Combat basics

Matches are your attacks

Clearing runes drives your damage. Bigger combos and continued chains give you ways to get more from the same board. Your hero, equipment, and active effects shape the result.

Do not stop at the next available match. Look for a match that also prepares the one after it.

Watch the enemy

Enemies attack and cast abilities while you play. A cast can interfere with your runes, so pay attention to the battle above the board as well as the puzzle below it.

Some enemies aim hazards near a resolving chain. Others spread trouble elsewhere. Learning that behavior helps you plan a response before the cast lands.

Charge your ability

Every hero has a charge bar, but heroes do not all fill it in the same way. Learn your hero’s charge conditions and what kind of board makes their ability effective.

An ability that interacts with specific runes is strongest when you have prepared those runes before activating it. Read the hero guide for the four established heroes.

Protect your run

Healing, barriers, and consumables help you survive long enough to finish a fight. Match healing blocks when you need recovery, and consider whether a consumable can prevent a defeat rather than saving it indefinitely.

Build for the next fight

Between encounters, choose equipment that works with the matches you are making and the hero you are playing. A charm that supports your actual play style is easier to use than one that asks for a board you rarely build.

See Charms, relics & consumables for how your equipment fits together.