Plaid Hat Games – faq@plaidhatgames.com - Summoner Wars Frequently Asked Questions 1

Summoner Wars Frequently Asked

Questions

Version 2.1

Table of Contents

1.0.0.0 General Rulings

2.0.0.0 Unit Questions and Answers

2.1.0.0 Benders

2.1.7.0 Tacullu

2.2.0.0 Cave Goblins

2.2.1.0 Berserker

2.2.2.0 Blarf

2.2.3.0 Fighter

2.2.4.0 Goblin Invincibility

2.2.5.0 The Eater

2.3.0.0 Cloaks

2.3.1.0 Scam

2.3.2.0 Sin-Sin

2.4.1.0 Crossbowman

2.4.2.0 Gem Mage

2.4.3.0 Gren

2.4.4.0 Kynder

2.4.5.0 Magic Stasis

2.4.6.0 Magic Torrent

2.4.7.0 Miner

2.4.8.0 Tundle

2.5.0.0 Fallen Kingdom

2.5.1.0 General

Plaid Hat Games – faq@plaidhatgames.com - Summoner Wars Frequently Asked Questions 2

2.5.7.0 Skhull

2.6.0.0 Filth

2.6.1.0 Mutations

2.6.2.0 Abomination

2.6.3.0 Claw Mutant

2.6.4.0 Heretic’s Rebuke

2.6.5.0 Horror Mutant

2.6.6.0 Possessed Wall

2.6.7.0 Vomitus

2.6.8.0 Spellsucker Mutant

2.7.6.0 Thorkur

2.8.0.0 Jungle Elves

2.8.1.0 General

2.8.2.0 Abua Shi

2.8.3.0 Deception

2.8.4.0 Haste

2.8.5.0 Negation

2.8.6.0 Lioness

2.8.7.0 Makeinda Ru

2.9.0.0 Mercenaries

2.9.7.0 Rallul

2.9.8.0 Rune Mage

2.9.9.0 Sairook

2.9.10.0 Stonecloaks

2.10.0.0 Mountain Vargath

2.10.1.0 Muster

2.10.2.0 Superior Planning

2.10.3.0 Torodin

2.11.0.0 Phoenix Elves

2.11.1.0 Burn

Plaid Hat Games – faq@plaidhatgames.com - Summoner Wars Frequently Asked Questions 3

2.11.8.0 Fireling

2.12.0.0 Sand Goblins

2.12.1.0 General

2.12.1.1 Javelineers

2.13.0.0 Shadow Elves

2.13.1.0 Malidala

2.13.2.0 Scout

2.13.3.0 Shadows

2.13.4.0 Summon the Night

2.13.5.0 Xaserbane

2.15.2.0 Fighter

2.15.3.0 Freeze

2.15.4.0 Ice Wall

2.15.5.0 Ragnor

2.15.6.0 Shaman

2.15.7.0 Smasher

2.15.8.0 Glacial Shift

2.15.9.0 Crusher

2.16.00 Vanguard

2.16.1.0 General

1.0.0.0 General Rulings

1.0.0.2: Is there a hand limit?

No. Normally during your draw phase, you draw up to 5 cards. If you somehow have 5 or more cards in

your hand, you simply don't draw

any.

1.0.0.3: Which cards can a player look at?

Plaid Hat Games – faq@plaidhatgames.com - Summoner Wars Frequently Asked Questions 4

1.0.0.4: Which piles can a player count?

The number of cards in each player's Magic Pile is public knowledge, as are the number of cards in each

playerʼs hand. The number of cards in a draw pile is not public knowledge.

1.0.0.5: If a Champion or Summoner card mentions itself by name, do the effects of its Ability work for

all cards with that same name, i.e. my opponent's copy of that same card?

When a Champion or Summoner card refers to itself by using its name, that ability only affects that card.

1.0.0.6: I just got my new Reinforcements cards! How does this custom deck-building thing work? Is it

The start of your turn happens immediately before your Draw Phase (or your Movement Phase on the

first turn of the starting player).

