How to Play Star Realms Academy: Simplified Rules for New Players

Quick Answer

Star Realms Academy is a streamlined version of the popular deckbuilding game, designed to teach new players the core mechanics. The goal is to reduce your opponent's authority to zero by buying ships and bases from a central trade row and using them to attack. In this guide, we'll walk through the simplified rules so you can start playing within minutes.

If you're new to deckbuilding games, Star Realms Academy is the perfect starting point. It distills the essence of the Star Realms universe into a simpler format, letting you focus on the fun without getting overwhelmed. This guide breaks down the game into easy steps, from setup to victory.

We'll cover the core loop: acquiring cards, playing them, and attacking your opponent. By the end, you'll know how to set up the game, take your turn, and recognize when you've won. Let's dive in.

What You Need to Start

Star Realms Academy is a two-player game that comes with two pre-built 10-card starting decks and a central deck of trade cards. Each player also has an authority tracker (often a die or app) to record their life total. The game is played with a shared play area, so you'll need a flat surface big enough for the trade row and both players' discard piles.

The game is designed to be quick to set up and play, making it ideal for introducing new players to the genre. You don't need any expansions or extra components to enjoy the full experience.

• Check that you have two starting decks, the main draw pile, and a way to track authority.

Setting Up the Game

To set up, shuffle the main deck and place it in the center. Reveal five cards from the top and lay them face-up in a row between the players. This is the trade row, where you'll buy cards during your turn. Each player takes one of the starting decks, shuffles it, and draws five cards to form their hand.

Each player sets their authority to 50 (or the amount indicated in the rules). The starting player is determined randomly. Now you're ready to begin.

• A common mistake is forgetting to reveal five cards for the trade row. Always double-check before starting.

How Turns Work

On your turn, you'll follow a simple sequence: First, you may play cards from your hand. Each card has a faction (or color) and an effect. Some cards give you trade (money) to buy new cards, while others deal combat damage to your opponent. You can play cards in any order, and you don't have to play all of them.

After playing cards, you can spend your trade to buy one card from the trade row. The card you buy goes directly to your discard pile, and you replace it with a new card from the main deck so there are always five face-up. Then, you discard your hand and any unplayed cards, and draw five new cards.

Finally, you may use any 'ally' abilities that trigger when you have two or more cards of the same faction in play that turn. These abilities are optional and can give you extra trade, combat, or other bonuses.

• Remember: You can only buy one card per turn, so prioritize what you need most.

Combat and Winning

Combat damage is dealt to your opponent's authority. If you reduce their authority to zero or below, you win immediately. Some cards have 'scrap' abilities that let you remove them from the game to gain a bonus, which can be useful for thinning your deck.

There are also bases, which are cards that stay in play and provide ongoing effects or defense. You can attack bases to destroy them, which may prevent them from attacking you back. Managing your authority and your opponent's bases is key to victory.

• Don't forget to check if your opponent has any bases that need to be dealt with before you go all-in on attacking.

Learn Star Realms Academy in 5 Steps

1. Setup the Game: Shuffle the main deck, deal five cards to the trade row, and each player takes a starting deck and draws five cards. Set authority to 50. Checkpoint: Ensure the trade row has exactly five cards before you start.
2. Play Your Hand: On your turn, play cards from your hand to gain trade or combat. Cards with the same faction may trigger ally abilities if you have two or more. Checkpoint: Don't forget to activate ally abilities before moving to the buy phase.
3. Buy a Card: Spend your trade to purchase one card from the trade row. Add it to your discard pile, then replace the empty slot with a new card from the main deck. Checkpoint: You can only buy one card per turn, so choose wisely.
4. Discard and Draw: Discard your hand and any unplayed cards, then draw five new cards to start your next turn. Checkpoint: Your deck will grow as you buy cards, so plan for future turns.
5. Win the Game: Reduce your opponent's authority to zero by dealing combat damage. Use ships and bases to attack, and remember to defend against incoming attacks. Checkpoint: If your opponent has bases, you may need to destroy them first to win.

Gear Up for More Star Realms

• Star Realms High Alert Display 6 Each of 4 Packs: High Alert features four 12-card expansion packs. Heroes has multi-faction hero cards, Invasion has ships/bases with Double-Ally abilities, Requisition has ships/bases with reducible costs, and Tech has the new Tech card type, which gives you special abilities to activate on each of your turns. Once you've mastered the Academy, these expansions add new mechanics and strategies to keep the game fresh and challenging.
• Star Realms Command Deck: The Coalition: Play as High Director Valken. Methodically take control of the galaxy using the resources of the Trade Federation applied with deadly Machine Cult efficiency! Battle against another Command Deck, or play as a raid boss taking on two players using standard personal decks! Command Decks offer unique starting decks that change how you play, providing a deeper challenge for players ready to move beyond the basics.

Star Realms Academy is a fantastic entry point into deckbuilding games. With these simplified rules, you can teach yourself or a friend in just a few minutes. Once you're comfortable, consider expanding your experience with the High Alert packs or Command Decks to explore new strategies and keep the game exciting.