How to Play Star Wars: Unlimited – Part 1: Card Types & Counters Explained

Jason Lester
Oct 7, 2025
3 min read

I recently discovered Star Wars: Unlimited, and I have to say—I’m hooked. It’s fast-paced, strategic, and packed with flavor from across the Star Wars universe. Whether you're a longtime fan of trading card games or just dipping your toes into the galaxy far, far away, this game has something for everyone.

This post kicks off a new blog series where I’ll walk through the basics of how to play Star Wars: Unlimited, share tips from my own experience, and help new players get started. Today, we’re focusing on the foundation of the game: the different types of cards and the counters you'll use during play.

🃏 Card Types: What You’ll See in Your Deck

Your deck in Star Wars: Unlimited is made up of several card types, each with a distinct role. Here’s how to identify them and what they do:

1. Leader Cards

These are the face of your deck—literally. You start the game with your Leader in play.
Leaders have two sides: a non-unit side (used at the start of the game) and a unit side (flipped later to join the battle).
You can identify a Leader card by its unique frame and the “Leader” label at the top.

2. Base Cards

Your Base represents your stronghold. It typically starts with 30 health and is crucial to your survival.
Bases can have special abilities and traits that influence your strategy.
Look for the “Base” label and the large health number to spot these.

3. Unit Cards

These are your troops, vehicles, and characters that fight on the battlefield.
Units have stats like power, health, and cost, and they can be deployed to either the ground or space arena.
You’ll recognize them by their stat boxes and the “Unit” label.

4. Event Cards

Events are one-time effects that can swing the game in your favor.
They don’t stay on the board—they resolve and go to the discard pile.
Look for the “Event” label and the lack of power/health stats.

5. Upgrade Cards

These attach to units to give them bonuses or new abilities.
You’ll see the “Upgrade” label and a small icon showing what kind of unit they can attach to.

🔴 Counters: What They’re For and How to Use Them

Counters are essential tools for tracking game state. Here are the main ones you’ll use:

💥 Damage Counters

Used to track how much damage a unit or base has taken.
When a unit’s damage equals or exceeds its health, it’s defeated.
These are typically small tokens or dice placed directly on the card.

⚔️ Initiative Counter

This determines which player goes first in a round.
It passes back and forth each round, and knowing who has initiative can help you plan your plays.
Usually represented by a token or marker—keep it visible!

🌟 Epic Action Counter

Some Leaders have powerful “Epic Actions” that can only be used once per game.
The Epic Action counter helps track whether you’ve used this ability.
Once spent, it’s flipped or removed to show the action is no longer available.

🛒 Ready to Play?

Whether you're just starting out or looking to expand your collection, we’ve got Star Wars: Unlimited sealed product, singles, and accessories available in our online store. Stay tuned for the next post in this series, where I’ll break down Understanding Card Symbols and Rarity.

May the Force be with you—and your draws!