The Gundam Card Game is a card game for two players. Each player has a 50-card deck and a 10-card resource deck. You win by breaking through your opponent's Base and 6 Shields, then hitting them one more time with a Unit. On your turn you stand your cards back up, draw a card, add a Resource, play your Units and Pilots, and attack. This guide walks you through it one step at a time, with no experience needed.
Download the free printable quick guide (PDF)
Two pages you can print and keep next to your cards while you learn.
Want the full official rules? Get Bandai's Comprehensive Rules (PDF).
Prefer to watch? Official how-to-play video
Bandai, the company that makes the game, has an official video that shows how to play. Watch it before or after reading this guide.
Video: "GUNDAM CARD GAME How to play and rules," Official GUNDAM CARD GAME Channel.
What do you need to play?
- A deck of exactly 50 cards. Units, Pilots, Commands and Bases.
- A resource deck of exactly 10 cards. These are Resource cards, kept separate from your 50.
- Two token cards: an EX Base and an EX Resource.
- Dice or counters to keep track of damage.
Easiest way to start: buy a Starter Deck. It comes with a ready-to-play deck and everything else you need. Open it and you can play right away.
What do the cards do?
There are five kinds of cards.
| Card | What it is | What to look at |
|---|---|---|
| Unit | Mobile suits that attack and defend. You can have up to 6 out at once. | Lv. and cost (top left), AP and HP, and the Link requirement (which Pilot makes it stronger). |
| Pilot | A character you place under one of your Units. | The AP and HP it adds, and the text it gives the Unit. |
| Command | A one-time effect. [Action] Commands can be used during battles. | Lv., cost and what the card says it does. |
| Base | A place that protects your Shields. Only 1 at a time. | Lv., cost, AP and HP. |
| Resource | Your energy, from your separate resource deck. | Nothing to read. Resources let you play cards. |
AP (attack points) is how much damage a card deals. HP (hit points) is how much damage it can take before it's destroyed.
Deck rules (only three)
- Your deck is exactly 50 cards, plus your 10-card resource deck.
- Use 1 or 2 colors. The colors are blue, green, red, white and purple.
- No more than 4 copies of the same card.
Playing in a store tournament? Bandai also has a banned card list. Ask us at the counter, or check the official rules page.
Where do the cards go?
Each player's side of the table has seven spots. The play sheet shows them.
| Area | What goes there |
|---|---|
| Battle Area | Your Units, up to 6, with any Pilots tucked under them. |
| Base | Your Base. You start with an EX Base here. |
| Shields | 6 face-down cards from the top of your deck. They protect you. |
| Deck | Your 50-card deck, face down. |
| Resource Deck | Your 10 Resource cards, face down. |
| Resource Area | Your Resources in play. One more comes out each turn. |
| Trash | Your discard pile: destroyed and used cards. |
No play sheet? Print Bandai's official play sheet (PDF) for free.
How do you set up a game?
- Shuffle your deck and put it face down in the Deck spot. Put your resource deck face down in its spot.
- Play rock-paper-scissors. The winner decides who goes first.
- Draw 5 cards. Don't like your hand? You can put all 5 on the bottom of your deck, draw 5 new ones, then shuffle. You can only do this once.
- Make your Shields. Take the top 6 cards of your deck, one at a time, and place them face down in your Shield area without looking at them.
- Place your EX Base in your Base spot. The player going second also places an EX Resource in their Resource Area.
- Start! The first player takes the first turn.
How do you win?
You win if either of these happens:
- You hit your opponent with a Unit when they have no Base and no Shields left.
- Your opponent's deck runs out of cards.
What happens on your turn?
Every turn has five parts, always in this order.
- Start Phase: stand all your sideways cards back up.
- Draw Phase: draw 1 card.
- Resource Phase: put the top card of your resource deck into your Resource Area.
- Main Phase: do any of these, in any order, as many times as you can: play Units, Bases and Commands, pair Pilots with your Units, and attack.
- End Phase: both players get one last chance to use [Action] cards, end-of-turn effects happen, and if you have more than 10 cards in hand you discard down to 10.
Important: a Unit can't attack on the turn you play it, unless it's a Link Unit (more on that below).
How do you pay for cards?
Every card except Resources has a Lv. (level) and a cost in the top left corner. You need to check both.
- Level: you need at least that many Resources in your Resource Area. Sideways Resources still count.
- Cost: turn that many upright Resources sideways to pay.
- Example: a Lv.3, cost 2 card needs 3 Resources in play, and you turn 2 of them sideways to play it.
- EX Resource: the player going second starts with one. It counts toward your level, and when you use it to pay, it's removed from the game.
Already have 6 Units? To play a new one, put one of your Units in the trash first.
What do "active" and "rested" mean?
- Active means the card is standing upright. It's ready to use.
- Rested means the card is turned sideways. It's been used this turn, to attack, block or pay for something.
