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Cards are the main collectibles available in Plants vs. Zombies Heroes. They are the main methods used by plant and zombie heroes to combat the opposing side.

Overview[]

Cards are divided into three major categories: fighter cards, trick cards, and environment cards. A fighter card spawns a friendly fighter on the field when it is played, which in most cases attack enemy fighters or the opposing hero, and is destroyed and removed once its health reaches 0. A trick card can do a variety of things when it is played, ranging from making additional friendly fighters, modifying their attributes or destroying enemy fighters, to gaining or adding cards from or into the player's deck. After the ability ends, the trick card is automatically removed for the match. Finally, an environment card is played similar to a trick card that affects a selected ground lane and all compatible fighters on it while it is present, and is overridden and removed once another environment card is played on the same lane.

Each card also has a set of attributes, such as cost (SunPvZH/BrainPvZH), strength (StrengthPvZH), health (HeartPvZH), class, and tribe - one of which is a superpower, a special kind of card that is costs 1 only, is gained at the start of the game and every time the hero successfully blocks an attack, unless otherwise specified.

At the start of the game, each player is given four cards to their hand, and is also given the chance to replace each card once with another random one taken from the player's deck. Each player is also given a random superpower card from the player's list of available cards, which cannot be replaced. The player also draws a card from their deck starting from the second turn, and there are certain abilities that can give the player additional cards, either from or outside the deck. Each player can only have ten cards in their hand at once before the game stops giving them cards. The player that exhausts their card supply first loses the game.

Decks are required to have forty cards, and four of a single type of card can be put in at most. Therefore, it is very important to consider what cards are needed. Superpowers do not count to the deck's total number of cards, bringing this technical number to 44.

A card can be played providing that the card's cost does not exceed the player's currency stockpile balance, and that there are valid targets (for trick cards) or lanes (for fighter cards) for the card. Once the card is played, the player's currency stockpile balance is decreased by an amount equal to the card's cost. Plants can play fighter, trick, and environment cards all at the same time since they only have one play turn before the "Fight!" phase occurs. Zombies have two separate phases, the first exclusive to fighters and the second for tricks and environments, before the "Fight!" phase occurs.

Tribes[]

Each side has unique tribes that can allow cards to create synergies. Each class has a main tribe, as well as a number of cards that can form synergy with the main tribe of the class. An example of a plant synergy is Buff-Shroom boosting Shroom for Two, both part of the mushroom tribe, the main tribe of the PvZH Kabloom IconKabloom class, and an example of a zombie synergy is Zombot Drone Engineer boosting Space Cadet, both part of the science tribe, the main tribe of the PvZH Brainy IconBrainy class.

Note that there are also examples of fighters within main tribes outside of the class, such as Fume-Shroom being a mushroom plant in the PvZH Solar IconSolar class, and Disco-Tron being a science zombie in the PvZH Crazy IconCrazy class.

Turn order[]

The zombies' fighter turn comes first, followed by the plants' combined turn, followed in turn by the zombies' trick turn, after which the "Fight!" phase occurs during which fighters engage in combat against the opposing side. Destroyed/used cards are removed and the turn order starts over from the beginning.

In the "Fight!" phase, zombie fighters attack first, then plant fighters attack afterwards (even if the plant fighter has its health down to 0 after being attacked). Because of this, the game immediately ends if a PvZH Strikethrough IconStrikethrough zombie defeats the plant hero, even if there is a plant in the same lane with PvZH Strikethrough IconStrikethrough that is about to finish off the zombie hero.

