Xeko FAQs
Starter Set
Q: If a player cannot play any card in their hand when it is their turn do they continue drawing until they can play a card? or is their turn just over?
A: If a player cannot play a Species card from his or her hand, the player must skip the Play One Species Card step of the turn (and then also skips the Turf War step).
Q: On Page 8 of the "Learn-to-Play Guide" for Player 2 of the Mission Madagascar Starter Set, it states that the Pygmy Leaf Chameleon can start a Turf War with either the Yellow-line Caterpillar or the Greater Hedgehog Tenrec. Is this correct?
A: No! This is an error in the Guide. This should read "My Pygmy Leaf Chameleon could start a Turf War with EITHER the Yellow-line Caterpillar OR the Coppery Day Gecko."
Q: My cards in the starter set have become mixed up and I need to put them back in order to follow the guided game. Where can I find the list?
A: You can find the order of the cards for the guided game inside the Player 1 and Player 2 Learn-to-Play Guides. The card lists should be on Page 2 of the guide books.
Q: I want to play the guided game, but my cards have become mixed up. How do I put the cards back in order?
A: You can find the order of the cards for the guided game inside the Player 1 and Player 2 Learn-to-Play Guides. The card lists should be on Page 2 of the guide books. For the Madasgascar guided game, only the top 10 cards of the draw pile matter.For the Costa Rica guided game, only the top 11 cards of the draw pile matter.
Specific Cards
Q: When I play one of the Boost cards Rain, Stridulation and Food Stash, should I shuffle it into my Draw Pile right away?
A: No, wait until the current Turf War is over. Then both players shuffle all such Boost cards into their owner's Draw Piles. These Boost cards remain in the field to provide links for other Boost cards.
Q: When I play Hiding Spot, do I draw a card right away?
A: Yes, draw that card immediately. You can use it during that same Turf War.
Q: Three Totems – If my opponent runs out of cards because I chose her for this Xeko card and she can draw only two cards, can I continue my turn and play a Species?
A: No. At any time when a player is required to draw a card (or shed a card) and can't, the game ends. In a case like this, the player does as much as he or she can (drawing two cards) and ignores the rest. But the game ends when that player can't draw a card (or can't shed a card).
Q: Three Totems – This Xeko card allows me to choose my opponent to draw three cards. Why would I do that? Isn't drawing cards a benefit?
A: One reason is to end the game right away (see the question above for an example).
Q: Can we play Xeko if we don't have a Hotspot card?
A: If you don't have a Hotspot card, get one from a Mission: Madagascar Starter Set or you can print your own by clicking here.
Q: When I play the Boost card Warning Call, should I count the number of cards in my opponent's hand right away?
A: Yes, Warning Sign counts your opponent's cards in hand at the moment you play it.
Q: How does Comet Orchid work?
A: When this card is played, it allows you to immediately play a Hawk Moth Species card from your hand if you have one. The Hawk Moth must be linked to the Comet Orchid when it is played. If the Hawk Moth triggers a Turf War, resolve the Turf War as usual.
Q: How does Swarm work?
A: When this card is played, count the total number of Species cards in play (owned by any player) that have a 1-dot symbol. That number is multiplied by 2 to determine the total Energy boost provided by the Swarm card.
Q: How does Toxic work?
A: Look at the Energy value printed on the Species card you are boosting with the Toxic card. That value is the total energy boost provided by the Toxic card. If the Species card has a “#” sign for energy, like the Carnivorous Pitcher Plant, figure out what that value would be, and that is considered to be the Species’ base Energy.
Q: How does Golden Bamboo Lemur work?
A: Turf Wars that involve a Golden Bamboo Lemur skip the Play Boost Cards phase of the Turf War. No Boost cards may be played by either player. This effect happens regardless of whether you are the invading or defending player.
Q: How does Peace Offering work?
A: This card allows you to play one Species card during the Play One Xeko card step of your turn. Any Species card played in this way does not trigger a Turf War.
Q: How does New Reserve work?
A: This card allows you to play two Species cards during the Play One Species Card step of your turn. Turf Wars, as well as all other effects, card powers and rules, are executed as normal for both Species cards. You are allowed to ignore this effect after playing your first Species card if you choose.
Q: How does Heavy Storm work?
A: This card ends the Turf War immediately when it is played. No cards may be played by either player. Energy totals for this Turf War are considered equal. Proceed to the Clean-up phase of the Turf War.
Q: How does Sticky Web Trap work?
