HEX: Shards of Fate

New Player Resource Guide

Version 4.1
(28 May 2017)

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 INTRODUCTION

Hello and welcome to the revised edition of my New Player Resource Guide for
Hex: Shards of Fate. This guide will provide you with valuable tools and links to
a wealth of information for Hex. Our community continues to be an invaluable
resource for articles, videos and more. I hope you find this information helpful,
and that you continue to enjoy your adventures in Hex.

V/r
Snake

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 TABLE OF CONTENTS
1. Introduction to Hex: Shards of Fate
a. Anatomy of a card
b. Champions
c. Resources
d. Actions
e. Constants
f. Artifacts
g. Troops
2. Gems and Set Rotation
3. FAQ
4. Player Created Content
5. PVE
6. PVP
a. Constructed
b. Gauntlets
c. Drafts
d. Other Formats
e. Cosmic Crown Showdown
f. Hex Immortal Championship Series
g. Hex Clash
h. Hex Invitational
7. Hex Story and Lore
8. Factions
a. Ardent
b. Underworld
9. Official Hex Related sites
10. Hex Fan sites
11. Podcasts
12. YouTube Videos
13. Official HexTCG Channel Streamers
14. HexTCG Streamers
15. Other useful information

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 INTRODUCTION TO HEX: SHARDS OF FATE
Hex: Shards of Fate is a massively multiplayer online trading card game
(MMOTCG) by Hex Entertainment. Hex is the first game in the MMOTCG genre
and was funded via Kickstarter on 7 Jun 2013 and raised $2,278,255.

As of 13 September 2016 Hex is currently the 26th most funded game on

Kickstarter and the third most funded card game.

Hex is a free to play game with PVE content that includes an adventure zone
and arena mode. When you sign-up for the game you receive 200 cards to start
your adventure. In PVE you can use equipment to power up your cards and
have access to PVE specific cards with even more versatility.

PVP gives you excellent competitive action with Evolving Sealed Gauntlets,
Drafts, Sealed and Constructed play. With the introduction of Ladder play you
can now compete for cash prizes during the Cosmic Crown Showdown.

Hex also has a full-fledged Auction house where players can buy and sell cards,
packs and equipment.

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INTRODUCTION TO HEX: SHARDS OF FATE
(ANATOMY OF A CARD)

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 INTRODUCTION TO HEX: SHARDS OF FATE
(ANATOMY OF A CARD)
continued

With Scars of War, HEX Entertainment is changing up the look of the cards
slightly to denote cards that are Standard legal or Immortal legal at a glance.
This change is in the color background of a cards cost. Cards with a black
background are legal in Standardi.e. the same look that youve come to know
and love. Those with a grey-silver background are cards that have rotated out of
Standard and are no longer legal in the format. This is our first step among
many at improving the deckbuilding and communication processes for players
trying to build decks in HEX. Hex will be making other improvements as time
goes on.

For the examples above, Verdict of the Ancient Kings is being reprinted in Scars
of War and is Standard legal. However, Born of the Flame has rotated out as it
has the silver/grey colored cost symbol. Cards will still use the thorns and crown
frame around the cost to denote a PvE card like you can see in the
Slaughtergears Reaver.

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 INTRODUCTION TO HEX: SHARDS OF FATE
(CHAMPIONS)

The Champion represents you, the player, in the world of Entrath. Each
Champion has a charge power which will influence your deck, both in what
shard you use and what kind of cards you put into your deck.

For Example, Marshal Josephina has a starting health of 25 and her champion
power requires a single diamond threshold and 4 charges and then Target troop
gets This cant block and This cant attach until the start of your next turn.

With over 75 campions currently in the game, you are destined to find the one
that best fits your deck and playstyle.
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 INTRODUCTION TO HEX: SHARDS OF FATE
(RESOURCES)

Resources give your champion the power to play your other cards. You can play
one resource on each of your turns, and only during your main phase while the
chain is empty. This doesnt use the chain, so there is no chance to respond to a
resource being played. Playing resource cards will give you access to more
resources each turn, and many will also increase the threshold of one or more
of your shards. Most resources charge you champion as well, enabling your
champions power.

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 INTRODUCTION TO HEX: SHARDS OF FATE
(ACTIONS)

Actions represent your special skills and spells. Actions can be either basic or
quick. Basic Actions can only be played during your main phase, and only while
the chain is empty. Quick actions, however, can be played at any time, even
during an opponents turn. Once you finish resolving the effects of an action, its
put into your crypt.

