The KeyForge Master Rulebook (MRB) is the comprehensive rules of play for the game of KeyForge. It is the game’s most authoritative source and contains a detailed glossary, official errata, frequently asked questions, and a timing chart. It is primarily a reference document to help players find answers to specific questions. We update this rulebook periodically as new card sets are released and as new questions arise about how to resolve various card interactions that occur during games.

Note: if you’re new to KeyForge, the best ways to learn how to play the game are to read Learn to Play KeyForge and to watch our video tutorial.

This update includes:

New Glossary Entries

New glossary entry update for Power Bonus Icon

Updated Glossary Entries

Discarding Cards, For Each, and Ready Cards

New FAQ Entries

New FAQ Entries for Endless Hordes, Exterminate Exterminate, and The Chosen One

New Errata

An Errata for Entropic Swirl

Entropic Swirl launched back in KeyForge: Age of Ascension and has been reprinted many times since. Since we’ve gone through and clarified some of the timing windows in play, we felt the ability for Entropic Swirl needed some clarifications to match it. So we’ve done just that. The card still functions the same as before.

To see the updated Master Rulebook, visit the link below. We will continue to watch events, listen to the feedback of event staff, and monitor the community as we evaluate possible future changes.

More things to do in the Crucible!

Ghost Galaxy has completed two of the four thrilling U.S. events. We’re eagerly preparing to meet our community at the third U.S. event, with five more international stops starting July 3, 2026. Vault Tour stops are celebrations of KeyForge where enthusiasts can play casual games, participate in side events, and challenge each other in high-level main tournaments. Visit the Vault Tour information page if you’re unfamiliar with these prestigious events.

Next on the Tour is Vault Tour 2026 Baltimore at Games and Stuff, which takes place July 10-12. As players prepare to take on their roles as the Crucible’s mightiest Archons in Baltimore, there are plenty of details Ghost Galaxy would like to share to make this glorious weekend of forged keys and epic battles as smooth as possible. Read on, brave warrior!

The primary draw of a Vault Tour stop is the activities that bring players together to challenge one another in KeyForge games. There will be no shortage of these at every stop. Ghost Galaxy’s U.S. events will include three main event tournaments, three side events, and on-demand sealed group casual play.

Main events will feature all three official KeyForge formats: Sealed, Archon, and Alliance. Baltimore will feature Sealed with KeyForge: Draconian Measures on Friday, while Archon and Alliance will run simultaneously on Saturday (players will have to choose which they’d like to play). The cost of all these events is included in the ticket price, and players only need to have an active Playstile account along with their favorite Archon or Alliance deck!

Side events will occur each day and are curated for specific Vault Tour stops. Baltimore will feature two-deck Sealed Archon Standard on Friday, Archon Adaptive on Saturday, and Pack Draft Standard* on Sunday! Players should review the Alternative Formats Guide to learn the rules of these formats and see what they should bring. Each side event will require an entry fee in the form of a sealed KeyForge: Draconian Measures deck (more on this below).

Ghost Galaxy is doing a throwback to Vault Tours of the past with KeyForge: Vault Masters 2024 as the set for Friday. Players will need to bring up to 2 sealed KeyForge: Vault Masters 2024 decks to participate (also available for purchase at the venue).

On-demand sealed group casual play begins after noon on all days of the event and will be organized with sign-up sheets at Tournament HQ. Players need only bring or purchase a single sealed deck of any KeyForge set to participate in these groups.

* – Draft materials will be provided by Ghost Galaxy.

Activities that comprise the U.S. Vault Tour stops offer opportunities to earn treasure alongside glory. Here’s a glimpse of the treasure players can look forward to discovering in each of the events during Vault Tour 2026 Baltimore.

Every participant who ascends to the Top 8 in the main events will be awarded KeyForge: Vault Masters 2026 decks with special markings, placement pins, and placement playmats. All participants in each tournament will receive the “Contender” digital Deck Accolade on participating deck(s).

The entire prize package for the champion will include: two displays of KeyForge: Vault Masters 2026 decks with special markings, a crystal glass trophy, a framed Champion’s Challenge art print, a champion pin, a champion playmat, digital Deck Accolades for their winning deck(s), and the title of Vault Warrior!

Ultimately, these main events serve as a gateway to the KeyForge 2026 World Championship. Both the 1st and 2nd place finishers at each Vault Tour main tournament will secure an invitation to the KeyForge 2026 World Championship!

