After exploring the heroism of the Bravos and the discipline of the Ordis, we conclude our Faction Focus series with an alliance of instinct and engineering: Muna and Axiom. Faced with a corruption that threatens the very foundations of our world, the wisdom of nature unites with the ingenuity of science.

Through the combined insights of our Lore, Art, and Game Design experts, discover how these two factions strive to restore balance. This final chapter explores a turning point for humanity: one where, to avoid total collapse, we must learn to become one with the living world again. From the primordial forces of nature to Axiom’s technological marvels, join us behind the scenes of this final bulwark against the Nightmare.

Axiom’s scientists have unlocked a new property of Aerolithe: by energizing the material, they can now manipulate and direct its gravitational field. Originally developed to repel the Tumult and protect the Reka city, these Aerolithe-powered energy shields have found a desperate new purpose: holding back the Nightmare. By deploying these barriers, Axiom has established "Safe Zones" where citizens can take refuge while awaiting evacuation. Isaree patrols the streets, working tirelessly to guide everyone to safety, but it is a grim task as monsters now prowl every corner of the city.

Corrupted Paju is perhaps the Axiom card that most deeply embodies the essence of the Nightmare. Paju was Treyst’s best friend until the tragic accident that took Paju’s life and left Treyst disabled. His death left a traumatic scar—a mix of survivor’s guilt, the resentment of being left behind, and a debt Treyst feels he can never repay. These are the very emotions the Nightmare feeds upon, manifesting them into terrifying physical forms.

Isaree returns in Roots of Corruption, bringing new ways to harness your Aeroliths and optimize every resource. For Axiom, success is built on the meticulous management of your hand and reserve, turning every spent card into strategic leverage.

A demanding playstyle awaits, centered on the bold concept of emptying your hand. You will intentionally operate in a vulnerable state with few immediate options and a reserve exposed to Sabotage. Yet, this tension is by design: embracing the "void" of an empty hand unlocks massive rewards later in the game.

Cards like Sneaky Salamander help you rapidly thin your hand, while Inari, Spirit of Industry fully rewards your efforts once your resources are spent. With Isaree, Axiom offers a precise and high-stakes experience where every card counts and mastery of tempo is the key to victory.

Axiom’s scientists may seem outmatched by the Nightmare’s rapid advance, but they refuse to give up: for every problem, there is a technological solution! While the corruption cannot be stopped entirely, force fields can still shield buildings and citizens. By refining vast quantities of Aerolithe (the powerful mineral introduced in Skybound Odyssey) Axiom is securing safe zones to buy the Ordis time to rescue trapped survivors.

The desperation is so great that Pebble even harvests the precious material from his own body, as seen in "A Pebble in the Pond." With its distinct garnet hue, Aerolithe stands out immediately from the Golden Sap and Blue Kelon typically associated with the faction. This visual distinction ensures that every card creating or utilizing a shield is instantly recognizable. Our art team worked meticulously to maintain this consistency, drawing inspiration from Taras Susak’s early concepts for cards like Emergency Burst and Master Lapidary.

Humanity must face its ultimate enemy: itself. The Nightmare springs from the darkness lurking within the human heart. Yet, we are not alone in this struggle. Kauri has been tasked with seeking out other sentient life forms, both within Reka and across the floating archipelagos, to come to our aid. In his search, he finds an unexpected ally. If it is true that "man is a wolf to man”, then why not call upon the Wolf itself?

In a set dedicated to the Nightmare, the image of the Wolf felt like the perfect reflection of this ambivalence. Within the human imagination, the Wolf has long been the archetypal adversary: the villain of The Three Little Pigs or Little Red Riding Hood. Reclaiming its avatars is deeply symbolic, for the wolf is not inherently a monster, it was humanity that cast it as the embodiment of danger. History also shows us a benevolent side. Raksha, the Mother Wolf from The Jungle Book, is the perfect illustration. It is she and her pack who adopt Mowgli, ensuring the "man-cub" survives against all odds.

Kauri is back, and this time, the forest roars alongside him. The animals at his side are no longer willing to endure the corruption; together, they are uniting their strength to push it back with unwavering resolve.

In this expansion, Muna focuses on synergy and scaling within the Forest. By boosting your stats in this region, you unlock devastating effects: such as The Big Bad Wolf’s Sabotage. There is true strength in numbers: by gathering your animal allies, you can tap into the generosity of Karhu, Lord of Bears, and convert your board presence into card draw.

With Kauri, Muna offers a collective and progressive playstyle where every creature matters. Here, the Forest becomes the heart of a strategy designed to overwhelm and drown out the corruption.

From the heights of the Consortium, where shattered terraces overlook the Reka city, the Muna stand defiant against the Nightmare. They call upon the raw forces of nature and the spirit of the wolf to Gather the Pack. Once united, the pack hunts down the corrupted creatures swarming the branches of Naos.

Legendary animals, deities, and druids, every avatar of the wolf is represented in this expansion to tell the story of the faction’s counter-attack. To capture this vision, we drew deep inspiration from films like Princess Mononoke and Wolfwalkers, cinematic works where the animal kingdom (and wolves in particular) resists extinction and human-driven imbalance with fierce resolve. Since the breach in Altered was opened by the greed of the Rekas, this imagery felt like a perfect fit.

This apocalyptic setting reveals an unexpected side of the Muna, who are usually seen as affable and peaceful. Here, the art team wanted to showcase a fierce, determined nature fighting for its very survival. The Big Bad Wolf, more terrifying than the Nightmare itself, is the ultimate ambassador of this shift. While designing a wolf can be just as complex as a human character, creating a diverse range of wolves for a single faction was a rewarding challenge. We played with build, color, and folklore to bring contrast to the pack, drawing from legendary tales like The Beast of Gévaudan, whose fantastical yet haunting descriptions provided endless inspiration.