used. This ensures fairness and accountability. See Duplicate Protection and Pity Protection for additional fairness systems.

The Founder Edition is the inaugural release of Chosen Tides. It is a special, limited-time offering for early supporters: - Emerald Founder Pack — 20 premium cards. - Physical card fulfillment — Receive real printed cards. - Founder status — Permanent recognition as a Founder. - Future benefits — Special rewards in future expansions. Founders are the first players to shape the Chosen Tides community. See Roadmap for what Founders can expect.

The Emerald Founder Pack contains: - 20 cards — More than any other pack. - Premium odds — Best rarity distribution. - Physical fulfillment — Founders can order real printed versions of their cards. - Digital + physical — You get both digital cards for gameplay and physical cards for collection. Emerald Packs are purchased through the [Pack Store](/pack-store) and require Founder Edition status.

All Founders are recorded in the Founder Registry — a permanent list of the first supporters of Chosen Tides. This registry is visible in the app and celebrates the community's founding members. Once you purchase the Founder Edition, you are permanently added to the registry. This status never expires.

Some Founder Edition cards grant Permanent Mint Rights — a future benefit that will allow Founders to mint their cards as blockchain collectibles when the blockchain economy activates. This is a future feature. Mint rights are recorded now but cannot be exercised until blockchain features are officially enabled. See Future Blockchain Collectibles for details.

The Account Center tracks your collection completion: - Total cards owned — Out of the total cards in the game. - Completion percentage — How close you are to a full collection. - Per-faction progress — Holy, Evil, and Neutral separately. - Per-rarity progress — How many of each rarity you own. Watch your completion percentage grow as you open more packs.

Reaching collection milestones earns rewards: - Faction completion — Own all cards of a faction for a special reward. - Rarity completion — Own all cards of a rarity for a bonus. - Full collection — The ultimate achievement for dedicated collectors. Rewards include Altar Crystals, special badges, and recognition. See Rewards for the full reward system.

Each card has a maximum supply — a limited number of copies that can ever be issued to all players combined. Once a card's supply is exhausted, it can no longer be obtained from packs. This makes some cards inherently rare and valuable. Mythic Legendary cards have the lowest supplies. Check the [Collection](/collection) screen for supply information.

Holy Shards are the primary currency for Holy faction players. You earn them by winning battles while pledged Holy, and you spend them on Light Packs. - Earn — Win AI Battles or PvP Battles while pledged Holy. - Spend — Open Light Packs (500 Holy Shards each). - Starting grant — New players receive 1,000 Holy Shards as a welcome gift.

You earn Holy Shards from: - AI Battle wins (pledged Holy) — Base reward + difficulty bonus. - PvP Battle wins (pledged Holy) — Higher reward than AI. - Board control bonus — Extra shards for maintaining board control. - Welcome starter grant — 1,000 Holy Shards (one-time, for new players). See Rewards for the full reward table.

Holy Shards are spent on: - Light Packs — 500 Holy Shards per pack. Contains Holy-faction cards. That is the primary use. Holy Shards cannot be used for Dark Packs (those require Evil Shards) or premium packs (those require Altar Crystals or real money).

Evil Shards are the primary currency for Evil faction players. You earn them by winning battles while pledged Evil, and you spend them on Dark Packs. - Earn — Win AI Battles or PvP Battles while pledged Evil. - Spend — Open Dark Packs (500 Evil Shards each). - Starting grant — New players receive 1,000 Evil Shards as a welcome gift.

You earn Evil Shards from: - AI Battle wins (pledged Evil) — Base reward + difficulty bonus. - PvP Battle wins (pledged Evil) — Higher reward than AI. - Board control bonus — Extra shards for maintaining board control. - Welcome starter grant — 1,000 Evil Shards (one-time, for new players). See Rewards for the full reward table.

Evil Shards are spent on: - Dark Packs — 500 Evil Shards per pack. Contains Evil-faction cards. Evil Shards cannot be used for Light Packs (those require Holy Shards) or premium packs (those require Altar Crystals or real money).

Altar Crystals are the premium currency of Chosen Tides. They can be used for the best packs and are earned through gameplay or purchased with real money. - Starting amount — New players receive 25 Altar Crystals. - Earn — Through special rewards, collection completion, and events. - Purchase — Available in the store for real money (optional).

Altar Crystals can be spent on: - Basic Pack — 10 Altar Crystals (or $1.00). - Altar Pack — 25 Altar Crystals (or $2.99). - Ultra Pack — 50 Altar Crystals (or $9.99). Ultra Packs offer the best rarity odds and are the most efficient use of Altar Crystals if you are chasing Legendary and Mythic cards.

