Countryball Cards
Game Rules
Learn how to play Countryball Cards, the strategic countryball-themed card game! Master the art of building teams, managing resources, and conquering your opponents!
Crash Course - Learn in 2 Minutes!
1. Setup
Both players draw 2 
, choose 1 to keep and reveal, discard 1. Repeat 3 times for 3 cards each. Roll 4 resource dice to set market prices at the start of each round. Roll 
to determine first player (highest starts).
2. Your Turn
Get 5 
(10 on first round). Buy/sell resources at market prices (selling is done at 1 coin below market price). Use abilities (pay costs). Attack enemies.
3. Abilities
Roll when using certain abilities. If you roll a number greater or equal to the one shown, you successfully execute the ability. By default, attacks give 1 damage token 
and stun the target when successful.
4. Win
Give each enemy countryball 3 damage tokens to eliminate them. Last player standing wins! 
Game Overview
1v1 tactical card game where you control nations in strategic combat. Deploy countryballs, manage resources, and eliminate your opponent's forces.
Game Components
- Countryball Cards (20-30) - Main playing cards with unique abilities
- Resource Cards (60) - Track owned resources
- Project Cards - Provide ongoing strategic benefits
- Damage Tokens (20) - Track combat damage
- Coin Tokens (50) - Game currency for purchases
- Resource Dice (4) - Generate resources: Grains, Horse, Oil, Iron
- Combat Die (1) - Resolve abilities and combat
Countryball Types
Understanding countryball specializations helps you build effective strategies and counter your opponents.
Combat
Attack-focused countryballs that deal damage and eliminate enemies. Good at aggressive strategies and direct confrontation.
Defense
Protection-focused countryballs that shield allies and absorb damage. Good at surviving attacks and supporting teammates.
Economy
Resource-focused countryballs that generate wealth and manage markets. Good at earning coins and controlling resource prices.
Uncategorized
Flexible countryballs with unique abilities that don't fit other categories. Good at providing special effects and utility.
Strategic Considerations
- Balanced Teams: Mix different types for well-rounded strategies
- Type Synergies: Some countryballs work better together than others
- Counter-Play: Identify opponent types and adapt your strategy accordingly
Setup
1. Both players draw 2 cards, choose 1 to keep and reveal, discard 1. Repeat this process 3 times until each player has 3 cards revealed → 2. Roll 4 resource dice to set market prices: Yellow (Grains), Brown (Horse), Black (Oil), Gray (Iron) → 3. Roll to determine first player (highest roll starts)
Resource Market Dice
Each resource has a colored 6-sided die that determines its price. Dice faces show: 2, 3, 3, 4, 4, 5 coins. Roll all 4 dice at the start of each round to set prices. Sell price is always 1 coin lower than buy price.
- Yellow Die:
Grain price - Brown Die:
Horse price - Black Die:
Oil price - Gray Die:
Iron price
How to Play
Players alternate turns in which they can:
Gain Coins & Trade
Get 5 (10 if it's the first round), then buy/sell resources at current dice prices (shown on the 4 colored dice). Sell price is always 1 coin lower than buy price. Resources: Grains (Yellow), Horse (Brown), Oil (Black), Iron (Gray)
Use Abilities
Pay resource costs to activate abilities. Each ability shows its cost and effect. Unless said otherwise, an ability can be activated multiple times if you can pay the costs.
Understanding Abilities
Format: Ability Name + Resource Cost (e.g. means 2 Oil) + Effect Description + Dice Roll Requirement (e.g. ≥12 means you need a roll of 12 or higher on the 20-sided die)
Attack Abilities
Some abilities are attacks that deal damage. Pay resources and, if required, roll the D20 dice . If you roll the number shown or higher you made a successful hit! By default, a successful hit stuns the target and gives it 1 damage token .
Non-Attack Abilities
Some abilities provide other effects (resource generation, healing, etc.) but may still require dice rolls for success.
Stun Mechanic
Stunned can't use abilities next turn, then automatically reactivate. To mark the card as stunned, rotate it sideways.
Multiple Targets
When an ability affects multiple targets and there is the word "each" written next to the dice icon, roll separately for each attack.
Failed Attempts
Resources are still consumed even if the dice roll fails - risk vs reward!
Win
Eliminate all enemy countryballs (3 damage tokens each) to win!
Project Cards
Project Cards are special square-shaped cards that provide passive bonuses to their owners. These powerful cards remain in play as long as their country of origin is alive, offering ongoing strategic advantages.
Creating Project Cards
Some countryball abilities allow you to create Project Cards. Pay the required resources and follow the ability instructions to deploy a Project Card to the battlefield.
Passive Benefits
Project Cards provide ongoing effects without needing to be activated. These benefits apply automatically as long as the Project Card remains in play (even when it is stunned, unless mentioned otherwise).
Project Elimination
Project Cards are tied to their creating country's survival. If the originating countryball is eliminated, all of its Project Cards are immediately discarded.
2v2 Team Mode
Experience epic team battles with coordinated strategies and shared victories!
Team Setup
Each player draws 2 , chooses 1 to keep and reveal, discards 1. Repeat 2 times for 2 cards each (8 cards on the table total). Form two teams of 2 players each.
Team Strategy
Teammates can coordinate strategies but cannot share resources. Each player controls their own and .
Team Victory
Win as a team by eliminating all enemy countryballs. If any teammate's cards are eliminated, the team can still win!
Turn Order
Partners sit opposite, so turns naturally alternate between the two teams. Start with a player that had the highest roll and proceed counter-clockwise.
Banners United Expansion
The following rules only apply when playing with the Banners United expansion (included in Extended and Founder's Edition).
Hireable Allies
Banners United expansion introduces hireable allies to the game.
New Content
- 10 new countryball cards: Norway, Croatia, Austria, Czechia, Finland, Spain, Portugal, Belgium, Hungary, Switzerland
- 3 custom ally cards that signal a specific countryball is hired/hireable
Hiring Process
- At game start, place three countryball cards face-up in the middle of the table (five in 2v2)
- Each player can hire one ally for 10 coins
- Hired allies are added to your team like any other card
- You can use their abilities anytime
Special Ally Properties
- Cannot be stunned or attacked - they can't receive damage tokens
- Don't need to be eliminated for their owner to lose the game
- Limit: Each player can have only one hired ally