Cards & Components

All card faces and a component reference for Zhanguo: The First Empire.

The card faces below are from the Tabletop Simulator module, checked against the publisher’s 2023 English rulebook. The module’s 120 cards use the same three printed number ranges and ability icons described in the rulebook.

Boards

Zhanguo setup board with numbered setup pointers

The main board carries the shared regions, Great Wall, elixir route, Mausoleum, score track and Unification area. Each player board has five regions and five Unrest tracks. An unlocked soldier can move from the entrance to a Mausoleum tile at the end of a turn after accepting a reward, or during the reward phase’s soldier-unlocking step (timing FAQ); a reward’s free placement also scores that tile’s printed points (FAQ).

Cards

After a Court action, you may activate tableau abilities with its trigger when the Court card’s number meets that action’s comparison rule (see Play at Court). A card may trigger from any region, but a small black arrow confines its effect to its own region. See the FAQs on when a card can trigger and where its effect applies.

Writing cards

Tucking a Writing card contributes to the Writing aspect; its ability remains visible in your tableau. The card face shows its effect and trigger.

Picture	Description
	Writing 1: Unification ability. Add one Unrest here to hire one worker here. Raise this region’s track first; at Unrest 3, you cannot take this effect.
	Writing 2: Unification ability. Add one Unrest here to hire one worker here. Raise this region’s track first; at Unrest 3, you cannot take this effect.
	Writing 3: Unification ability. Add one Unrest here to hire one worker here. Raise this region’s track first; at Unrest 3, you cannot take this effect.
	Writing 4: Unification ability. Place one Alchemist official here.
	Writing 5: Unification ability. Place one Alchemist official here.
	Writing 6: Unification ability. Place one General official here.
	Writing 7: Unification ability. Place one General official here.
	Writing 8: Unification ability. Place one General official here.
	Writing 9: Unification ability. Place one General official here.
	Writing 10: Unification ability. Place one Architect official here.
	Writing 11: Unification ability. Place one Architect official here.
	Writing 12: Unification ability. Place one Architect official here.
	Writing 13: Unification ability. Place one Alchemist official here.
	Writing 14: Unification ability. Place one Architect official here.
	Writing 15: Unification ability. Advance your ship one space. Resolve any elixir route reward you reach or pass on the way.
	Writing 16: Unification ability. Place one General official here.
	Writing 17: Unification ability. Advance your ship one space. Resolve any elixir route reward you reach or pass on the way.
	Writing 18: Unification ability. Advance your ship one space. Resolve any elixir route reward you reach or pass on the way.
	Writing 19: Unification ability. Place one Architect official here.
	Writing 20: Unification ability. Advance your ship one space. Resolve any elixir route reward you reach or pass on the way.
	Writing 21: Unification ability. Add one Unrest here to take one Currency and one Writing token. Raise this region’s Unrest first; at 3, the token reward is unavailable.
	Writing 22: Unification ability. Advance your ship one space. Resolve any elixir route reward you reach or pass on the way.
	Writing 23: Unification ability. Advance your ship one space. Resolve any elixir route reward you reach or pass on the way.
	Writing 24: Unification ability. Take one small Unification token in any colour. Choose its aspect to suit the reward you are building toward.
	Writing 25: Unification ability. Move up to two of your officials. You may move zero, one or two of your Alchemists, Architects or Generals.
	Writing 26: Unification ability. Take one small Unification token in any colour. Choose its aspect to suit the reward you are building toward.
	Writing 27: Unification ability. Lower Unrest by one in a region of your choice. Choose any one of your regions and move its marker down one space.
	Writing 28: Unification ability. Move up to two of your officials. You may move zero, one or two of your Alchemists, Architects or Generals.
	Writing 29: Unification ability. Move up to two of your officials. You may move zero, one or two of your Alchemists, Architects or Generals.
	Writing 30: Unification ability. Move one of your workers to a neighboring region. The destination must share a border with the worker’s current region.
	Writing 31: Unification ability. Lower Unrest by one in a region of your choice. Choose any one of your regions and move its marker down one space.
	Writing 32: Unification ability. Add one Unrest here to score one point per Writing card in your tableau. Count all your tucked Writing cards; three in your tableau score 3 points.
	Writing 33: Unification ability. Move up to two of your officials. You may move zero, one or two of your Alchemists, Architects or Generals.
	Writing 34: Unification ability. Lower Unrest by one in a region of your choice. Choose any one of your regions and move its marker down one space.
	Writing 35: Unification ability. Score one point for each Palace you have on the board. Count your Palaces on the shared board; two Palaces score 2 points.
	Writing 36: Unification ability. Move up to two of your officials. You may move zero, one or two of your Alchemists, Architects or Generals.
	Writing 37: Unification ability. Add one Unrest here to score one point per Writing card in your tableau. Count all your tucked Writing cards; three in your tableau score 3 points.
	Writing 38: Unification ability. Score one point for each Alchemist card in your tableau. Count all your tucked Alchemist cards; four score 4 points.
	Writing 39: Unification ability. Move up to two of your officials. You may move zero, one or two of your Alchemists, Architects or Generals.
	Writing 40: Unification ability. Score one point for each Wall you have on the board. Count your Walls on the shared board; two Walls score 2 points.

