NOTE FROM Site owner: 
I am keeping an archive of this because I believe for the long term even after this game stops being printed having the historical context of these decisions is important. 

NOTE TO SELF: MAKE THIS MORE READABLE!! Add older versions of this to the site as well

I will provide the PDF here, alongside official and Wayback Machine links to verify its legitimacy.
https://upperdeck.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/03/Neopets-Battledome-TCG-Comprehensive-Rules-March-2025.pdf
https://web.archive.org/web/20250907190522/https://upperdeck.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/03/Neopets-Battledome-TCG-Comprehensive-Rules-March-2025.pdf


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Neopets Battledome TCG Comprehensive Rules

Contents

Game Concepts

1. Deck Construction

1.1 Each player must have a Main Deck of exactly fifty cards made up of Codestones,
Equipment, Food, Faeries, Legends, Paint Brushes, Potions, Locations, and/or Map
Pieces.
1.2 A player’s Main Deck may contain any number of Codestones.
1.3 A player’s Main Deck may contain no more than one copy of any one Faerie, one
copy of each unique Map Piece, and no more than two copies of any other non-
Codestone card.
1.4 Each player must have a Neopet Deck of at least three and no more than five
Neopets of different species (all five must have a different name) and a Rainbow
Pool of up to ten Rainbow Pool Neopets.
1.5 Additional cards may have unique rules text having them start in your Rainbow Pool.
These cards do not count towards the ten Rainbow Pool Neopet limit.
2. Setting Up the Game
To begin setup, each player will shuffle their Main Deck until it is sufficiently
randomized. Players must always present their deck to their opponent to cut or shuffle.
Once both players have shuffled and finished cutting or declining to cut each deck, they
will place their Main Deck in their respective zone. Each player then places their Neopet
Deck and Rainbow Pool in their respective zones.
Next, players randomly determine the starting player (dice, coin flip, rock paper
scissors, etc). The starting player may defer taking the first turn to their opponent. When
the starting player has been determined, each player will draw a starting hand of 5
cards from their Main Deck. For the remainder of this document and purposed of game
text, we will refer to your hand of cards as your “Inventory.” Each player may mulligan by
shuffling their Inventory into their deck, offer their opponent to cut, then draw another 5
cards. Players may not mulligan more than one time.
Once mulligans and starting inventories are resolved, each player will choose their
starting Neopet. A player chooses their starting Neopet by selecting a Neopet from their
Neopet Deck and placing it face down in its respective zone.
When both Neopets are chosen, each player flips them face up. Starting player begins
the game by drawing a card and starting their turn.
3. In-Game Rounds & Winning the Game
A single game consists of up to three rounds. A round concludes when one player’s
Neopet is knocked out by taking damage equal to or greater than their hit points. The
player whose Neopet was not knocked out wins that round (See 2.7 for End of Round
procedures). When a player has won two rounds, they win the game.
4. Golden Rules
4.1 “Can’t Beats Can”
Whenever a card, ability, or effect states that something “can” happen or directs
that thing to happen, but another card, ability, or effect states that the same thing
“can’t” happen, the “can’t” effect will take precedence.
4.2 Card Text Always Takes Priority Over Game Rules
Whenever card text contradicts the game’s rules, the card text takes precedence.
5. Turn Structure
5.1 Beginning of Turn
5.1.1 Temporary Effects End
All effects that persist until the beginning of the active player’s turn will end
immediately. This does not use the queue and no player gains priority as an
effect ends in this way.
5.1.2 “At the Beginning of Turn” Effects
Any effects that trigger at the beginning of the turn are added to the queue.
The controllers of those effects gain priority with any effects controlled by the
active player added to the queue first in the order they choose and the
nonactive player’s effects added to the queue after in the order they choose.
These effects must resolve before the active player transitions to the Draw
Phase.
5.2 Draw Phase
5.2.1 Starting the Draw Phase & Priority
5.2.1a The Draw Phase begins as players enter it.This is the first time
during the turn that players gain phase-based priority.
5.2.1b Any effects that trigger at the beginning of the Draw Phase are
added to the queue. The controllers of those effects gain priority
with any effects controlled by the active player added to the queue
first in the order they choose and the nonactive player’s effects
added to the queue after in the order they choose. These effects
must resolve before the active player can draw a card.
5.2.1c Priority is established and must be passed by both players before
the active player draws a card.
5.2.2 Drawing A Card During the Draw Phase
5.2.2a Drawing a card during the Draw Phase does not signify the start of
the Draw Phase.
5.2.2b Drawing a card is the mandatory action that must be taken during
the Draw Phase.
5.2.3 “During the Draw Phase” Effects
Effects that apply during the Draw Phase can be applied before or after the
active player draws a card. The controllers of those effects gain priority with
any effects controlled by the active player added to the queue first in the
order they choose and the nonactive player’s effects added to the queue
after in the order they choose.
5.2.4 Ending the Draw Phase
5.2.4a The Draw Phase attempts to end after the active player has drawn
a card and the queue is empty but will not until both players have
passed priority.
5.2.4b Ending the Draw Phase also serves as the transition to the Train
Phase.
5.3 Train Phase
5.3.1 Starting the Train Phase
5.3.1a The Train Phase begins as players end the Draw Phase by
successfully passing priority.
5.3.1b Any effects that trigger at the beginning of the Train Phase are
added to the queue. The controllers of those effects gain priority
with any effects controlled by the active player added to the queue
first in the order they choose and the nonactive player’s effects
added to the queue after in the order they choose. These effects
must resolve before the active player can attach a Codestone.
5.3.1c Priority is established again after all “beginning of Train Phase”
effects have resolved and the queue is empty. Priority must be
passed by both players before the active player attaches a
Codestone.
5.3.2 Attaching a Codestone
5.3.2a Attaching a Codestone during the Train Phase does not signify the
start of the Train Phase.