Altar Crystals earned through gameplay are identical to purchased crystals — there is no difference. You do not need to spend money to enjoy the game. Real-money purchases are optional shortcuts. The game is fully playable and enjoyable with Holy Shards and Evil Shards earned from battles. See Free to Play for our free-to-play commitment.

When you open a pack in Chosen Tides, you get a cinematic experience: 1. Pack cinematic — A themed video animation plays for your pack type. 2. Card reveal — Cards appear face-down, then flip one by one. 3. Rarity glow — Each card glows in its rarity color as it is revealed. 4. Special reveals — Legendary and above get extra special effects. Tap each card to reveal it, or use Reveal All to see everything at once.

When you open a pack, the server: 1. Validates your balance and the pack cost (see Pack Validation). 2. Deducts the currency atomically (no partial transactions). 3. Generates cards based on the pack's rarity odds. 4. Checks Duplicate Protection and Pity Protection. 5. Issues the cards to your collection. 6. Logs the opening for audit and supply tracking. If any step fails, the transaction is rolled back — you never lose currency without receiving your cards.

Your first pack can be the free Guest Trial Pack. It gives you 5 practice cards to try the game. - One-time only — After you open a real pack, the Guest Pack disappears. - Temporary cards — Guest cards are cleared when you open a real pack. - No cost — Completely free, no currency required. It is the perfect way to learn before spending your Welcome Grant.

Duplicate Protection ensures you always get value from every pack: - Each card has a maximum ownership cap (see Collection). - When you open a pack, if a card you would receive is already at max copies, the system replaces it with currency instead. - You receive Holy Shards, Evil Shards, or Altar Crystals depending on the card's faction and rarity. This means you never open a pack and get a useless duplicate. Every pack either gives you a new card or currency toward your next pack.

When a duplicate is replaced with currency, the amount depends on: - Card rarity — Higher rarity = more currency. - Card faction — Holy cards give Holy Shards, Evil cards give Evil Shards, Neutral cards give Altar Crystals. The exact values are configured by the game administrators. This system ensures your collection always progresses, even when you are close to completion.

Duplicate Protection is a fairness guarantee. Without it, players who open many packs would eventually get nothing but duplicates. With it, every pack has value — either a new card or currency to buy more packs. This makes the game more rewarding for dedicated players and ensures your investment in packs always pays off. See Pity Protection for another fairness system.

Pity Protection is a bad-luck safety net. If you open many packs without getting a high-rarity card, the system guarantees you will eventually get one. - The system tracks your recent pack openings. - After a streak of packs without a Legendary or above, your next pack has a boosted chance or a guaranteed high-rarity card. - This prevents long dry spells and ensures dedicated players are rewarded.

Pity Protection tracks: - Packs since last Epic — After a streak, guarantees an Epic. - Packs since last Legendary — After a longer streak, guarantees a Legendary. - Packs since last Mythic — The longest streak, for the rarest cards. The exact thresholds are configured by the game administrators and may vary by pack type. Ultra Packs have the best pity protection.

Pity Protection works alongside Duplicate Protection to ensure every player has a fair experience: - Duplicate Protection — No useless duplicates. - Pity Protection — No endless bad luck. Together, these systems make Chosen Tides rewarding and respectful of your time and investment. See Pack Odds for the base probabilities.

AI Battles are battles against computer-controlled opponents. They are the best way to: - Learn the game — Practice without pressure. - Earn currency — Win Holy Shards or Evil Shards. - Test decks — Try new strategies before PvP. AI Battles are available at four difficulty levels, each with better rewards.

AI difficulty levels: 1. Disciple — Easy. For learning the basics. 2. Warrior — Medium. A fair challenge. 3. Prophet — Hard. Requires good deck and strategy. 4. Archangel — Very hard. For expert players. Higher difficulty = better rewards. Start at Disciple and work your way up as you improve.

Winning an AI Battle earns: - Holy or Evil Shards — Based on your pledge. - XP — To level up your profile. - Difficulty bonus — Higher difficulty = more shards. - Board control bonus — Extra shards for board control. AI rewards are lower than PvP rewards but AI battles are faster and less stressful. See Rewards for the full table.

PvP Battles are real-time battles against other players. They offer: - Higher rewards — More shards than AI Battles. - Real competition — Test your skills against human opponents. - Fair matchmaking — Paired with players of similar skill. PvP uses a server-authoritative system to ensure fairness — no client-side cheating.

