The Gambit

ColorlessSkillRare
Gain 50 Block.
If you take unblocked attack damage this combat, die.

For 0 Energy it gives 50 Block, 75 upgraded, and then attaches a permanent debuff to you: the first time an enemy attack deals any unblocked damage this combat, the power removes itself and kills you outright. Only attack damage counts. Burns, Toxic and self-inflicted HP loss pass through it. Intangible does not save you, because 1 point of unblocked damage still triggers it.

Pool
Colorless
Type
Skill
Rarity
Rare
Cost
0 Energy
Target
Yourself

When to take The Gambit

Play it on the turn that ends the fight, or against a boss opener you cannot block, in a Barricade deck that already stacks more Block than enemies can chew through.

Cards that synergize with The Gambit

Barricade
Power
3
Block is not removed at the start of your turn.
Barricade keeps the 50 Block from vanishing at the start of your turn.Block is not removed at the start of your turn.
Blur
Skill
1
Gain 5 Block.
Block is not removed at the start of your next turn.
Blur does the same for one turn.Gain 5 Block.
Block is not removed at the start of your next turn.
Body Slam
Attack
1
Deal damage equal to your Block.
Body Slam turns that Block into 50 damage right away.Deal damage equal to your Block.
Prolong
Skill
0
Next turn, gain Block equal to your current Block.
Exhaust.
Prolong carries the wall into the next turn.Next turn, gain Block equal to your current Block.
Exhaust.
Juggernaut
Power
2
Whenever you gain Block, deal 6 damage to a random enemy.
Juggernaut fires 6 damage on the gain.Whenever you gain Block, deal 6 damage to a random enemy.
All for One
Attack
2
Deal 10 damage.
Put ALL 0 cards from your Discard Pile into your Hand.
All for One looks for 0 Energy cards, and The Gambit is oneDeal 10 damage.
Put ALL 0 cards from your Discard Pile into your Hand.
Feral
Power
2
The first time you play a
0 Attack each turn,
return it to your Hand.
Feral looks for 0 Energy cards, and The Gambit is oneThe first time you play a
0 Attack each turn,
return it to your Hand.
One for All
Power
1
EVERYONE'S 0 Attacks deal 3 additional damage.
One for All looks for 0 Energy cards, and The Gambit is oneEVERYONE'S 0 Attacks deal 3 additional damage.
Make It So
Attack
0
Deal 6 damage.
Every 3 Skills you play in a turn, put this into your Hand.
Make It So counts the Skills you play, and The Gambit is a free oneDeal 6 damage.
Every 3 Skills you play in a turn, put this into your Hand.
Lunar Blast
Attack
0
Deal 4 damage for each Skill already played this turn.
Lunar Blast counts the Skills you play, and The Gambit is a free oneDeal 4 damage for each Skill already played this turn.
Pinpoint
Attack
3
Deal 15 damage.
Costs 1 less for each Skill played this turn.
Pinpoint counts the Skills you play, and The Gambit is a free oneDeal 15 damage.
Costs 1 less for each Skill played this turn.
Panache
Power
0
Every time you play 5 cards in a single turn, deal 10 damage to ALL enemies.
Panache rewards playing many cards, and The Gambit is freeEvery time you play 5 cards in a single turn, deal 10 damage to ALL enemies.
Pale Blue Dot
Power
1
If you play 5 or more cards in a turn, draw 1 card at the start of your next turn.
Pale Blue Dot rewards playing many cards, and The Gambit is freeIf you play 5 or more cards in a turn, draw 1 card at the start of your next turn.
Serpent Form
Power
3
Whenever you play a card, deal 4 damage to a random enemy.
Serpent Form rewards playing many cards, and The Gambit is freeWhenever you play a card, deal 4 damage to a random enemy.
Oblivion
Skill
0
Whenever you play a card this turn, apply 3 Doom to the enemy.
Oblivion rewards playing many cards, and The Gambit is freeWhenever you play a card this turn, apply 3 Doom to the enemy.
Strangle
Attack
1
Deal 8 damage.
Whenever you play a card this turn, the enemy loses 2 HP.
Strangle rewards playing many cards, and The Gambit is freeDeal 8 damage.
Whenever you play a card this turn, the enemy loses 2 HP.
Afterimage
Power
1
Whenever you play a card, gain 1 Block.
Afterimage rewards playing many cards, and The Gambit is freeWhenever you play a card, gain 1 Block.
Monologue
Skill
0
Whenever you play a card this turn, gain 1 Strength this turn.
Monologue rewards playing many cards, and The Gambit is freeWhenever you play a card this turn, gain 1 Strength this turn.
The Sealed Throne
Power
1
3
Whenever you play a card, gain .
The Sealed Throne rewards playing many cards, and The Gambit is freeWhenever you play a card, gain .
Beacon of Hope
Power
1
Whenever you gain Block on your turn, other players gain half that much Block.
Beacon of Hope makes Block count for more, and The Gambit gains itWhenever you gain Block on your turn, other players gain half that much Block.
Demonic Shield
Skill
0
Lose 1 HP.
Give another player Block equal to your Block.
Exhaust.
Demonic Shield makes Block count for more, and The Gambit gains itLose 1 HP.
Give another player Block equal to your Block.
Exhaust.
Entrench
Skill
2
Double your Block.
Entrench makes Block count for more, and The Gambit gains itDouble your Block.
Shadowmeld
Skill
1
Double your Block gain this turn.
Shadowmeld makes Block count for more, and The Gambit gains itDouble your Block gain this turn.
Unmovable
Power
2
The first time you gain Block from a card each turn, double the amount gained.
Unmovable makes Block count for more, and The Gambit gains itThe first time you gain Block from a card each turn, double the amount gained.