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 INTRODUCTION TO HEX: SHARDS OF FATE
(CONSTANTS)

Constants are lasting effects that your champion can bring into play. Just like
basic actions, you can play a constant only during your main phase, and only
while the chain is empty. However, constants do not go to your crypt, but are
put into play instead, at which point their powers will start affecting the game.

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 INTRODUCTION TO HEX: SHARDS OF FATE
(ARTIFACTS)

Artifacts are magical or mechanical constructs employed by your champion.

Most artifacts do not have threshold requirements, so you can play them in any
deck. Like constants, they can only be played during your main phase while the
chain is empty, after which they will remain in play.

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 INTRODUCTION TO HEX: SHARDS OF FATE
(TROOPS)

Troops are allies that join your champion in battle. Just like artifacts and
constants, troops can only be played during your main phase while the chain is
empty, and then remain in play afterward. Troops can attack and block during
the combat phase. Each troop has an attack value which shows the
amount of damage it deals in combat, and a Defense value which is how
much damage that needs to be dealt to it in a turn for it to be destroyed.
Troops cant attack or use activated powers unless they started the turn under
your control or they have speed. They can still block and use non-activated
powers, though.
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 INTRODUCTION TO HEX: SHARDS OF FATE
(SETS AND GEM ROTATION)

Hex has 6 legal sets currently in game:

1) Shards of Fate (over 350 cards)
2) Shattered Destiny (over 200 cards)
3) Armies of Myth (over 250 cards)
4) Primal Dawn (over 200 cards)
5) Herofall (over 275 cards)
6) Scars of War (over 275 cards)

SET AND GEM ROTATION

(click image above)

The above article from Ben Stoll gives you the plan on how Hex will
handle Set and Gem Rotation and the related phenomenon of
multiple constructed formats.

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 INTRODUCTION TO HEX: SHARDS OF FATE
(FAQ)

(Click Image Above)

Want to know more about Keywords in Hex, Concepts or have
questions about specific cards, then the above FAQ might have your
answer!

Updated Keywords for Scars of War can be found by clicking the

image above.

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 PLAYER CREATED CONTENT
(INTRODUCTION TO HEX)

Introduction to Hex: Shards of Fate

1) Hex Primal (7 Reasons why you should give Hex: Shards of Fate a real
shot)
2) Jeff Hoogland (Intro to Hex Constructed for Magic Players)
3) Chris VanMeter (An In-Depth Guide to Hex from an MTG Perspective)
4) Alucard (What is HEX: Shards of Fate?)
5) Chocmaw (New Player Pitstop)

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 PVE

PVE Guides
1) FiveShards:
a. PvE Piranhas Challenge B/D Guide
b. PvE Campaign Human Warrior
c. PvE Campaign Demystifying the PvE Mage
d. PVE Campaign Battle Royal(e): Classified (Devonshire Keep)
e. Next Level PvE Decks
f. Elemental Storms PvE Deck
g. Frost Arena Battle Royale Armies of Moth
h. Piecetinkering PvE: Aint no party like a Sporzin party.

2) Hex Primal:
a. PvE Campaign Shinhare Cleric
b. PvE Campaign Vennen Mage
c. PvE Campaign Necrotic Warrior
d. PvE Campaign Coyotle Cleric
e. PvE Campaign Orc Cleric
f. PvE Campaign Human Mage
g. PvE Devonshire Keep Dungeon Guide
h. Adventure Zone 1 Map
i. Adventure Zone 2 Map
j. Mercenary Guide

3) NicoSharp:
a. Frost Arena Farming Guide
b. Fully equipped Dealing with the Mad
c. Full equipped Beginners Brutecrown Bluf
d. Fully equipped Cutthroat Boat

4) CoachFliperon:
a. Ranger leveling guide Follow the blood trail
b. Adventures Guide
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 PVP
PVP Guides
1) Alucard (Hex Drafting Guide and Tutorial)