5.3.2b The active player may attach one Codestone from their Inventory
to their Neopet. This action can only be taken during the Train
Phase.
5.3.2c For the purpose of other card text, Codestones are considered
cards, but they are not “played” and are instead “attached.”
5.3.3 “During the Train Phase” Effects
Effects that apply during the Train Phase can be applied before or after the
active player attaches a Codestone and can be added to the queue when its
controller has priority. The controllers of those effects gain priority with any
effects controlled by the active player added to the queue first in the order
they choose and the nonactive player’s effects added to the queue after in
the order they choose.
5.3.4 Ending the Train Phase
5.3.4a The Train Phase attempts to end after the active player attaches a
Codestone or chose not to attach a Codestone and the queue is
empty but will not until both players have passed priority.
5.3.4b Ending the Train Phase also serves as the transition to the
Preparation Phase.
5.4 Preparation Phase
5.4.1 Starting the Preparation Phase
5.4.1a The Preparation Phase begins as players end the Train Phase by
successfully passing priority.
5.4.1b Any effects that trigger at the beginning of the Preparation Phase
are added to the queue. The controllers of those effects gain
priority with any effects controlled by the active player added to
the queue first in the order they choose and the nonactive player’s
effects added to the queue after in the order they choose. These
effects must resolve before active player can play their one card
allotted during the Preparation Phase.
5.4.1c Priority is established again after all “beginning of Preparation
Phase” effects have resolved and the queue is empty. Priority must
be passed by both players before the active player plays a card.
5.4.2 Playing a Card During the Preparation Phase
5.4.2a The active player may play only one non-Codestone, non-Food
card from their Inventory during the Preparation Phase. Playing a
card in this manner uses the queue as normal.
5.4.2b The active player may satisfy their one card by playing a Faerie,
Paint Brush, Legend, Equipment, Potion, or Location.
5.4.3 “During the Preparation Phase” Effects
Effects that apply during the Preparation Phase can be applied before or after
the active player plays a card and can be added to the queue when its
controller has priority. The controllers of those effects gain priority with any
effects controlled by the active player added to the queue first in the order
they choose and the nonactive player’s effects added to the queue after in
the order they choose.
5.4.4 Ending the Preparation Phase
5.4.4a The Preparation Phase attempts to end after the active player has
played a card and the queue is empty but will not until both
players have passed priority.
5.4.4b Ending the Preparation Phase also serves as entering the Battle
Phase.
5.5 Battle Phase
5.5.1 First player skips the Battle Phase of their first turn of the game. Players
whose turn it is at the start of round two or three do not skip the Battle Phase.
5.5.2 Beginning the Battle Phase
Any effects that trigger at the beginning of the Battle Phase are added to the
queue. The controllers of those effects gain priority with any effects
controlled by the active player added to the queue first in the order they
choose and the nonactive player’s effects added to the queue after in the
order they choose. These effects must resolve before the active player can
transition to the attack step.
5.5.3 “During the Battle Phase” Effects
Effects that apply during the Battle Phase can be applied at any step of battle
whenever the controller of the effect has priority. The controllers of those
effects gain priority with any effects controlled by the active player added to
the queue first in the order they choose and the nonactive player’s effects
added to the queue after in the order they choose.
5.5.4 Attack Step
5.5.4a The attack step of the Battle Phase begins when both players have
passed priority and the queue is empty.
5.5.4b The active player begins this step by selecting a number of dice
equal to the attack stat value of their Neopet. This action does not
use the queue and players do not gain priority.
5.5.4c After the attack dice have been selected, the active player will roll
them. This action does not use the queue and players do not gain
priority.
5.5.4d After the active player has rolled the dice and there are visible
results, then the active player will gain priority.
5.5.4e After results are confirmed and both players have passed priority,
the Battle Phase continues to the defence step.
5.5.5 Defence Step
5.5.5a The defence step of the Battle Phase begins when both players
have passed priority and the queue is empty.
5.5.5b The nonactive player begins this step by selecting a number of
dice equal to the defence stat value of their Neopet. This action
does not use the queue and players do not gain priority.
5.5.5c After the defence dice have been selected, the nonactive player
will roll them. This action does not use the queue and players do
not gain priority.
5.5.5d After the nonactive player has rolled the dice and there are visible
results, then the nonactive player will gain priority.
5.5.5e After results are confirmed and both players have passed priority,
the Battle Phase continues to the agility step.
5.5.6 Agility Step
5.5.6a The agility step of the Battle Phase begins when both players have
passed priority and the queue is empty.
5.5.6b This step begins by both players comparing the agility stat values
of their Neopets. This action does not use the queue and players
do not gain priority. The player whose Neopet has a higher agility
stat value gains the option to reroll any number of dice up to the
difference in agility stat values.
5.5.6c If a player has chosen to reroll dice during the agility step, that
player selects any number of their dice up to the difference in
agility stat values. This action does not use the queue and players
do not gain priority.
5.5.6d After the agility dice are selected, that player will reroll them. This
action does not use the queue and players do not gain priority.
5.5.6e After that player has rerolled the dice and there are visible results,
then that player will gain priority.
5.5.6f After results are confirmed and both players have passed priority,
the Battle Phase continues to the damage step.
5.5.7 Damage Step
5.5.7a The damage step begins by the two players addressing their
successful results and failed results. A successful result, for either
hit or block, is constituted by a 4, 5, or 6 on the die. A failed result,
for either hit or block, is constituted by a 1, 2, or 3 on the die. This
action does not use the queue and players do not gain priority.
5.5.7b
Once both players have their dice results addressed, they will
compare them to determine the damage to be dealt to the
defending Neopet. Each successful hit result of 4 or 5 on an
attacking die is considered blocked by each successful block
result of 4, 5, or 6 on a defending die.
Each successful hit result of 4 or 5 on an attacking die that does
not have an opposing successful block result on a defending die
will be considered unblocked and will deal one damage to the
defending Neopet during the last action of the damage step. For
every successful hit result of 6 on an attacking die, that hit is
considered a “critical” and cannot be blocked, regardless of any
successful block results opposing it (even a result of 6) on a
defending die.
