Spark: Hero Tactics is a PvP battler game with CCG elements that users can play as a Discord Activity. Check out this guide on how to play!
What is Spark: Hero Tactics?
Spark: Hero Tactics is an Activity developed by Discord, that is a fast-paced PvP battler that combines elements of CCGs and tactical grid-based battles in fast-paced real-time brawls! Collect cards, build decks, and embody heroic Sparkwrights as you cast creatures, constructs, and spells to emerge victorious against your foes. Battle through the lands of Sparkadia and discover powerful magics to collect and tenacious opponents to defeat.
How to Start Spark: Hero Tactics
Spark: Hero Tactics is available on the Discord desktop app, iOS and Android mobile apps, and browser app. There are many different ways you can launch Spark: Hero Tactics in Discord for you and your friends! Whether in a server’s voice channel, in a direct message (DM), or a group message, you can check out How to Use Apps for instructions on how to start any Activity.
How To Play Spark: Hero Tactics
Example of Spark: Hero Tactics Gameplay
The Basics
Spend Spark, a magical resource, to cast Creatures and Spells in fast paced battles on a grid-based board. Use your Hero’s Ultimate for powerful effects! The fortress you are defending, and the one you are attacking have different Health and Damage stats depending on the Hero chosen. Demolish your opponent’s Fortress, and defend your own to win!
Building a Deck
Select a Hero, each with unique and powerful Ultimates. Then select 15 Creatures, Spells or Construct cards to add to your deck. You can have up to 3 copies of the same card in a deck.
Battling, Spark & Cards
In battle, Spark generates and is used to cast Creature or Spell cards. Each Creature and Spell has a different Spark cost.
Cast Creature cards on your Fortress to summon them. Friendly and opponent creatures will move and attack on their own. Creatures have their own Health and Attack stats, which can be boosted when combined with Spells, Heroes, Ultimates, and other cards on the board.
Spells have different Spark costs, and require a target to use (friendly or foe). Spells have one-time effects on targets, such as increasing or reducing Health or Attack stats, boosting creature speed, and much more.
Strategize with different combinations of Heroes, Creatures, and Spells to battle your way across the board, defend your Fortress, and bring the enemy Fortress to zero heath to win! For more information, check the How To section inside the game’s settings menu, and see Game Terminology below.
Leveling Up
Here's how you can grow stronger and dominate the battlefield:
- Player XP: Battle to earn XP and Power! Win matches to gain Power and increase your Rank. At the end of each season, claim rewards based on your achieved Rank. As you level up, unlock rewards such as card packs, copper, and gold.
- Discover New Locations: With each level gained, you’ll unlock new Locations, discovering more powerful cards and facing formidable opponents.
- Hero XP: Earn Hero XP through battles. As your Heroes level up, you’ll earn cosmetic upgrades, stat increases, ability upgrades, and valuable resources!
- Level Up Cards: Level up your cards to earn cosmetic upgrades and resources. Use resources to expand your card collection, unlock new Heroes, or power up your existing ones!
The more you play, the stronger you become. So gear up, strategize, and conquer the Spark universe!
Battle Modes
Game Mode selection in Spark: Hero Tactics
Spark: Hero Tactics offers three distinct battle modes:
Mode | Description | How to Access | Rewards |
Competitive | Match with opponents across all Discord servers with similar level and rank | Press PLAY on the Home Screen or select Competitive in the Battle tab | Increase Power, earn Ranks, gain Player XP and Hero XP, progress on Quests |
Friendly | Private matches with players in the same server and channel you’re currently playing in | Both players select Friendly from the Battle tab in the same channel | Earn Player and Hero XP, progress on Quests |
Practice | Battles against in-game bots | Select Practice in the Battle tab | None |
Store and In-App Purchases
In-app purchases are available on desktop only, but usable in the Activity across all platforms where your account is logged in. For instance, gold purchased on desktop can be utilized on mobile to buy Creature cards, Spell cards, and Card Packs.
Store offerings
Daily Deals offered in the store are randomly generated and may vary for each user daily. Check back regularly for a chance to purchase that special card you’ve been eyeing!
Content currently available for in-app purchase:
- Starter Packs including Card Packs and Gold (limit of 1 per user)
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Daily Deals:
- Free Daily Gold (claim it once per day, every day!)
- 4 individual Creature and Spell Cards (refreshed daily)
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Card Packs (see below for more details):
- “Minor” Card Pack containing 4 mystery cards of lower rarity cards than the Spark Pack
- “Spark” Card Pack containing 4 mystery cards of higher rarity cards than the Minor Pack
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Gold and Copper – Offerings subject to change
- Gold in quantities ranging from 400 - 9,450
- Copper in quantities ranging from 1,000 to 40,000
Card Packs
Comparison of Minor Card Pack (left) and Spark Card Pack (right) in Spark: Hero Tactics
The chances of obtaining cards of different rarities is as follows:
- Minor Pack: This pack contains more common cards than the Spark Pack.
Minor Card Pack: Drop Rates and Contents Overview in Spark: Hero Tactics
- Spark Pack: This pack contains more rare cards than the Minor Pack.