1.0.0.8: What about “at the end of your turn?”

After your Build Magic Phase.

1.0.0.9: Can I summon more than 1 Unit at a time?

A: You can summon as many Units as you can afford to pay the Summon Cost for, so long as there are

enough empty spaces adjacent to Walls that you control to summon them to.

given in the Master Set's revised rulebook.

1.0.0.11: But how do I know which Event Cards confer Abilities and which do not?

A: Whenever an Event Card* confers a Special Ability to a Unit, it will say so very explicitly, and will be

followed by an ability name (all in caps) and a description of that ability. The only other way for a Unit to

have a Special Ability is for it to be written on the left side of its card. An example of this is Duck and

Cover from Krusk’s deck.

1.0.0.12: If a Special Ability grants a single Unit multiple attacks, such as FURY, SWIFT STRIKE, or

ASSAULT, do those additional attacks count towards my limit of 3 Unit attacks per player turn?

Plaid Hat Games – faq@plaidhatgames.com - Summoner Wars Frequently Asked Questions 5

1.0.0.14: Can a player choose to attack an empty space or roll fewer dice than their Unit's Attack

Value indicates?

No.

1.0.0.15: Some Special Abilities or Events say that you can choose to trigger them “at any time”. Can I

trigger these powers in the middle of a roll, or trigger them before the effects of an Event Card are

resolved?

No. You can trigger “at any time” powers anytime during your turn, or in between any phase of your

opponentʼs turn.

1.0.0.18: Does a player have to roll to hit Walls when his Units attack one?

Yes. Roll dice as you normally would for any attack.

1.0.0.19: If a player has a Wall adjacent to his opponent’s half of the Battlefield, can he summon Units

into his opponent’s half?

Yes.

1.0.0.20: Can I choose not to use a Unit’s Special Ability?

Typically Special Abilities are not optional, with the exception of Special Abilities that take the place of

an attack. Special Abilities that take the place of a standard attack are always optional, as are Special

1.0.0.22: When using a Special Ability that affects cards “within X spaces” can I count diagonally to

determine which cards are affected?

No, in the Terminology Clarifications section of the rulebook it explains that when counting spaces for

these types of powers you don't count diagonally, you count the spaces like you would count out

movement, so area of effect powers have a sort of jagged diamond shaped area of effect.

1.0.0.23: Can you trigger the “may” ability of a Unit you do not control? For instance, if you were to

move your opponent’s Kalal, could you trigger the ability to look at the top of a draw pile?

No. Only a Unit’s controller may trigger a “may” ability on their card.

Plaid Hat Games – faq@plaidhatgames.com - Summoner Wars Frequently Asked Questions 6

No. You may only trigger an “after moving” ability if you were the Unit to move Kalal. If your own Unit—

for instance a Controller—were to move Kalal outside the normal move phase, you could trigger her

ability, as you were the player doing the movement.

1.0.0.25: Can you create a Vine Wall if you are faction other than the Swamp Orcs?

No. You may only place a Vine Wall on the board if your Summoner reference card specifically states

that you have a Vine Wall pile. If you, for instance, use Tacullu’s Mimic event card to steal a Vine Growth

event card from Mugglug, you may not play Vine Growth to create two Vine Walls, as Tacullu does not

have a Vine Wall pile.

1.0.0.27: When an attack affects multiple cards, are they resolved simultaneously or sequentially?

The wounds are placed sequentially, but no cards are removed from play until all cards have received

their wounds. For instance, if Gror attacks a Swamp Orc Shaman on a Vine Wall, he may deal first two

wounds to the Vine Wall and then a wound to the Shaman, or the other way around, but neither card

will be sent to his Magic pile until are wounds are dealt.

1.0.0.28: How does Summoning Surge work?

Summoning Surge removes the top three cards of your discard pile and places them face down on top of

your Magic pile, if you have fewer Units on the board than an opponent.