Relics that synergize with The Gambit

Power Cell
Power Cell looks for 0 Energy cards, and The Gambit is oneAt the start of each combat, add 2 zero-cost cards from your Draw Pile into your Hand.
Tuning Fork
Tuning Fork counts the Skills you play, and The Gambit is a free oneEvery time you play 10 Skills, gain 7 Block.
Letter Opener
Letter Opener counts the Skills you play, and The Gambit is a free oneEvery time you play 3 Skills in a single turn, deal 5 damage to ALL enemies.
Rainbow Ring
Rainbow Ring counts the Skills you play, and The Gambit is a free oneThe first time you play an Attack, Skill, and Power each turn, gain 1 Strength and 1 Dexterity.
Razor Tooth
Razor Tooth counts the Skills you play, and The Gambit is a free oneEvery time you play an Attack or Skill, Upgrade it for the remainder of combat.
Iron Club
Iron Club rewards playing many cards, and The Gambit is freeEvery 4 cards you play, draw 1 card.
Parrying Shield
Parrying Shield makes Block count for more, and The Gambit gains itIf you end a turn with at least 10 Block, deal 6 damage to a random enemy.
Sturdy Clamp
Sturdy Clamp makes Block count for more, and The Gambit gains itUp to 10 Block persists across turns.
Pael's Legion
Pael's Legion makes Block count for more, and The Gambit gains itDoubles Block gained from a card, then goes to sleep for 2 turns.
Vambrace
Vambrace makes Block count for more, and The Gambit gains itThe first time you gain Block from a card each combat, double the amount gained.
✦
Master of Strategy
Skill
0
Draw 3 cards.
Exhaust.
Secret Technique
Skill
0
Put a Skill from your Draw Pile into your Hand.
Exhaust.
Secret Weapon
Skill
0
Put an Attack from your Draw Pile into your Hand.
Exhaust.
Alchemize
Skill
1
Procure a random potion.
Exhaust.
Anointed
Skill
1
Put every Rare card from your Draw Pile into your Hand.
Exhaust.
Beat Down
Skill
3
Play 3 random Attacks from your Discard Pile.
Believe in You
Skill
0
Another player gains .
Dark Shackles
Skill
0
Enemy loses 9 Strength this turn.
Exhaust.

Changes by version

  1. 9 Oct 2025TextInternal playtest
    The Gambit card now specifies that only unblocked attack damage will kill you
  2. 1 Nov 2024RemovedInternal playtest
    Deprecated cards: Hypernova, King's Gambit
  3. 26 Sep 2024ArtInternal playtest
    Added card art for The Gambit
All 5 patch notes2 older
  1. 30 Aug 2024Block16(24)50(75)Internal playtest
    No longer a Silent card, now a Colorless card and Block gain increased from 16 to 50 (upgraded 24 to 75)
    Bug fixInternal playtest
    King's Gambit card no longer sets unplayable card costs visually to 0
  2. 21 Apr 2023Bug fixInternal playtest
    Fix The Gambit death

Internal playtest notes are from before the Early Access release. Names and numbers in them can differ from the game today.

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