In Shadowverse: Worlds Beyond, each card can have special abilities that change how it works in battle. To make things easier to read and understand, the game uses short, clear terms that sum up what a card can do. Some of them are returning from the original game, while others are brand new or renamed versions of older effects. This guide tells you all the keywords in the game and explains what they mean in simple terms.
In Shadowverse: Worlds Beyond, every card can come with special abilities that affect how it plays in battle. To keep things simple and easy to understand, the game uses keywords short terms that explain these abilities in just a word or two. Here’s a complete list of all the keywords in the game and what they mean.
Combat & Protection Abilities
Keyword
What It Means
Storm
This follower can attack right away including the enemy leader.
Rush
Can attack enemy followers on the turn it’s played, but not the leader.
Bane
Instantly destroys any follower it battles, even if it takes damage too.
Intimidate
Enemy followers can’t attack this card. It keeps them at bay.
Ward
Forces enemies to attack this card first before anything else.
Barrier
Blocks the next damage this follower or your leader would take once.
Aura
Cannot be chosen by enemy abilities. It’s shielded from targeting effects.
Play Effects & Triggers
Keyword
What It Means
Fanfare
Triggers as soon as the card is played from your hand.
Last Words
Activates when the card is destroyed like a final effect.
Combo
Counts the number of cards you’ve played this turn. Some abilities need a certain count to trigger.
Enhance
Plays a stronger version of the card if you have enough play points.
Engage
A special ability you can manually activate once per turn sometimes using play points.
Evolution & Revival
Keyword
What It Means
Evolve
Triggers when you evolve a follower using Evolution Points (EP or SEP).
Super-Evolve
A more powerful evolution, using Super Evolution Points.
Reanimate
Summons a fallen ally follower from earlier in the match (within a certain cost limit), and gives it the “Departed” trait.
Necromancy
Consumes shadows (from your graveyard) to activate special effects if you have enough.
Conditions & Special States
Keyword
What It Means
Countdown
A built-in timer. The card destroys itself when the countdown hits 0 (loses 1 each of your turns).
Overflow
A powered-up state that kicks in once you reach 7 maximum play points. Some cards get stronger during this.
Some of these keywords will look familiar if you’ve played the original Shadowverse, while others are completely new. The game also added keywords for older abilities that didn’t have names before, so now you can quickly understand what a card does just by glancing at it.
Damsel in her own distress, abodes in her imaginary world, and enchanted by the magical realms of Elden Ring. A professional overthinker who loves to weave captivating stories, and is fascinated by the art of doing nothing. When not lost in thought, paints canvases that echo her wildest daydreams!
