The First Attacker will have 3 attacking opportunities to attack the player to their immediate left, with their first attack being of any weapon and of any value (1-10). These series of attacks are called the Skirmish. The Defender must try to defend against the first attack of the Skirmish by using a card of the same weapon group, but of higher value. Remember, Swords can beat any weapon (providing they’re not being attacked by a higher Sword). If the Defender beats the first attack, the First Attacker can launch a second attack with any weapon in their hand. However, the value must be of a value that has already been used in the Skirmish - in this example, only values used on the first attack. The Defender must then defend against this second attack as before, and if defended successfully, the 3rd attack begins (following the rules as before). However, this 3rd attack is placed face down and the Defender must still beat this card with the same weapon, but higher value (or an effective sword card).

What happens if the Defender isn't beaten?

If the Defender defends all 3 attacks, the Skirmish ends and the cards are discarded. All players replenish their hand if they have less than 6 cards available (the player who finished the Skirmish as the First Attacker must also pick up a Satchel card) and the Defender now becomes the new First Attacker and will start their Skirmish against the player on their left (who now becomes the new Defender).

What if the attacker can't go?

If the First Attacker is unable to commit all 3 attacks (either by choice or because they don't have any other weapons of the same value), they must then say ‘Pass’ and then the next Attacker on the left of the First Attacker can continue to attack the Defender (as long as they follow the same rules of the Skirmish). This continues until either all Attackers have passed, the Defender has conceded, or successfully survives all 3 attacks.

What happens if the Defender IS beaten?

If the Defender is unable to defend at any point, they must say “Concede” and the First Attacker can then place any future attacking cards that would have been made (if he or she wishes). These must follow the rules of the Skirmish and remember, the total attacks can not exceed more than 3. The defeated Defender must collect all cards in the Skirmish into their own hand. As a further punishment, they are also skipped as the next First Attacker.

What happens at the end of the Skirmish?

At the end of each Skirmish, all players must draw additional cards if they have less than 6 cards in their hand. The player who finishes the Skirmish as the First Attacker will draw to make up 6 cards in their hand first, followed by the next attackers to their left, finishing with the previous defender. As the game proceeds, and there are no cards left in the draw/weapon card pile, this signals the Final Battle of the round. Now at the end of each Skirmish, cards are unable to be replenished (due to an empty draw/weapon deck), and therefore it is a race for all players to relieve all cards in their hand. The last player with cards remaining in their hand will be removed from the game. Additionally, if any player's health reaches 0 at any point, they are also eliminated from the game - and the round ends there.

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The player to the left of the previously eliminated player will become the next dealer and start as the First Attacker for the next round (dealing to their left). All players keep any Satchel cards for the duration they are in the game.