Attribute Description
Class Determines the hero(es) that can play the card. In deck construction, a hero can only include cards from the 2 classes it leads with no exception. However, off-class cards can be obtained through card effects such as making or Conjuring.
Tribe
Normal Determines the effects that the card can be subjected to. Every card is in at least one tribe, and some are in two or more tribes at the same time. Several abilities only affect fighters in certain tribes: For example, all plants in the pea tribe gain bonus strength points when they are played behind a Torchwood. However, some tribes do not interact with any abilities and are purely cosmetic.
Superpower A superpower is a special tribe of card that can only be obtained at the start of the game, when you block an attack, or Conjured by other cards.
Environment An environment card is a type of card that creates a special rule on the lane it is played on, and lasts permanently unless another environment card is played on that lane. Note that cards in this tribe do not count as a trick, thus not activating abilities that are related to tricks.
Sun/Brain cost
(SunPvZH/BrainPvZH)
Determines the cost of the card.
Strength (StrengthPvZH) Fighter exclusive. Determines the amount of damage the fighter does to the opposing hero or fighter(s).
Health (HeartPvZH) Fighter exclusive. Determines the amount of damage the fighter withstands. A fighter is destroyed and removed once its health reaches 0.
Traits/Effects Determines the traits a fighter has, or the effect a card's trait or ability gives. See the Traits and Effects section.
Abilities Determines the abilities of the card, if any are present.
Rarity Determines the chance of that card being obtained through card drops or booster packs. Superpowers are not obtainable via such methods, but they do have their rarity listed; hero-specific superpowers are legendary cards, while all other superpowers are super-rare.

Traits[]

Although every fighter is unique, many of them share common traits, which the player needs to know to use them the best way. Present here is a list of traits that many fighters have, along with an explanation and a few examples of them:

Afterlife (Archived content)[]


When this is destroyed, you can play it a second time

Game Description

Exclusive to zombies.

Any fighter with this trait returns to the owner’s hand as a “ghost version” token of itself when it is destroyed. The ghost version is identical to the original fighter but without the Afterlife trait.

This trait was removed on update 1.16.10; instead, both zombies with this trait now explicitly state in their ability description that the appropriate card is gained upon them being destroyed.

Haunting ZombieH Octo ZombieH Cyborg ZombieH
Haunting Zombie Octo Zombie Cyborg Zombie

Amphibious[]


Play on Water or Land

Game Description

Any fighter with this trait is not restricted to just the ground or heights lanes in terms of placement, but can also be played on aquatic lanes. If not played there, they can also be moved to the aquatic lane.

Plants[]

Sting BeanH Corn DogH Sea-ShroomH Water ChestnutH Marine BeanH Pear CubH GuacodileH Body-GourdH Grizzly PearH SmackadamiaH Admiral Navy BeanH Lily PadH Lima-PleurodonH SpyrisH Laser CattailH Lightning ReedH Pear PalH RotobagaH CattailH MayflowerH Leaf BlowerH Navy BeanH Snake GrassH Bird of ParadiseH Jolly HollyH BrainanaH Dark Matter DragonfruitH The Great ZucchiniH
Sting Bean Corn Dog Sea-shroom Water Chestnut Marine Bean Pear Cub Guacodile Body-Gourd Grizzly Pear Smackadamia Admiral Navy Bean Lily Pad Lima-Pleurodon Spyris Laser Cattail Lightning Reed Pear Pal Rotobaga Cattail Mayflower Leaf Blower Navy Bean Snake Grass Bird of Paradise Jolly Holly Brainana Dark Matter Dragonfruit The Great Zucchini

Zombies[]

Snorkel ZombieH
Snorkel Zombie

PvZH Anti-Hero IconAnti-Hero[]


+(level)StrengthPvZH when no (Zombie/Plant)s are here

Game Description

Any fighter with this trait gains a set amount of strength when no enemy fighters are in their lane. Playing anything in front of an enemy fighter with the trait de-activates its PvZH Anti-Hero IconAnti-Hero trait.

Plants[]

Poison MushroomH Poison IvyH Poison OakH
Poison Mushroom Poison Ivy Poison Oak

Zombies[]

Kitchen Sink ZombieH Mini-NinjaH Space PirateH Stealthy ImpH Walrus RiderH
Kitchen Sink Zombie Mini-Ninja Space Pirate Stealthy Imp Walrus Rider

PvZH Armored IconArmored[]


Reduce damage to this by (level)

Game Description

Any fighter with this trait takes reduced damage when it is attacked, with the number specifying the amount of damage that is subtracted. If the damage done is less than (or equal to) the resistance number, the fighter does not take any damage. However, this trait does not protect the fighter from any tricks or abilities that reduce its stats by a set amount.

