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Rules and FAQ

Contents hide
General Questions
Which version do I download and print?
Fonts aren’t showing up! What gives?
Gameplay Questions
House Rules
Action Master
Allicon
Bandit
Broadcast
Characters in multiple factions
Combaticon
Drifter
Guiding Hand
Judge
Me Grimlock
Oppress
Pretender
Prime Master
Road Drone
Rolling Actions
Sharkticon
Station
Tentacle
Terrorcon
Vehicle
Battle cards
All-Out Attack
Angolmois Surge
Are These Wires Important?
Armed to the Teeth
Assuming Control
Belligerence
Brutal Conditioning
CNA-Encoded Armory
Demolition Derby
Discordant Cacophony
End Hostilities
Loading the Cannon
Shield Crash
Squid Pro Quo
The Dweller Awakens
United Against Tyranny
Characters
Axor, Opportunistic Fencer
Gilthor, Chained Amalgamation
Mind Control Collar
Mind Control Helmet
Nacelle, Eager Aerospace Engineer
Optimus Prime, Dark Awakening
Tow-Line, Signals Engineer
Stratagems
Hit Me With That Beat
Off-Road Cycle
Orbital Command
Pit of Judgement
The Solo Job
Third Party Brigade
V2 Sonicsurge Drone Armor
Vehicle: Off-Road Cycle

General Questions

Which version do I download and print?

Use the embedded fonts versions of the PDFs unless your computer or printing solution doesn’t render the fonts; if so, use the rasterized versions.

Use the professional bleed versions if you’re looking for a professional look or you’re printing cards via a service. If you’re cutting with scissors at home, use the no-bleed home cut versions.

If your printing solution doesn’t like PDFs, you can download the bleed version of card images either individually from the Gallery or as a ZIP file.

If you’re specifically looking to print via makeplayingcards.com or boardgamesmaker.com, use the images in the ZIP files.

Fonts aren’t showing up! What gives?

Try downloading the embedded fonts versions of the PDFs to your device directly using the Download option instead of just previewing the PDFs in Google Docs. Otherwise, use the rasterized versions.

Gameplay Questions

House Rules

Team Bayformers has the following house rules in effect for all events (unless otherwise specified). These rules may conflict with rulings and events elsewhere in the Transformers TCG community.

Belligerence / End Hostilities

Until Aequitas provides more clarity to the interaction between Belligerence and End Hostilities, Team Bayformers chooses Technomagus’s interpretation that both cards provide replacement effects that cancel each other out.

Black battle icons

Each black battle icon flipped by an attacking player provides Pierce 1 to the attacking character until end of battle. This is as opposed to the official rules, where they provide Pierce 1 until end of turn. This removes a major inconsistency in battle icon mechanics and brings black battle icons in line with other battle icon colors. Aequitas rulings and established Transformers TCG rules here are irrelevant. This is a conscious choice by Team Bayformers (with input from players) to improve gameplay.

Action Master

Action Master is a character trait that was introduced in Wave BFA World|Strike. Most Action Masters cannot transform. Most begin in bot mode.

The following Action Masters are in default allied crossplay content:

Action Master trait

Allicon

Allicon is a character trait that was introduced in Wave BFA World|Strike.

The following Allicons are in default allied crossplay content:

Allicon trait

Bandit

Bandit is a keyword that was introduced in Wave BFB Waste|Lands. Blue battle icons flipped by defending characters with Bandit have no effect.

Broadcast

Broadcast is a Rolling Action trait that was fully introduced in Wave BFC Shell|Shock.

Broadcast trait

Characters in multiple factions

Characters like Optimus Prime, Dark Awakening belong to multiple factions at once – in Dark Awakening’s case, Autobot and Quintesson.

They are disallowed for the purposes of Spotlight stratagems. For example, Decepticon Exhaust, Consumptive Condottiere is not valid for Villainous Spotlight due to his status as a Mercenary, and he is not valid for Enterprising Spotlight due to his status as a Decepticon. (See also the relevant ruling on Aequitas.)

However, characters with more than one faction may qualify to use certain cards that require one of those factions. For example, both Armada, Herald of Shrouds and Decepticon Exhaust would be able to use a Scoundrel’s Blaster.

Combaticon

Combaticon is a character trait that was introduced in The Ark Wave One.

The following Combaticons are in default allied crossplay content:

The following Combaticons are in provisional allied crossplay content:

Combaticon trait

Drifter

Drifter is a keyword that was introduced in Wave BFB Waste|Lands. Orange battle icons flipped by attacking characters with Drifter have no effect.

Guiding Hand

Guiding Hand is a character trait that will be fully introduced in Wave BFC Shell|Shock.