PvP matchmaking works as follows: 1. Enter the lobby — Go to the PvP Lobby screen. 2. Create or join a match — Use a match code or auto-match. 3. Coin flip — The server flips a coin to determine who goes first. 4. Battle — Take turns playing cards and attacking. 5. Resolution — The battle ends at turn 20 or when a player wins. The coin flip is server-authoritative — it is persisted before either player is notified, ensuring fairness.

PvP follows the same rules as AI Battles: - 20-turn limit — Then Final Judgment. - Turn ownership — You can only act on your turn. - State versioning — Every action is versioned to prevent desync. - Concession — You can concede at any time. If you disconnect, the battle may be resolved as a loss or timeout. See Troubleshooting for connection issues.

Winning a PvP Battle earns: - More shards than AI — PvP is the best way to earn currency. - XP — More than AI battles. - Win/loss record — Tracked on your profile. - Board control bonus — Same as AI. See Rewards for the comparison table. See Ranked for competitive play.

Ranked is the competitive PvP mode where you climb a ladder based on your wins and losses. - Ranked points — Earn points for wins, lose points for losses. - Ranks — Climb through tiers as you earn points. - Seasons — Ranked resets each season with special rewards. Ranked is for players who want a competitive challenge beyond casual PvP.

| Feature | Casual PvP | Ranked | |---------|-----------|--------| | Stakes | None | Ranked points | | Matchmaking | By skill | By rank | | Rewards | Standard | + Seasonal | | Record | Tracked | Ranked record | Ranked is harder but more rewarding. Start with casual PvP to learn, then try Ranked when you are ready.

At the end of each Ranked season, you receive rewards based on your final rank: - Higher rank = better rewards — Altar Crystals, exclusive cards, badges. - Seasonal badges — Permanent recognition of your achievement. - Future seasons — New rewards each season. See Rewards for the full reward system and Roadmap for upcoming seasons.

Winning battles earns currency and XP: | Battle Type | Shards | XP | Notes | |-------------|--------|-----|-------| | AI (Disciple) | Low | Low | Easy practice | | AI (Warrior) | Medium | Medium | Fair challenge | | AI (Prophet) | High | High | Hard | | AI (Archangel) | Highest AI | Highest AI | Expert | | PvP Win | Higher than AI | High | Best currency | | PvP Loss | Small consolation | Small | Even losing pays a little | All rewards are server-authoritative — calculated on the server to prevent cheating.

Beyond battle rewards, you can earn currency from: - Welcome Starter Grant — 1,000 Holy + 1,000 Evil Shards (one-time). - Collection Completion — Milestone rewards. - Ranked Seasonal — End-of-season rewards. - Achievements — Special milestones. - Events — Limited-time special rewards. All rewards are tracked in the Currency Ledger for transparency.

Chosen Tides uses a server-authoritative reward system: - Rewards are calculated on the server, not the client. - If a save fails (network error), your reward is stored as a Pending Reward and recovered on your next login. - You never lose rewards due to connection issues. See Troubleshooting for what to do if your rewards do not appear immediately.

Achievements are special milestones that recognize your accomplishments in Chosen Tides: - Battle achievements — Win streaks, total wins, difficulty milestones. - Collection achievements — Own a certain number of cards, complete a faction. - Pack achievements — Open a certain number of packs. - Special achievements — Unique challenges and hidden goals. Achievements are permanent — once earned, they are yours forever.

Some achievements come with rewards: - Currency — Shards or Altar Crystals. - Badges — Displayed on your profile. - Recognition — Visible to other players. Check the [Account Center](/account-center) to see your achievements and progress.

Some achievements are hidden — you will not know what they are until you unlock them. This adds an element of surprise and discovery to the game. Hidden achievements often involve: - Unusual strategies — Winning in a specific way. - Rare events — Something that happens rarely. - Collection milestones — Owning a specific combination of cards. Keep playing and you will discover them!

Is Chosen Tides free? Yes. The game is free to play. You can earn all currency through gameplay. See Free to Play. Do I need to spend money? No. Real-money purchases are optional. See Altar Crystals. What do I get as a new player? 1,000 Holy Shards, 1,000 Evil Shards, and 25 Altar Crystals. Plus a free Guest Trial Pack. See Welcome. Can I play on multiple devices? Yes. Your account syncs across devices. Log in with the same email.