2) HexTCG Articles:

a. Jeff Hoogland
i. Deck Drilldown Wild Ruby Sockets
ii. Deck Drilldown Bride Sapphire Control
iii. Limitless Splashing a Shard
iv. Limitless Ruby Charges
v. Deck Drilldown Diamond Aggro
vi. Limitless SD Skies
vii. Deck Drilldown - Redlings
viii. Deck Drilldown Mono Sapphire
ix. Deck Drilldown Mastering Time

b. Varranis
i. Primordial Knowledge Beating Sapphire with Blood
ii. Primordial Knowledge Immortal Necrotic
iii. Primordial Knowledge Mono Sapphire Dreadlings
iv. Primordial Knowledge Scars of War Combo Brews
v. Primordial Knowledge Escape Goat
vi. Primordial Knowledge Blood/Wild Shoku

c. Chris Van Meter

i. My Hexcellent Adventure Tricks of the Trade
ii. My Hexcellent Adventure Fielding Sealed
iii. My Hexcellent Adventure Cosmic Countdown
iv. My Hexcellent Adventure Preparing for Battle

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d. Ali Aintrazi
i. Hexploration Renner, The Phoenix
ii. I have a dreaming fox
iii. Hexploration Polymorphic Army

e. InfamounsNeo
i. Limit Break Tri-Shard or go home
ii. Limit Break Smashing Clash
iii. Limit Break Ruby Diamond Ardent
iv. Limit Break Sealed Primer

f. Mat Bimonte
i. Immortal Insights - Angus
ii. Immortal Insights Winter Moon Combo
iii. Immortal Insights Boris Blastforge

g. Kent Ketter
i. Kents Corner Tournament Prep

h. Piecetinker
i. Tinkering with the Meta: Drawing is Eternal
ii. Tinkering with the Meta: The Book of Arachnomicon

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 PVP TOURNAMENTS
(CONSTRUCTED)

Hex Provides in client Tournaments in the following formats:

1) Ranked constructed is an on-demand mode that pits you against

other constructed players of similar rank. Grab a 60-card minimum deck and
compete in a best of three match with pride, honor, and ladder stars on the
line! See if you can climb from Bronze rank to Cosmic on the battlefields of
Entrath! There is no entry-fee to this tournament mode.

2) Unranked Constructed Same as above except not eligible to climb

the ranked ladder.

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 PVP TOURNAMENTS
(GAUNTLETS)

This is the format for players who want the option to play in short sessions on
their own time. You play single-game matches with your deck against other
players until you reach 5 wins or 3 losses. Then, prizes are awarded based on
number of wins. Every time you enter the queue, the client attempts to match
you with someone of equal record so you can play a single-game match. In-
between matches, you can save your progress and resume play at a later time.
This the perfect way to play for those who have limited time but want a little
structure with some prizes on the line. There are two types of gauntlet
tournaments in HEX: Sealed and Evolving Sealed.

1) Evolving Sealed Gauntlet: Affectionately called EVO for short,

Evolving Sealed Gauntlet is a unique game mode where a players limited pool
evolves and grows over time. In Evo Sealed you start with two boosters and a
randomly generated pool of 48 commons and uncommons. At 1 and 3 wins you
earn an additional booster which is immediately opened and added to your
pool. This encourages players to continually experiment and rebuild their
tournament deck as they evolve. We recommend this mode to new players
and deck building aficionados. Entry fee is 2 booster packs and 100 platinum.
You can read full details on Evolving Sealed Gauntlet here.

2) Sealed Gauntlet: If youve ever wanted to change up your sealed deck

in the middle of a tournament, this format is for you! You will open six booster
packs and build your 40-card minimum deck. The rest of the cards go into your
reserves. You play matches against other opponents in the gauntlet queue and
in-between matches you can tweak your sealed deck; you can even rebuild the
entire deck if you like! You can also save your progress in-between matches and
resume your run at another time.

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 PVP TOURNAMENTS
(DRAFTS)

1) Draft Gauntlet: Draft Gauntlet starts by selecting the tournament

queue and joining the lobby. From here, youll wait until a full 8 players enter
the queue. Once all 8 players enter the draft, the drafting portion will begin.
Youll select cards one at a time until youve drafted 51 cards. Then, once
everyone has selected their last card, youll be taken to the Draft Gauntlet
Tournament screen.
This tournament screen has many similarities to the other gauntlets in HEX, but
it has one key difference. The record counter at the bottom has a few
modifications. In a Draft Gauntlet, rather than playing up to seven matches like
you would in a sealed (competing to earn five wins or three losses), you instead
cap out at three matches, similar to an old draft tournament. You are removed
from the Draft Gauntlet after either completing three matches or losing two.

