Glossary

All game terms explained.

Phases

MAIN

Main phase of the active player. Play cards, trigger effects, choose characters.

Mechanics

AMBUSH

Effect triggered when this card enters a mission while hidden. Often revealed in response.

UPGRADE

Additional effect that activates under a condition — usually after MAIN played the card.

SCORE

Effect of a Mission card triggered when the mission is resolved.

Hidden

hidden · Hidden · HIDDEN

Face-down card — opponent does not know its identity. Some effects require or reveal hidden cards.

friendly

friendly · Friendly

Card or character belonging to you.

enemy

enemy · Enemy

Card or character belonging to the opponent.

Edge

Edge · the Edge · EDGE

Initiative status — usually grants extra action or combat bonus.

Chakra

Chakra · CHAKRA · chakra

Resource used to play cards. Grows by 1 per turn (max 10). Symbol ⚡.

mission

mission · Mission

Objective both players compete for. Winner gains mission points.

character

character · Character · characters · Characters

Character card, unit that participates in mission battles.

DUEL

Shinobi Shiren effect written as "DUEL <name>: effect", always instant (↯). The named character is the activation requirement — on every revealed card it is the rival from a canonical duel, and the effect targets enemy characters. The requirement can be bypassed (Exam Stadium activates a DUEL ignoring requirements). Full rules pending the SET2 rulebook.

ATTACH

ATTACH · attachment · attachments

New card type in Shinobi Shiren: not a character but a card attached to the target named in its text — a friendly non-hidden character (Curry of Life) or a mission (Exam Stadium). An attachment has its own chakra cost, Power and may carry MAIN or SCORE effects.

Power token

Power token · Power tokens

Each Power token on a character grants +1 Power. POWERUP is the main source. All tokens are removed from every character at the end of the round and stay on the card when it flips hidden ↔ non-hidden.

Effects

POWERUP

POWERUP · POWER UP

Increase the target's power by the listed amount until end of round. E.g. POWERUP 2 = +2 power.

POWERDOWN

POWERDOWN · POWER DOWN

Decrease target power by the listed amount until end of round.

Symbols

↯

Instant effect — resolves in response, playable any time on your turn.

⧗

Once per round — effect usable only once each round.

Factions

Leaf Village

Konohagakure — the most numerous faction, ninja clans of the Leaf.

Sand Village

Sunagakure — desert ninja faction, Hidden Sand Village.

Sound Village

Otogakure — Orochimaru's faction, ninja of experiments and dark techniques.

Akatsuki

S-rank rogue ninja organization hunting Tailed Beasts.

Independent

Characters without village affiliation — mercenaries, clans.

Keywords

Hokage

Top rank of the Leaf Village. Leader of Konoha, strongest ninja of the generation.

Sannin

Three legendary Konoha ninja: Jiraiya, Tsunade, Orochimaru.

Team 7

Naruto, Sasuke, Sakura under Kakashi's guidance.

Team 8

Hinata, Kiba, Shino under Kurenai — tracking specialists.

Team 10

Ino, Shikamaru, Choji under Asuma — Ino-Shika-Cho combo.

Team Guy

Lee, Neji, Tenten under Might Guy — taijutsu specialists.

Team Baki

Gaara, Kankuro, Temari from Sand under Baki.

Team Dosu

Sound Village Genin: Dosu, Zaku, Kin — Orochimaru's envoys.

Sound Four

Four elite Orochimaru shinobi, his personal guard.

Rogue Ninja

Ninja who abandoned their village. Hunted for desertion.

Jutsu

Ninja technique — chakra trick. Ninjutsu, Taijutsu or Genjutsu.

Taijutsu

Hand-to-hand combat — body techniques without chakra.

Kekkei Genkai

Hereditary clan ability, e.g. Sharingan or Byakugan.

Tailed Beast

Bijuu — giant chakra beasts sealed in jinchuuriki.

Summon

Summoned creature via ninja contract — animals or beings.

Ninja Hound

Ninja dog summoned by Kakashi — tracking and support.

Weapon

Equipment card — ninja weapon: kunai, shuriken, sword.

Academy

Young ninja student. Low cost, light effect.

Special Jonin

Jonin specializing in one field. Between Chunin and full Jonin.

Sound Ninja

Shinobi of the Hidden Sound Village, under Orochimaru.

Ninja Pig

Summoned assistant pig (Tonton). Medical support.

Food

Keyword on Shinobi Shiren attachments (e.g. Curry of Life). Choji Akimichi doubles the Power of Food attachments on himself.

Location

Keyword for attachments that go on a mission rather than a character (e.g. Exam Stadium, the Chunin Exam arena).