Plants[]

GravitreeH
Gravitree

Zombies[]

ConeheadH
Conehead

PvZH Truestrike IconBullseye[]


Doesn't charge the opponent's Block Meter

Game Description

Any fighter with this trait does not fill up either (for Galacta-Cactus' case) hero's Super-Block Meter upon doing damage to them.

Plants[]

CactusH
Cactus

Zombies[]

Pool SharkH
Pool Shark

PvZH Deadly IconDeadly[]


Destroy any Plant or Zombie this hurts

Game Description

Exclusive to zombies.

Any fighter with this trait always destroys any fighter it sucessfully does damage to. Heroes are not affected.

Barrel Roller ZombieH Super StenchH
Barrel Roller Zombie Super Stench

DoubleStrikeAltDouble Strike[]


After combat here: This does a Bonus Attack

Game Description

Exclusive to plants.

Any fighter with this trait does a bonus attack after surviving combat on its lane.

Cosmic PeaH
Cosmic Pea

PvZH Frenzy IconFrenzy[]


When this destroys a Plant, it attacks again

Game Description

Exclusive to zombies.

Any fighter that has this trait does a bonus attack if it destroys an enemy fighter and survives without being destroyed itself. Zombies will only do a bonus attack if they destroy a plant with their attack, and not through their abilities. For example, although Supernova Gargantuar can destroy several plants with his ability, he will not do any bonus attacks for destroying those plants. This also does not apply if Soul Patch is destroyed without being attacked directly.

Energy Drink ZombieH Maniacal LaughH
Energy Drink Zombie Maniacal Laugh

Gravestone[]


Hides in a Gravestone until it's time for Tricks

Game Description

Exclusive to zombies.

Any fighter with this trait is not revealed until the zombie hero's Tricks phase begins - they are instead concealed by a gravestone. The opposing hero cannot see how many brains are spent on that fighter until the next "Zombie Tricks" phase. While it is concealed, the fighter is immune to all methods of damage and card abilities (from both the plant and zombie side), with Cool Bean, Grave Buster, Spyris, Grave Mistake, Blockbuster, and Winter Squash (in combination with Cool Bean) being the only exceptions.

Zombies with this trait cannot be played on a zombie with a Fusion ability, but may appear without a gravestone if it is obtained by another card's ability. Additionally, playing a gravestone does not count as playing the fighter itself until it is revealed normally in the "Zombie Tricks" phase, and this extends to "When played" abilities as well. Any passive abilities, such as Defensive End's, will not activate while that zombie is in a gravestone. Lastly, if any zombies in a gravestone are destroyed, the "When destroyed" abilities will not activate.

Pied PiperH
Pied Piper

Hunt[]


When a (Zombie/Plant) is played, this (Plant/Zombie) moves there

Game Description

Any fighter with this trait moves to where an opposing fighter is played or made most recently, unless that lane is already occupied by either a non Team-Up plant or a zombie.

Plants[]

Corn DogH
Corn Dog

Zombies[]

Dog WalkerH
Dog Walker

Weird unused PvZH iconOvershoot[]


Before combat here, do (amount of damage) to the Plant Hero

Game Description

Exclusive to zombies.

Fighters with theWeird unused PvZH iconOvershoot trait will inflict a specified amount of damage to the enemy hero, provided if it lives after any environment effects before actual combat. As long as the fighter is alive, this will always occur. This attack is not tied to strength, nor is it considered as a standard attack, so Freezing cards and Wing-Nut will not disable it.

Overshoot does not stack. Only the trait with the highest damage is applied.

