Duel for Cardia Guardians of the Wild: Expansion Guide
By Asmodee – Asmodee USA | Published: 2026-10-28
Category: How-to Guides
Learn how to play the Duel for Cardia Guardians of the Wild expansion, including setup, Guardian timing, and key strategy tips for both players.
Quick answer
Play the Guardians of the Wild expansion by adding six face-down Guardian cards between encounters, then claim them by playing the matching faction at the right moment for a unique bonus.
Why timing matters with Guardians
Guardians reward you for playing the right faction at the right time, so the order of encounters changes how you draft and play. Because each Guardian sits between two encounters, you need to plan ahead: which faction will you have available when that Guardian is revealed?
Unlike locations, Guardians are placed face down, so you won't know the exact ability until you reach that encounter. This adds a push-your-luck element: commit to a faction early for a sure bonus, or stay flexible and risk missing out.
Guardians vs. locations: key differences
Guardians are similar to locations because both are placed in the middle, but Guardians appear between encounters, not during them. They also belong to a specific faction, so you must play that faction at the right time to trigger the bonus.
This means you should track which faction you've already used and which you still hold. A Guardian that matches your next faction is a strong incentive to save that card, while a mismatched Guardian might be better left unclaimed.
How to play with Guardians of the Wild
- Set up the Guardian deck: Shuffle all Guardian cards and deal six face down, one for every other encounter in the middle of the play area. Keep the rest aside; you won't use them this game. Check that you have exactly six Guardians placed between encounters before starting.
- Reveal a Guardian at the right time: When you reach an encounter that has a Guardian next to it, flip that Guardian face up before resolving the encounter. Read its ability and note which faction it belongs to. If you don't have the matching faction in hand, decide whether to play a different card or save your faction for the next Guardian.
- Claim the Guardian by playing the matching faction: To gain the Guardian's bonus, you must play a card of the same faction as the Guardian during that encounter. If you do, resolve the Guardian's unique ability immediately. If you can't or don't want to claim it, the Guardian remains in the middle and gives no bonus to either player.
Product facts
- Duel for Cardia: Guardians of the Wild Expansion: The first expansion for Cardia introduces Guardians, animal and fantastic beast cards that give a bonus if you play the right faction at the right time. Knowing that Guardians are faction-specific helps you decide when to hold or play a faction card to secure the bonus.
Duel for Cardia: Guardians of the Wild Expansion
