When a card is played, you collect the number of resource counters based on how much resource each card generates. It’s another layer of strategy to consider as you build up your forces and plan out how you want to attack your opponent. The player may only select from cards of their faction, and the galaxy row is reconstituted with cards from the "galaxy deck". Capital ships also feature their total health in a purple circle near the bottom of the card, similar to bases. An interview in 2020 confirmed that Fantasy Flight had always planned on more Star Wars tabletop games through 2024, so an announced deckbuilding game isn’t exactly a surprise.

If you choose to attack your opponent, you must always attack their Capital ship if they have one before engaging with their current base. There’s even a 4-player variant that allows you to battle it out between two teams, although it requires an additional copy of the game. This provides some tasty synergy in the good times and some well-needed flexibility if things aren’t going your way. Empire cards in the galaxy row are turned to face the Empire player while the Rebel cards are turned to face the Rebel player (neutral cards are turned sideways so both players can read them easily).In one game, I really had my eye on recruiting Han Solo, but the nasty Empire player killed him before I even had a chance to draft him.

As the game goes on, players can recruit more iconic characters, such as Han Solo and Boba Fett to their side as well as use the Force to expand their troops.Star Wars The Deckbuilding Game takes full advantage of this fact and enables players to purchase such characters as Boba Fett, IG-88, Lando Calrissian and many, many more. Cards can be either units—everything from X-wings to Darth Vader himself—or “capital ships,” which act as blockers for your planetary bases. Each player starts with a base with no abilities (Dantooine for the Rebels and Lothal for the Empire), but when that base is destroyed, you can choose a replacement from your base deck, with each base having a special ability.

In Star Wars™: The Deckbuilding Game, a new head-to-head game for two players, the galaxy-spanning war between the Galactic Empire and the Rebel Alliance comes alive on your tabletop. The center of the card features the unit or capital ship’s name with its unique effect printed below. Caleb Grace has been tapped to design the deckbuilder, bringing expertise from The Lord of the Rings and Marvel Champions card games.Use of and/or registration on any portion of this site constitutes acceptance of our User Agreement (updated 1/1/20) and Privacy Policy and Cookie Statement (updated 1/1/20) and Ars Technica Addendum (effective 8/21/2018). It’s an aspect of the gameplay that makes each match feel different, with no battle playing out the same way…even though you’re using the same cards every time.