Each match in a Draft Gauntlet is best two out of three games and, like a normal
draft, you can use your reserves between games. In between matches, you can
change your champion just like you can in any other gauntlet. However, you
cannot change your champion in between games just like in previous drafts.

Draft gauntlet still incorporates the ladder system. Therefore, if you win your
match, youll earn stars and rating towards your ladder ranking. Any bonus stars
you can earn are also integrated into this game mode.

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 PVP TOURNAMENTS
(OTHER FORMATS)

2) Scheduled Events: Scheduled Events happen at a specific time. They

include weekly and monthly tournaments like VIP, community tournaments, or
other special events. Scheduled Events appear typically 4 hours in advance
under the Special tab of the tournament screen. Scheduled events use the
Swiss tournament format. For those unfamiliar with Swiss tournaments, this
means that you can play for the entire tournament and that you are typically
paired against those with a similar record as your own. You are not out of the
tournament if you lose.

3) Community Events: Hex has a vibrant competitive community. Our

community is constantly creating new tournaments that you can take part in.
Many of these events come with prize support and some, like the
various FiveShards series, are held in client! Make sure to check out
the forums for more information about just what the community is up to!

4) VIP Tournaments: Players who purchase a VIP subscription on their

account in the in-game store receive 1 pack per week of the most recent set and
tickets that allow entry into VIP tournaments (entry fees still apply). These
tournaments are four rounds of Swiss and are held on the last complete
weekend of every month (Friday, Saturday, Sunday). Formats alternate
Constructed and Sealed.

All times below in are in US Pacific time.

Constructed Entry Fee: VIP ticket + 500 plat
Sealed Deck Entry Fee: VIP ticket + 1,400 plat or 6 packs + 200 plat
Friday: 10:00 AM, 7:00 PM
Saturday: 3:00 AM, 11:00 AM, 6:00 PM
Sunday: 9:00 AM

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 PVP TOURNAMENTS
(COSMIC CROWN SHOWDOWN)

(click on image above for more information)

In this event, the best ladder players of the season will duke it out for glory,
prizes, and a pool of $5,000 cash from the comfort of their own homes! Heres
how it works:

The top 64 players on each Ladder (constructed and limited) at the end of this
season will get a ladder ticket that allows them to participate in this seasons
Cosmic Crown Showdown. The showdown is broken up into two Stages:

1) Stage 1: Constructed Swiss Tournament (with best 2-out-of-3 matches)

for qualifying ladder players. The Top 8 players from this stage will move on to
stage 2.

2) Stage 2: Single Elimination Draft tournament (with best 2-out-of-3

matches). The winner of stage 2 will walk away with exclusive cosmetics and
the lions share of the prize pool.

The tournament will be held in-client under the Special tab of the tournament
screen.

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 PVP TOURNAMENTS
(HEX PRIMAL - IMMORTAL CHAMPIONSHIP SERIES)

While eventually there may be so many sets released that

we have a need for more than two Constructed formats, for
now every set that rotates out of Standard will simply
become a part of our Immortal constructed format. Since
sets will never leave Immortal constructed, eventually this
format will become quite large.
Click the image above for more info.

When Scars of War releases, there will be a tournament in the On-Demand

section of the Battlegrounds titled HexPrimal.com Immortal Queue. Entering
these tournaments will open the deck selection menu and show you all decks
you have saved that are legal under the Immortal Format rules. Once you select
a deck, youll be in the queue searching for an opponent to battle with!

After winning a match in the HexPrimal.com Immortal Queue, youll earn a

HexPrimal.com Immortal ticket. These are saved up in your stash and are non-
tradeable. Earning 20 of these tickets allows you to enter the HEXPrimal.com
Immortal Championship Series tournament! This is a scheduled tournament that
youll find in the special tab. Immortal tickets will reset after each
championship, so make sure you win that extra match to qualify.

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 PVP TOURNAMENTS
(Standard Constructed)

Thus far, HEX has only had a need for one Constructed PVP format, Standard.
The card pool for this format has purely gotten larger with each set release.
However, at some point it is ideal for older sets to rotate out of this format to
ensure that Hex always have a Constructed format that keeps things fresh and
allows new cards and decks to step into the spotlight and be explored.