A: This card changes the value of all Boost cards played by other players to 0 for this Turf War. This affects Boost cards that have already been played during this Turf War as well as cards that are played later in the Turf War.
Q: How does Indri work?
A: This card allows you to play a Species card at the end of any Turf War you win involving Indri. The Species card you play in this manner does not trigger a Turf War.
Q: How does Brown Mouse Lemur work?
A: This card allows you to play a Species card at the end of any Turf War you win involving a Brown Mouse Lemur. The Species card you play in this manner does not trigger a Turf War.
Q: How does Bornean Flat-Headed Frog work?
A: The first ability is a normal use of the Sacrifice ability. The second ability is triggered when this card would leave play and go into your shed pile. When that would happen, the card is instead moved to the top of your draw pile. The second ability can be triggered by the first ability.
Q: How does Africanized Bee work ?
A: Immediately after you play this card, before moving to the Turf War step, you may look through your draw pile for a card. Using this power is optional, but if you use it, you have to shuffle your draw pile when you’re done. You may choose any card that’s not from the Mission: Costa Rica set. (Mission: Costa Rica cards have the letters “CR” at the bottom of the card between the rarity icons and the card number, like this:
Q: How does Almendro work?
A: This card lets you exchange your Almendro card in the field for a Species card in your shed pile. You may only do this during your SUNRISE phase. Your opponent is allowed to know what card you return to your hand. If you return a Great Green Macaw to your hand, you also return all other copies of Great Green Macaw that are in your shed pile.
Q: How does Bromeliad work?
A: This power is activated when you count Eco-points at the end of the game. All your
Q: How does Brown-throated Three-toed Sloth work?
A: This card changes the rules of a Turf War so that the player with the lower Energy total wins it. This change means that the player with the higher Energy total sheds the difference instead of the player with the lower energy. For example, I invade your Black-cheeked Ant Tanager with my Brown-throated Three-toed Sloth. Your Species has Energy of 11 and my Species has Energy of 8. Ordinarily, I’d have to shed three cards. But having this power on my Species means that you have to shed three cards instead!
Q: How does Bullseye Electric Ray work?
A: This card lets you move the opposing Species card from the field to its owner’s hand if you win a Turf War involving this Species.
Q: How does Chase Off work?
A: This card lets you return a Species card from the field to its owner’s hand. If your opponent doesn’t have a Species card worth 10 or more Eco-points, you must choose one of your own Species cards worth 10 or more Eco-Points. If no one has a Species card in the field worth 10 or more Eco-points, put this card into your shed pile.
Q: How does Deforestation work?
A: This card lets you move any two cards from the field to their owners’ hands. You can choose two of your opponent’s cards, two of your cards, or one card you each own, but you can’t choose to move only one card. If you can’t move two cards with the required symbols, put this card in the shed pile.
Q: How does Dice’s Cottontail work?
A: This card lets you play a Species card at the end of any Turf War you win involving Dice’s Cottontail. Playing a Species card this way doesn’t start a Turf War.
Q: How does Great Green Macaw work?
A: When you play this card, you must put one of your
Q: How does Green Turtle work?
A: This card lets you play a Species card at the end of any Turf War you win involving Green Turtle. Playing a Species card this way doesn’t start a Turf War.
Q: How does Guancaste Tree work?
A: This power is activated when you count Eco-points at the end of the game. The Eco-points you gain from this card’s power are in addition to any Conservation bonus you receive.
Q: How does Guaria Morada work?
A: This power is activated when you count Eco-points at the end of the game. Each of your cards not from the Mission: Costa Rica set get +1 Eco-point. (Mission: Costa Rica cards from the Costa Rica set have the letters “CR” at the bottom of the card between the rarity icons and the card number, like this:
Q: How does Hawksbill Hatchlings work?
A: This card changes the rules of a Turf War so that the player with the lower Energy total wins it. This change means that the player with the higher Energy total sheds the difference instead of the player with the lower energy. For example, I invade your Hump-back Whale with my Hawksbill Hatchlings. Your Species has Energy of 15 and my Species has Energy of 9. Ordinarily, I’d have to shed six cards. But having this power on my Species means that you have to shed six cards instead!
Q: How does Humpback Whale work?
A: When you play this card, you must move another of your Species cards already in the field into your shed pile. This is not optional. If you can’t move another of your Species cards to your shed pile, you have to put this card into the shed pile.
Q: How does Plantation Bananas work?
A: This power is activated when you count Eco-points at the end of the game. This card reduces the Eco-point value of all the
Q: How does Rana de Hojarasca work?