Loose CannonH
Loose Cannon

Splash Damage[]


When this attacks, it also deals (amount of damage) damage to Zombies next door

Game Description

Exclusive to plants.

Any fighter with this trait does a certain amount of damage to fighters on adjacent lanes, in addition to the lane it is on when it attacks. Heroes, however, do not take Splash Damage if said lanes are empty. Splash Damage cannot be increased or decreased in any way, even if the fighter's strength has been increased or decreased. Splash Damage can be suppressed if the fighter has 0 strength, but comes back once its strength is reboosted to at least 1.

Lightning ReedH
Lightning Reed

PvZH Strikethrough IconStrikethrough[]


Hits the Zombie here and the Zombie Hero

Game Description

Hits all Plants here and the Plant Hero

Game Description

Any fighter with this trait does damage to all enemy fighters on its lane, as well as the opposing hero.

Plants[]

AstrocadoH
Astrocado

Zombies[]

Hot Dog ImpH
Hot Dog Imp

Team-Up[]


You can fit two Plants here

Game Description

Exclusive to plants.

Any fighter with this trait can be played on a lane that is already occupied by an allied fighter. Likewise, any other allied fighter can be played on the lane occupied with a fighter that has Team-Up. The position does not matter, but only two fighters are allowed on each lane.

Wall-NutH
Wall-Nut

UntrickableAltBigUntrickable[]


Unaffected by Plant/Zombie Tricks

Game Description

Any fighter with this trait is unable to be affected by the opposing hero's tricks, but not those played by the allied hero.

Plants[]

ApotatosaurusH
Apotatosaurus

Zombies[]

Parasol ZombieH
Parasol Zombie

Effects[]

Some abilities either have, or afflict other fighters with certain effects. Present here is a list of effects in the game, along with an explanation on each of them:

Bonus Attack[]


Any fighter that receives this effect attacks again as long it manages to survive combat on its lane. Any plant fighter with the DoubleStrikeAltDouble Strike trait, as well as any zombie fighter with the PvZH Frenzy IconFrenzy trait, gets this effect.

Plants[]

Re-Peat MossH
Repeat Moss

Zombies[]

ElectricianH
Electrician

Bounce[]


Put it back in its owner's hand

Game Description

Any fighter that receives this effect is returned to the owner's hand, with their stats reverted to their base stats and all given traits removed. (For example, a zombie boosted by Maniacal Laugh will lose the PvZH Frenzy IconFrenzy trait and the stat boost when Bounced.) If the stats are directly altered while the fighter is in the hero's hand, however, Bouncing will not reset its stats and given traits.

Plants[]

Rescue RadishH Jumping BeanH
Rescue Radish Jumping Bean

Zombies[]

FirefighterH Pogo BouncerH
Firefighter Pogo Bouncer

Conjure[]


Gain a random card of this type

Game Description

Add either a specified card (which is called Gaining instead), or a random card(s) of a specified cost, tribe, rarity, or set from the entire game.

Plants[]

Cosmic BeanH
Cosmic Bean

Zombies[]

Cosmic Sports StarH
Cosmic Sports Star

Destroy[]


Instantly remove a fighter on the field. It does not count as doing damage (thus not activating "When hurt" abilities), but it will activate "When destroyed" abilities. For example, if the plant hero plays Squash on Gas Giant, it will not do 1 damage to all other plants and zombies ("When hurt" ability), but it will do 5 damage to the plant hero ("When destroyed" ability).

Plants[]

Three-Headed ChomperH
Three-Headed Chomper

Zombies[]

Zombot 1000H
Zombot 1000

Draw[]


Add a random card(s) from your deck to your hand, unless your hand is full.

Plants[]

FlourishH
Flourish

Zombies[]

Cell Phone ZombieH
Cell Phone Zombie

PvZH Frozen IconFreeze[]


That (Zombie/Plant) skips its next attack

Game Description

Any fighter that receives this effect is immobilized, forcing it to skip its next attack. Playing a card that makes the immobilized fighter do a bonus attack instantly cancels out the PvZH Frozen IconFreeze effect. Plant fighters with the DoubleStrikeAltDouble Strike trait will attack once after being thawed if they survive combat.