Guiding Hand trait

Judge

Judge is a character trait that was introduced in Wave BFA World|Strike. Judges cannot transform. Judges begin the game in bot mode.

The following Judges are in default allied crossplay content:

Judge trait

Me Grimlock

Me Grimlock is a stratagem trait that was introduced in Wave BFB Waste|Lands.

The following Me Grimlock stratagems are in default allied crossplay content:

Me Grimlock trait

Oppress

Oppress is a keyword with numerical modifiers that was introduced in Wave BFB Waste|Lands. For each value of Oppress your battling character has, reduce ALL character’s Bold and Tough by that value until end of battle.

Pretender

Pretender is a card trait that was introduced in Wave BFB Waste|Lands.

Pretender trait

Prime Master

Prime Master is a card trait that was fully introduced in Wave BFC Shell|Shock. Prime Master can be found as a trait on battle cards and stratagems.

Prime Master trait

Road Drone

Road Drone is a character trait that was introduced in Wave BFB Waste|Lands. Road Drones cannot transform.

The following Road Drones are in default allied crossplay content:

Road Drone trait

Rolling Actions

Rolling Actions are a type of Action that was introduced in Wave BFB Waste|Lands. Rolling Actions are played on the owner’s turn tapped. While tapped, their abilities are inactive and unavailable. Rolling Actions in their owner’s played area are not scrapped at the end of turn like other played Actions. Rolling Actions become untapped at the beginning of their owner’s turn.

There are two “templates” for Rolling Actions, the “Scrap” template and the “While Untapped” template.

Rolling Actions with the “Scrap” template activate their “When Scrapped” abilities only when scrapped under the conditions specified under “Scrap”. Multiple Rolling Actions with the “Scrap” template can be scrapped at once as long as the conditions under “Scrap” are met. Rolling Actions in the “Scrap” template are colored red.

The following “Scrap” Rolling Actions are in default allied crossplay content:

The “While Untapped” abilities listed in an untapped Rolling Action with the “While Untapped” template are immediately active, and remain active until the Rolling Action is tapped or scrapped. A Rolling Action with the “While Untapped” template must be scrapped under the conditions of the “Must Scrap” ability unless it is tapped. Rolling Actions in the “While Untapped” template are colored magenta.

Sharkticon

Sharkticon is a character trait that was introduced in Wave BFA World|Strike.

The following Sharkticons are in default allied crossplay content:

The following Sharkticons are in provisional allied crossplay content:

Sharkticon trait

Station

A Station is a type of card ability that was introduced in Wave BFB Waste|Lands. All Vehicles have Stations, though not all Stations are on Vehicles.

Station ability icon

Tentacle

Similar to Battle Master, Tentacle is an Upgrade trait that was introduced in Wave BFA World|Strike.

The following Tentacle Upgrades are in default allied crossplay content:

Tentacle trait

Terrorcon

Terrorcon is a character trait that was introduced in Wave BFB Waste|Lands.

The following Terrorcons are in default allied crossplay content:

Terrorcon trait

Vehicle

Vehicle is a card trait that was fully introduced in Wave BFB Waste|Lands. Vehicle can be found as a trait on battle cards, characters, and stratagems. All Vehicles have Stations, though not all Stations are on Vehicles.

Vehicle trait

Battle cards

All-Out Attack

This card has errata in Wave BFA World|Strike 1.1. This errata was issued by the Aequitas rulings committee.

Angolmois Surge

Unicron, Chaos Bringer is a character from the community-created Unicron Raid.

Are These Wires Important?

As of this writing, the only characters in the abilities box that are relevant to play either with cards in the official game or cards created by Team Bayformers are the following:

  • Beasts (introduced in Wave 4)
  • Dinobots (Wave 1)
  • Firecons (Wave 3)
  • Private Dazzlestrike, Ground Command • Artillery (Wave 4)
  • Private Lionizer, Ground Command • Artillery (Wave 3)
  • Raider Ravage, Espionage • Saboteur (Wave 3)
  • Ravage, Saboteur (Blaster vs. Soundwave)
  • Steeljaw, Tracker (Blaster vs. Soundwave)
  • Trypticon, Assault Base (Wave 4)

Armed to the Teeth

This card will also allow you to play in multiples Weapons that can fit into a single Weapons slot, including Tentacle Upgrades and Multi-Missile Pod.