A: This card changes the value of all Boost cards played by other players to 0 for any Turf War involving this Species. This affects Boost cards that have already been played during this Turf War as well as cards played later in this Turf War.
Q: Monkey Moves has a "+3" in the purple Energy symbol at the top right of the card, but the rules text does not say that my species gets +3 Energy. Does my species get +3 Energy ?
A: Yes. The rules text should read "+3 Energy" in addition to the other rules text.
Q: Why does the Plant card Acropora have a
A: Acropora is a coral. Corals look like plants but they are animals. They don't move around like a lot of other animals and they sometimes coexist very closely with plants, so we decided to give the card both symbols.
Q: How does Sumatran Tiger work?
A: At the end of your turn is a phase called SUNSET. During that phase you have the option to activate the SUNSET ability one time. In this case, you may shed five cards and start a Turf War involving the Sumatran Tiger as if you had just played it, this includes multi-link bonuses, boost cards, shedding, etc. After this Turf War is over, the SUNSET phase continues as normal.
Q: How does Golden Arowana work?
A: There are some cards that require you to flip a coin to determine a value or game variable. The Golden Arowana helps get the result you want. If you have the Golden Arowana in play, you may reflip a coin that doesn’t land the way you want it to.
Q: How does Bornean Flat-Headed Frog work?
A: The first ability is a normal use of the Sacrifice ability. The second ability is triggered when this card would leave play and go into your shed pile. When that would happen, the card is instead moved to the top of your draw pile. The second ability can be triggered by the first ability.
Q: What if I have Rafflesia in the field with two Mottled Eagle Ray?
A: If you have Rafflesia in the field with two Mottled Eagle Ray, assuming you have no Species with higher Eco-points, the Rafflesia’s Eco-points would be five. The Rafflesia looks at the base Eco-point value on a species, which is the value printed on the card. If you have a species with a “#” sign for eco-points, figure out what that value would be, and that is considered to be the Species’ base Eco-points.
Playing a Xeko Card
Q: What is a “Trophic Token?” Is it the same as a required symbol?
A: We’ve renamed one of the card elements; what was previously called “requirements” or “requirement symbols” are now called “Trophic Tokens.” They work exactly the same, only the name has changed.
Linking
Q: When you play a species card, does it have to link correctly to ALL adjacent species cards, or just one?
A: Species cards must link correctly to all adjacent species. There should never be a time when you look at the field and see any incorrect links.
Q: When I'm playing a card that has a blank side (with no link colors), does that blank edge have to match up with another blank side if I'm playing the card into a corner?
A: Yes, blank sides may only be next to other blank sides. See Play One Species Card.
Q: Can I play a card with a blank side next to another card that has a link color on the adjoining side as long as my card is connected by a link color on another side?
A: No, blank sides may only be next to other blank sides. See Play One Species Card.
Q: Do I get a Multi-link bonus if one of the touching sides is blank?
A: No, because blank sides aren't considered to be a link.
Q: Multi-link Bonuses – when I play a Species that is linked to the Hotspot card, does that count for receiving a Multi-link bonus?
A: Yes, that link counts.
Q: Does multi-linking with a boost card(s) create a multi-link bonus?
A: Playing a boost card does not trigger a Multi-link bonus. Multi-link bonuses are only applied if the invading species card links to more than one species card when it is played. Boost cards are discarded at the end of a Turf War, so there should not be any boost cards leftover on the board from previous turns.
Q: When linking (side by side), do the same colors have to actually be across from one another or can they simply be in the "connecting area?"
A: As long as both links contain the same color, the play is legal. The colors do not have to be aligned directly across.
Turf Wars
Q: The rule book states that the invading player may play a Boost or pass, then the other player may play a Boost or pass. What if I pass, then my opponent plays a Boost card? May I then play a Boost card even though I passed earlier? For example, is this a legal sequence of play? P1: pass, P2: boost, P1: boost, P2: pass, P1: boost
A: Yes. Both players must pass consecutively to end the Play Boost step.
Q: How does a multi-linked turf war work?
A: Pg. 14 of the rulebook reads "If your Species card links to more than one card owned by another player, the invading player decides which of the defending Species will be in the Turf War."
Q: If there is a tie between two Species during a Turf War (Energy points) and there are no boost cards to be played or any other adjustments, what happens?
A: Yes, in the event of a tie in a Turf War, neither player sheds any cards. This is true when there is a tie regardless of whether Boost cards were played or not.
Q: With the card power "Morph" do you have to draw the cards?
A: You do not have to draw the cards if you don't want to. In Xeko, use of the word "may" means that the effect is optional.
