How to Play
Ancient texts from India are filled with stories of Yodhas (legendary warriors) with extraordinary skills and strength that they had acquired through Education (Shiksha), Practice (Sadhana), and Penance (Tapasya).
Equipped with Vardaans (divine blessings) and Astras (divine weapons of incomparable strengths) these Yodhas elevated themselves to the level of Rathi (5000 times stronger than a Yodha); Atirathi (12 times stronger than a Rathi), or Maharathi (12 times stronger than an Atirathi). So a Maharathi has the strength of 720,000 Yodhas!
Equipped with Vardaans (divine blessings) and Astras (divine weapons of incomparable strengths) these Yodhas elevated themselves to the level of Rathi (5000 times stronger than a Yodha); Atirathi (12 times stronger than a Rathi), or Maharathi (12 times stronger than an Atirathi). So a Maharathi has the strength of 720,000 Yodhas!
However, some Yodhas were also weakened by curses (Shraaps) by divinities that these warriors had wronged through their actions (Karma).
Chakravyuha Trading Card Game (TCG) is a battle strategy game that is inspired by this part of the ancient Indian texts. In this game, you as a General command an army (Sena) of Yodhas and strengthen them with Astras and Vardaans while weakening the opposing army with Shraaps and other effects of your superhuman warriors and their weapons.
What are different card types in Chakravyuha?
Yodha Card
Name: Simple, but the interactions of many cards that specify a card name necessitate a mention.Level: This determines how difficult a Yodha is to summon. A Level 1 to 4 Yodha requires no sacrifice to summon. A Sacrifice is where you pick a Yodha on your field to send to the Yamaloka (in other words, discard) before summoning your bigger Yodha/Rathi. A Level 5 or 6 Yodha/Ardha-Rathi requires one Tribute, and a Level 7 or higher Rathi/Atirathi/Maharathi requires two Tributes. That said, defer to any specific summoning conditions a card might mention.
- Vasus: Every Yodha belongs to one of eight Vasus (attributes). These only matter when a card’s text dictates. Prithvi, Varuna, Agni, Vāyu, Āditya, Akasha, Chandramas, Nakshatra.
- Type: Every Chakravyuha Yodha belongs to one of the twenty-five types. Again, these only matter when a card’s text dictates. Here are different Yodha types based on the ancient texts: Manavas, Yakshas, Daityas, Danavas, Pisachas, Pretas, Bhootas, Rakshasas, Gandharvas, Apsaras, Vanaras, Nagas, Kinnaras, Kimpurushas, Suparnas, Vidyadharas, Valakilyas, Vetalas, Maruts, Ushmapas, Siddhas, Adityas, Rudras, Vishwadevas, and Ashwins.
- Text: For Normal Yodhas, this is description text. On Effect Yodhas, it explains their effects or summoning conditions.
- Shakti(Attack): The relevant stat when the Yodha is in Shakti(attack) position (vertical), even if it is not the Yodha attacking.
- Suraksha(Defence): The relevant stat when the Yodha is in Suraksha(defence) position (horizontal). You do not take damage from battles involving your Suraksha(Defence) Position Yodhas.
Vardaan Card
- You won’t just be summoning Yodhas; you’ll also be supporting them with Vardaans and Shraaps. These cards are much simpler in design, but they come in a few subsets. Vardaans can be played face-up and activated immediately or set - played facedown to be activated on a later turn.
- Normal Vardaans have no icon.
- Tvarita (Quick) Vardaans have a lightning icon and can be activated as soon as your opponent’s turn.
- Vardaan cards in the Chakravyuha can either have instant one-off abilities or apply continuous effects.
Shastra/Astra Card
- These cards are much simpler in design and can be played face-up and activated immediately or Set - played facedown to be activated on a later turn. In the case of Astra, they can be activated as soon as your opponent’s turn!
- Shastra has a tool icon, and are played by targeting an appropriate Yodha.
- Astra Cards have a missile icon. If you Set them first, they can be activated on your opponent’s turn but only be played if you have an Ardha-Rathi or above cards are in your field.
- Shastra/Astra cards in the Chakravyuha can either have instant one-off abilities or apply continuous effects.
Shraap Card
- The last of the core card types is the Shraap. These get played facedown on your turn to activate on a later turn when their conditions are satisfied.
- Normal Shraaps have no icon.
- Continuous Shraaps have an infinity icon, and remain on the field indefinitely.
- Tvarit Shraaps have an arrow icon, and are uniquely fast - only another Tvarit Shraap or Tvarit Vardaan can be activated in response to them.
- Shraap cards lie in wait until they're revealed by the player.
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Vyuha Card
Vyuha Battle Formation Cards. Unlike other cards that can remain on the field indefinitely, you can play another Vyuha by removing the one you currently have out. These cards can be played in attack or defense mode and changes the Yodha positions and Shakti/Suraksha modes based on the text of the card.
Vyuha Cards have the advantage of being able to change the entire state of play for its controllers or for both players' fields. They are all Tvarita (Quick Speed 1) and are placed in the Vyuha Zone. Most Vyuha Cards center around changing attack and defense formations and also can boost Shakti and/or Suraksha for cards with Specific Attributes or Types. However, many Vyuha Cards have other effects, such as weakening the opponent's Yodhas, searching Yodhas and/or swarming the field, or even preventing the Field from being swarmed by Yodhas. Most Vyuhas affect all players, but some apply their effects only on the controller's side of the field.