1.0.0.30: Is an instead of attacking ability an attack?

No, it is an instead of attacking ability. As such, abilities like the Deceiver's Stun do not affect instead of

attacking abilities. However, instead of attacking abilities still count as one of your three attack

activations.

1.0.0.31: Can a Unit such as Gren or Krusk choose themselves as a target with an ability that allows

them to target a Unit “within x spaces of themselves” for which they meet the target criteria (for

instance, being a Sand Goblin unit)?

No. A Unit cannot be within any spaces of themselves for the purposes of choosing a target from its own

Plaid Hat Games – faq@plaidhatgames.com - Summoner Wars Frequently Asked Questions 7

In this case, if you do not have fewer Units on the Battlefield than your opponent, you may not play

Summoning Surge, as its condition cannot be met.

1.0.0.33: Is there a distinction between moving with a Unit and moving a Unit?

Yes. Moving with a Unit (such as on a Rune Mage or Phantom) is different from moving a Unit (as seen

on as Vermin and Kalal). Powers, like Siphon and Possess, may only be triggered after moving a Unit

during the movement phase with a movement activation. Powers such as Plague and Glimpse of the

Future, that trigger simply “after moving,” may be triggered after a Unit moves by any means, such as

being moved by a Controller or another card ability.

2.0.0.0 Unit Questions and Answers

2.1.0.0 Benders

2.1.1.0 Breakers

2.1.1.1: In which Discard pile does the card targeted by Memory Break go?

Cards discarded by a Breaker will go to the Discard Pile of the Breaker’s controller. This is because the

2.1.3.0 Deceivers

2.1.3.1: If an enemy Common Unit starts my turn adjacent to one of my Deceivers, and I gain control

of it later in that same turn, can I move or attack with it this turn?

No. The Deceiver's STUN ability is checked at the start of every turn and lasts for that whole turn. Even if

the affected Unit is no longer an enemy later in the turn, it was still stunned at the start of the turn and

will be unable to move or attack for the remainder of that turn.

2.1.3.2: What about if an allied Phoenix Elf player starts a turn where Kaeseeall is adjacent to an

enemy Common which is adjacent to my Deceiver?

Plaid Hat Games – faq@plaidhatgames.com - Summoner Wars Frequently Asked Questions 8

won't get stunned on that turn.

2.1.3.3: If a Deceiver is killed or moved away after the beginning of the turn, but before moving or

attacking with a Stunned Unit, is that Unit able to move and attack? What if the controller of that Unit

changes (for instance, due to the Mind Control event card)? What if the controller of the Deceiver

changes?

No. The Unit adjacent to the Deceiver was affected by Stun at the beginning of their turn. Even if the

Deceiver was removed (via, for instance, a Burn event card) the Unit has still been affected by Stun and

will not be able to move or attack until the next turn. If the controller of the Unit affected by Stun

changes, the Unit still cannot attack or move. If the controller of the Deceiver changes, the Unit affected

Unit cannot attack or move until your next turn.

2.1.4.0 Gulldune

Pile does he go to?

A Unit destroyed by Mind Link goes to its controller’s Magic Pile.

2.1.5.2: If Kalu or Talu is destroyed by a Unit with an ability triggered from destroying a Unit (for

instance, Splub’s Vinemancer Sow), are both destroyed Units treated as though they were destroyed

by the attack (for instance, would two Vine Walls be placed, one in Kalu’s space and one in Talu’s)?

A: No. The second twin is destroyed by Mind Link, not the attack, so they are unaffected by the Unit’s

ability.

2.1.6.0 Mind Witches

2.1.6.1: If you mimic Ret-Talus, can you bring back a FK Common? If so, which Discard Pile(s) can you

Plaid Hat Games – faq@plaidhatgames.com - Summoner Wars Frequently Asked Questions 9

The Mind Witch was not Selundar at the beginning of the turn, so the Mind Witch cannot trigger this

ability, as it did not meet the conditions to do so.