Currency cards

Picture	Description
	Currency 41: Unification ability. Add one Unrest here to hire one worker here. Raise this region’s track first; at Unrest 3, you cannot take this effect.
	Currency 42: Unification ability. Add one Unrest here to hire one worker here. Raise this region’s track first; at Unrest 3, you cannot take this effect.
	Currency 43: Unification ability. Add one Unrest here to hire one worker here. Raise this region’s track first; at Unrest 3, you cannot take this effect.
	Currency 44: Unification ability. Place one Alchemist official here.
	Currency 45: Unification ability. Place one Alchemist official here.
	Currency 46: Unification ability. Place one General official here.
	Currency 47: Unification ability. Advance your ship one space. Resolve any elixir route reward you reach or pass on the way.
	Currency 48: Unification ability. Place one Architect official here.
	Currency 49: Unification ability. Add one Unrest here to take one Currency and one Laws token. Raise this region’s Unrest first; at 3, the token reward is unavailable.
	Currency 50: Unification ability. Advance your ship one space. Resolve any elixir route reward you reach or pass on the way.
	Currency 51: Unification ability. Add one Unrest here to take one Currency and one Laws token. Raise this region’s Unrest first; at 3, the token reward is unavailable.
	Currency 52: Unification ability. Lower Unrest by one in a region of your choice. Choose any one of your regions and move its marker down one space.
	Currency 53: Unification ability. Take one small Unification token in any colour. Choose its aspect to suit the reward you are building toward.
	Currency 54: Unification ability. Lower Unrest by one in a region of your choice. Choose any one of your regions and move its marker down one space.
	Currency 55: Unification ability. Add one Unrest here to take one Laws and one Writing token. Raise this region’s Unrest first; at 3, the token reward is unavailable.
	Currency 56: Unification ability. Lower Unrest by one in a region of your choice. Choose any one of your regions and move its marker down one space.
	Currency 57: Unification ability. Add one Unrest here to score one point per Currency card in your tableau. Count all your tucked Currency cards; three in your tableau score 3 points.
	Currency 58: Unification ability. Score one point for each Governor you have on the board. Count your Governors on the shared board; two Governors score 2 points.
	Currency 59: Unification ability. Move up to two of your officials. You may move zero, one or two of your Alchemists, Architects or Generals.
	Currency 60: Unification ability. Score one point for each Palace you have on the board. Count your Palaces on the shared board; two Palaces score 2 points.
	Currency 61: Unification ability. Score one point for each Alchemist card in your tableau. Count all your tucked Alchemist cards; four score 4 points.
	Currency 62: Unification ability. Move up to two of your officials. You may move zero, one or two of your Alchemists, Architects or Generals.
	Currency 63: Unification ability. Add one Unrest here to score one point per Currency card in your tableau. Count all your tucked Currency cards; three in your tableau score 3 points.
	Currency 64: Unification ability. Move up to two of your officials. You may move zero, one or two of your Alchemists, Architects or Generals.
	Currency 65: Unification ability. Move up to two of your officials. You may move zero, one or two of your Alchemists, Architects or Generals.
	Currency 66: Unification ability. Move one of your workers to a neighboring region. The destination must share a border with the worker’s current region.
	Currency 67: Unification ability. Move one of your workers to a neighboring region. The destination must share a border with the worker’s current region.
	Currency 68: Unification ability. Lower Unrest by one in a region of your choice. Choose any one of your regions and move its marker down one space.
	Currency 69: Unification ability. Lower Unrest by one in a region of your choice. Choose any one of your regions and move its marker down one space.
	Currency 70: Unification ability. Place one General official here.
	Currency 71: Unification ability. Take one small Unification token in any colour. Choose its aspect to suit the reward you are building toward.
	Currency 72: Unification ability. Take one small Unification token in any colour. Choose its aspect to suit the reward you are building toward.
	Currency 73: Unification ability. Advance your ship one space. Resolve any elixir route reward you reach or pass on the way.
	Currency 74: Unification ability. Place one Alchemist official here.
	Currency 75: Unification ability. Place one Architect official here.
	Currency 76: Unification ability. Advance your ship one space. Resolve any elixir route reward you reach or pass on the way.
	Currency 77: Unification ability. Place one Architect official here.
	Currency 78: Unification ability. Add one Unrest here to hire one worker here. Raise this region’s track first; at Unrest 3, you cannot take this effect.
	Currency 79: Unification ability. Add one Unrest here to hire one worker here. Raise this region’s track first; at Unrest 3, you cannot take this effect.
	Currency 80: Unification ability. Place one General official here.