This action of comparing final dice results uses the queue and the
active player gains priority. When both players have passed
priority, the damage step continues to its final action: damage
calculation.
5.5.7c Damage Calculation
After both players have seen the final dice results and have passed
priority, the player that is attacking calculates each unblocked
successful hit result. The defending Neopet is dealt one damage
for each of these unblocked successful hit results. This damage is
dealt simultaneously and all at once.
5.5.7d Neopets maintain the damage they have been dealt between turns
and this damage must be represented clearly for both players to
keep track of.
5.5.7e If a Neopet has taken damage equal to or greater than its hit points
stat value, it is knocked out and the round immediately ends (See
2.7.1 for End of Round procedure).
5.5.7f Effects that Trigger when a Neopet is Dealt Damage
Any effects that trigger when a Neopet is dealt damage are added
to the queue. The controllers of those effects gain priority with any
effects controlled by the active player added to the queue first in
the order they choose and the nonactive player’s effects added to
the queue after in the order they choose.
If an effect would trigger when a Neopet is dealt damage, but that
damage would knock out the Neopet, the effect is removed from
the queue instead and will not proceed to resolve.
5.5.8 End of Turn
5.5.8a End of Turn Effects
Effects that apply during the end of the turn will be added to the
queue. The controllers of those effects gain priority with any
effects controlled by the active player added to the queue first in
the order they choose and the nonactive player’s effects added to
the queue after in the order they choose.
5.5.8b After all “end of turn” triggered abilities have resolved, the queue is
empty, and all players have passed priority, any temporary effects
that take place “until end of turn” will cease and be removed from
any objects being affected.
5.5.9 End of Round & End of Game
5.5.9a When a round ends, first check if there is a winner. A player wins
the game when they have won two of the three rounds in the game.
5.5.9b A player wins the round when they have knocked out their
opponent’s Neopet.
5.5.9c When a Neopet is knocked out, all effects in the queue are
removed and will not proceed to resolve. Skip all “End of Turn”
abilities and effects and proceed directly to End of Round cleanup.
5.5.10 End of Round Cleanup
When a round ends and there is not a definitive game winner, the following
End of Round Cleanup procedures are executed.
Each player puts their active Neopet into the Round Results zone, the
winner’s Neopet face-up, the knocked out Neopet face-down. Then, each
player puts all Codestones, Equipment, and Legends on their side of the
Battledome into their owner’s Discards and all Faeries on their side of the
Battledome into their owner’s Voids. Players do not put Map Pieces or
Locations into their Discards, those persist between rounds. When both
players have successfully executed these steps, any “End of Round” delayed
effects will now resolve.
5.5.11 End of Round Effects
5.5.11a After End of Round Cleanup procedures are completed, all
delayed triggers that were delayed until “End of Round” will now
resolve.
5.5.11b End of Round delayed triggers do not use the queue and players
do not gain priority.
5.5.11c If there are multiple End of Round delayed triggers controlled by
the same player, that player may resolve them in any order.
5.5.11d If there are multiple End of Round delayed triggers controlled by
different players, they resolve in order starting with the effects of
the player who won the round that is currently ending resolving
first and then the opposing player’s delayed triggers resolving
after.
5.5.12 Starting a New Round
After both players have finished End of Round Cleanup procedures and
resolving relevant End of Round effects, they do the following in order.
The player who won the previous round will choose a new active Neopet from
their Neopet Deck and place it in their Neopet slot face up (as opposed to
face down at the start of the game). The opposing player, whose Neopet was
knocked out, will then choose a new active Neopet from their Neopet Deck
and play it in their Neopet slot face up. The player whose Neopet was
knocked out is now the active player and the game continues as normal.
The active player does not skip their Battle Phase during the first turn of a
new round. Players do not draw any additional cards or mulligans and the
game continues with all players’ zone remaining in the same state as they
were at the end of the previous round (except for one less Neopet in their
Neopet Deck).
6. Parts of a Card
6.1 Name
6.1.1 The name of the card appears in the top center of the card.
6.1.2 The name of a card is always its English name, regardless of printed
language.
6.2 Neopet Stats
6.2.1 The base stats of any Neopet appear in the three boxes on the bottom of the
card and the one box in the top right of the card. The Attack stat appears in
the bottom left box next to a symbol of a red sword. The Defence stat appears
in the bottom center box next to a symbol of a blue shield. The Agility stat
appears in the bottom right box next to a symbol of a pair of yellow boots. The
Hit Point stat appears in the top right box next to a symbol of a green heart.
6.2.2 The value of a Neopet’s base stats is determined by the printed value on the
Neopet and all attached Codestones.
6.2.3 The total value of any singular stat value is equal to its base value plus any
modifiers from other effects. Any effect that refers to a specific stat value
refers to the total stat value, not only its base value.
6.2.4 A Neopet’s Attack, Defence, or Agility stat cannot exceed a total value of 10.
6.3 Neopet Stats Icons
6.3.1 Each Neopet stat is represented by an associated icon. Any instance of these
icons in card text are considered to also be the printed name of that stat.
6.3.2 The icons for Attack, Defence, Agility, and Hit Points are a sword, shield, pair
of boots, and heart respectively. The color of the icons have no mechanical
significance, only the icon itself.
6.4 Level Requirement
6.4.1 A card’s level requirement appears in the top left box.
6.4.2 A card’s level requirement is exactly equal to its printed value. If a card does
not have a printed level requirement, it’s considered to have no value and no
level requirement, not a level requirement of zero.
6.4.3 A card’s level requirement cannot be changed. Any effects that reduce the
level requirement required to play a card do not change the printed value.
6.4.4 If a card effect would have you target or choose a card or cards with a total
sum of level requirement values, cards without a level requirement cannot
be included.