All of the decks used as entry fees to enter side events will be added to the prize pool to be distributed among the top half of all entrants. Ghost Galaxy will be contributing Side Event Winner* playmats to the highest-ranked players and a progressively increasing number of sealed KeyForge: Draconian Measures decks to the prize pool. Ghost Galaxy will contribute up to two displays for a full 32-person side event!

Ghost Galaxy is replacing the Second Æmber raffles of previous years with raffle entry tickets awarded to players who participate in side events.

* – Some tournaments will be run as group tournaments with 4-8 players in each group. These group tournaments will omit playmat prizes.

Journeying through the many awesome offerings at a Vault Tour can be overwhelming, from knowing where to be at what time to understanding the various formats of gameplay and game rules.

Ghost Galaxy has created a Digital Schedule that lists all of the dates and times planned for each of the activities at the event. This schedule will also be available at the venue through QR code signs and handouts. Click here to check out the schedule!

Additionally, Ghost Galaxy has created a new official document, the Alternative Formats Guide (AFG), that explains all the rules for the new side event formats. See the AFG by clicking here!

Finally, all players are encouraged to familiarize themselves with the official formats and rules by reviewing the Tournament Rules & Guidelines (TRG) and KeyForge Master Rule Book (MRB).

See you in Baltimore!

The fragile nature of reality is at a breaking point. The splinters of futures not yet known surge in various directions, each fracturing into new paths. The only constant that remains of the course laid by past actions is the Vaults holding the secrets that could be the key to it all. Will Archons rise to meld the chasms across the Crucible or will they usher in fractures that cannot be mended?

Fellow Archons! The time has come to welcome the next great entry in the KeyForge card game! KeyForge: Shattered Reality, the 11th official set for the KeyForge universe, comes to Gamefound on July 9!

A Shattered Age begins following the battle against the darkness in KeyForge: Shattered Reality. Archons will look to master the new mechanic, Graft, to power up new abilities and craft their own combo. The set will also see the return of Leaders to guide their house through the uncertainty that’s befallen the Crucible. Also, a new ultra-rare card will make its appearance, Mercenaries! These survivors from the broken houses of Logos and Sanctum will find refuge in houses they previously clashed with.

Across the campaign, we will share more information on the various houses, cards you will encounter in the set, and the new mechanic Archons will need to master to claim the rights to the vaults. There’s a lot to share on this exciting set, and we look forward to your reactions!

We hope you are excited for what’s to come in KeyForge: Shattered Reality.

Be sure to follow the Gamefound campaign before the campaign’s launch to get a free KeyForge: Shattered Reality Fractured Archon Deck when you back the campaign!

Every Vault Tour stop will showcase a unique, limited-edition, serialized 5×7 art print, complimentary for any attendee who buys a ticket at least 30 days before the event. This is the Early Blorb Bonus. Each print will feature a unique piece of art chosen to symbolize the location and will be available only to those who attend the event in person. Before each event, Ghost Galaxy will preview the art right here at KeyForging.com.

Our sights are set on the east coast, so let’s reveal the art for Vault Tour 2026 Baltimore!

Mercy, Malkin Queen first debuted in KeyForge: Mass Mutation and features eye-catching art. This rare card is a welcome sight to an Untamed pod with many cats at her side. Our beloved host for this event, Games and Stuff, draws an affinity to the Untamed house, and many of its local players feel the same. The fiery, spellbinding energy captured in the art perfectly mirrors that homegrown passion, making it a beautiful tribute to the wild aesthetic thriving in the local scene. It’s a fitting symbol for the tightly-knit ‘coven’ of players who make this community so magical.

Our mission was to select exceptional artwork for every stop, and we are confident that we have found a standout piece for Baltimore. However, our ambition extended beyond merely showcasing the remarkable artists of KeyForge. We aimed to transform each art print into a collectible item intimately connected to the event. Something to point at and say, “See, I was there!”

To that end, the prints were created in a reversible double-sided format. One side showcases the complete, pristine artwork without any watermarks, logos, or text. The reverse side displays our Vault Tour logo, along with the event’s location and date, plus a handwritten serialization number indicating which of the limited 50* copies the owner possesses. You choose which to display! The deadline to grab this Early Blorb Bonus ends on June 10. So don’t delay in grabbing your ticket!

* – Ghost Galaxy reserves the right to adjust this number based on ticket sales and attendance.

KeyForge: Winds of Exchange released on August 4, 2023, with a huge swell of support. This helped the set sell out in just over 5 months! It proved to be a great comeback for The Crucible and spurred us forward in releasing several sets, including some special sets, over the last few years.