Standard will always feature either four or five legal sets at a time. A rotating
cardpool of this size will make for a fun and deeply explorable deckbuilding
experience, while still offering some structure and definition in what you can
expect from the metagame. Cards will have a good deal of time to shine in
Standard, but theyll also rotate into Immortal soon enough to allow future
cards to enjoy their own large share of Standards total context.

(Click the image above to go to Set Rotation Article)

Its also worth noting that HEXs constructed competitive scene seeks to reward
core players who devote time to analyzing and gaining familiarity with a new
batch of cards and a new uncertain metagame. To serve this goal, Hex wants a
competitive constructed format that embraces HEXs most current sets and
features a rapidly evolving metagame, one which is heavily redefined by each
new set release and presents new challenges and context to the players on a
continual basis. For this reason, you can expect to see a greater competitive
emphasis on our Standard format than on our Immortal format.

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 PVP TOURNAMENTS
(Hex Clash)

This weekly sealed tournament is a swiss sealed with a break to a top 8 single-
elimination draft. It will begin every Sunday starting at 8am Pacific. Top placing
players will receive a cut of the $1000 pool as well as a rotating selection of
Sleeves, Alternate Arts, and Battleboards that will change with each set release.

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 PVP TOURNAMENTS
(HEX INVITATIOAL)

HEXs inaugural Invitational tournament

was a success with Koma winning the
title and $40,000 of the $100,000 prize
purse.

For replays of the event, as well as

competitor bios and standings, please
click the invitational picture above.

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 HEX STORY AND LORE
The Accidental Knight is the first novel set in
the world of the popular trading card game
HEX: Shards of Fate. New York Times
bestselling author Christie Golden vividly tells
the story of William, a young monk who
expects to lead a quiet, uneventful life of
study and contemplation. Williams world is
upended when he is chased through the
streets of Adamanth by an immortal Great
Wolf, leading to the revelation of his true
lineage. With no choice but to become the
squire of an esteemed Wolf Knight, William
embarks on a journey that will take him
through the homelands of the shamanistic
coyotle, the enigmatic elves, and the
gladiatorial orcs. Ultimately, William must
confront his destiny amongst a world-
threatening confrontation with the
enemies of humanity, the Underworld.

The Accidental Knight is available in e-book

format from the following retailers:
Amazon
iTunes
Barnes and Noble

HISTORY

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 FACTIONS

COYOTLE ELVES

HUMANS ORCS

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 FACTIONS

DWARVES NECROTIC

SHINHARE VENNEN

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Official Hex sites
(click on icon to go to website)

HexTCG Forums

HexTCG Website

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 HEX FAN SITES
(click on icon to go to website)

Other Useful Sites:

1) HexMeta
2) HexPrice
3) Hex Reddit
4) Hex Realms
5) Hex: France Community
6) Hex: Russian Community
7) Hex: Spanish Community
8) Hex: Italian Community

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 PODCASTS
(click on icon to go to website)

2 Turns Ahead Podcast

Going Infinite Podcast

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 YouTube CONTENT
(click on icon to go to website)

Infam0usne0 Alucard2004 HexedHavoc

SeriousBsnsGames ErrantSquire HexHunterMokog

Hex 100k Invitational Angry Joe Interview with Cory Jones Cory Jones Interview

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OFFICIAL CHANNEL HEXTCG STREAMERS
(click on icon to go to website)

Monday (4:30 PM PST) Tuesday (8 AM PST)

Tuesday (3:30 PM PST) Wednesday (9 AM PST)

Wednesday (5 PM PST) Thursday (4 PM PST)

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OFFICIAL CHANNEL HEXTCG STREAMERS
(click on icon to go to website)

Friday (10 AM PST) Friday (4 PM PST)

Saturday (8 AM PST) Saturday (10 AM PST)

Sunday (2 PM PST) SUNDAY (7 PM PST)

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 OTHER USEFULL INFORMATION

Sportsmanship
a. The Art of the GG: Civility and Sporting Behavior

Economy:
b. FiveShards
i. Hexonomics: Getting Started
ii. Initial Investments: Value Planning

c. Hex Primal
i. Economy Watch: Monthly Auction House Trends

Miscellaneous:
d. Hex Primal
i. Alternate Art Guide
ii. Hex Sleeve Guide

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