OBJECTIVE: THE VICTORY GOAL

The ultimate aim is to trap the enemy Emperor (帝) in Checkmate—a position where the Emperor is under attack and has no safe squares to move to. You also win if the opponent runs out of legal moves (Stalemate) while their King is in danger.

Base Pieces (Pawns + Emperor)

1. THE SIEGE PHASE

Strategic setup defines your starting tactical position. Players take turns placing pieces from their tray onto the board.

• Deployment Zone: Standard pieces can be placed anywhere except the back rows (1x10 on each side).
• The Royal Row: The back row is reserved exclusively for your Emperor (帝). It must be the last piece you place.
• Stacking (Siege Only): You can drag a tray piece onto an existing unit to evolve it instantly. This is the only phase where stacking is permitted.

2. THE ADVANCE PHASE

Standard movement turns begin. The ultimate goal is to Checkmate the enemy Emperor.

• The 12-Move Rule: If you are left with only an Emperor, your opponent has exactly 12 moves to checkmate you, or the match ends in a Draw.

3. NOBLES (2-PIECE STACK)

Combining 2 base pieces creates these specialist units:

• 塔 Tower (S+S): Unstoppable linear range. Moves like a Chess Rook.
• 僧 Priest (G+G): Tactical diagonal movement. Moves like a Chess Bishop.
• 騎 Cavalier (C+C): Precise jumping maneuvers. Moves like a Chess Knight.
• 臣 Minister (C+S): 1-step move. Freezes any adjacent enemy directly in front.
• 密 Spy (S+G): 1-step move. Can switch places with any piece within 2 spaces.
• 車 Chariot (C+G): 1-step move. Pushes enemy pieces back up to 2 spaces.

4. OFFICIAL (3-PIECE STACK)

The ultimate evolutions. Order of the 3 base pieces does not matter:

• 后 Empress (3 Soldiers): Mastery of space. Moves as Queen (Rook+Bishop).
• 砲 Cannon (2S+1C): Snipes any unit up to 3 spaces away without moving its position.
• 将 General (2S+1G): 1-step all directions. Sacrifice: Can revive an ally lost in the last 2 turns. Clicking a highlighted dead ally swaps it to the General's position, sacrificing the General.
• 槍 Lancer (2C+1S): Captures the enemy spirit; units killed by Lancer can be summoned back to adjacent empty squares.
• 聖 Palladin (2G+1S): Jumps up to 2 spaces in any direction. Jumps twice per deployment.
• 先 Vanguard (3 Constables): Defensive anchor. Allies placed directly in front cannot be killed.
• 刺 Assassin (2C+1G): Lethal presence. Any enemy landing adjacent to the Assassin is instantly executed.
• 矛 Spearman (2G+1C): Piercing attack. Kills up to 3 aligned enemies in one straight-line strike.
• 狂 Berserker (3 Guards): Moves up to 2 steps. Attacker and Berserker both die immediately if the Berserker is defeated.
• 壁 Wall (S+C+G): The Immortal Obstacle. Cannot move, cannot be killed. Blocks all paths.