Playing Gwent: The Witcher Card Game is like fighting a dragon – a bit scary at first, then hugely satisfying when you figure out how to win.

We can help with that. Set in the fantasy world of The Witcher, Gwent is a seemingly simple collectible card game loaded with nuanced strategy. Follow this advice and you’ll soon master the battlefield.

The goal of Gwent isn’t to wipe out your enemy – you just need to score the most points each round. 

One crafty tactic is to hold on to a high-value card, playing it only after your opponent has passed or run out of cards. It can be the unstoppable blow that wins you the round – and maybe the match.

Some cards deal direct damage to enemy cards. It’s an effective way to lower your opponent’s score, but don’t waste these by doing more harm than necessary – the extra damage doesn’t carry over.

And if an opponent passes while ahead of you in points, play the absolute minimum you need to win the round. Every card (and point) counts!

Because Gwent’s matches are best of three, you can lose a round and still win the game. So resist the urge to throw everything on the board, especially if your opponent’s score is significantly higher and there’s another round to go.

Instead, pass, take the loss and move on, knowing you have plenty of cards up your sleeve for the next battle.

Understanding synergies – cards that have powerful complementary effects – is the key to success.

During the draw phase that precedes each round, make sure you’ve got cards with abilities that sync up nicely, like Consume and Deathwish.