How do I win a battle? Reduce the opponent's score to 0, or have the higher score at turn 20. What is the difference between Holy and Evil? Holy focuses on defense and healing; Evil focuses on aggression and destruction. See Holy vs Darkness. Can I mix Holy and Evil cards in a deck? No. A deck is one faction plus Neutral. See Building Decks. What happens if I disconnect during a PvP battle? The battle may be resolved as a loss or timeout. See Troubleshooting.

What if I get a duplicate card? Duplicate Protection gives you currency instead of useless duplicates. What are the best packs to buy? Ultra packs have the best odds. Light/Dark packs are free with gameplay currency. How do I get Legendary cards? Open Ultra packs, rely on Pity Protection, or complete collection milestones. What is the Founder Edition? A special limited-time pack with 20 cards and physical fulfillment. See Founder Edition.

How do I delete my account? Visit the [Account Deletion](/account-deletion) page. See Account. Is my data safe? Yes. See Privacy for our privacy policy. Can I get a refund? Refunds are handled per platform policy. See Terms and Troubleshooting.

The app will not load or is stuck on a blank screen. - Check your internet connection. - Refresh the page. - Clear your browser cache. - Try a different browser or device. I disconnected during a PvP battle. - The battle will be resolved as a loss or timeout after a short period. - Your rewards are safe — the server tracks them. - Reconnect and start a new battle. The app is slow or laggy. - Close other browser tabs. - Check your internet speed. - Try the mobile version if on a phone.

I won a battle but did not get my shards. - Rewards are server-authoritative and may take a moment to sync. - If you disconnected, your reward is saved as a Pending Reward and will be applied on your next login. - Check the [Account Center](/account-center) for your current balances. - If rewards are still missing after re-logging, contact support. My currency HUD did not update. - The HUD updates in real-time. If it does not, refresh the page. - Your balance is always authoritative on the server — the HUD is just a display.

I opened a pack but did not get my cards. - The transaction is atomic — if it failed, your currency was refunded automatically. - Check your [collection](/collection) — the cards may already be there. - If currency was deducted but cards are missing, contact support. I cannot open a pack — it says "insufficient funds." - Check your balance in the [Account Center](/account-center). - The server validates all purchases — you cannot bypass the cost. - See Pack Types for pack costs.

I cannot log in. - Check your email and password. - Use the [Forgot Password](/forgot-password) flow. - Make sure you are using the right account. I lost my progress. - Make sure you are logged into the same account. - Your progress is tied to your email — log in with the same one. - If you were playing as a guest, your progress may not be saved. Create an account.

The Account Center is your hub for account management: - Profile — Your display name, avatar, and level. - Currency balances — Holy Shards, Evil Shards, Altar Crystals. - Battle record — Wins, losses, total battles. - Collection stats — Completion percentage. - Settings — Sound, animations, preferences. Visit the [Account Center](/account-center) to manage your account.

Your profile includes: - Display name — Shown in PvP and on leaderboards. - Avatar — Choose from available avatars. - Level — Increases as you earn XP from battles. - Favorite faction — Holy or Evil, your preferred allegiance. - Wallet — Optional, for future blockchain features. Edit your profile in the [Account Center](/account-center).

You can delete your account at any time: - Visit the [Account Deletion](/account-deletion) page. - Deletion is permanent and cannot be undone. - Your data will be removed in accordance with our Privacy Policy. - You will lose your collection, currency, and battle history. Think carefully before deleting — there is no recovery.

You can request a copy of your data: - Your account data is available for export per privacy regulations. - Contact support to request a data export. - See Privacy for what data we store.

Chosen Tides respects your privacy. We collect only the data needed to run the game and provide you with a good experience. - Account data — Your email, display name, and game progress. - Gameplay data — Your collection, battle history, and currency. - Usage data — Anonymous analytics to improve the game. We do not sell your data. See our full [Privacy Policy](/privacy-policy) for details.

We store: - Email — For account identification and communication. - Display name — Shown to other players. - Game progress — Collection, currency, battle history. - Settings — Your preferences (sound, animations). - Authentication tokens — To keep you logged in securely. We do not store: - Payment card numbers (handled by our payment processor). - Wallet private keys (if you connect a wallet, we only store the public address).

You have the right to: - Access your data — Request a copy. - Delete your data — Delete your account. - Correct your data — Update your profile. - Object to processing — Contact support. See our [Privacy Policy](/privacy-policy) for the full details and contact information.

