What Is This Sorcery (WITS) is a trading card game that brings a fresh take on the genre while mixing in elements from Web2 titles like Hearthstone and Legends of Runeterra. The biggest difference? Your Hero isn’t just sitting in the background like a passive leader—it’s actually on the battlefield fighting alongside your units, called Catenians. The game blends faction-based deck building, a straightforward mana system, and a mix of spells, relics, and traps to create fast-paced, strategic battles. If you're into TCGs with deep mechanics and rewarding combos, WITS is the kind of game where smart plays can turn the tide in an instant. Here’s everything you need to know to hit the ground running.

How WITS Works – The Basics

Each player builds a 40-card deck based on a faction, led by a Hero. The Hero starts with 0 Attack and 40 HP, but as the game progresses, they level up by playing faction-specific cards, unlocking powerful abilities. The goal is simple: reduce your opponent’s Hero HP to zero before they do the same to you. If they run out of cards, you win by default, though most matches end in battle.

Players start with 2 mana, gaining +1 per turn. Unlike Legends of Runeterra, unused mana doesn’t carry over, making resource management crucial. The battlefield consists of seven slots, but since one is occupied by your Hero, only six are available for summoning Catenians. Placement matters, as several card effects interact with positioning, adding another layer of strategy.

Gameplay revolves around summoning Catenians, casting spells, equipping relics, and setting traps to outmaneuver opponents. Since Heroes actively participate in combat, relics play a key role, allowing them to attack or gain buffs. This creates dynamic battles where every move counts.

Card Types & Their Roles

WITS has a mix of card types that all serve different roles in battle. Understanding how to use them effectively is what separates decent players from great ones.

Heroes are the backbone of your deck. They don’t count toward the 40-card limit but serve as both a leader and an active fighter on the board. Every Hero has a passive ability that improves as they level up, hitting Level 2 and 3 after playing faction cards. Their final form usually unlocks a game-changing effect, so playing toward that power spike is a core part of WITS strategy.

Catenians are your army. These are summonable units that fight alongside your Hero, each with their own stats and abilities. Some have On Play effects (triggered when summoned), On Death abilities (activating when destroyed), or protection effects (preventing others from being attacked). Knowing which Catenians to play and when to trade them in combat is a big part of the game’s strategy.

Relics are equipments that attach to Heroes or Catenians, granting stat boosts, passive effects, or even letting Heroes attack directly. Think of them like Hearthstone’s weapons but with more variety—some focus on raw attack power, while others enhance defense, healing, or energy gain.

Sorcery (Spells) can turn the game on its head in a single play. Some spells buff your own units, while others deal direct damage, draw cards, or generate extra mana. Unlike minions and relics, spells are one-time use, so knowing when to burn resources or hold onto them is key.

Traps are sneaky, delayed-effect cards that activate after a trigger condition is met. They work like Hearthstone’s secrets but have more variety. Some freeze enemy attackers, forcing them to skip a turn, while others reflect damage, summon extra units, or counter enemy spells. A well-placed trap can completely ruin an opponent’s turn if they don’t see it coming.

Abilities and Keywords

Understanding WITS keywords is the difference between playing casually and pulling off galaxy-brain level plays. Here are some of the most important ones:

• Protection – As long as this card is in play, other friendly units cannot be attacked. It acts as a shield, forcing opponents to target this unit first, similar to the Taunt mechanic in Hearthstone.
• On Play – The card’s effect activates immediately when played from hand. This can be anything from drawing cards, dealing damage, summoning extra units, or ramping up mana.
• Divine Shield – This negates the first damage taken, making it great for tanking enemy attacks or resisting removal spells.
• On Death – When this unit dies, its effect triggers. Could be an AOE damage explosion, a healing effect, or even reviving another unit.
• Flying - allows a unit to ignore the Protection effect on enemy cards, attacking freely regardless of defensive positioning.
• Fury – Grants the ability to attack twice in one turn, similar to Windfury in Hearthstone.

Spells also have a wide range of effects, from gaining extra mana to drawing more cards. Knowing how to chain abilities together and set up unpredictable combos is where the real fun starts.

Deck Archetypes and Strategies 

Like any solid TCG, WITS features various deck archetypes, with each faction favoring a specific playstyle. Understanding what kind of deck you're facing can help you adjust your strategy on the fly.

Aggro Decks focus on fast, aggressive plays, swarming the board with low-cost Catenians and aiming to end the game quickly. They rely on high burst damage, early buffs, and relentless pressure. Recommended Decks for this playstyle include the Spell Combo Drath Deck, Fire Catenian Combo Blaze Deck, and fast-paced burn decks, often utilizing the Hero Pakal. If you enjoy quick games (win or lose) and overwhelming opponents before they can set up, aggro is the way to go.

Control Decks excel at shutting down the opponent’s plays using removal spells, board wipes, and healing to survive the early game before unleashing game-winning cards later on. Heroes like Centurio, Marlin, and Baldr are great for this playstyle. These decks tend to play reactively, punishing aggressive opponents and gradually grinding them down over time.

Midrange Decks sit between aggro and control, relying on strong tempo plays to build momentum without burning out too fast. They start aggressively but can transition into a late-game powerhouse, making them one of the most versatile options. Flexible Heroes like Gnosis, Andonaxx, and Atom fit this playstyle well. If you like adapting to your opponent’s strategy, midrange decks offer plenty of options.

As you get comfortable with the basics of WITS, you can start exploring more advanced strategies and deck-building techniques. Understanding how your cards interact and maximizing their effectiveness is key to gaining an edge in battle. Knowing the full card pool will also help you predict your opponent’s moves and counter them effectively. While single-faction decks offer strong synergy, hybrid (multi-faction) decks can be just as powerful with enough theory crafting. The right combination of factions can create unique strategies, opening up creative ways to outplay your opponents.

By mastering the mechanics, managing your resources wisely, and crafting a deck that suits your playstyle, you’ll be well on your way to dominating the battlefield. Good luck, and may your strategies lead you to victory!