The launch did experience a hiccup, though. Unfortunately, due to a human error in the file-handling process at our production factory, a very small number of decks from KeyForge: Winds of Exchange were printed twice. Those who opened one then discovered our plan to correct this with a “Twin Deck” service.

This service meant that we would generate and print a new version of that deck to send to them. This new deck included the same deck list as before, but now the deck had a new name featuring the text “Twin of”. The new deck also included a new version of the Archon image. This service allowed for making the deck unique while allowing the player to keep that deck’s contents, especially for those wanting that card combination.

Final Twin Deck Service Date

We wanted to allow enough time for those currently in the process of servicing this issue to be resolved. We thank everyone who has encountered this error for their understanding.

As the issue is now long past and we have not seen Twin Deck submissions for a long while, it is time to sunset this program.

As such, the Twin Deck Service will end on Friday, July 31, 2026. This date will be the last day we print any Twin Deck batches. For all decks currently in this process, we must receive the Archon card before Monday, July 27.

Any decks discovered after this date will be replaced with a new deck. This will start with any KeyForge: Winds of Exchange decks currently available for customer service needs. Once this runs out, it will be replaced with any Main Set available to customer service. We will not guarantee any specific set request for replacement.

The Vault Tour rolls on!

Ghost Galaxy has completed the first of the four thrilling U.S. events. The second is just around the corner, with five more international stops starting July 3, 2026. Vault Tour stops are celebrations of KeyForge where enthusiasts can play casual games, participate in side events, and challenge each other in high-level main tournaments. Visit the Vault Tour information page if you’re unfamiliar with these prestigious events.

Next on the Tour is Vault Tour 2026 St. Louis at Yeti Gaming, which takes place June 5-7. As players prepare to take on their roles as the Crucible’s mightiest Archons in St. Louis, there are plenty of details Ghost Galaxy would like to share to make this glorious weekend of forged keys and epic battles as smooth as possible.

The primary draw of a Vault Tour stop is the activities that bring players together to challenge one another in KeyForge games. There will be no shortage of these at every stop. Ghost Galaxy’s U.S. events will include three main event tournaments, three side events, and on-demand sealed group casual play.

Main events will feature all three official KeyForge formats: Sealed, Archon, and Alliance. St. Louis will feature Sealed with KeyForge: Draconian Measures on Friday, while Archon and Alliance will run simultaneously on Saturday (players will have to choose which they’d like to play). The cost of all these events is included in the ticket price, and players only need to have an active Playstile account along with their favorite Archon or Alliance deck!

Side events will occur each day and are curated for specific Vault Tour stops. St. Louis will feature two-deck Sealed Survival on Friday, Archon Oubliette on Saturday, and Pack Draft Standard* on Sunday! Players should review the Alternative Formats Guide below to learn the rules of these formats and see what they should bring. Each side event will require an entry fee in the form of a sealed KeyForge: Draconian Measures deck (more on this below).

Ghost Galaxy is adding a twist to the first two side events with Set Restriction. Sealed Survival participants must use any two of KeyForge: Draconian Measures, KeyForge: Vault Masters 2026**, KeyForge: Tokens of Change, KeyForge: Æmber Skies, or KeyForge: Grim Reminders. Archon Oubliette will be restricted to only KeyForge: Æmber Skies.

On-demand sealed group casual play begins after noon on all days of the event, and will be organized with sign-up sheets at Tournament HQ. Players need only bring or purchase a single sealed deck of any KeyForge set to participate in these groups.

* – Draft materials will be provided by Ghost Galaxy.

** – KeyForge: Vault Masters 2026 purchases are limited to four (4) decks per person until Sunday.

Activities that comprise the U.S. Vault Tour stops offer opportunities to earn treasure alongside glory. Here’s a glimpse of the treasure players can look forward to discovering in each of the events during Vault Tour 2026 St. Louis.

Every participant who ascends to the Top 8 in the main events will be awarded KeyForge: Vault Masters 2026 decks with special markings, placement pins, and placement playmats. All participants in each tournament will receive the “Contender” digital Deck Accolade on participating deck(s).

The entire prize package for the champion will include: two displays of KeyForge: Vault Masters 2026 decks with special markings, a crystal glass trophy, a framed Champion’s Challenge art print, a champion pin, a champion playmat, digital Deck Accolades for their winning deck(s), and the title of Vault Warrior!

Ultimately, these main events serve as a gateway to the KeyForge 2026 World Championship. Both the 1st and 2nd place finishers at each Vault Tour main tournament will secure an invitation to the KeyForge 2026 World Championship!