Laws cards

Picture	Description
	Laws 81: Unification ability. Lower Unrest by one in a region of your choice. Choose any one of your regions and move its marker down one space.
	Laws 82: Unification ability. Score one point for each Wall you have on the board. Count your Walls on the shared board; two Walls score 2 points.
	Laws 83: Unification ability. Score one point for each Governor you have on the board. Count your Governors on the shared board; two Governors score 2 points.
	Laws 84: Unification ability. Lower Unrest by one in a region of your choice. Choose any one of your regions and move its marker down one space.
	Laws 85: Unification ability. Add one Unrest here to score one point per Laws card in your tableau. Count all your tucked Laws cards; three in your tableau score 3 points.
	Laws 86: Unification ability. Add one Unrest here to score one point per Laws card in your tableau. Count all your tucked Laws cards; three in your tableau score 3 points.
	Laws 87: Unification ability. Move one of your workers to a neighboring region. The destination must share a border with the worker’s current region.
	Laws 88: Unification ability. Move up to two of your officials. You may move zero, one or two of your Alchemists, Architects or Generals.
	Laws 89: Unification ability. Move up to two of your officials. You may move zero, one or two of your Alchemists, Architects or Generals.
	Laws 90: Unification ability. Take one small Unification token in any colour. Choose its aspect to suit the reward you are building toward.
	Laws 91: Unification ability. Move one of your workers to a neighboring region. The destination must share a border with the worker’s current region.
	Laws 92: Unification ability. Move one of your workers to a neighboring region. The destination must share a border with the worker’s current region.
	Laws 93: Unification ability. Add one Unrest here to take one Currency and one Writing token. Raise this region’s Unrest first; at 3, the token reward is unavailable.
	Laws 94: Unification ability. Lower Unrest by one in a region of your choice. Choose any one of your regions and move its marker down one space.
	Laws 95: Unification ability. Lower Unrest by one in a region of your choice. Choose any one of your regions and move its marker down one space.
	Laws 96: Unification ability. Add one Unrest here to take one Currency and one Laws token. Raise this region’s Unrest first; at 3, the token reward is unavailable.
	Laws 97: Unification ability. Lower Unrest by one in a region of your choice. Choose any one of your regions and move its marker down one space.
	Laws 98: Unification ability. Lower Unrest by one in a region of your choice. Choose any one of your regions and move its marker down one space.
	Laws 99: Unification ability. Add one Unrest here to hire one worker here. Raise this region’s track first; at Unrest 3, you cannot take this effect.
	Laws 100: Unification ability. Take one small Unification token in any colour. Choose its aspect to suit the reward you are building toward.
	Laws 101: Unification ability. Lower Unrest by one in a region of your choice. Choose any one of your regions and move its marker down one space.
	Laws 102: Unification ability. Advance your ship one space. Resolve any elixir route reward you reach or pass on the way.
	Laws 103: Unification ability. Take one small Unification token in any colour. Choose its aspect to suit the reward you are building toward.
	Laws 104: Unification ability. Take one small Unification token in any colour. Choose its aspect to suit the reward you are building toward.
	Laws 105: Unification ability. Add one Unrest here to take one Currency and one Writing token. Raise this region’s Unrest first; at 3, the token reward is unavailable.
	Laws 106: Unification ability. Add one Unrest here to hire one worker here. Raise this region’s track first; at Unrest 3, you cannot take this effect.
	Laws 107: Unification ability. Add one Unrest here to take one Laws and one Writing token. Raise this region’s Unrest first; at 3, the token reward is unavailable.
	Laws 108: Unification ability. Add one Unrest here to hire one worker here. Raise this region’s track first; at Unrest 3, you cannot take this effect.
	Laws 109: Unification ability. Add one Unrest here to take one Laws and one Writing token. Raise this region’s Unrest first; at 3, the token reward is unavailable.
	Laws 110: Unification ability. Advance your ship one space. Resolve any elixir route reward you reach or pass on the way.
	Laws 111: Unification ability. Place one General official here.
	Laws 112: Unification ability. Place one Architect official here.
	Laws 113: Unification ability. Place one Alchemist official here.
	Laws 114: Unification ability. Place one Architect official here.
	Laws 115: Unification ability. Add one Unrest here to hire one worker here. Raise this region’s track first; at Unrest 3, you cannot take this effect.
	Laws 116: Unification ability. Place one General official here.
	Laws 117: Unification ability. Add one Unrest here to hire one worker here. Raise this region’s track first; at Unrest 3, you cannot take this effect.
	Laws 118: Unification ability. Add one Unrest here to hire one worker here. Raise this region’s track first; at Unrest 3, you cannot take this effect.
	Laws 119: Unification ability. Add one Unrest here to hire one worker here. Raise this region’s track first; at Unrest 3, you cannot take this effect.
	Laws 120: Unification ability. Add one Unrest here to hire one worker here. Raise this region’s track first; at Unrest 3, you cannot take this effect.

Alchemist cards

Each player has five colour-specific Alchemist cards. Place them into regions with your Alchemist officials; their pictured abilities can trigger from Court actions.