Assuming Control

As of this writing, the only characters in the abilities box that exist either in cards in the official game or cards created by Team Bayformers are the following:

  • Inquisitor Drebzik, Exhaustive Interrogator (Wave BFA)
  • Judges (introduced in Wave BFA)
  • Bombshell, Insecticon Mind-Controller (Wave 1)
  • Bombshell, Decepticon Psy-Ops (Wave 2)
  • Mindwipe, Hypnotist (Wave 5)
  • Major Soundwave, Espionage • Spy (Blaster vs. Soundwave)
  • Soundwave (Blaster vs. Soundwave)
  • Trypticon, Assault Base (Wave 4)

Belligerence

Until Aequitas provides more clarity to the interaction with End Hostilities, Team Bayformers chooses Technomagus’s interpretation that both cards provide replacement effects that cancel each other out.

Brutal Conditioning

In 1.2, Brutal Conditioning is a 2 ★ stratagem.

CNA-Encoded Armory

As of this writing, the only Upgrades that can be returned from the scrap pile via CNA-Encoded Armory either in cards in the official game, created by Team Bayformers, or in supported community sets are the following:

  • Body Armor
  • Covert Armor
  • Energon Sword (Ark Wave One)
  • Polydermal Graft (Wave BFA)
  • Power Sword
  • Rage (TROP Phase One)

Demolition Derby

Demolition Derby’s 1.2 text is as follows:

If your opponent has at least twice the number of characters on the battlefield than you → One of your characters gets +2 ATK until end of turn.

When that character would do enough attack damage to KO an enemy this turn→ If your opponent has at least twice the number of characters on the battlefield than you, untap your character.

Discordant Cacophony

The “When revealed” clause changes to the following in 1.2:

When revealed → The attacker untaps and the opponent chooses another character to attack.

As of this writing, the only characters in the abilities box that exist either in cards in the official game, created by Team Bayformers, or in supported community sets are the following:

  • Motorcycles (introduced in Wave 1)
  • Blaster, Communications (Blaster vs. Soundwave)
  • Frenzy, Warrior (Blaster vs. Soundwave)
  • Autobot Jazz, Special Ops (Wave 1)
  • Jazz, Outta Sight, Dynamite Lieutenant (Ark Wave One)
  • Sergeant Soundblaster, Weapons • Arms Dealer (Wave 4)
  • Major Soundwave, Espionage • Spy (Wave 3)
  • Soundwave, Communications (Blaster vs. Soundwave)

End Hostilities

Until Aequitas provides more clarity to the interaction with Beliigerence, Team Bayformers chooses Technomagus’s interpretation that both cards provide replacement effects that cancel each other out.

Loading the Cannon

Play 3 Loading the Cannons in conjunction with Sergeant Kup, Veteran Sergeant and the stratagem Death Crystal Cannon.

Shield Crash

Shield Crash effectively swaps your chosen character’s Attack and Defense values at the moment of play. Events that modify those values after the moment of play (like flips) work as normal.

Squid Pro Quo

For the Decepticon chosen for Squid Pro Quo, the bonus attack can stack due to counters placed on that Decepticon from other cards that turn.

The Dweller Awakens

This is revealed whenever the opponent plays an Action that would reveal or trigger any Secret Action in play. For example, if you have a face-down Infiltrate and a face-down The Dweller Awakens and the opponent plays a Peace Through Tyranny, you would flip both since the Peace Through Tyranny triggers Infiltrate.

United Against Tyranny

Press the Advantage is banned in many formats (including Bayformers-sponsored formats), but recent tournaments have shown its ability to match current card power levels post-Wave 5. United Against Tyranny is intended to be a PtA replacement that allows for PtA’s general card utility without PtA’s degenerate green battle icon.

We recommend that formats that have both unbanned Press the Advantage and support Team Bayformers cards also ban United Against Tyranny, as it is intended to be a replacement for PtA.

Characters

Axor, Opportunistic Fencer

When Axor, Opportunistic Fencer’s ability is activated for your Mercenary, the Bounty activated still belongs to the Mercenary and not to Axor. For example, Axor cannot repair 3 of his damage due to activating Detritus’s Bounty, though Detritus should repair 3 damage on Detritus.

Gilthor, Chained Amalgamation

For his alt mode ability, the enemy is not required to take the damage in order to be flipped. For example, where the opponent’s Flamewar is Upgraded with a Holomatter Projector, it can still be flipped by your Gilthor, Chained Amalgamation when Gilthor is flipped to alt mode.

Mind Control Collar

Its bot mode ability triggers KO effects normally, like Decepticon Quake’s.

Mind Control Helmet

Its bot mode ability triggers KO effects normally, like Decepticon Quake’s.

Nacelle, Eager Aerospace Engineer

As of this writing, these are all the Decepticons that can benefit from his abilities.