All of the decks used as entry fees to enter side events will be added to the prize pool to be distributed among the top half of all entrants. Ghost Galaxy will be contributing Side Event Winner* playmats to the highest-ranked players and a progressively increasing number of sealed KeyForge: Draconian Measures decks to the prize pool. Ghost Galaxy will contribute up to two displays for a full 32-person side event!

Ghost Galaxy is replacing the Second Æmber raffles of previous years with raffle entry tickets awarded to players who participate in side events.

* – Some tournaments will be run as group tournaments with 4-8 players in each group. These group tournaments will omit playmat prizes.

Journeying through the many awesome offerings at a Vault Tour can be overwhelming, from knowing where to be at what time to understanding the various formats of gameplay and game rules.

Ghost Galaxy has created a Digital Schedule that lists all of the dates and times planned for each of the activities at the event. This schedule will also be available at the venue through QR code signs and handouts. Click here to check out the schedule!

Additionally, Ghost Galaxy has created a new official document, the Alternative Formats Guide (AFG), that explains all the rules for the new side event formats. See the AFG by clicking here!

Finally, all players are encouraged to familiarize themselves with the official formats and rules by reviewing the Tournament Rules & Guidelines (TRG) and KeyForge Master Rule Book (MRB).

See you in St. Louis!

For those attending Vault Tour Portland, we’re happy to share that the Friday Sealed tournament will feature KeyForge: Draconian Measures! Another exciting way to get your hands on the latest set a little early and get that competition brewing.

Vault Tour stops are celebrations of KeyForge where enthusiasts can play casual games, participate in side events, and challenge each other in high-level main tournaments. Ghost Galaxy is inviting the community to participate in four thrilling U.S. events starting with Portland on May 15, 2026, and five international events starting July 3, 2026. Learn more on our Vault Tour information page if you’re unfamiliar with these prestigious events.

As players prepare to take on their roles as the Crucible’s mightiest Archons in Portland, there are plenty of details Ghost Galaxy would like to share to make this glorious weekend of forged keys and epic battles as smooth as possible.

The primary draw of a Vault Tour stop is the activities that bring players together to challenge one another in KeyForge games. There will be no shortage of these at every stop. Ghost Galaxy’s U.S. events will include three main event tournaments, three side events, and on-demand sealed group casual play.

Main events will feature all three official KeyForge formats: Sealed, Archon, and Alliance. Portland will feature Sealed with KeyForge: Draconian Measures on Friday, while Archon and Alliance will run simultaneously on Saturday (players will have to choose which they’d like to play). The cost of all these events is included in the ticket price, and players only need to have an active Playstile account along with their favorite Archon or Alliance deck!

Side events will occur each day and are curated for specific Vault Tour stops. Portland will feature Archon QuickForge on Friday, Sealed Adaptive on Saturday, and Pack Draft Standard* on Sunday! Players should review the Alternative Formats Guide below to learn the rules of these formats and see what they should bring. Each side event will require an entry fee in the form of a sealed KeyForge: Draconian Measures deck (more on this below).

On-demand sealed group casual play begins after noon on all days of the event, and will be organized with sign-up sheets at Tournament HQ. Players need only bring or purchase a single sealed deck of any KeyForge set to participate in these groups.

* – Draft materials will be provided by Ghost Galaxy.

Activities that comprise the U.S. Vault Tour stops offer opportunities to earn treasure alongside glory. Here’s a glimpse of the treasure players can look forward to discovering in each of the events during Vault Tour 2026 Portland.

Every participant who ascends to the Top 8 in the main events will be awarded KeyForge: Vault Masters 2026 decks with special markings, placement pins, and placement playmats. All participants in each tournament get Contender Digital Deck Accolades.

The entire prize package for the champion will include: two displays of KeyForge: Vault Masters 2026 decks with special markings, a crystal glass trophy, a framed Champion’s Challenge art print, a champion pin, a champion playmat, digital Deck Accolades for their winning deck(s), and the title of Vault Warrior!

Ultimately, these main events serve as a gateway to the KeyForge 2026 World Championship. Both the 1st and 2nd place finishers at each Vault Tour main tournament will secure an invitation to the KeyForge 2026 World Championship!

All of the decks used as entry fees to enter side events will be added to the prize pool to be distributed among the top half of all entrants. Ghost Galaxy will be contributing Side Event Winner* playmats to the highest-ranked players and a progressively increasing number of sealed KeyForge: Draconian Measures decks to the prize pool. Ghost Galaxy will contribute up to two displays for a full 32-person side event!

Ghost Galaxy is replacing the Second Æmber raffles of previous years with raffle entry tickets awarded to players who participate in side events.