6.5 Card Type
6.5.1 A card’s type appears under its name in the top center.
6.5.2 Text Box or “Card Text”
A card’s text box refers to the card’s effects and abilities shown on the
bottom half of the card. Anything in this section is considered the card’s
effect. This section may be referred to as either text box or card text.
6.6 Team Icon
6.6.1 A card’s team icon appears in the top right, next to the card name.
6.6.2 Any instance of team icons on a card or in card text are considered to also be
the printed name of that team icon.
6.6.3 There are no deckbuilding restrictions regarding a card’s team icon. A player
may construct their deck with any number of differing team icons.
6.6.4 A team icon gives a card the characteristic of that specified team. Any card
effect that would reference a team name includes any relevant cards with
that team icon.
6.7 Set Code
6.7.1 A card’s set code appears in the card border on the right side of the card.
6.7.2 For the purpose of card quantity limits, if a card has multiple printings, each
printing is the same card regardless of the set code or art.
6.8 Rainbow Pool Icon
6.8.1 A card’s Rainbow Pool icon appears in the top left, next to the card name.
6.8.2 This icon refers to either the Paint Brush associated with that Rainbow Pool
Neopet or the Lab Ray Location.
7. Card Types
7.1 Neopet
7.1.1 Neopets include the red, blue, yellow, or green versions of a species.
7.1.2 For accessibility, the color of a Neopet serves no mechanical purpose
besides reflecting associated stat increases.
7.1.3 A Neopet Deck may contain no fewer than three and no more than five
unique Neopet cards. It cannot contain more than one copy of a unique
Neopet species.
7.2 Rainbow Pool Neopet
7.2.1 Rainbow Pool cards include any painted or Lab Ray Location version of a
species.
7.2.2 Rainbow Pool Neopet cards are indicated by a Paint Brush icon in the top left
and the corresponding Paint Brush name under the species name in the top
center.
7.2.3 A Rainbow Pool may contain no more than ten unique Rainbow Pool Neopet
cards.
7.2.4 A player may have any Rainbow Pool Neopet cards in their Rainbow Pool,
regardless of the Neopets or Paint Brushes included in their Main Deck.
7.3 Faerie, Hero, and Villain
7.3.1 A Faerie, Hero, or Villain card is indicated by the card type “Faerie,” “Hero,” or
“Villain” found under the card name in the top center of the card.
7.3.2 A deck may contain no more than one copy of a unique Faerie, Hero, or
Villain card.
7.3.3 The active player may play a Faerie, Hero, or Villain card only during their
Preparation Phase when the queue is empty.
7.3.4 The controller may use any relevant effects and abilities of a Faerie, Hero, or
Villain card on the same turn it is played.
7.3.5 When a Faerie, Hero, or Villain card leaves the Battledome, it is put into its
owner’s Void. This is not a replacement effect.
7.3.6 If a Faerie, Hero, or Villain does not have a printed level requirement, it does
not have a level requirement. A Faerie card may be played with no
Codestones in play, but it is not considered to have a level requirement of 0.
7.3.7 A player may control no more than one Faerie, Hero, or Villain card in the
Battledome at a time.
7.3.8 Hero and Villain cards have a team icon in the top right, where the team icon
appears normally.
7.4 Paint Brush
7.4.1 A Paint Brush card is indicated by the card type “Paint Brush” found under the
card name in the top center.
7.4.2 A deck may contain no more than two copies of a unique Paint Brush card.
7.4.3 The active player may play a Paint Brush card only during their Preparation
Phase when the queue is empty.
7.4.4 When a Paint Brush resolves, a player must put their active Neopet into their
Rainbow Pool and put the matching Rainbow Pool Neopet from their
Rainbow Pool into their Active Neopet Slot as their Active Neopet. Then that
player puts the Paint Brush card in its owner’s Discard.
7.4.5 When a Neopet is transformed into a Rainbow Pool Neopet, it maintains all
damage and status effects it had before it transformed.
7.4.6 A player can paint their active Neopet any number of times so long as they
have the corresponding Rainbow Pool Neopet in their Rainbow Pool.
7.4.7 A player cannot play a Paint Brush if they do not have the corresponding
Rainbow Pool Neopet in their Rainbow Pool.
7.4.8 A player cannot play a Paint Brush if their active Neopet is already painted
with that same Paint Brush since they do not have the corresponding
Rainbow Pool Neopet in their Rainbow Pool.
7.4.9 If a Paint Brush does not have a printed level requirement, it does not have a
level requirement. A Paint Brush card may be played with no Codestones in
play, but it is not considered to have a level requirement of 0.
7.5 Legend
7.5.1 A Legend card is indicated by the card type “Legend” found under the card
name in the top center.
7.5.2 A deck may contain no more than two copies of a unique Legend card.
7.5.3 The active player may play a Legend card only during their Preparation Phase
when the queue is empty.
7.5.4 When a Legend card resolves, its controller resolves all relevant effects on
the card and then places it in its owner’s Discard.
7.6 Equipment
7.6.1 An Equipment card is indicated by the card type “Equipment” found under
the card name in the top center.
7.6.2 A deck may contain no more than two copies of a unique Equipment card.
7.6.3 The active player may play an Equipment card only during their Preparation
Phase when the queue is empty.
7.6.4 When an Equipment card resolves, it is placed in one of the three Equipment
slots in its owner’s side of the Battledome. The controller may use any
relevant effects and abilities of the Equipment card on the same turn it is
played.
7.6.5 A player may control no more than three Equipment cards at a time.
7.6.6 If each Equipment slot already has an Equipment in it, the controller of the
new Equipment may send one of those slot’s current Equipment to its
owner’s Discard in order to play a different Equipment in the same slot.
7.6.7 When an Equipment card leaves the Battledome, it is put into its owner’s
Discard.
7.7 Potion
7.7.1 A Potion card is indicated by the card type “Potion” found under the card
name in the top center.