  • Arcana
  • Blackwing, Aerial Attacker
  • Bombshell, Insecticon Mind-Controller
  • Breakdown, Paranoid Scout
  • Brisko
  • Chasm
  • Deadlock, Bounty Hunter
  • Divebomb, Aerial Assault
  • Grax
  • Kreb
  • Mixmaster, Materials Fabrication
  • Monxo
  • Predacon Headstrong, Ground Assault
  • Raider Ion Storm, Infantry – Rainmaker
  • Raider Nightstick, Ground Force – Weapons
  • Raider Ravage, Espionage – Saboteur
  • Raider Runabout, Infantry – Soldier
  • Raider Runamuck, Infantry – Soldier
  • Ramjet, Sky Smasher
  • Ruckus, Combat Assault
  • Starscream, Decepticon Lieutenant
  • Thrust, Supersonic Interceptor

Optimus Prime, Dark Awakening

In bot mode, Optimus Prime, Dark Awakening gains the benefits of his faction Upgrade ability as long as the faction Upgrades on him aren’t Autobot or Quintesson.

As of this writing, these are all the faction Upgrades that Optimus Prime, Dark Awakening can utilize to buff your team.

Autobot

  • Any valid Autobot Upgrade (does not self-buff Optimus Prime, Dark Awakening)

Decepticon

  • Crushing Claws (Ark Wave One)
  • Electro-Optical Visor (Wave 5)
  • Energon Mace (Wave 5)
  • Fusion Cannon of Megatron (Wave 1)
  • Hazardous Shield (Wave 4)
  • Null-Ray of Starscream (Wave 1)
  • Zarak’s Shield (Ark Wave One)

Junkion

  • Decelerator Laser (Wave BFB)
  • Head of State (Wave BFB)
  • Hodgepodge Panoply (Wave BFB)
  • Patrol Bolas (Wave BFB)

Mercenary

  • 38-Amp Ionic Plate (Wave BFB)
  • Black Mail (Wave BFA)
  • “Dutch” (Wave BFA)
  • Subcontractor Agreement (Wave BFA)
  • Valuable Contract (Wave 4)

Quintesson

  • Any valid Quintesson Upgrade (does not self-buff Optimus Prime, Dark Awakening)

Tow-Line, Signals Engineer

Tow-Line’s bot mode ability, when it qualifies on the battle flip, can return a face-up Secret Action, Action, or Rolling Action you played during the turn in your hand after the battle.

Stratagems

Hit Me With That Beat

Knowing the current amount of damage on Autobot Jazz, Special Ops is important to determine how much damage he takes when his alt mode ability triggers. For example, if he is at full health and an incoming attack triggers his alt mode ability, he first takes 1 point of damage, and then cannot take more than 1 damage for the attack. If he has 4 damage counters, first he takes 1 damage, and then cannot take more than 5 damage for the attack.

Off-Road Cycle

See also the stratagem entry for Vehicle: Off-Road Cycle.

When one of your Action Masters takes the Turbo Saddle station, return a Sidecar Artillery from your scrap pile to your hand.

Orbital Command

In 1.2, Orbital Command is a 2 ★ stratagem.

Your Orbital Command only grants the Guardian trait to the combined Captain Omega Supreme, Transport • City Defender, and not to each of his three individual components.

Pit of Judgement

Your Judge must currently be on the battlefield (and not only in your KO area) in order to use Pit of Judgement to return KO’d Sharkticons to the battlefield. If you use I Still Function! or a similar effect to return a KO’d Judge to the battlefield, you may use Pit of Judgement to return a KO’d Sharkticon to the battlefield while the Judge is still on the battlefield. There are currently no methods to add swarm counters to Pit of Judgement beyond the initial starting team composition.

The Solo Job

You are required to have a single Mercenary amongst the members of your starting team. The Mercenary can be a dual-faction Mercenary, like Decepticon Exhaust.

Third Party Brigade

Unlike when playing Recon System, when playing this stratagem and attacking with your Combaticons, you do not flip an additional card after scrapping the first black battle icon card you flip. This is a designed drawback of playing this stratagem.

V2 Sonicsurge Drone Armor

If your opponent attacks one of your characters when all of your characters are untapped and you tap your Raider Ravage, Espionage · Saboteur to boost their defense, Raider Ravage does not become the sole valid target for the opponent’s attack due to its tapping, as it is being tapped after the opponent has chosen a defender. See the Official Expanded Rules for further questions on the relevant attack timing.

Vehicle: Off-Road Cycle

See also the stratagem entry for Off-Road Cycle.

This stratagem was a prototypical teaser for mechanics fully introduced in Wave BFB.

When one of your Action Masters takes the Turbo Saddle station, return a Sidecar Artillery from your scrap pile to your hand.