Your cards stand back up at the start of your next turn.
How do Pilots and Link Units work?
- Pairing: play a Pilot card by tucking it under one of your Units. The Unit adds the Pilot's AP and HP.
- One Pilot per Unit. Once paired, the Pilot stays with that Unit. If the Unit leaves play, the Pilot goes with it.
- Link Units: many Units list a Pilot in their Link requirement. Pair that Pilot and the Unit becomes a Link Unit, which can attack the same turn it came out.
Example: a Unit with 3 AP and 4 HP gets a Pilot with +1 AP and +1 HP. Now it has 4 AP and 5 HP. If that Pilot matches its Link requirement, it can attack right away.
How do attacks work?
Attacking is how you break through your opponent's Shields. Here's what happens, step by step.
- Attack. Turn one of your upright Units sideways. Pick your target: your opponent, or one of their Units that's sideways. You can't attack a Unit that's standing upright.
- Block. Your opponent may turn a Unit with <Blocker> sideways. That Unit becomes the new target.
- Action. Both players take turns using [Action] cards, starting with the defender, until both pass.
- Damage. Damage is dealt (see below).
- Battle End. Any "during this battle" effects end.
What happens in the Damage step:
- You attacked a Unit: both Units hit each other at the same time, each dealing damage equal to its AP. A Unit with damage equal to or more than its HP is destroyed.
- You attacked your opponent and they have a Base: the Base takes the damage.
- No Base, but they have Shields: their top Shield is destroyed. Any amount of damage breaks just 1 Shield.
- No Base and no Shields: you win the game.
What happens to damage and Shields?
- Damage stays. Put dice or counters on a Unit or Base to track its damage. It doesn't heal at the end of the turn unless a card (like <Repair>) says so.
- Shields have 1 HP each. When a Shield is destroyed, flip it face up. If it has a [Burst], you can use that effect for free, then it goes to the trash.
- Your EX Base has 3 HP and soaks up hits before your Shields.
What do the common keywords mean?
| Keyword | In plain English |
|---|---|
| Blocker | When your opponent attacks, you can turn this Unit sideways to make it the new target instead. |
| Burst | A free effect you can use when this card is destroyed as one of your Shields. |
| Deploy | Happens when you play the card. |
| Attack | Happens when this Unit attacks. |
| Destroyed | Happens when this card is destroyed. |
| Repair | At the end of your turn, this Unit heals that much damage. |
| Breach | When this Unit destroys an enemy Unit in battle on your turn, it also deals that much damage to their Base or top Shield. |
| Support | Turn this Unit sideways to give another of your Units extra AP this turn. |
| First Strike | When attacking, this Unit deals its damage first. |
| High-Maneuver | When this Unit attacks, it can't be blocked. |
What are the best tips for your first game?
- Play low-level Units early. You only get 1 more Resource each turn, so start small.
- Pair Pilots. A Pilot makes a Unit tougher, and the right Pilot lets it attack right away.
- Protect your Shields. Keep a <Blocker> or an [Action] card ready for your opponent's turn.
- Sideways Units are targets. After a Unit attacks, it stays sideways through your opponent's turn, so they can attack it.
- Watch your hand size. You can only keep 10 cards at the end of your turn.
Quick reference
| Deck | Exactly 50 cards in 1 or 2 colors, max 4 copies, plus a 10-card resource deck |
| Start | Draw 5 (one redraw allowed), 6 Shields, an EX Base, and an EX Resource for the second player |
| Your turn | Stand up, draw 1, add 1 Resource, play cards and attack, end |
| Playing cards | Resources in play at least the card's Lv., then rest Resources equal to its cost |
| Attack | Your opponent or a sideways Unit. New Units wait a turn unless they're Link Units. |
| Win | Hit them with no Base and no Shields left, or their deck runs out |
Printable quick guide
Everything above fits on two printable pages. Print it double-sided and keep it at the table.
Download the printable guide (PDF)
Official Bandai rules and tools (free)
Bandai, the company that makes the Gundam Card Game, posts its official rules for free.
- Play sheet (PDF): a printable mat that shows where every card goes, plus deck-building tips and two sample decks.
- Comprehensive Rules (PDF): every rule in full detail, for when a card does something tricky.
- Rules and card FAQ: answers to common questions about specific cards.
- Team Battle rules and Battle Royale rules: play 2-vs-2 or with 3 or more friends.
Bandai updates these from time to time. The newest versions and the banned card list are always on the official Gundam Card Game rules page.
Where can you learn and play Gundam near Newport, TN?
Landfall Outpost hosts Gundam Card Game every Saturday from 4 to 8 PM at 138 North St, Newport, TN 37821. New players are welcome, and we're happy to teach you your first game. Pick up starter decks and booster packs in our Gundam Card Game & Gunpla collection, or stop in Friday and Saturday 12–8 or Sunday 12–6. Free on-site parking. See all events.