By playing Chosen Tides, you agree to our Terms of Service: - You must be of legal age or have parental consent. - You will not cheat, exploit, or harass other players. - Your account is yours and you are responsible for it. - Virtual currency has no real-world value unless stated otherwise. - We may update the terms with notice. See our full [Terms of Service](/terms-of-service) for the complete agreement.

Chosen Tides virtual currency (Holy Shards, Evil Shards, Altar Crystals): - Has no real-world monetary value. - Cannot be exchanged for cash. - Is non-transferable between accounts. - May expire if the service ends (with notice). Purchases of virtual currency are final except where required by law. See Troubleshooting for refund information.

You agree not to: - Cheat — Use hacks, bots, or exploits. - Harass — Bully or abuse other players (see Community Rules). - Exploit bugs — Report them instead of using them. - Share accounts — Your account is for you only. - Reverse engineer — Do not attempt to extract game code or assets. Violations may result in account suspension or termination.

Chosen Tides is a community of players. To keep it positive: - Be respectful — Treat other players with kindness. - Be fair — Do not cheat or exploit. - Be helpful — Help new players learn the game. - Be patient — Everyone was new once. See our full [Community Guidelines](/community-guidelines) for details.

The following are not allowed: - Harassment — Bullying, hate speech, or personal attacks. - Cheating — Hacks, bots, or exploits. - Scamming — Attempting to steal accounts or currency. - Spam — Repeated unwanted messages. - Inappropriate content — Offensive display names or avatars. Violations may result in warnings, suspensions, or permanent bans.

If you encounter a problem: - Report players — Use the in-app reporting or contact support. - Report bugs — Use the [Alpha Feedback](/alpha-feedback) page or contact support. - Report cheating — Contact support with evidence. We take all reports seriously and will investigate promptly.

Chosen Tides is preparing for a future blockchain collectibles system. This is a future feature — it is not yet active. The planned system includes: - $LGHT token — A utility token for the Holy economy. - $DARK token — A utility token for the Evil economy. - NFT collectibles — Certain cards may be mintable as blockchain collectibles. - Permanent Mint Rights — Founder Edition cards may grant future mint rights. Important: $LGHT and $DARK are game utility tokens and do not represent securities.

The blockchain economy is currently disabled. All blockchain features are turned off: - No wallet connection — Wallet UI is not visible to players. - No token purchases — $LGHT and $DARK cannot be purchased. - No NFT minting — Cards cannot be minted as NFTs. - Devnet only — When activated, testing will be on Solana Devnet (test tokens, no real value). This is by design. Blockchain features will only be activated when they are ready, secure, and officially announced.

The blockchain system has multiple safety gates: - Master switch — The entire blockchain economy can be turned off. - Devnet safety gate — RPC preflight checks must pass before any operation. - Cluster verification — The system verifies it is on the correct Solana cluster. - Treasury verification — Payments must go to the verified treasury wallet. - Mint verification — Only the exact administrator-approved mint address is accepted. These gates ensure that when blockchain features activate, they are safe and controlled.

For now, the blockchain features do not affect gameplay: - Your cards are yours — They are in your collection, not on a blockchain. - Your currency is safe — Shards and Crystals are game currency, not tokens. - No action needed — You do not need a wallet or tokens to play. When blockchain features activate in the future, it will be optional. You will be able to choose whether to participate. See Roadmap for the timeline.

Chosen Tides is currently in its Founder Edition / Season 1 phase: - Core gameplay — AI and PvP battles, pack opening, collection, deck building. - Founder Edition — Emerald Packs available. - Season 1 cards — The inaugural card set. - Blockchain preparation — Architecture in place, features disabled. The game is fully playable. Future phases will add more content and features.

Planned future features (subject to change): - Season 2 — New card expansion with new cards and mechanics. - Mini expansions — Smaller card drops between seasons. - Holiday events — Limited-time special cards and events. - Ranked seasons — Competitive ranked with seasonal rewards. - Marketplace — Player trading (future). - Blockchain activation — NFT collectibles and token economy (future, optional). No dates are promised — features ship when they are ready.

Future card expansions may include: - New factions — Beyond Holy and Evil. - New card types — Beyond Units, Events, Spirit Animals, and Enchantments. - New mechanics — Fresh gameplay systems. - New rarities — Beyond Mythic Legendary. - Crossover events — Special themed content. Each expansion will bring new Tides to the story.

We listen to our community: - [Alpha Feedback](/alpha-feedback) — Share your thoughts and bug reports. - Balance feedback — Help us keep the game fair. - Feature requests — Tell us what you want to see. The Chosen Tides journey is just beginning. Thank you for being part of it from the start.