Picture	Description
	Alchemist 1: Blue card. Gain two Unification tokens of your choice by adding Unrest here. Raise this region’s Unrest first; at 3, you cannot take the tokens.
	Alchemist 2: Yellow card. Gain two Unification tokens of your choice by adding Unrest here. Raise this region’s Unrest first; at 3, you cannot take the tokens.
	Alchemist 3: Red card. Gain two Unification tokens of your choice by adding Unrest here. Raise this region’s Unrest first; at 3, you cannot take the tokens.
	Alchemist 4: Purple card. Gain two Unification tokens of your choice by adding Unrest here. Raise this region’s Unrest first; at 3, you cannot take the tokens.
	Alchemist 5: Blue card. Recruit any official here. Choose an Alchemist, Architect or General still in your supply.
	Alchemist 6: Yellow card. Recruit any official here. Choose an Alchemist, Architect or General still in your supply.
	Alchemist 7: Red card. Recruit any official here. Choose an Alchemist, Architect or General still in your supply.
	Alchemist 8: Purple card. Recruit any official here. Choose an Alchemist, Architect or General still in your supply.
	Alchemist 9: Blue card. Move up to three officials. Choose up to three of your Alchemists, Architects or Generals.
	Alchemist 10: Yellow card. Move up to three officials. Choose up to three of your Alchemists, Architects or Generals.
	Alchemist 11: Red card. Move up to three officials. Choose up to three of your Alchemists, Architects or Generals.
	Alchemist 12: Purple card. Move up to three officials. Choose up to three of your Alchemists, Architects or Generals.
	Alchemist 13: Blue card. Hire a worker here without adding Unrest. This card waives the usual Unrest increase for hiring.
	Alchemist 14: Yellow card. Hire a worker here without adding Unrest. This card waives the usual Unrest increase for hiring.
	Alchemist 15: Red card. Hire a worker here without adding Unrest. This card waives the usual Unrest increase for hiring.
	Alchemist 16: Purple card. Hire a worker here without adding Unrest. This card waives the usual Unrest increase for hiring.
	Alchemist 17: Blue card. Lower Unrest here and in another region. Reduce the track in the card’s region and one different region by one each.
	Alchemist 18: Yellow card. Lower Unrest here and in another region. Reduce the track in the card’s region and one different region by one each.
	Alchemist 19: Red card. Lower Unrest here and in another region. Reduce the track in the card’s region and one different region by one each.
	Alchemist 20: Purple card. Lower Unrest here and in another region. Reduce the track in the card’s region and one different region by one each.

Master Alchemist cards

Picture	Description
	Master Alchemist 1: hire two workers. Add one Unrest here to hire two workers in this region. Raise this region’s Unrest first; at 3, the hiring effect is unavailable.
	Master Alchemist 2: round score. Gain points equal to the current round. For example, triggering it in round 4 scores 4 points.
	Master Alchemist 3: Alchemist cards. Score two points for each Alchemist card in this region, including this card. Three cards here score 6 points.
	Master Alchemist 4: soldier. Unlock one Terracotta Soldier.
	Master Alchemist 5: Mausoleum soldiers. Score one point for each of your soldiers on a Mausoleum tile. Three soldiers there score 3 points.

Solo cards

Li Si’s 24 Action cards cover five action groups. Resolve the printed action and follow its priority order; the Solo page explains the automated opponent.

