How to Play

Master the art of cooperative survival

What is Horde Mode?

Horde Mode is a cooperative PvE format for Magic: The Gathering. You and your fellow players team up with your own Commander or constructed decks to battle against an automated Horde deck controlled entirely by the app.

Each turn, the Horde flips cards from its deck automatically -- tokens flood onto the battlefield and spells resolve with devastating effect. Your team must work together to stem the tide.

Win by depleting the Horde's deck and clearing every creature from its battlefield. Lose when every player has been eliminated.

Game Setup

Four simple steps to get started

1

Choose a Ruleset

Select between Classic or Commander rules. Commander uses 40-life totals and commander-specific rules, while Classic follows standard 20-life Horde rules.

2

Pick a Horde Deck

Each Horde deck has a unique tribal theme -- zombies, slivers, dragons, and more. Every deck comes with a difficulty rating so you can find the right challenge for your group.

3

Add Players

Add 1 to 8 players. Everyone brings their own MTG deck -- Commander decks, 60-card constructed, whatever your group likes to play.

4

Configure & Start

Fine-tune game options like starting life totals and difficulty, then launch the game. The app handles all Horde mechanics automatically.

How a Turn Works

Every round follows a two-phase cycle

The Horde's Turn

  • The Horde flips cards from the top of its deck (the number depends on difficulty).
  • Tokens go straight to the battlefield.
  • Spells resolve immediately with their effects.
  • All Horde creatures attack every player -- they have permanent haste and cannot be individually targeted during the Horde's turn.

The Players' Turn

  • All players take a normal MTG turn together -- untap, upkeep, draw, main phase, combat, second main, end step.
  • Attack the Horde -- deal damage to clear its creatures or chip away at its life total.
  • Cooperate freely -- discuss strategy, coordinate blocks, use abilities to protect each other.
  • Play spells, use planeswalkers, and share the battlefield as a united front.

Winning & Losing

Two paths, one battlefield

Victory

Deplete the Horde's entire deck AND destroy every creature remaining on its battlefield. Both conditions must be met.

The Horde's life total represents its remaining deck strength -- when it hits zero, it stops flipping new cards. But any creatures already on the board must still be dealt with.

Defeat

All players are eliminated -- when every player's life total reaches zero, the Horde overwhelms the group and darkness prevails.

Even a single surviving player can still fight on and potentially turn the tide. Protect your weakest allies at all costs.

Difficulty Tiers

Five levels of challenge to test your mettle

Easy

100 cards, 2 cards/turn -- Great for beginners and learning the format. A gentle introduction to cooperative survival.

Normal

100 cards, 3 cards/turn -- The standard Horde experience. A solid challenge for most playgroups.

Hard

100 cards, 3 cards/turn + lord effects -- For experienced groups. Horde creatures gain tribal buffs that stack dangerously.

Nightmare

100 cards, 3+ cards/turn + aggressive scaling -- Punishing difficulty. The Horde escalates in power as the game progresses.

RAID

200 cards, 4 cards/turn, 5-8 players required -- Designed to be nearly unbeatable. An endurance gauntlet for the largest, most experienced groups.

Tips & Strategies

Wisdom from the battlefield

Board Wipes Are King

Board wipes are your best friend. A single Wrath of God can undo an entire Horde turn. Pack as many as you can.

Focus the Board

Focus on the Horde's board, not its life total. Creatures on the battlefield are the immediate threat -- clearing them buys you time.

Coordinate Removal

Coordinate with your team -- don't waste removal spells on the same target. Communicate before you cast.

Save Your Counters

Save counterspells for the Horde's non-token spells. You can't counter tokens, but the real spells often carry devastating effects.

Prioritize Real Threats

Tokens are endless; prioritize the real threats. Non-token creatures and enchantments often have game-warping abilities.

Gain Life Early

Life gain helps you survive the early onslaught. The first few Horde turns can be brutal -- a cushion of extra life buys crucial time.

Ready to Face the Horde?

Gather your allies, prepare your decks, and see if you have what it takes to survive the onslaught.

Get Started