7.7.2 A deck may contain no more than two copies of a unique Potion card.
7.7.3 The active player may play a Potion card only during their Preparation Phase
when the queue is empty.
7.7.4 Potions that require one or more dice be rolled as part of the effect are
additional costs such that those dice are rolled as the card is added to the
queue and not while the card resolves. The results of these dice are known
before the card is fully added to the queue. This additional cost uses the
queue and priority rules are applied as normal.
7.7.5 When a Potion card resolves, its controller resolves all relevant effects on the
card and then places it in its owner’s Discard.
7.8 Food
7.8.1 A Food card is indicated by the card type “Food” found under the card name
in the top center.
7.8.2 A deck may contain no more than two copies of a unique Food card.
7.8.3 A Food card can be played by a player any time they have priority. This
includes during any phase and on any turn they would receive priority.
7.8.4 If a Food card has a timing or event restriction such that it can only be played
during a certain time or when a certain event occurs, that Food’s controller
must play it the next time they have priority after the timing or event occurs.
7.8.4a A player holding priority does not disrupt another player waiting for
the appropriate priority window to play a Food due to a previous
timing or event restriction.
7.8.5 Playing a Food card does not count towards the one card a player may play
during their Preparation Phase.
7.8.6 When a Food card resolves, its controller resolves all relevant effects on the
card and then places it in its owner’s Void. This is not a replacement effect.
7.9 Location
7.9.1 A Location card is indicated by the card type “Location” found under the card
name.
7.9.2 A deck may contain no more than two copies of a unique Location card.
7.9.3 The active player may play a Location card only during their Preparation
Phase when the queue is empty.
7.9.4 A Location card might state “This card begins the game in your Rainbow
Pool.” This card does not contribute to the Rainbow Pool’s limit of ten
Rainbow Pool Neopets.
7.9.5 When a Location card resolves, its controller places it in their Play Area. That
player may use any relevant effects and abilities of the Location on the same
turn it is played.
7.9.6 Location cards are treated as in play, but not treated as in the Battledome.
7.9.7 A player may control no more than one Location card at a time. If a player
would like to put a different Location card into play, they must first send their
active Location to the Discard.
7.9.8 When a round ends, Locations in play are not sent to the Discard. Locations
persist in play between each round.
7.10 Map Piece
7.10.1 A Map Piece card is indicated by its card text stating it can be collected as a
Map Piece.
7.10.2 A deck may contain no more than one copy of each unique Map Piece
needed to play a Location.
7.10.3 To collect a Map Piece, put that card into the Play Area.
7.10.4 Map Piece cards are treated as in play, but not treated as in the Battledome.
7.10.5 The active player may collect a Map Piece during their Preparation Phase
when the queue is empty.
7.10.6 The active player may collect any number of Map Pieces during their
Preparation Phase.
7.10.7 Effects that allow a player to play a card outside of its normal restrictions
may be used to instead collect a Map Piece.
7.10.8 Collecting a Map Piece does not use the queue and priority is not passed.
7.10.9 When a round ends, Map Pieces in play are not sent to the Discard. Map
Pieces persist in play between each round until their Location condition is
met.
7.11 Codestones
7.11.1 A Codestone card is indicated by the card type “Codestone” found under the
card name in the top center.
7.11.2 A deck may contain any number of Codestones, regardless of their name or
printed stat boost.
7.11.3 A Codestone is “attached” and not “played.” To attach a Codestone, the card
is placed from the player’s Inventory underneath their active Neopet.
7.11.4 The active player may attach a Codestone only during their Train Phase when
the queue is empty. No more than one Codestone may be attached this way.
7.11.5 A player may attach no more than five Codestone cards to their active
Neopet.
7.11.6 Attaching a Codestone does not use the queue and priority is not passed.
7.11.7 All printed stat boosts on Codestones attached to each active Neopet must
be visible at all times.
7.11.8 Attached Codestones are part of a player’s Neopet and are not considered to
be in the Battledome.
8. Gameplay Zones
8.1 Neopet Deck
8.1.1 A player’s Neopet Deck contains no less than 3 and no more than 5 base
Neopet cards.
8.1.2 During a game, each player must keep their Neopet Deck separate and
distinguishable from their Main Deck and Rainbow Pool.
8.1.3 The content of the cards in a player’s Neopet Deck is private information.
8.1.4 The quantity of cards in a player’s Neopet Deck is public information.
8.2 Rainbow Pool
8.2.1 A player’s Rainbow Pool contains no more than ten Rainbow Pool Neopet
cards. It may contain any number of non-Rainbow Pool Neopet cards that
specify “This card begins the game in your Rainbow Pool.”
8.2.2 During a game, each player must keep their Rainbow Pool separate and
distinguishable from their Main Deck and Neopet Deck.
8.2.3 The content of the cards in a player’s Rainbow Pool is private information.
8.2.4 The quantity of cards in a player’s Rainbow Pool is public information.
8.3 Main Deck
8.3.1 A player’s Main Deck contains exactly fifty cards, no more, no less.
8.3.2 During a game, each player must keep their Main Deck separate and
distinguishable from their Neopet Deck and Rainbow Pool.
8.3.3 The content of the cards in a player’s Main Deck is private information.
8.3.4 The quantity of cards in a player’s Main Deck is public information.
8.4 Active Neopet Slot
8.4.1 A player’s Active Neopet Slot contains their Active Neopet.
8.4.2 A player’s Active Neopet Slot is not considered to be in the Battledome.
8.5 Codestone Slots
8.5.1 A player’s Codestones Slots contain all attached Codestones.
8.5.2 A player’s Codestones Slots are not considered to be in the Battledome.
8.6 Battledome
8.6.1 The Battledome includes the following for each player: one Faerie slot and
three Equipment slots.
8.6.2 Each slot has a specific designation in the Battledome. The Faerie slot top
left of the active Neopet slot, one Equipment slot under the Faerie slot, and
the remaining two Equipment slots to the right of the active Neopet slot, one
above the other.