Picture	Description
	Solo action 1: Unification priority. Place a Unification card in the leftmost valid region and gain tokens based on its position.
	Solo action 2: Unification priority. Place a Unification card in the leftmost valid region and gain tokens based on its position.
	Solo action 3: Unification priority. Place a Unification card in the leftmost valid region and gain tokens based on its position.
	Solo action 4: Unification priority. Place a Unification card in the leftmost valid region and gain tokens based on its position.
	Solo action 5: Unification priority. Place a Unification card in the leftmost valid region and gain tokens based on its position.
	Solo action 6: Elixir priority. Advance Li Si’s ship and resolve its route rewards.
	Solo action 7: Elixir priority. Advance Li Si’s ship and resolve its route rewards.
	Solo action 8: Elixir priority. Advance Li Si’s ship and resolve its route rewards.
	Solo action 9: Elixir priority. Advance Li Si’s ship and resolve its route rewards.
	Solo action 10: Governor priority. Install Li Si’s Governor according to the card’s region priority.
	Solo action 11: Governor priority. Install Li Si’s Governor according to the card’s region priority.
	Solo action 12: Governor priority. Install Li Si’s Governor according to the card’s region priority.
	Solo action 13: Governor priority. Install Li Si’s Governor according to the card’s region priority.
	Solo action 14: Governor priority. Install Li Si’s Governor according to the card’s region priority.
	Solo action 15: Palace priority. Build Li Si’s Palace using its region priority and score the immediate points.
	Solo action 16: Palace priority. Build Li Si’s Palace using its region priority and score the immediate points.
	Solo action 17: Palace priority. Build Li Si’s Palace using its region priority and score the immediate points.
	Solo action 18: Palace priority. Build Li Si’s Palace using its region priority and score the immediate points.
	Solo action 19: Palace priority. Build Li Si’s Palace using its region priority and score the immediate points.
	Solo action 20: Wall priority. Build Li Si’s Wall using the direction and Emperor-tile instructions shown.
	Solo action 21: Wall priority. Build Li Si’s Wall using the direction and Emperor-tile instructions shown.
	Solo action 22: Wall priority. Build Li Si’s Wall using the direction and Emperor-tile instructions shown.
	Solo action 23: Wall priority. Build Li Si’s Wall using the direction and Emperor-tile instructions shown.
	Solo action 24: Wall priority. Build Li Si’s Wall using the direction and Emperor-tile instructions shown.
	Li Si 1: action priorities. Selects Li Si’s action deck, turn order, ship start, soldier supply and scoring cards.
	Li Si 2: action priorities. Selects Li Si’s action deck, turn order, ship start, soldier supply and scoring cards.
	Li Si 3: action priorities. Selects Li Si’s action deck, turn order, ship start, soldier supply and scoring cards.
	Li Si 4: action priorities. Selects Li Si’s action deck, turn order, ship start, soldier supply and scoring cards.
	Solo scoring card A: endgame values. Use the shown values for Li Si’s governor, ship and Wall scoring.
	Solo scoring card B: endgame values. Use the shown values for Li Si’s governor, ship and Wall scoring.
	Solo scoring card C: endgame values. Use the shown values for Li Si’s governor, ship and Wall scoring.
	Solo scoring card D: endgame values. Use the shown values for Li Si’s governor, ship and Wall scoring.

