Index -> Playing the Game -> Exert and Ready

Exert

Except for quests, your cards on the playmat can be either "ready" (available for your use), or "exerted" (they have been used, or are otherwise unavailable to you).

When a card is exerted, its image becomes shaded. A symbol in a circle shows you why that card was exerted (attack, defense, damage bonus, something else). Otherwise, the card is ready.

Many actions you can take in the game require you to exert a ready card. You can only exert a card that is ready.

Ready

When you ready a card, that card is no longer exerted. You can only ready an exerted card. During each of your Ready Phases, every one of your exerted cards is automatically readied.