Run

A game of 9 Kings consists of a 33 year run, which can be continued endlessly after victory. Each run has three lives. A life is lost if any enemy unit touches the Kingdom Base card, excluding the King of Nomads, who does not have a permanent base. If the player is playing as the King of Nomads, then the enemy needs to touch the player's life statues for a life to be lost. If the player loses a life during a final battle, the entire run is lost, no matter how many lives they have. The only way that lives can be regained is with the Rebirth Decree. Every year includes a battle, but some years have additional effects. Each battle will give 9 Gold at the end, regardless of who won. Winning a battle will grant a card from the defeated king's deck, while losing a battle will grant a card from the player's king deck.

Each run will start with 2 opposing kings as well as rebel armies from the king that has been chosen. Additional kings will be added and removed as the run progresses. The king that will attack next will be displayed briefly with an icon in the lower-right corner when the year starts, and can be shown again by placing the cursor near the right side of the map. The player will have the choice to reroll the attacking king for 10 gold with an additional 10 gold for each reroll.

Gameplay

A player starts a run with a capital consisting of 9 empty plots and a hand of 4 cards: one base card and 3 cards from the chosen king's deck. The player can select perks to start with many benefits, some of which depend on what king they play. The first card played on a run is always a base card on an empty plot. The player then keeps playing or discarding cards until only two cards remain in their hand, at which point the year's battle commences against an opposing king.

The remainder of the run follows this pattern until the final battle in year 33:

• If the player survives the battle with at least 1 life, they select one of three randomly drawn cards to add to their hand.
• They deal with any special events, such as Royal Councils, merchant and Diplomat Visits, and Plot Expansions.
• They play or discard cards until they own only two cards, at which point the next year's battle commences.

Final Battle

On year 33, the player must play or discard all remaining cards in their possession before facing the final battle. The enemy army will be led by a champion of the enemy king, who has the same ability as their base card. If the player is victorious in the final battle, a run is won after 33 years, but can be continued indefinitely. You will also receive 3 cards from the defeated king. Winning a route on the currently hardest difficulty unlocks the next hardest difficulty.

Endless Mode

After winning the Final Battle, players may continue indefinitely.

The Tower will appear permanently, and you can click on it to buy empty plots for 30 Gold each.

Order of events

Each run will be made up of the following years. In addition to these events, the Rainbow army will attack once on a random year. Afterwards, the pattern between years 34 and 44 will repeat indefinitely. Final battles continue to occur every 33 years, starting on year 66.

Year	Effect
1	Battle only
2	Battle only
3	Battle only
4	Royal council - Select a royal decree
5	Battle only
6	Blessing (reveal) - Discover the prophecy
7	Battle only
8	Diplomat (War) - War with one of two kings
9	Battle only
10	Merchant - Buy cards with gold
11	Battle only

Year	Effect
12	The Tower - Plot expansion
13	Battle only
14	Royal council
15	Battle only
16	Blessing (effect) - Prophecy plays out
17	Battle only
18	Battle only
19	The Tower
20	Battle only
21	Royal council
22	Battle only

Year	Effect
23	Diplomat (Peace) - Peace with one of two kings
24	Battle only
25	Merchant
26	Battle only
27	The Tower
28	Battle only
29	Royal council
30	Battle only
31	Merchant
32	Battle only
33	Final Battle - Play all cards and fight the rebel champion

Year	Effect
34+	Battle only
35+	Diplomat (War)
36+	Battle only
37+	Royal council
38+	Battle only
39+	Battle only
40+	Merchant
41+	Battle only
42+	Diplomat (Peace)
43+	Battle only
44+	Chaos - Enemies become more powerful