2.1.6.3: What happens if Witches copy Reapers and gets cards under themselves? Do the cards stay

there when the turn is over? Do they count for attacks in later turns? Do they count if mimicking other

abilities that use such cards (e.g. Blarf)?

The cards remain under the Mind Witch. They do not count for attacks in later turns, unless the Mind

Witch copies another Unit that has a benefit for having cards underneath them. If the Mind Witch is

destroyed, all cards under her will go to the destroyer’s Magic Pile, as normal.

2.2.0.0 Cave Goblins

2.2.1.0 Berserker

2.2.1.1: Does a Goblin Berserker have to attack all adjacent enemy Units? The card says "it may attack

all enemy Units that are adjacent to it," so does that mean it can either attack normally against 1 card,

or attack all adjacent Units, or can it simply pick and choose which adjacent Units it attacks?

A player can choose to have a Berserker attack just 1 adjacent card as normal, but should a player elect

to use the Berserkerʼs Special Ability he must attack all enemy Units the Berserker is adjacent to.

2.2.1.2: When attacking with a Goblin Berserker does that Berserker continue to attack all Units next

to it over and over again until they are dead?

Plaid Hat Games – faq@plaidhatgames.com - Summoner Wars Frequently Asked Questions 16

from moving away from a Defender.

2.7.2.3: Does Engage work against flying opponents, like Rahlee or Archangel?

A: Yes. If a flying Unit moves adjacent to a Defender, it must stop moving. If the Unit would stop moving

somewhere that it can’t end its movement, such as a Wall or another Unit, the flying Unit canʼt move

2.7.3.0 Gror

they are attacked. So even if Gror isnʼt targeting a Goblin Unit when he attacks, any Goblin Unit in the

attackʼs area of effect only receive damage from die results of 6 or higher during that attack.

2.7.4.0 Halvor

2.7.4.1: If Halvor's Rage ability places enough wounds on his card to destroy him, does he still get to

attack? Who gets the Magic?

Since Rage happens before attacking, he would be immediately destroyed and go to the Magic pile of

the player controlling Halvor.

2.7.4.2: If Halvor destroys himself with rage, does that count as one of your three attacks taken that

turn?

2.7.5.0 Oldin

Plaid Hat Games – faq@plaidhatgames.com - Summoner Wars Frequently Asked Questions 17

Once per turn, whenever 1 or more Wound Markers would be placed on this card, you may spend 1

Magic Point to prevent 1 of those Wound Markers from being placed on this card.

We appreciate your support and patience and are working to prevent events like this from occurring in

the future.

2.8.0.0 Jungle Elves

2.8.1.0 General

No. Moving through a card requires you to end on an unoccupied space before the damage is applied.

2.8.3.1: Can I use Chant of Deception on a Unit that has a Freeze Card on it?

Yes. Units with a Freeze card on top of them can switch places with other Units. The Freeze card will

remain on top of the Unit it was originally on.

2.8.4.0 Chant of Haste

2.8.4.1: If I use Chant of Haste twice in one turn, can I move a Unit 4 spaces at once?

Plaid Hat Games – faq@plaidhatgames.com - Summoner Wars Frequently Asked Questions 18

2.8.5.2: Does Chant of Negation prevent a unit from being affected by Stun or Negation Field?

No. The Stun and Negation Field triggers are the beginning of your turn, after Chant of Negation's effect

has ended.

2.8.7.0 Makeinda Ru

2.8.7.1: Can Makeinda Ru still use Power Shot if her position changed as a result of Chant of

Deception?

A: Yes. She technically did not move.

2.8.7.2: What if Makeinda Ru is moved by Chant of Haste?

A: No.

2.8.7.3: Is Power Shot optional?

A: No. If Makeinda Ru does not move, her attack value is 4.

Plaid Hat Games – faq@plaidhatgames.com - Summoner Wars Frequently Asked Questions 19

2.9.5.0 Kogar

2.9.7.0 Rallul

2.9.7.1: Can Rallul wound a Wall with Draw Power even if there are no cards in your Draw Pile?

