Genshin Impact: Genius Invokation TCG Mechanics Overview

Whether you are new to Genshin's trading card game, or returning after a break, we've got you covered.

Travelers are never short on activities to keep themselves occupied in the vast open world of Teyvat. In Version 3.3. miHoYo introduced the Genius Invokation TCG to Genshin Impact, which will be a permanent game mode. Genius Invokation is an in-game tabletop trading card game, similar to Yu-Gi-Oh or Pokémon, that allows players to duel other players and NPCs, and collect more cards to build their deck throughout the game.

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While the game flow is not difficult to learn, mastering the gameplay could take some time. Obtaining better cards is always a plus. Knowing the basics, however, is the first step on the road to becoming a master duelist.

As with other trading card games like Magic The Gathering, just knowing where everything is located on the Genius Invokation game board is a big help. The game board shows you and your opponent's Character Cards, your hand, your Elemental Dice, any summons, active Support Cards, as well as how many dice you both have left.

Familiarizing yourself with the Game Board will definitely make learning the game that much easier. Also, the Check function gives detailed summaries about each card and even shows how much damage a skill will do to an enemy.

Elemental Dice are the key to Genius Invokation. The Elemental Dice are used for everything from activating Character Skills and playing Action Cards to switching Character Cards.

Each Elemental Die has eight sides and each side represents one of the elemental attributes: Cryo, Hydro, Pyro, Electro, Anemo, Geo, Dendro, and the special Omni Element which can be used in place on ANY elemental attribute. When you run out of dice, you are unable to use any actions unless the cost of that action is zero. Also, dice do not carry over to the next round.

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A Genius Invokation deck consists of Character and Action cards for a total of 33 cards. As with other trading card games, each card has its own unique text describing its abilities which players can check at any time.

Character Cards - 3

Action Cards - 30

Character cards are the most important aspect of your deck. While you will encounter some NPCs who may have more, a deck can contain three Character Cards. All Character cards are based off of the playable characters and enemies in Genshin Impact.

When you complete the introduction quest, the starter deck you receive contains the Diluc, Kaeya, Sucrose, and Fischl Character cards. Listed on each Character Card are its elemental type, HP, elemental skills, and the energy needed for their elemental burst. Some Character Cards can also possess passive abilities which be listed in their text as well.

Action Cards make up the rest of the 33-card deck. Action Cards fit into one of three categories: Equipment, Event, and Support Cards. Equipment Cards are made up of Artifact, Talent, and Weapon Cards, and can be equipped directly to Character Cards to provide buffs. Event Cards, which are Food and Elemental Resonance Cards, let you activate an immediate one-time effect. Support Cards, which consist of Companion, Item, and Location Cards, are placed in the support zone and provide ongoing effects.

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Before each duel, there will be a Preparation Phase. The Preparation Phase begins by deciding which player goes first. In PvP, a coin will be flipped to decide who goes first. In PvE duels against NPCs, the player will always go first.

Next, both players are given five random Action Cards from their deck for their starting hand. At that time, you will be given the chance to switch out any, or all, of those five cards if you choose to. Any cards that are switched out will then be randomly replaced with cards from your deck and these five cards will be your starting hand. Finally, each player selects one of their three Character Cards and that card will be their Active Character to start off the duel.

Every round starts with the Roll Phase, then the Action Phase, followed up by the End Phase.

At the start of the Roll Phase, each player rolls eight Elemental Dice. Each die will then become the elemental attribute that they land on. If you would like to try for a different element, players will then have the option to Re-Roll as many dice as they want, but only once.

During the Action Phase, players alternate turns using their Elemental Dice to use Fast Actions and Combat Actions until the round is over. During their turn, the active player can use as many Fast Actions as they want as long as they have the Elemental Dice to do so. However, once they use a Combat Action, their turn is over.

Every action that players can do during the Action Phase falls into one of two categories: Fast Actions are when you play an Action Card or Elemental Tuning, and Combat Actions are using a Character Skill, Switching Active Characters, and when a player declares End Round.

Fast Actions

- Elemental Tuning: Discard a card to change the elemental attribute of one die. Make sure your cursor is over the card you want to discard before you activate elemental tuning.

- Playing an Action Card: Spend the correct amount of Elemental Dice to activate an Action Card

Combat Actions

- Character Skill: Pay the correct cost of Elemental Dice to activate a skill listed on a Character Card. Ends turn immediately after activation.

- Switching Active Characters: Spend one Elemental Die to switch to another Character Card. Ends turn immediately after activation.

- End Round: Ends the round for that player. The player that ends their round first will go first in the next round.

When a player is out of Elemental Dice or unable to use any more Character Skills or Action Cards they must declare End Round. The player that ends their round first will go first in the next round. It is important to note that even though one player ends their round, the other player can continue using actions until they end their round.

A Genius Invokation duel is won by reducing an opponent's Character Card's HP to zero. The idea is simple enough but, this TCG mini-game that Hoyoverse created can be surprisingly complex, making Victory that much more satisfying.

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As with other trading card games, there are tons of strategies to achieve victory. Here are a few tips that will always give you a better chance to come out on top.

NEXT: Genshin Impact: Best Decks For Genius Invokation TCG

Derek, the self proclaimed 'Original Gamer', is a freelance guide writer with a passion for RPGs and trading card games. He mainly writes about titles for the Playstation, PC, and Switch. When not writing, legend has it he is being carried to victory by his children but he disputes these claims.