8.6.3 The Battledome does not include any player’s Neopet Deck, Rainbow Pool,
Main Deck, Void, Discard, Active Neopets Slot, Codestone slots, or Play
Area.
8.6.4 During a game, each card in the Battledome must be in its designated slot,
distinguishable from other slots, and visible at all times.
8.7 Inventory
8.7.1 A player’s “Inventory” refers to the cards in their hand.
8.7.2 A player may have a maximum of fifty cards in their Inventory.
8.7.3 The content of the cards in a player’s Inventory is private information.
8.7.4 The quantity of cards in a player’s Inventory is public information.
8.8 Discard
8.8.1 A player’s Discard includes all cards sent there due to card resolution, game
effect, or End of Round cleanup.
8.8.2 The contents of the cards in a player’s Discard are public information. A
player may request to look at another player’s Discard at any time, to which
the player receiving the request is obligated to present it and the contents
within.
8.8.3 During a game, each player must keep their Discard separate and
distinguishable from their Void, Play Area, and Battledome and visible at all
times.
8.8.4 The quantity of cards in a player’s Discard is public information.
8.9 Void
8.9.1 A player’s Void includes all cards sent there due to card resolution, game
effect, or End of Round cleanup.
8.9.2 The contents of the cards in a player’s Void (except face-down cards) are
public information. A player may request to look at another player’s Void at
any time, to which the player receiving the request is obligated to present it
and the contents within.
8.9.3 During a game, each player must keep their Void separate and
distinguishable from their Discard, Play Area, and Battledome and visible at
all times.
8.9.4 The quantity of cards in a player’s Void is public information.
8.10 Play Area
8.10.1 A player’s Play Area includes all cards in the queue pending resolution, Map
Pieces, Locations, and any other card designated to “stay in play.”
8.10.2 The Play Area is positioned below each other slot that makes up the
Battledome.
8.10.3 Cards put into the queue by players are not required to be put positionally
into the Play Area but should be understood by both players to represent the
queue.
8.10.4 Any card designated to “stay in play” without a corresponding slot in the
Battledome must remain in the Play Area and be visible at all times.
8.10.5 During End of Round cleanup, all cards in the Play Area except Locations and
Map Pieces are sent to their owner’s Discard or Void per normal cleanup
rules.
8.10.6 During a game, each player must keep their Play Area separate and
distinguishable from their Discard, Void, and Battledome and visible at all
times.
8.11 Queue
8.11.1 The queue represents all cards, card effects, activated abilities, and triggered
abilities that have been played, activated, or triggered and are pending
resolution.
8.11.2 Activated abilities and triggered abilities in the queue are not treated as being
in the Battledome.
8.11.3 While cards in the queue are considered to be in the Play Area, the queue
can be represented anywhere so long as both players understand its order of
contents.
8.12 Cards, Abilities, and Effects
8.12.1 Timing and Priority
Cards, activated abilities, and triggered abilities can be added to the queue
at the end of any sentence in an effect when that player has priority. The
effects of those cards or abilities will not attempt to resolve until the current
effect has finished resolving.
8.12.2 Phase-Based Priority
During any player’s turn, priority is passed during every phase regardless of
whether or not a game action is taken. This happens as phases end, not as
they begin. If a player would like to assume priority during a phase in which
another player, namely the active player, does not take a game action, they
must signify this before the next phase begins.
8.13 Cards
8.13.1 Any card that is a Faerie, Paint Brush, Legend, Equipment, Potion, Map Piece,
Location, Food, or Codestone is considered a “card” for the purpose of game
effects.
8.13.2 Neopet and Rainbow Pool Neopet cards are not “cards” for the purpose of
game effects. They are not affected by any game effect that would reference
“card” or “cards.”
8.14 Card Effects
8.14.1 A card’s effect is any text in a card’s text box. A card’s effect does not include
its name, level requirement, or type.
8.14.2 Card effects also include any activated or triggered abilities of cards in the
Battledome.
8.14.3 If a card would lose its effect due to another effect, it maintains its other
aspects (name, level requirement, type).
8.15 Activated Abilities
8.15.1 An activated ability is an effect on a card or Neopet in the Battledome that
requires a cost be satisfied to be added to the queue.
8.15.2 An activated ability may be added to the queue whenever its controller has
priority and only once that turn unless otherwise stated. The ability’s costs
and timing restrictions must be satisfied before the effect is added to the
queue.
8.15.3 An activated ability’s cost will be designated by a semi-colon. All text before
the semi-colon is the cost, all text after the semi-colon is the effect that is
added to queue if the costs are satisfied.
8.15.4 Activated abilities use standard priority rules and will not resolve until both
players have passed priority.
8.16 Triggered Abilities
8.16.1 A triggered ability is an effect that requires a certain event to occur to be
added to the queue.
8.16.2 A triggered ability are designated by a comma, with its trigger condition
before the comma and the effect after the comma.
8.16.3 A triggered ability is added to the queue as soon as its condition is met and
after all effects of the source that caused it to trigger have finished resolving.
8.16.4 Triggered abilities use standard priority rules and will not resolve until both
players have passed priority.
8.17 Conditional Effects
8.17.1 A conditional effect is an effect that requires a condition or set of conditions
be met to be added to the queue.
8.17.2 A card with a conditional effect must meet all of its required conditions to be
added to the queue, including any necessary legal targets.
8.17.3 A card with a conditional effect can be added to the queue when its
controller has priority and when all of its conditions are met.
8.17.4 A card with a conditional effect uses standard priority rules and will not
resolve until both players have passed priority.
8.18 Passive Abilities
8.18.1 A passive ability is an effect on a card in the Battledome or Active Neopet
that is constantly active and requires no additional costs, triggers,
conditions, or actions to take effect.
8.18.2 Passive abilities do not use the queue.
8.18.3 A passive ability on a card in the Battledome or Active Neopet is always
active regardless of turn phase.
