Star Realms: Colony Wars FAQ
40 questions players ask · Updated Nov 10, 2026 · Full rulebook
Setup and overview
Play
- Does Lancer's extra 2 combat apply once, or for each base the opponent controls?
- Do you have to scrap a card to get the trade or combat from its main ability?
- With Supply Depot, can you gain 2 Trade for one discard and 2 Combat for the other?
- Is a base's 'scrap a card in your hand' ability optional?
- How does the Factory World base's 'next ship or base into your hand' ability work?
- Is there a difference between a card put into your hand and one put directly into play?
- Must you play all the cards in your hand, and is there a hand limit?
- Can Stealth Tower copy an opponent's base as well as your own?
- Can a 'destroy target base' effect target your own base, such as Stealth Tower?
Multiplayer Rules
Star Realms: Gambit SetExpansion
- How many Merc Cruisers should each deck get from the Gambit Set?
- How many cards does each player draw for the opening hand in solo or co-op Gambit play?
- Are Gambit cards shuffled into the Trade Deck or dealt out in solo play?
- How many Gambit cards should each player be dealt?
- Are Gambit cards kept hidden until you use them?
- Where are the solo and co-op rules for the Gambit set printed?
- Does Energy Shield reduce each attack by one damage, or once for the whole turn?
- How does the Pirates of the Dark Star blue ability resolve when a card is revealed?
- In co-op, does a base protect the whole team or only its owner?
- Does the Nemesis Beast attack your base or your authority when its combat cannot destroy the base?
- Can combat be aimed at the Nemesis Beast's face-down cards?
- How does the Nemesis Beast's turn resolve, and is its Blob action separate from its normal attack?
- Does forcing the Nemesis Beast to discard cost it damage?
- When is your next hand drawn in solo play, and can you be forced to discard before drawing?
- How are events handled while a Nemesis Beast or Pirates opponent is in play?
Star Realms: Cosmic Gambit SetExpansion
- Is the Cosmic Gambit's reveal ability one-time, or repeated each turn?
- Where does Exploration's 'put an Explorer on top of your deck' take the Explorer from?
- Is there a Merc Cruiser equivalent in the Cosmic Gambit Set?
- Can you look at your Cosmic Gambit cards before deciding when to reveal them?
- How do you put Secret Outpost into play?
- Does Secret Outpost keep its chosen faction after the turn it is played?