Spark Card Pack: Drop Rates and Contents Overview in Spark: Hero Tactics
To check a card’s rarity in the Collections tab
1. Press the Sort Options icon and sort by Rarity.
Collections Menu: Organizing and Sorting Card Options in Spark: Hero Tactics
2. Select a card. The Description will show, and the card’s border color indications its rarity:
Gray = Common
Blue = Rare
Purple = Epic
Yellow = Legendary
Orange = Apex
Game Terminology
Term | Definition |
Abilities | Special effects triggered by certain cards, affecting specified targets. Example: "On Death" grants all cards on the board +2 health. |
Attack | The amount of damage a Fortress, Creature, or Spell can inflict on an opponent's Fortress, Creature, or Construct. Represented by a diamond/star icon. |
Copper | In-game currency of lesser value than Gold. Obtainable through purchases or gameplay, used for buying Cards, Card Packs, or upgrading cards. |
Creature | A card that battles across the board, belonging to a Faction, with a Type, Health and Attack stats, Keywords, and sometimes special Abilities. Moves and attacks automatically. |
Faction | A group of creatures and spells. Includes Flameborne (red), Tidewalkers (blue), Bloomguard (green), and Untethered (grey). |
Gold | In-game currency worth more than Copper. Purchasable or earnable through gameplay, used for buying Cards and Card Packs. |
Health | Amount of damage a Fortress, Creature, or Construct can withstand before it is destroyed and ends the game. Represented by a heart icon. |
Hero |
The initial character chosen when making a Deck. The deck you create should synergize with the Hero’s special powers. Heroes are stronger than regular cards, have a special power called an Ultimate, and their Health and Attack is what determines that of your Fortress. Unlockable through gameplay progression, such as leveling up and unlocking new locations. |
Hero Ultimate | Unique ability of a Hero and their Faction. Ultimates charge during battle and can be used to deal damage or alter your opponents stats, such as lowering attack stats, or buffing health. |
Keywords |
A word or short phrase that is a Modifier on specific Creature. Examples: Demolisher (double damage vs Fortress/Construct), Resilient (-1 Damage from all sources), Lumbering (Creature moves every 2 ticks). Spell Proof (immune to spells), Persistent (returns to Deck when killed). |
Quests | Daily and weekly missions rewarding Card Packs, Copper, and Gold. May involve playing specific card colors or dealing damage. |
Shards | In-game resource for upgrading and unlocking Heroes. |
Spark | Magical resource for casting Creatures, Spells, and Construct cards in battle. Represented by a hexagon icon as "Cost". |
Spell | Non-creature card with special effects. Targets friendly or enemy cards, altering stats or board positions. |
Tick | Real-time game clock unit. Every tick grants 2 Spark and activates on-board Creatures and queued Spells. During "Quick Time", ticks elapse quicker – so you must act quickly! |
Types | Subcategories within Factions (e.g., Fishfolk and Leviathans for Tidewalkers, Draken and Dwarves for Flameborne). Some cards affect others based on Type. |
Frequently Asked Questions
Q: Is there an age requirement?
A: There is currently no specific age requirement for Spark: Hero Tactics beyond the general age requirements for using Discord’s services, as described in our Terms of Service. This includes our Paid Services Terms, which apply to any purchases you make through Discord. Accordingly, if you are under 18 (or the legal age of majority in your place of residence), you need your parent’s or guardian’s permission to make in-app purchases.
Q: How do I anonymize my display name and avatar in Spark: Hero Tactics
A: After completing the tutorial, your first Competitive battle will prompt you to choose how you’d like to be displayed in-game. Select the Anonymize option to receive a random avatar and display name. If you do not select the Anonymize option, your display name and avatar from your Discord User Profile settings will be shown. You can adjust this setting at any time in the Activity’s Settings menu.
Q: If I make purchases in Spark: Hero Tactics on one server, will they be available when I play Spark: Hero Tactics on different servers?
A: Yes, purchases you make in Spark: Hero Tactics are tied to your Discord account for use in the Activity wherever you play it. This means any items you buy while playing on one server will be available to use when you play on any other server with the same Discord account.
Q: Can I trade my cards in, or trade them with a friend?
A: No, trading or transferring is not available.
Q: I bought something in the Activity, can I get a refund?
A: We do not offer refunds for the items that can be purchased currently since they are one-time purchases, as described in our Refund Policy.
Q: Where can I give feedback or report bugs and problems with the game?
A: There are a few ways to report bugs or provide feedback. Join the Spark Hero Tactics Community Discord Server, or submit a bug report for this or any other Activity by going to https://dis.gd/bugreport.
For detailed instructions on submitting bug reports, please refer to our Help Center article: https://dis.gd/bugs.
Q: How do I view or delete my data for Spark: Hero Tactics? What data is tracked?
A: As with other Discord services, you can view and delete data for Discord-developed Activities like Spark: Hero Tactics through the Discord Privacy and Safety settings and our Privacy Policy applies. You can also view the permissions you authorized for the Activity under Authorized Apps in your Discord User Settings.
Q: My question isn't listed, what do I do?
A: If all is lost, please submit a ticket to our support team at https://dis.gd/contact