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How do you play Chakravyuha Trading Card Game?
- Chakravyuha is played in turns that follow a specific order of operation. To begin a duel, the decks are shuffled, and each player draws an opening hand of five cards. Here’s a breakdown of the flow of a player's turn.
- Aarambha (Draw): The first thing you do every turn is draw a card. The one exception is the first turn of the player who goes first, who doesn’t draw anything.
- Aavishkaara (Effect): This is when some card effects activate, as indicated by the cards’ text.
- Aavahana (Plan): In this step, you make most of your non-combat actions. These include the normal summon/set of one Yodha (in face-up Shakti(attack) position or face-down Suraksha(defense) position respectively), any special summons of ‘Rathis’ you are allowed, the activation/setting of Shraaps, Vardaans, Shastras, Astras and Mantras, and changing battle positions of your Yodhas or formations based Vyuha card, including flip-summoning facedown defending Yodhas into the face-up attack position.
- Aakramana (Attack): This is where the magic happens. Each Yodha in attack position gets to attack once. When you attack, you compare your Shakti(Attack) value to the opponent’s Shakti (Attack) or Suraksha(Defence) value, whichever is relevant. The battle can go one of a few ways.
- Aavarjana (Counterplan): Just the same as Aavahan step, preparing for your opponent’s turn. In this step, you make most of your non-combat actions. These include the normal summon/set of one Yodha (in face-up attack position or face-down defense position respectively), any special summons you are allowed, the activation/setting of Shraaps, Vardaans, Shastras, Astras, and Mantras, and changing battle positions of your Yodhas, including flip-summoning facedown defending Yodhas into the face-up attack position. If you have one or more Rathi’s on the field, you can place a Vyuha card face up during this turn but it does will not take effect till your next turn.
- Antaa (End): This is when some card effects activate, which you’ll see in the cards’ text. If you have more than six cards in your hand, discard them until you have six.
How do you attack in Chakravyuha Trading Card Game?
- Attacking a Yodha in attack position
- You attack a weaker Yodha in the attack position: You destroy the Yodha and do damage directly to the opponent, equal to the difference.
- You attack a Yodha of equal strength in the attack position: Both Yodhas are destroyed.
- You attack a stronger Yodha in the attack position: Your Yodha is destroyed and you take damage equal to the difference.
- Attacking a Yodha in defence position
- You attack a weaker Yodha in the defence position: You destroy their Yodha.
- You attack a Yodha of equal strength in a defence position: Nothing happens.
- You attack a stronger Yodha in the defence position: You take damage (Kshati) equal to the difference.
If your opponent doesn’t have any Yodhas, you deal your Yodha’s full Shakti (Attack) in damage.
How is the Chakravyuha field layout?
In the Chakravyuha, orderly card placement isn’t just a matter of etiquette, it’s part of the strategy, so you may want to play on a labeled play mat until you’re used to it.1. The Sena Zone houses your Main Deck (your Side Deck is kept off the board until a duel ends). If your deck is depleted and you need to draw, you lose.
2. The Yamaloka is where cards are usually sent when they leave the field. But death isn’t always the end! Some cards have effects that can be activated in the Yamaloka.
3. The Rathi Zone houses your Rathis, Atirathis, and Maharathis. Its contents are kept secret.4. The Vyuha Zone is where you play Vyuha battle Formation Cards. Unlike other cards that can remain on the field indefinitely, you can play another Vyuha by removing the one you currently have out.5. Main Yodha Zones are where you’ll be summoning or setting most Yodhas. Yodhas can be played in the face-up Shakti (attack) position or facedown Suraksha(defense) position.6. Astra, Mantra, Vardaan, and Shraap Zones are where you’ll be activating or setting your Astra, Mantra, Vardaan, and Shraap cards.
There is no designated space for this, but cards can be “banished”, which you can think of as “double dead”. Of course, life always finds a way, and even banished cards might find their way back into play.
What does Shrinkhalaa (Chain Reaction) mean in Chakravyuha?
Some cards in the Chakravyuha can be activated in response to something happening, and may even be responded to themselves with another card. This event is called a Shrinkhalaa (Chain reaction). As the Shrinkhalaa builds, card effects do not resolve until both players agree they are done adding to it, at which point each effect in the chain resolves in backward order, so the last card played is the first to resolve. Cards may only respond to another card if it has an equal or greater speed.
- Speeds are assigned as follows:
- Speed 3: "Tvarita" Shraaps/Vardaans
- Speed 2: Yodhas with “Tvarita” (Quick Effect) in their text. Quick-Play Vardaans, Mantras, Non-Tvarita Shraaps
- Speed 1: All other cards.
Credits and DisclaimerAll the art above is for illustration purposes only and can be subject to change without notice. The art in the Yodha card and Astra Card (above) is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License from ZayPlay Studio. The art in the video, upgraded card, main image, and deck/pack images is by Vamchi Vams (ArtStation).