Frequently Asked Questions

A: Corvassa is a chess-themed elimination card game for 2-4 players, focusing on strategy, alliances, and betrayal. There’s no board, or very complicated mechanics – just strategic plays until only one King remains. 

Inspired by chess’s hierarchy and tension, Corvassa transforms classic pieces into an intense card battle of cunning and strategy where every move is war.

A: Yes, you can have up to 5 cards at the end of your turn. If you go over 5 cards (like after stealing), discard down to 5. There is no minimum hand size.

A: Shuffle the discard pile and make it the new draw pile. Keep playing.

A: No, players should not talk or discuss cards during the game. However, this rule can be adjusted depending on how the players prefer to enjoy the game.

A: The alliance breaks instantly if your teammate attacks you with a Shadow card.

A: No, you can only play 1 card as your defence and 1 card as your attack.

A: You can still attack that player, but their current attacking turn is immediately cancelled.

A: Corvassa can be played in multiple formats. The main mode is 4 players (2 vs 2), but other modes are also available: Please check The Royal Scroll for details

A: You can draw a card immediately after it’s your turn to attack and you have either attacked an opponent or used a special card.

Exception: If you only have your King card in hand at the start of your attack turn, you must draw a card first before attacking.

Examples:

• When you convert your Pawns into a Queen, you take the Queen card, discard your Pawns, then draw one card from the draw pile and end your turn.
• If you use a Footpad card to steal a card from an opponent, after the steal you draw one card from the draw pile, then discard the Footpad and end your turn.

A: No, promotion is considered your main action for the turn. Once you convert your Pawns into a Queen, you take the Queen card, discard your Pawns, draw one card from the draw pile, and your turn ends. You cannot perform an attack after promoting in the same turn.

A: You cannot attack with a defending card or a Favor card. In this case, you must discard that card, and your turn ends without attacking.

A: You can lose your Queen if:

• Another Queen – Equal rank → both discarded. This is the main “fair fight” risk. 
• It is forced to be discarded by some of the cards. The opponent may choose your Queen or it may be discarded randomly. 
• Or the opponent can steal it with a Footpad.
• It is used unsuccessfully as a defence against special attacks like Check or Shadow, following their special resolution rules.

A: You lose your piece mainly if:

• It clashes with any stronger piece (Queen > Rook > Bishop > Knight > Pawn).
• It’s hit by random/choice discard effects.
• It gets stolen or forced out by special cards(Footpad, Favor, Shadow).

A: Crown’s Command is a special ability of your king which you can use once per game.

• You may use this once per game and only applicable for  3 & 4-player mode.
• When you are attacked, you may redirect that attack to any other player (including your ally, but not the original attacker).
• The redirected attack is resolved against the new target as normal.
• Cannot redirect a Check or Shadow attack.
• A redirected attack cannot be redirected again.
• If you redirect an attack to your ally, it doesn’t break the alliance. Alliances can be broken only by using the Shadow card.

A: No. Check and Shadow cards cannot be played during the first round.

A: No. Defender and Decoy can only be used to protect yourself. You can pass these cards to teammates using Favor cards, though.

A: Please check this below lists:

1. King Immunities
   • Cannot be Stolen, Or Cannot be given away with Favor.
   • Can be eliminated by Check or Shadow (betrayal) cards.
2. Decoy Limits
   • Decoy only works against Check.
   • Cannot block any other attack.
3. Favor (Ally Support)
   • Cannot be used to give away a Pawn.
   • Cannot target enemy players (only ally).
4. Shadow Rules
   • In betrayal mode: Can only target your own teammate’s King.
   • In alt mode: Can only force discards, not directly kill enemy Kings..
5. Footpad Limits
   • Steals a random card only (not chosen).
   • Footpad cannot steal a King.

A: No. Defence cards can only be used to defend yourself. You must use attack cards to attack opponents.

A: No. Attacking cards cannot be used to defend. You must use the correct defence cards to block attacks.

A: If you only have cards that cannot be used to attack in the first round, you must discard one card, draw a new card from the pile, and end your turn without attacking.

A: Yes, you may target any opponent’s King with a Check card, but not your ally’s King

A: Yes, you may steal from any opponent’s hand with a Footpad card.

