Though Star Wars Unlimited is a very straightforward and accessible game to play, like most collectable card games (CCGs), the usage of keywords can sometimes make card abilities and functions a little tricky to decipher.
Sometimes, the keyword effect or ability is explained on the card, but even if they are, players may still have questions that arise from the wording.
Which is where Card Gamer comes in!
Let’s take a look at all of the keywords that feature in Star Wars Unlimited’s first set, Spark of Rebellion, and explain them one by one.
List of Keywords in Star Wars Unlimited: Spark of Rebellion
The full list of keywords that feature in Spark of Rebellion, in alphabetical order, are as follows:
- Ambush
- Grit
- Overwhelm
- Raid
- Restore
- Saboteur
- Sentinel
- Shielded
All Spark of Rebellion Keywords Explained
Ambush
When played, cards that have the Ambush keyword may immediately ready, rather than enter play exhausted.
This readied unit can then immediately attack an opponent’s unit.
However, do note that if no enemy units are present to be attacked when the Ambush unit card is played, it cannot be readied and, therefore, remains exhausted in the same way as a non-Ambush card does when being played.
Grit
If a card has the Grit keyword, it gains 1 additional point of power for each point of damage it has.
For example, if it has 2 points of damage, it gains 2 points of power that it uses when attacking and defending.
However, note that this does not apply during the combat in which it receives this damage, as attacking and defending is considered to occur simultaneously.
This is not the case if the attacker has an ability where it deals combat damage before the defender (such as Shoot First, for example). As long as the defender survives the damage it receives, it can then retaliate with the Grit bonus applied.
Overwhelm
When a unit with Overhwhelm attacks, it deals damage to the unit it’s attacking, then any excess damage is applied directly to the opponent’s base.
So if a unit with 6 power and Overwhelm, as in the example above, attacks an enemy unit with 2 HP, it will then deal 4 damage to the controller’s base!
Raid
If a unit has the Raid keyword, it gains additional power when attacking; the bonus is dependent on the number next to the keyword on the card.
For instance, if a unit has Raid 2, it gains a power bonus of 2, which it adds to its printed power level.
So if a unit has 1 power and Raid 2, as in the example above, it would attack with a power of 3.
Restore
A unit with the Restore keyword heals its controller’s base, for the number of HP equal to the Restore value, when it attacks.
So for example, when a unit with Restore 1 attacks (as in the example of the card above), its owner would then heal their base for 1 point.
A base’s health may never exceed its printed HP, so if there are less than 2 damage counters on a base when a Restore 2 unit attacks, it will only heal back to its full HP and no more.
Saboteur
The Sentinel keyword forces other units to attack the Sentinel unit(s); Saboteur units are able to ignore the effect of Sentinel units altogether.
Additionally, Saboteur units destroy Shield tokens before dealing damage, which makes them among the most versatile and useful units in Star Wars Unlimited.
Sentinel
As previously mentioned, if a unit has the Sentinel keyword, it forces other units to target the Sentinel when attacking.
Which means that neither an enemy base or other units can be targeted If a card has the Sentinel keyword.
When attacking, a player must choose an enemy unit in the same arena with Sentinel and all Sentinel units must be defeated before other units or the base can be targeted.
When multiple units have the Sentinel keyword, the attacker may choose who they target.
Shielded
A unit with the Shielded keyword gains a Shield token immediately when played.
A unit equipped with a Shield token blocks the damage of a single attack. So when a unit with a Shield takes damage from an attack, instead of applying damage to the unit, the Shield token is simply removed.
Beware, however, because if a unit has Saboteur, the Shield is destroyed and then your previously Shielded unit will take full damage from the attack!
Which brings us to the end of the list of keywords in Star Wars Unlimited!
What Other Information Is Useful To Know When Playing Star Wars Unlimited?
If you’re looking for insight into other elements of the game, why not check out my guide to Aspects in Star Wars Unlimited?
There’s also a Star Wars Unlimited Card List, for full details of all of the mechanically unique cards in Spark of Rebellion.
Finally, the guide to Star Wars Unlimited Card Rarities will give you the insight you need to identify the most sought after cards in your collection!