8.18.4 A passive ability of a card in the Battledome or Active Neopet that does not
specify “other” of a certain type of card or Neopet will affect itself.
8.18.5 If two or more passive abilities contradict each other, the effect that has been
in play for a greater duration takes precedence.
8.19 Delayed Triggers
8.19.1 A delayed trigger is an effect on a card or Neopet that creates an event at a
later time and will specify when that event will occur.
8.19.2 An event created by a delayed trigger will occur regardless of the
permanence of the object that created it.
8.20 Keyword Actions/Status Effects
8.20.1 Abandon your Neopet
8.20.1a You automatically lose the round and your Neopet is placed faced
down in the round results. All End of Round cleanup procedures
take place as normal.
8.20.1b You may only abandon your Neopet when you resolve an effect
that allows you to do so.
8.20.2 Collect
8.20.2a To collect a card, put it into the Play Area during your Preparation
Phase.
8.20.2b Collecting a card does not count towards the one card a player
may play during their Preparation Phase.
8.20.2c The active player may collect any number of cards during their
Preparation Phase.
8.20.2d The active player may only collect cards that state they can be
collected.
8.20.2e Effects that allow a player to play a card outside of its normal
restrictions may be used to instead collect a card.
8.20.3 Discard
8.20.3a To discard a card, send it from the designated player’s Inventory to
their Discard.
8.20.3b When an effect instructs a player to “send a card” to their Discard,
this does not count as the action of “discarding” that card for the
purpose of other effects that would see a card “discarded.”
8.20.4 Freeze/Frozen
8.20.4a To freeze a Neopet is to give it the “frozen” status effect.
8.20.4b A frozen Neopet can not perform any attacks during its next Battle
Phase. A frozen Neopet can still defend during their opponent’s
Battle Phase.
8.20.4c A frozen Neopet may be frozen again. This effect does not stack
into subsequent turns, it still only applies to the turn that it was
applied.
8.20.5 Immune
8.20.5a A Neopet that is immune cannot be affected by the designated
ability or status effect.
8.20.5b If a Neopet is already under the effects of an ability or status
effect, becoming Immune to that ability or status effect does not
remove it. That Neopet’s immunity only applies to any abilities or
status effects that would affect it after the time it gained immunity.
8.20.6 Negate
8.20.6a To negate an action, ability, or effect is to stop that action,
ability, or effect from being performed or resolving.
8.20.6b If a Neopet’s abilities or effects are negated by a static ability, that
Neopet is treated as if that ability or effect does not exist.
8.20.7 Reveal
8.20.7a To reveal a card, turn face up that card such that it is made known
to all players.
8.20.7b Revealed cards are only public information as they are revealed.
When a revealed card reaches its intended destination, it
becomes private information (unless that destination is a zone
that is public).
8.20.8 Scrap
8.20.8a To scrap a card, send the top card of the designated player’s deck
to their Discard.
8.20.8b This does count as a card being sent from the deck to the Discard
for the purpose of effects that would require that condition.
8.20.9 Search
8.20.9a To search a zone for one or more designated cards, look through
that zone for the designated card(s).
8.20.9b If an effect would require a player search for a specific card type,
the controller of that effect must show that card to all other
players, proving the exact type required by the effect was
acquired.
8.20.9c A player may only take a search action if they have the necessary
quantity of resources required by that action, however that player
need not successfully acquire a card.
8.20.9d A player must always shuffle their deck and offer their opponent to
cut it after they search their Main Deck.
8.20.10 Transform
8.20.10a To transform your Neopet, place your active Neopet into the
Rainbow Pool and replace it with a Neopet of the same species
that meets the requirements of the effect used to transform it.
8.20.10b If a Paint Brush does not have a card effect, it has the inherent
effect of transforming your Neopet into the color with the same
name.
8.20.11 Additional Costs
8.20.11a Additional costs are conditions that must be met to put certain
effects into the queue. These additional costs can be found on
cards, abilities, or effects.
8.20.11b Additional costs are indicated by text preceding a semi-colon. Any
text before a semi-colon represents the additional requirements
that must be met to put into the queue the effect stated after the
semi-colon.
8.20.11c Additional costs must be met prior to any part of the effect being
put into the queue.
8.20.11d Resources used to meet the requirement of additional costs are
spent regardless if the effect they were used for does not resolve.
8.20.12 Alternative Costs
8.20.12a Alternative costs are optional requirements that may be met
instead of the normal costs required for a card, ability, or effect.
8.20.12b Alternative costs are indicated by text before a semi-colon and will
designate whether it replaces the normal requirements or has a
varying effect dependent on which cost was met.
8.20.12c Alternative costs are always optional.
8.20.13 Targeting
8.20.13a If a card, ability, or effect requires one or more targets, those
targets must be selected as it’s added to the queue, not after it has
resolved.
8.20.13b If all targets of a card, ability, or effect are made illegal by the time
their source would resolve, the effect does not resolve.
8.20.13c If an object would gain a temporary effect prohibiting it from being
targeted while the source of the targeting is still in the queue, that
object will be considered an illegal target when the source
attempts to resolve.
8.20.14 Effects with Required Resources
8.20.14a If an effect would instruct a player to take an action that includes a
designated quantity of resources, that player completes the action
with as many available resources as possible.
8.20.14b If an effect includes a specific quantity of required resources as an
additional cost or “if, then” clause, that effect’s controller must
have at least the specified quantity of resources in order to put
that effect into the queue or successfully resolve the effect.
8.20.14c If an effect would instruct a player to search their deck for one or
more cards of a designated type, that player need not confirm
there are cards of the designated type available in their deck and
may opt to not choose any cards.
8.20.15 Resolving Cards, Effects, and Abilities
8.20.15a Each time both players pass priority in succession, the next card,
effect, or ability in the queue resolves.
8.20.15b To resolve an effect or ability, the controller of that effect or ability
carries out each action instructed in the effect’s text.