A: Because the King can’t be stolen by Footpad, this attack can’t remove the King and doesn’t cause elimination.

A: You must discard an extra card to block a Check with Queen, Defender, or Decoy. If you can’t, your defence fails, your King is out, and the Check attack succeeds.

A: Since the King card is immune to being stolen by the Footpad, if a player only has their King in hand, the Footpad attack cannot steal any card. The Footpad card is played and then discarded, but the defending player is not affected and remains in the game with only their King. Discard the footpad and draw a new card from the pile.

(Hierarchy: Queen > Rook > Bishop > Knight > Pawn; equal rank → both discarded.

1. P vs P → Both discarded
2. Q vs Q → Both discarded
3. Q vs R → Queen wins
4. Q vs B → Queen wins
5. Q vs N → Queen wins
6. Q vs P → Queen wins
7. R vs Q → Queen wins
8. R vs R → Both discarded
9. R vs B → Rook wins
10. R vs N → Rook wins
11. R vs P → Rook wins
12. B vs Q → Queen wins
13. B vs R → Rook wins
14. B vs B → Both discarded
15. B vs N → Bishop wins
16. B vs P → Bishop wins
17. N vs Q → Queen wins
18. N vs R → Rook wins
19. N vs B → Bishop wins
20. N vs N → Both discarded
21. N vs P → Knight wins
22. P vs Q → Queen wins
23. P vs R → Rook wins
24. P vs B → Bishop wins
25. P vs N → Knight wins

(Defender can defend against any kind of attack); After defending both cards get discarded

1. Q vs Defender → Attack blocked; both discarded
2. R vs Defender → Attack blocked; both discarded
3. B vs Defender → Attack blocked; both discarded
4. N vs Defender → Attack blocked; both discarded
5. P vs Defender → Attack blocked; both discarded

(Check can be blocked by Queen, Decoy, or Defender); If blocked, discard 1 extra card (of their choice)

1. Check vs Queen → Attack blocked; both discarded;
2. Check vs Decoy → Real King safe; both discarded
3. Check vs Defender → Attack blocked; both discarded

(Can be blocked by Queen or Defender)

1. Shadow vs Queen → Attack blocked; both discarded
2. Shadow vs Defender → Attack blocked; both discarded

(Can be blocked by Defender)

1. Footpad vs Defender → Attack blocked; both discarded

Setup: 

• Player A attacks Player B with a Queen card using Option B, which forces the target to discard two cards.
• Player B has only one card besides the King.

Steps:

• Player A plays Queen (Option B) to attack Player B.
• Player A draws a card from the draw pile.
• Player B is required to discard two cards to block.
• Player B has only one card(ex, pawn) besides the King and cannot meet the discard demand.
• Player B fails the defence. Player B’s King is eliminated.
• Player A’s Queen remains with Player.

Setup: 

• Player A uses Shadow card (Option A) attacking Player B, who is their teammate.
• Player B tries to defend with Defender.

Steps:

• Player A targets Player B’s King using Shadow (Option A).
• Player A draws a card from the draw pile.
• Player B blocks with a Defender.
• Both Shadow and Defender cards are discarded.
• Player A must discard an additional card due to the failed betrayal attempt (punishment).
• No elimination occurs; Player B remains in the game.
• Alliance broken between Player A and B. Now they are individual players.

Setup: 

• Player A uses Shadow card (Option A) attacking Player B, who is their teammate.
• Player B doesn’t have any defending card.

Steps:

• Player A targets Player B’s King using Shadow (Option A).
• Player A draws a card from the draw pile.
• Player B doesn’t have any Queen or Defender card to defend this attack.
• Shadow card is discarded.
• Player B fails the defence. Player B’s King is eliminated.
• Player A draws 2 new cards from the draw pile (Reward).
• Player A is an individual player now.

Setup: 

• Player A uses Footpad to steal a card from Player B.
• Player B’s hand contains the King and one other card.

Steps:

• Player A plays Footpad, which steals a random card from Player B.
• The King cannot be stolen, so the other card is stolen.
• Player A discards the Footpad after the steal.
• Player A draws a card from the draw pile.
• Player B remains with only their king.