Plants[]

Snow PeaH Chilly PepperH
Snow Pea Chilly Pepper

Zombies[]

Frosty MustacheH Ice PirateH
Frosty Mustache Ice Pirate

Heal[]


Restore health of a damaged fighter, the hero, or both. Certain restrictions may be present on some cards.

Plants[]

Lil' BuddyH
Lil' Buddy

Zombies[]

Nurse GargantuarH
Nurse Gargantuar

Make[]


A fighter is played automatically, activating any abilities relevant to playing a card, if possible.

Plants[]

Sunflower SeedH
Sunflower Seed

Zombies[]

Portal TechnicianH
Portal Technician

Move[]


Any fighter that receives this effect changes its position to another lane. Certain restrictions may be present on some cards.

Plants[]

Gardening GlovesH
Gardening Gloves

Zombies[]

Smoke BombH
Smoke Bomb

Shielded/Can't be hurt[]


Any fighter that receives this effect is unable to take damage in any way. This effect cannot nullify instant-kill and stat-lowering tricks and abilities as they do not count as doing damage.

Plants[]

Root WallH
Peel ShieldH
Root Wall Peel Shield

Zombies[]

Trash Can ZombieH
Trash Can Zombie

Shuffle[]


Add a specific card(s) into your deck.

Plants[]

Clique PeasH
Clique Peas

Zombies[]

Leprechaun ImpH
Leprechaun Imp

Transform[]


Any fighter that receives this effect immediately transforms into a random fighter that meets a certain criterion, if any.

Plants[]

TransfigurationH
Transfiguration

Zombies[]

Interdimensional ZombieH
Interdimensional Zombie

Abilities[]

While there are a plethora of ways an ability can activate, there are some that are officially named and categorized. Present here is a list of named abilities, along with an explanation of them and examples of fighters with them:

Dino-Roar[]


Use this ability when you draw a card

Game Description

This ability activates whenever a turn starts or whenever its owner Conjures, Draws or Gains card. If multiple cards are Conjured, Drawn or Gained at the same time, Dino-Roar activates for every card obtained.

Plants[]

Bananasaurus RexH TricarrotopsH Veloci-Radish HatchlingH Veloci-Radish HunterH
Bananasaurus Rex Tricarrotops Veloci-Radish Hatchling Veloci-Radish Hunter

Zombies[]

Mondo BrontoH StompadonH
Mondo Bronto Stompadon

Evolution[]


Play this on a (name of tribe/Plant/Zombie) to use this ability

Game Description

This ability activates when the fighter with this ability is played on a fighter that meets the criterion. The fighter that meets the criterion immediately transforms into the fighter with the Evolution ability and gains a sparkling green aura. Fighters on aquatic lanes can also be selected, even if the fighter with the Evolution ability does not have the Amphibious trait itself.

Plants[]

Cro-MagnoliaH
Jelly BeanH
Cro-Magnolia Jelly Bean

Zombies[]

Primeval YetiH Jurassic FossilheadH
Primeval Yeti Jurassic Fossilhead

Fusion[]


Play a (Plant/Zombie) on this to use this ability

Game Description

This ability activates when any fighter is played on the fighter with this ability. The fighter with the Fusion ability glows green if it is a plant, or purple if it is a zombie, and goes underneath the fighter played on it. In this state, the Fusion fighter is basically non-existent, and disappears when the fighter played on it is Bounced or destroyed. Almost all fighter cards can be played on a fusion fighter, with the exception of gravestones.

Note that if a fighter with an Evolution ability is played on a Fusion Fighter, the Evolution ability will also activate on top of the Fusion ability. It is also possible for a Fusion fighter to be played on another; however, any plant played after that will only benefit from the ability of the latest Fusion fighter played.

