Kali Yuga home

How to play

Learn the essentials of enlightenment.

In Kali Yuga, you take on the role of a Deva: one of the many deities of this land. While you begin with only a humble group of devotees, you will gain Resources, unlock the full potency your Deva, and add more powerful cards to your deck. Your successes will be measured by the number of Elders you sway to your side. The game ends immediately when a player has scored 4 Elders.

Image of a Deva card

Your Deva

Each Deva has a unique ability that will guide your strategy. Meet a special condition to Empower your Deva and unlock its full potency.

Image of the ten-card starting deck

Your Deck

Each player starts with the same 10-card deck. Tailor your deck to your strategy by Recruiting new cards directly to your hand.

Image of the Recruit board space

Your Avatar

Visit board spaces with your Avatar to gather Resources or pay them and advance your strategy.

Game Flow

Each player's turn consists of the following steps.

1. Move Avatar You must move your Avatar to a new, unoccupied board space. 2. Play Card Play one card from your hand into your mantra. Your mantra is a sequence of five cards. The cards in your mantra can Harmonize with each other or lead you to Enlightenment. 3. Resolve Resolve your chosen space and played card in any order. Use the Resources from the space to pay for the effects of your card, or vice versa. 4. Mantra Finish If your mantra has five or more cards, finish it by discarding the cards and claiming a reward. 5. Calamity After enough mantras have been completed, the Calamities come to a head, allowing players to claim rewards if they've invested enough Strength...or suffer the consequences if they haven't. 6. Draw Refill your hand to 4 cards.
Image of the Cycle, a row of cards

Corruption and the Cycle

The Cycle is a row of cards that players can Recruit. It is made up of cards drawn from the Dawn and Dusk decks. The Dusk cards are generally stronger and cost more Resources. As the game wears on, Corruption increases and the Cycle shifts to offer more Dusk cards and fewer Dawn cards, creating a natural ratcheting of tension.

Image of an Asura card

The Asura

The Dusk deck also contains the fearsome Asura, expensive cards that change the rules until they are defeated.

As Corruption increases, Asura are more likely to appear in the Cycle, compounding their effects and making each game unique.

Image of two Calamity cards

Calamities

Calamities beset society, offering rewards to those who can be muster enough Strength to confront them.

Access to Calamities is constrained by Avatar placement and cards played, creating strategic considerations for players as they navigate the game.