What Is Axion Forge?
Axion Forge is an epic science fantasy trading card game set in an expansive original universe, built from the ground up by a single designer over thousands of hours.
Discover the innovative systems and unique mechanics that make every game exciting, all connected by rich worldbuilding and lore.
Core concepts
Step into a world of strategy and tactical mastery. Command fierce creatures from different dimensions, wield arcane powers and technological marvels, and dominate a shifting battlefield where positioning is just as important as power.
Creativity and sharp decision-making are rewarded at every turn, so be ready to outsmart and outplay your opponents using hundreds of unique cards in countless combinations.
- 1 to 4 players
- Tactical, position-based combat
- Innovative resource and risk and reward systems
- Multiple paths to victory
- Distinctive factions with deep narrative and lore
- Intuitive to learn, difficult to master
- Endless replayability and very high player expression
Tactical positioning
Axion Forge emphasizes positional strategy, blending the depth and flexibility of card games with the spatial tactics of board games.
Every card has its own Battle Map, creating unique placement opportunities that can dramatically change its options. Where you play a card determines its abilities, range, potential targets, and more.
Positioning isn't just about putting your strongest cards in the right place; it's about reading the battlefield, anticipating your opponent, and creating opportunities for your next move. Where you play your cards is just as important as the cards themselves!
Open any card in the Card Database and look at its Range section to see its Battle Map in action:
Shared power, high risks and rewards
Axion Forge turns potential into power through the Axion Gauge, a shared meter between the players. Every card you put into play moves Axions away from you and toward your opponent, equal to its Dominance.
The player the Gauge favours is Empowered and can spend Axions on powerful special abilities, which hands those Axions back to the other side. Every advantage comes with a catch: building your own army hands your enemies the tools to strike back harder.
Balance is everything. Each side of the Gauge holds at most 7 Axions; push past that and reality Fractures, costing the overwhelmed player Resonance. Players must constantly weigh when to advance, when to pull back, and when to leave the danger to their rivals.
The question isn't whether you should seek more power; it's how much you are willing to risk to gain it!
A universal resource economy
A streamlined resource system gives you the freedom to use the cards you want and play them your way.
Resources aren't locked behind specific colours or categories. Forges give Shards, the currency almost every card uses, so you can mix and match any number of factions without artificial restrictions.
But resources are much more than a way to pay for your other cards. Cores and Prisms are rarer resources that power the strongest plays, and the Axions your opponent hands you unlock a huge variety of powerful abilities.
Resource management can be as simple or complex as you want it to be!
Countless deck options
Customize your deck using nearly any combination of cards from a variety of unique factions, each with its own distinct theme and play style.
Build around the strategy that suits you. Unleash brute-force attacks, outmaneuver with clever tactics, pursue special objectives, or create an entirely different strategy all your own.
With countless combinations at your disposal, no two decks have to play the same. Build your army, refine your strategy, and find your own way to rule the Battlefield!
Multiple paths to victory
Winning isn't just about hitting your opponent.
Relentlessly attack undefended positions to reduce their Resonance to 0. Destroy their cards to claim Dominance. Pursue special objectives and turn unexpected opportunities into an entirely different win condition.
Adopt the strategy you want and play the game your way!
An epic story
Across countless dimensions, powerful factions fight to shape the future of existence itself.
Ancient magic, advanced technology, and creatures beyond imagination collide as worlds converge on a battlefield unlike any other. At the center of it all are Axions: dark matter fragments of unrealized possibility, capable of reshaping reality.
Every faction has its own origins, ambitions, rivalries, and secrets, and every battle is part of a much larger story waiting to be discovered.
Ready to play?
Getting started is easy. Learn the rules with the How to Play video and the short Learn pages, or download the Quick Start Guide.
Looking for an opponent, want to share your ideas, or just get involved? Join the growing community and connect with other players!