How to Play Star Wars: Unlimited – Part 5: Game Setup & Phases of Play

Welcome back to our Star Wars: Unlimited tutorial series! In Part 5, we’re walking through how to set up the game and how each round unfolds. Whether you're teaching new players at a pop-up event or prepping for a demo at Woody’s Geekery, this guide will help everyone hit the ground running.

🧰 Game Setup: Starter Decks & First Steps

If you’re using the two-player starter set, here’s how to get started:

1. Choose Your Deck   Each player selects either the Ahsoka Tano or General Grievous deck.

2. Separate Key Cards   Remove the double-sided leader, base, and token cards from the rest of the deck.

3. Lay Out the Playmats   Place the two playmats facing each other. They show where to place cards and include helpful rules reminders.

4. Place Your Base   Put your base card into play, facing your opponent.

5. Place Your Leader   Put your leader card below your base, horizontal side up (non-unit side).

6. Determine Initiative   Randomly decide who starts with the initiative counter. Set aside all other tokens.

7. Draw Your Hand   Shuffle your deck and draw 6 cards.

8. Optional Mulligan   You may shuffle your hand back into your deck and draw a new 6-card hand. Strategy Tip: Mulligan if you don’t have any 1- or 2-cost units to play early.

9. Set Up Resources   Choose 2 cards from your hand and place them facedown and ready near your base. These are your starting resources.

Once both players are ready, the game begins with the Action Phase.

🔄 Phases of Play: The Flow of Each Round

Each round of Star Wars: Unlimited has two phases: the Action Phase and the Regroup Phase.

⚔️ Action Phase

This is where most of the gameplay happens. Players alternate taking one action at a time until both pass consecutively. The player with the initiative goes first.

Available actions:

• Play a card (Unit, Event, or Upgrade) → Pay its cost by exhausting resources.

• Attack with a unit   → Exhaust the unit and declare a target.

• Use an action ability   → Some cards have special abilities that require exhausting.

• Take the initiative   → You can take initiative for next round (you Pass for the rest of the phase).

• Pass   → Skip your action. If both players pass, the round ends.

Units and resources enter play exhausted (turned sideways). They must be readied before they can be used again.

🔁 Regroup Phase

After both players pass, the round ends and the regroup phase begins. Complete these steps in order:

1. Draw 2 Cards   → Refill your hand and prepare for the next round.

2. Resource a Card   → You may place one card from your hand facedown as a new resource. Strategy Tip: Keep adding resources until you can use your leader’s Epic Action. After that, consider whether more resources are worth it based on your hand.

3. Ready All Cards   → Turn all exhausted cards upright—units, resources, and your leader.

Then the next round begins with a new Action Phase.

🧠 Quick Summary

• Setup: Choose decks, place base and leader, draw 6 cards, mulligan if needed, set 2 resources.

• Action Phase: Alternate actions until both pass.

• Regroup Phase: Draw 2 cards, optionally resource a card, ready all cards.

🎯 Final Thoughts

Once you understand the setup and turn structure, Star Wars: Unlimited becomes fast, fluid, and full of strategic choices. It’s easy to teach, fun to master, and perfect for building a local community around. Check out our online store for your Star Wars Unlimited needs.