Plants[]

EyesporeH
Eyespore

Zombies[]

Buried TreasureH
Buried Treasure

Crafting[]

Crafting interface

The crafting interface displayed at the bottom of the screen, under the card being viewed.

Crafting is a feature that can be accessed by tapping the desired card in the Collection or the Deck Building section. It allows the player to directly create new cards without having to purchase Packs.

Crafting a new card requires Sparks, a special kind of resource that cannot be purchased with money and can only be gained by recycling cards and completing certain Hero Quests. Currently, most collectible cards in the game can be crafted and recycled, with the exception of certain event cards that are stated to become craftable in the near future. In addition, all basic - common cards cannot be recycled, and cards you already have 4 of will have their crafting option disabled.

The number of Sparks required for crafting, and rewarded with recycling, is determined by the card's rarity. Crafting a new card will always require more Sparks than the amount given by recycling a card of equal rarity, making the process generally extremely inefficient. Certain cards may have exceptions.

Rarity Crafting Recycling
Basic - Common 25 PvZH Spark Icon 0 PvZH Spark Icon1
Uncommon 50 PvZH Spark Icon 15 PvZH Spark Icon2
Rare 250 PvZH Spark Icon 50 PvZH Spark Icon
Super-Rare 1000 PvZH Spark Icon 250 PvZH Spark Icon
Legendary 4000 PvZH Spark Icon 1000 PvZH Spark Icon
Event 1000 PvZH Spark Icon3 250 PvZH Spark Icon4,5

1. Cannot be recycled
2. 10 PvZH Spark Icon prior to update 1.8.23
3. 2000
PvZH Spark Icon for cards released on the previous update or only available through buying with real-world currency; only applies to cards that have been released
4. 75 PvZH Spark Icon prior to update 1.14.13
5. 500 PvZH Spark Icon for event cards that require 2,000 sparks in order to be crafted

Gallery[]

Trivia[]

  • Despite not used until Galactic Gardens , the icon for Weird unused PvZH iconOvershoot existed in the game files since the initial release.
  • As stated above, some traits are exclusive to either side:
    • There are no plant fighters that have the Gravestone, PvZH Deadly IconDeadly, PvZH Frenzy IconFrenzy, or Weird unused PvZH iconOvershoot traits.
    • There are no zombie fighters that have the Team-Up, Splash Damage, or DoubleStrikeAltDouble Strike traits.
  • Prior to update 1.2.11:
    • Cards in general were referred to as Teammates.
      • They are still referred to as such in unupdated translations.
    • There were no zombie fighters with the PvZH Strikethrough IconStrikethrough trait.
    • PvZH Truestrike IconBullseye was named PvZH Truestrike IconTruestrike.
    • Can't be hurt was called Shielded.
  • The PvZH Sneaky IconSneaky class is the only class without any Super-Rare, Event or Legendary Tricks.
  • The spark icon is similar to the Power Zap symbol except being blue instead of purple.
  • The Freeze ability can be used again, even if the zombie is already frozen and can help Snowdrop get an extra boost.
  • If a fighter has two or more offensive traits, it uses a PvZH Star Strength Icongreen star in place of the strength symbol.
    • A fighter can also have a green star in place of the health symbol if it is both PvZH Armored IconArmored and UntrickableAltBigUntrickable, or if it is UntrickableAltBigUntrickable while Shielded; having the PvZH Armored IconArmored trait while Shielded will only show the Shielded icon.
Fourofabean

The number "x4" flashing red if the player tries to add another Navy Bean

  • Fighter traits were not shown on their card’s stats until update 1.6.27.
  • Similar to increase or decrease of a card’s stat, if a card’s cost is reduced via any card abilities or gimmicks in some missions, the cost number is colored green instead of black. On the other hand, if its cost is increased, the number is shown red instead.
  • Bringing four of the same card cause the "Add" button to appear gray for the remaining ones. Tapping "Add" causes the number "x4" to flash red, indicating that no more of that card can be added anymore.
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