Gameplay: The game starts with each team on opposite sides of the map.  There is no convention for placement of characters, other than the “lead” character of each team must be on the last column of his/her side of the board, with his partner(s) in any adjacent space.  If playing Good vs. Evil, the good team should start on the right side of any map.  If using Kotake & Komune, both Witch Sisters must start on the last column of their side of the map. Roll the die to determine who goes first.  An ‘all’ result is higher than a non-‘all’ result of the same number (i.e. 3-All beats 3, but not 4). A Container Heart is the highest possible roll.  Play proceeds clockwise from the 1^st player.  Before play begins, each player shuffles their deck and draws 4 cards.  Each player’s turn proceeds as follows.

You can perform any combination of actions, two of the same or two different, but you are limited to 2 actions.  Some cards have an added effect of “Playing this card does not count as an action.”  When these cards are played, they do not count toward your 2 action per turn limit.

Your opponent then has the option of defending.  To defend, play a Basic Combat or Power Combat card for the character being attacked face up on the table.  The player controlling the defending character does not have to play a defense card, even if they have defense cards for the targeted character in their hand.  The attacking player then reveals his card, and the attack value is compared to the defense value.  If the attack value exceeds the defense value, the defender must take damage equal to the difference.  If the defense value is greater than the attack value, the defender has successfully blocked the attack, and no damage is done.  Both characters then discard their respective cards, faceup, to their discard piles.

Power Attack cards will also have a bow & arrow and/or sword icon, just as Basic Combat cards do.  These cards function just like Basic cards – for attack and defense – but also have added abilities. However, after the attack is resolved (the attack and defense values are compared, and damage – if any – is dealt) there are added effects that come into play.  Extra effects from an attacker’s card take place before the defender’s card.

The term "talent cards" refers to both power combat and special cards.

Special Cards: Special Cards have a sliver “Special” plaque along the left side of the card, along with the name and picture of the character(s) they are for, but Special Cards are not used in Combat.  Any damage a Special Card may inflict cannot be defended against.  Special Cards have abilities – usually more powerful than Power Combat Cards – that can achieve a wide variety of effects.

Special Cards have a line, just under the name of the card, telling you when to play the card.  Most cards say “Play On Your Turn.”  This means you can play them on your turn – usually as an action – after you have rolled the die and moved your characters.  Often, Special Cards will have two (possibly more) effects. When this is the case, the effects must happen in the order they are listed on the card. After playing a Special Card, it is discarded into your discard pile.

The Triforce:  Some cards have a Triforce icon.  The ability associated with the Triforce icon can only be used once per game.  If the card only has a Triforce ability, it is removed from play after it is played, other wise it is discarded into the discard pile.  If the card has a condition that must be met before the Triforce ability can be used, the first time the card is played when the condition is met, the Triforce ability is activated.

For Example: You are controlling Link and your current health score is 9.  You play Time Warp.  Your health score increases to 14, and your maximum health score, which was 15, is now 20.

The Clock:  Some cards have a Clock icon.  The number in the Clock icon indicates the duration of that card’s effects.  Play Clock cards on the table, and leave them face up until the duration up.  The duration is counted by the number of times your turn begins (usually, your turn begins when you roll the die for movement).  When the duration is reached (when you begin the turn for that number) that is the last turn that card’s effects are in play.  After you take your 2^nd action on that last turn, the card with the duration is placed in the discard pile.

Attack Position: The bow & arrow and sword icons indicate which kind of attack the card can be played as, melee or ranged.  Cards with both icons are ranged attacks unless the attacker is adjacent to the target, in which case the card is a melee attack. 

Melee Attacks: Melee attacks can only be made when the target is adjacent to the attacking character.  Adjacent means any square that shares a border or corner with the square the attacking character is in. 

Ranged Attacks: Ranged attacks can only be made in a straight horizontal or vertical line, or a straight (45 degree) diagonal line.  There is no limit to the number of squares a ranged attack can reach.  This is the same method for determining a character’s Line-of-Sight, as though they could be targeted by a Ranged attack.  Both Ranged attacks and Line-of-Sight are blocked by characters (allies and opponents) and obstacles on the map.  See Maps for a detailed description of which map obstacles block Line-of-Sight and Ranged attacks.

Maps: There are four maps: The Triforce Chamber, The Lost Woods, The Fairy Fountain, and The Leever Desert.  Each map has obstacles.  Some obstacles block line-of-sight and ranged attacks, but all obstacles prevent movement through those squares.

The Lost Woods: This map’s obstacles are the stump and log, bushes, and creek/pond.  None of these obstacles block line-of-sight or ranged attacks.

The Fairy Fountain: This map’s obstacles are the pillars and fire basins.