Yes. Rallul specifically states he can draw up to 1 card for Draw Power, meaning you can draw 0 cards.

2.9.8.0 Rune Mage

2.9.8.1: Can Rune Mages take one card per Wall they are adjacent to?

No. It is one card per Rune Mage.

Plaid Hat Games – faq@plaidhatgames.com - Summoner Wars Frequently Asked Questions 20

2.9.9.3: What happens if you have 5 cards in your hand at the end of your turn and want to put

Sairook back in your hand?

There is no maximum hand size. You simply will not draw any cards at the start of your next turn if you

still have six or more cards, as though you had five.

2.9.10.0 Stonecloaks

2.9.10.1: If I use Reinforcements to summon a Stonecloak, do I still put wounds on my wall?

Yes. You are still summoning the unit when you play Reinforcements. Its cost is just 0.

2.10.2.0 Superior Planning

2.10.2.1: Can Superior Planning be used to obtain Wall cards?

No. Only the Events listed on General Sunderved's Starting Setup card can be chosen by Superior

2.10.3.0 Torodin

2.10.3.1: Can Torodin's Advance stack if I use Superior Planning to get it multiple times in the same

turn?

Yes. It does not grant a Special Ability.

2.10.3.2: Can I Trample the same Unit more than once during a movement with Torodin and Torodin's

Advance?

Plaid Hat Games – faq@plaidhatgames.com - Summoner Wars Frequently Asked Questions 21

2.11.2.0 Fire Beast

2.11.2.1: Can a Fire Beast destroy itself with HELLFIRE if it already has 2 wound markers on its card?

Will the Phoenix Elf player gain the magic?

Yes and yes.

2.11.3.0 Fire Drake

2.11.3.1: Does the Fire Drake’s BREATH OF FLAME work through Walls?

Yes.

2.11.3.2: If a Unit on a Vine Wall is the target of Breath of Flame, does the Vine Wall receive a wound?

Yes.

Plaid Hat Games – faq@plaidhatgames.com - Summoner Wars Frequently Asked Questions 22

2.11.6.2: Does moving or attacking with a Unit that has been Blazing Conscripted by Kaeseeall count

toward my limit of 3 for each of those phases?

Yes.

2.11.6.3: In a mirror match, can one Kaeseeall gain control of the opponent’s Kaeseeall? If so, can that

second one then gain control of another Unit?

Kaesseeall can gain control of an opponent’s Kaesseeall. That Kaesseeall may not trigger Blazing

Conscription because the opposing Kaesseall was not under your control at the beginning of your turn.

2.11.6.4: If Blazing Conscription is used on Kreep, what happens at the end of the PE turn?

Plaid Hat Games – faq@plaidhatgames.com - Summoner Wars Frequently Asked Questions 23

places the Shadow Elf Unit under his card (which would prevent the use of Shadows), or he places it on

top of his Magic Pile and removes 1 Wound Marker from Blerg. He can't "take it back" once he sees

someone use Shadows if he picked the latter.

2.13.4.0 Summon the Night

2.13.4.1: Does Summon the Night's 1 movement penalty trump those cards that may move multiple

Plaid Hat Games – faq@plaidhatgames.com - Summoner Wars Frequently Asked Questions 24

turn.

2.14.3.2: If a Unit is destroyed moving off a Vine Wall, who receives the Magic?

Plaid Hat Games – faq@plaidhatgames.com - Summoner Wars Frequently Asked Questions 25

2.15.2.1: After attacking with a Tundra Orc Fighter, if I roll a 5 or higher and use Fury to move and

attack with that Tundra Orc Fighter again, do I get to roll for Fury again?

2.15.3.1: If a player's Summoner has a Freeze card on it, is that player still able to summon new Units?

Yes, the summoning of new Units is not considered a movement, attack, or Special Ability, so a Freeze