# Star Realms: Command Deck – The Union ## General Info - **Year Published**: 2018 - **BGG Rating**: 7.6 - **BGG Rank**: — - **Players**: 2-4 (Best with: 2) - **Duration**: 20-0 min - **Weight**: 1.67 / 5 - **Designers**: Darwin Kastle, Robert Dougherty - **Artists**: Adam Lachmanski, Randy Delven, Vito Gesualdi - **Publishers**: Wise Wizard Games, Devir, IELLO, IUVI Games - **Categories**: Card Game, Expansion for Base-game, Science Fiction - **Mechanics**: Deck, Bag, and Pool Building ## Verdict If you're a Star Realms fan and love the idea of a commander with custom abilities and decks, this expansion is for you! It injects new life into your games.Unique and powerful commanderCustom starting deckMore combat varietyGreat for duels or bossesRequires a Star Realms base gameSignificant language dependencyHIGHLY RECOMMENDED ## Description Get ready to step into the boots of a legendary Commander in Star Realms with this expansion pack! The Command Deck – The Union isn't just another small card pack; it plunges you directly into the Star Realms universe as an iconic figure, ready for battle. Each of these 18-card decks comes with a unique Commander, complete with their own starting Hand Size and Authority card, plus two Score cards and two "Gambit" cards exclusive to add that special touch to your tactics. But the main event is the mighty 8-cost mega-ship and, of course, your custom 12-card starting deck, which includes new cards from your Commander's two favored factions. With this arsenal, you can take on other commanders in epic duels or even assume the role of a raid boss, facing multiple players with standard decks. It's a fantastic way to inject more variety and strategy into your favorite Star Realms, whether it's Frontiers or any other in the series. The experience focuses on quick battles and smart tactical decisions, where building your deck and utilizing your commander's abilities are crucial for victory. If you enjoy Star Realms and want more options to play as powerful and unique characters, this expansion is a treat! ## How to Play Game Objective When playing with the Union Command Deck, you assume the role of Hive Admiral McReady, a legendary Union commander. Your objective is to defeat your opponents, who can be another Command Deck in a one-on-one confrontation, or two players using standard starter decks in a 2-on-1 team format. While you can acquire and play cards from any faction, your starting deck and your gambits work particularly well with cards from the Trade Federation (✪) and Star Empire (✪) factions. Preparation (Setup) Place your Hive Admiral McCready card, along with your Union Blitz and McReady's Maneuver gambit cards, face up in front of you. The Hive Admiral McCready card is for reference only and does not count as a Trade Federation (✪) or Star Empire (✪) card in play for triggering Ally Abilities. You start with 60 Authority. Use the included scorecards to track your Authority. One scorecard can be rotated and/or flipped to represent the change in the tens digit, and another can be slid and/or flipped to represent the change in the units digit. The sum of the two numbers in the circle represents your Authority score. Shuffle the Meganaut card into the Trade Deck before setting up the initial Trade Row. Shuffle the other 12 cards (Cluster Viper, Imperial Scout, Imperial Talon, Protopod, Ranger, Ripper, [4] Scout, Tribute Transport, and Viper) to create your Personal Deck. Your starting hand will be three cards if you play first, and six cards if you play second. If playing against two players, these players will use standard starter decks (eight Scout cards and two Viper cards). They play as a Hydra team with a total of 75 Authority. Hydra teams share a turn, can share trade and combat, but have separate decks and ally triggers. Game Flow Refer to the manual for details on this section. Actions and How to Play Union Faction Symbol The Union faction symbol represents both the Trade Federation (✪) and Star Empire (✪) factions. The Meganaut card counts as a card of both factions and will trigger the Ally Abilities of either. Its own Ally Ability can be triggered by a Trade Federation (✪) or Star Empire (✪) card. Union Blitz Gambit This gambit remains face up in front of you throughout the game. Its Ally Abilities can be triggered and used each turn. You gain 1 Trade (✪) for each Ally Ability. If you manage to use both, you will gain a total of 2 Trade (✪) from the gambit that turn. McReady's Maneuver Gambit This gambit remains face up in front of you until you use it. You can use it by scrapping it at any time during your Main Phase. When you use it, you count as having an additional Trade Federation (✪) card and an additional Star Empire (✪) card in play that turn for triggering Ally Abilities. End of Game and Scoring Refer to the manual for details on this section. Tips for Winning Your Union Blitz gambit can be triggered and used each turn, providing 1 Trade (✪) for each Ally Ability you manage to activate. Try to maximize the use of your Ally Abilities to generate additional Trade (✪). The Meganaut card is a valuable acquisition, as it counts as a card of both the Trade Federation (✪) and Star Empire (✪) factions, and can trigger Ally Abilities of both. Prioritize its purchase, but be aware that your opponents may also acquire it. Use the McReady's Maneuver gambit strategically during your Main Phase to count as having additional Trade Federation (✪) and Star Empire (✪) cards in play. This can be crucial for triggering powerful Ally Abilities in a key turn. ## FAQ ### Do I need the base Star Realms game to use this expansion? Yes, absolutely! This is a command deck that functions as an expansion and requires the base Star Realms game (or the Frontiers version) to be played. ### How many players can participate with this deck? The deck itself is for one player to assume the role of a commander. However, it can be used in 2-4 player games, where you can face other commanders or play as a 'boss' against multiple players with standard decks. ### What exactly comes in this pack? Each Command Deck comes with 18 cards: 1 Commander card, 2 Score cards, 2 "Gambit" cards, 1 high-cost mega-ship, and a custom 12-card starting deck for your commander. ### Is the game in English? While Star Realms base games might have localizations, this specific Command Deck pack has significant language dependency, with many cards in English. Always check the specific version available. ### Is it complicated to learn to play with the commander? The rules for using the commander are relatively straightforward and add an interesting strategic layer without overwhelming the core Star Realms gameplay, which is already known for being accessible. ### What's the difference between the various Command Decks (Union, Alliance, etc.)? Each Command Deck offers a different commander with unique abilities, "Gambit" cards, and a distinct starting deck, focusing on different factions and strategies. This ensures each one provides a slightly different gameplay experience.