Q: If I play a boost card and the are other cards around it, does the boost card have to match the link to all of the cards or just the one I want to link it to?
A: Yes, the boost card has to match the links of all the cards around it. A good rule to remember is that you should never be able to look at the field and see any links that don't match at least one color.
Q: If there is no place to put a boost card, (if the card that you want to link a boost card to is completely surrounded) is there any way that I can play a boost card?
A: If there is no place to put a boost card, in your example if the card is surrounded, then no, you can't play that boost card.
Cards Leaving Play
Q: Will there be more Xeko card sets? Can I use them with the Mission: Madagascar cards?
A: Yes! Sign up for Club Xeko and keep an eye on www.xeko.com for news about our next card set featuring an exciting new Hotspot and many new cards. You'll be able to build decks using cards from all the Xeko card sets.
Ending the Game
Q: If I have to shed three cards from my Draw Pile and I only have two, does that end the game the same as if I had to draw three cards?
A: Yes, the game ends when one player must draw a card (or shed a card) from his or her Draw Pile and can't because that Draw Pile is empty.
Scoring
Q: At the end of the game, if I have an odd number of cards remaining in my Draw Pile, is my Conservation Bonus rounded up or down?
A: Round up. See Conservation Bonus.
Card Sets
Q: How do I figure out the rarity of a card? What do the dots at the bottom of the cards mean?
A: There are four rarity levels of Xeko cards; Common, Rare, Endangered and Vanishing.
All the cards have a system of dots at the bottom to help determine their rarity. These dots are just to the left of the two letter abbreviation that communicates which set the card is from.
Common cards have one dot and are the most plentiful.
Rare cards have two dots and are slightly more scarce than the Common cards.
Endangered cards have three dots and you should get one of these in each booster pack of cards.
Vanishing cards have four dots and the most challenging to collect.
The rarity of the Species cards is guided by the actual populations of those species in the real world.
Q: Will there be more Xeko collections coming out?
A: Yes! Keep an eye on www.xeko.com and sign up for Club Xeko for all the inside information about new Xeko collections.
Building a Deck
Q: There are two types of Forest Fire cards (one for
Madagascar and one for Costa Rica). Can I have 3 Forest Fire cards from Madagascar and 3 from Costa Rica in my deck ? Or do they count as the same cards and I can only have three general Forest Fire cards and it doesn't matter what
hotspot they are from ?
A: Cards with the same name from different hotspots count as the same card when building a deck. You cannot include the 3 Forest Fire cards from Madagascar AND the 3 Forest Fire cards from Costa Rica in the same deck.
Q: Can I mix cards from different hotspot collections in the same deck ?
A: Absolutely! All the cards in Xeko can be played together, even if the cards are from different collections.
Terms
Q: What is a “Trophic Token?” Is it the same as a required symbol?
A: We’ve renamed one of the card elements; what was previously called “requirements” or “requirement symbols” are now called “Trophic Tokens.” They work exactly the same, only the name has changed.
Real World
Q: Are the Species cards in the Xeko card game based on real animals and plants?
A: Yes. All the Species cards are based on real animals and plants found in the hotspot.
Q: How many hotspots are there?
A: There are currently 34 hotspots recognized by our partners at Conservation International. Learn more about the hotspots and how you can help at www.conservation.org.
Q: What does "endemic" mean?
A: A species that is endemic is unique to that place or region, found naturally nowhere else. These species are particularly vulnerable to extinction because they only have one habitat in which they can successfully live. You can find this definition and many more in the Rulebook Glossary.
Q: Can you mix Madagascar and Costa Rica cards together in a xeko game? Can player one have one hotspot series of cards and player two another?
A: Yes. All Xeko cards can be played together, mixed together in a deck and each player can have different cards from different hotspots. And all the cards in the future will also be playable together. It doesn't matter which hotspot card you use to start the game because all hotspot cards have blue links on each side
Miscellaneous
Q: At any point during the game, if you do not have a card to legally play what happens? Does the next person just take his/her turn?
A: If you do not have a card you can play on your turn, your turn is over and the other player takes his/her turn.
Q: When the rules on a card say to shuffle this card back into your draw pile, does that mean that you always shuffle it back in to your draw pile no matter how many times you draw and play it?
A: Yes, when a card tells you to reshuffle itself back into your draw pile after you play it, you do this every time you play the card. You could end up redrawing and playing that card many times during a single game.
Submit an FAQ
Q: How can I submit a question for this page?
A: Submit your questions to rules@xekogame.com.