* – Some tournaments will be run as group tournaments with 4-8 players in a group. These group tournaments will omit playmat prizes.

Journeying through the many awesome offerings at a Vault Tour can be overwhelming, from knowing where to be at what time to understanding the various formats of gameplay and game rules.

Ghost Galaxy has created a Digital Schedule that lists all of the dates and times planned for each of the activities at the event. This schedule will also be available at the venue through QR code signs and handouts, making timekeeping a breeze. Click here to check out the schedule!

Additionally, Ghost Galaxy has created a new official document, the Alternative Formats Guide (AFG), that explains all the rules that will be utilized for the new side event formats. See the AFG by clicking here!

Finally, all players are encouraged to familiarize themselves with the official formats and rules by reviewing the Tournament Rules & Guidelines (TRG) and KeyForge Master Rule Book (MRB).

See you in Portland!

Every Vault Tour stop will showcase a unique, limited edition, serialized 5×7 art print, complimentary for any attendee who buys a ticket at least 30 days before the event. This is the Early Blorb Bonus. Each print will display a unique piece of art specifically chosen to symbolize the location, and will only be available to those who attend the event in person. Prior to each event, Ghost Galaxy will preview the art right here at KeyForging.com.

We have already revealed the Early Blorb print for Vault Tour 2026 Portland, and the opportunity to claim that bonus has now ended. Our deadline for the following event, May 5, 2026, is fast approaching. With that in mind, let’s reveal the art for Vault Tour 2026 St. Louis!

Future Booster is a silent workhorse of KeyForge. This legendary card, while it may not boast the most explosive or powerful effects, is always a welcome addition in any deck to gradually allow a player to gain an advantage throughout the game. In our quest for the ideal artwork for St. Louis, we were captivated by Tommy Suhartono’s Future Booster, as it feels like an embodiment of the history and future connections this stop has with KeyForge. Yeti Gaming, our partner, was once the leading organizer of KeyForge events, making a substantial impact through their steady and persistent efforts, much like Future Booster itself. St. Louis, their home city, serves as a center for significant scientific research, housing over 700 companies in STEM disciplines. What better way to pay tribute to both than by showcasing the unassuming yet powerful Future Booster?

Our mission was to select exceptional artwork for every stop, and we are confident that we have found a standout piece for St. Louis. However, our ambition extended beyond merely showcasing the remarkable artists of KeyForge. We aimed to transform each art print into a collectible item intimately connected to the event. Something to point at and say, “See, I was there!”

To that end, the prints were created in a reversible double-sided format. One side showcases the complete, pristine artwork without any watermarks, logos, or text. The reverse side displays our Vault Tour logo, along with the event’s location and date, plus a handwritten serialization number indicating which of the limited 50* copies the owner possesses. You choose which to display!

* – Ghost Galaxy reserves the right to adjust this number based on ticket sales and attendance.

Every Vault Tour stop in 2026 will showcase a unique, limited edition, serialized 5×7 art print, complimentary for any attendee who buys a ticket at least 30 days before the event. This is the Early Blorb Bonus. Each print will display a unique piece of art specifically chosen to symbolize the location, and will only be available to those who attend the event in person. Prior to each event, Ghost Galaxy will preview the art right here at KeyForging.com.

Here’s the art piece we have chosen to represent Vault Tour 2026 Brazil!

When deciding what art to choose for Brazil, Neutron Shark jumped out as the obvious pick. Firstly, Jon Bosco is a very talented Brazilian artist. This piece is a well-liked design by many in the community and Bosco did a great job on it. Selecting Neutron Shark also celebrates a beloved card that is in a house that many love in Logos. While Logos may have unleashed a profound darkness across the Crucible, the vibrancy of the Neutron Shark art will be a great display for KeyForge fans able to get their hands on it. We believe we’ve selected a winning piece to represent this event!

We are extremely satisfied with our choice for Brazil, and it was most certainly our intention to find the best art prints for every single stop. However, our ambition extended beyond merely showcasing the remarkable artists of KeyForge. We aimed to transform each art print into a collectible item intimately connected to the event. Something to point at and say, “See, I was there!”

To that end, the prints were created in a reversible double-sided format. One side showcases the complete, pristine artwork without any watermarks, logos, or text. The reverse side displays our Vault Tour logo, along with the event’s location and date, plus a handwritten serialization number indicating which of the limited 50* copies the owner possesses. You choose which to display!

* – Ghost Galaxy reserves the right to adjust this number based on ticket sales and attendance.