How to play the Naruto Card Game

Bandai has published an overview of the rules but no full rulebook yet. This guide covers what the official site and the official card images confirm, and flags the parts that are still open.

What do you need to play?

Each player brings four separate piles: a Leader, a 50-card deck of Characters and EX Characters in the Leader's colour, 5 Chakra cards and 1 Summon card. The Leader starts in play, the Chakra cards sit face-up beside it and the Summon card waits next to them.

How do you win?

Every revealed Leader has 15 LIFE, and you win by bringing the opponent's Leader to 0. Hits on the Leader remove LIFE according to the attacker's DMG, a separate stat from POW, which measures combat strength.

How do you pay costs?

Costs are paid in Chakra: to pay 2 you turn 2 Chakra cards face-down. They stay down until your Leader uses Recovery, which from the second turn rests the Leader and turns all your Chakra face-up again, so every turn is a choice between spending now and recovering.

How do Characters enter play?

You rest your single Summon card to bring a Character onto the field. EX Characters cannot be summoned this way: they have Summon Requirements, usually placing some of your Characters in the trash, as Gamabunta does with a Character of 10 or more power.

What is a Support?

Many Characters carry a Support box with a technique name, a Chakra cost and a timing. Bandai's own example is Shikamaru: for 1 Chakra during the opponent's attack, Shadow Possession Jutsu puts him into play and stops that attack, which is how you defend in this game.

What is not official yet?

Opening hand size, cards drawn per turn, the exact turn phases, field limits, the copy limit per card and tournament rules have not been published. Players who tried the 2026 demos have shared their notes, but until Bandai releases a rulebook treat them as unconfirmed.