Tiles

Wall tiles

The Wall tile sets the endgame condition for the Wall placed in its section. For 2 / 3 / 4 players, use the first / second / third printed value on a tile. Each condition counts qualifying regions, not pieces within a region; see the FAQ.

Picture	Description
	Wall tile 1: Architects. Score 2 / 3 / 4 points for each region with at least one of your Architects. Extra Architects in the same region do not add another score.
	Wall tile 2: Alchemists. Score 2 / 3 / 4 points for each region with at least one of your Alchemists. Extra Alchemists in the same region do not add another score.
	Wall tile 3: Generals. Score 2 / 3 / 4 points for each region with at least one of your Generals. Extra Generals in the same region do not add another score.
	Wall tile 4: Workers. Score 2 / 3 / 4 points for each region with at least one of your workers. Extra workers in the same region do not add another score.
	Wall tile 5: matching card pairs. Score 2 / 3 / 4 points for each region with at least two cards of one type. A region scores once when it has a matching pair, even if it has more cards.
	Wall tile 6: card sets. Score 2 / 4 / 6 points for each Writing, Currency, Laws and Alchemist set. Count complete four-card sets; two complete sets score 4 / 8 / 12 points by player count.
	Wall tile 7: Palaces. Score 1 / 2 / 3 points for each region where you built at least one Palace. A region counts once, even if it contains several of your Palaces.

The rulebook appendices 3–5 also show the Governor, Palace, Starting, Emperor, Mausoleum and Unification tiles. Those faces remain unpictured because the appendix only has small effect illustrations, not readable tile fronts. The FAQ clarifies that the Palace tile that scores cards adds one Unrest total, then scores 2 points for each of your cards in that region; you cannot use it if that region is already at Unrest 3.

Tokens & pieces

Use the numbered setup pictures to identify officials, workers, Governors, Palaces, Walls, ships, soldiers, Unrest markers and Unification tokens. The general worker supply is unlimited. For Governor bonuses, follow the bonus icon: a green check waives the usual requirement, while a location arrow still applies.

Icons

The card faces use three Unification aspects: Writing, Currency and Laws. They also show Court-action triggers, Unrest changes, officials, workers, ship movement, Terracotta Soldiers and victory points. Read each ability alongside its trigger; the same action icon may activate more than one card in your tableau. For the reward phase, priority resolves ties, and afterward return unused large tokens and keep at most five small ones.