8.20.15c If the card that resolves is a Faerie or Equipment, it is put into the
appropriate zone in the Battledome. If the card that resolves is a
Legend, Food, Paint Brush, or Potion, the card remains in the Play
Area until the card’s controller finishes carrying out each action
instructed in the effect, then puts the card in their Discard (Food is
put into the Void).
8.20.15d Effects may require a player to take multiple actions. Those
actions always resolve in the order they appear in the effect’s text.
8.20.15e If an effect resolving would cause a card to be played or another
effect or ability to trigger, the card, effect, or ability is added to the
queue at the end of the current sentence in the resolving effect’s
text. Any of the played cards or triggered effects or abilities will not
attempt to resolve until the current effect has finished resolving
completely.
8.20.16 Replacement Effects
8.20.16a Replacement effects are continuous or one-time effects that
replace a particular event with a different event.
8.20.16b Replacement effects are indicated by the usage of “instead” and
indicate which events are replaced with other events.
8.20.17 “Controlling” Neopets, Cards, Abilities, and Effects
8.20.17a A player controls Neopets, cards, effects, and abilities they play,
put into the queue, or are on their side of the Battledome.
8.20.17b If an effect would allow a player to play a card or activate an ability
controlled by a different player as if it were theirs, that effect gives
that player control of that card or ability, but not ownership.
8.20.17c Cards in any player’s Main Deck, Inventory, Discard, Neopet Pool,
Rainbow Pool, or Void are not considered to be in or under their
control.
9. Additional Rules
9.1 Cards Played by Effects
9.1.1 If an effect would instruct or allow a player to play a card during their
Preparation Phase, the played card does not count towards the one card a
player may play during their Preparation Phase.
9.1.2 If an effect would instruct or allow a player to play a card outside of its
normal timing restrictions, the played card is added to the queue as normal
and its normal timing restrictions are ignored.
9.1.3 Any card played by an effect is treated as being played for any effects that
would see a card played.
9.2 “Discarding” vs “Sending to the Discard”
9.2.1 If an effect would instruct a player to “send” a card to the Discard from a
designated zone, that effect does not count as “discarding” for any effects
that would see a card “discarded.”
9.2.2 Regarding effect text, to “discard” a card is to send it to the Discard, but to
“send a card to the Discard” is not discarding.
9.3 Exhaustion
9.3.1 A player is exhausted when there are zero cards in their deck. If that player
would add cards back to their deck while exhausted, they are no longer
exhausted.
9.3.2 At the beginning of a player’s Draw Phase, if they are exhausted, their active
Neopet is dealt one damage.
9.4 Rolling Alternate Dice
9.4.1 If an effect would instruct a player to roll a d3 (a 3-sided die), that play rolls a
d6. Results of 1 or 2 are treated as a 1, 3 or 4 are treated as a 2, and 5 or 6 are
treated as a 3.
9.5 Cards that “Stay in Play”
9.5.1 Any effect that would instruct a card to “stay in play” places that card in the
Play Area. Unless otherwise stated by game text or rules, these cards adhere
to all standard end-of-round cleanup procedures.
9.6 “During” vs “At the Beginning” Phase Triggers
9.6.1 Effects and abilities that instruct a player to take an action “during” a phase
allows that player to take that action any time while that is the current phase,
including as the phase starts.
9.6.2 Effects and abilities that instruct a player to take an action “at the beginning”
of a phase allow that player to take that action only as the phase starts and
no other time during that phase.
9.7 Multiple Abilities Triggering at the Same Time
9.7.1 If more than one triggered ability trigger at the same time, the controller(s) of
those effects may add them to the queue in any order, starting with the active
player adding all of their effects and then nonactive player adding theirs next.
9.8 Cards without Level Requirement
9.8.1 Cards without a printed Level Requirement are treated as having no Level
Requirement, they are not treated as having a Level Requirement of 0.
9.9 Cards that Reference Names of Cards
9.9.1 Any card that references a card with a specific name or string of words in its
name applies to any card name that contains that name or string of words,
regardless of punctuation or plurality. These cards do not apply to cards with
that name or string of words in its text box.
Example: A player plays Hubert to search their deck for a card with “Hot Dog”
in its name. That player may find the card “Hot Dog” or “Hubert’s Special Hot
Dog” but cannot find another “Hubert.”
9.10 Additional Cards in Battledome
9.10.1 If an effect would instruct or allow a player to put or have cards in the
Battledome greater than the normal limit, that player may choose any space
in the Battledome area that is both reasonable and understandable to both
players.
9.11 Public and Private Information
9.11.1 Public information includes any face-up game components or information
available to all players. This includes the following game components and
information: active Neopets, cards face-up in the Battledome or Play Area,
face-up cards in players’ Discards and Voids, dice, dice results, damage
taken, and quantity of cards in players’ Inventories, Main Decks, Discards,
Voids, Neopet Decks, and Rainbow Pools.
9.11.2 Private information includes any face-down game components or
information not available to all players. This includes the following game
components and information: Neopet Pools, Rainbow Pools, face-down
Neopets at the beginning of rounds, face-down cards in Discards and Voids,
subject of cards in players’ inventories, the subject of cards in players’ decks,
and any other cards placed face down or returned to a player’s deck.
9.11.3 If an effect would reveal a card, the controller of that card need only reveal it
once as instructed. Revealed cards are not considered public information
after they are revealed once.
10. Card Clarifications
10.1 Lab Ray – Sponge Neopets
10.1.1 The total damage is the value being halved and then rounded down, you are
not reducing by ½. So if the damage is 3, the damage is halved to 1 ½ and
then reduced to 1.
Credits
System Design: Bobby Coovert
Game Design: Bobby Coovert
Comprehensive Rules Design and Development: Bobby Coovert, Ryan Martin
Editing: Alfredo Correa, Bobby Coovert, Bree Horstkamp, Thomas Kitchell
Neopets Battledome Trading Card Game Rules Management: Bobby Coovert, Ryan Martin