Goal: beat the named champion in a best-of-3. Win 2 battles to win the match.
Squad: you start each match with a fixed squad of five — no shop, no gold, no upgrading. You can hold a piece back on the fielding screen if you like, but you'll usually want all five out.
Between battles: damaged units carry their HP into the next battle; killed units are gone for the match. If one side is wiped out, the match ends immediately.
Setup: place your fielded units in your two back rows. The enemy's placement is shown up top — read it, then decide.
Battle: you command your own pieces. Click a ready piece (green ring), then a highlighted square. Your piece steps there and its combat AI attacks the best target in range. When you've had enough, press End turn.
Overwatch: after you move into an enemy's range, they get a free reaction shot — once per piece per round. Position carefully!
Ultimates: every action charges your piece. When it is fully charged (purple ring), its next action unleashes its ultimate instead of a normal attack.
Special traits: Vanguards taunt, Wardens shield allies, Clerics heal, Golems splash & stagger, Knights parry when hurt, Assassins blink away. Rounds alternate who moves first; a battle ends when one side is wiped or the 12-round limit is reached.