Card types, resources, and named families

Some labels name card groups or game systems. Read each card because a shared name does not give every card the same rule.

A bold keyword, a deck rule, and a card family are different things. Cards in one family may have different targets, timing, and limits.

Label	Meaning
Shuffled payload	A card or token put into a deck for later. Read whether it is drawn, cast when drawn, or summoned when drawn.
Aura	An effect that lasts while its stated source or rule stays active, or for the time the card gives.
Bonus Effect	A helpful ability picked at random. The allowed pool can change with a patch.
Bribe	A cheap or strong effect that gives the enemy something in return.
Class Set	A release of seven different cards for one class. The 2026 waves are separate releases, rather than normal mini-sets.
Disguised minion	Its text lets you choose which player's board it joins.
Fabled companion	A special card that Fabled or Fabled+ adds to the starting deck. Each uses a normal deck slot.
Follow card / Follow chain	A spell takes effect and passes its effect to an allowed playable card in hand that turn. Playing that card may pass it onward.
Highlander / no duplicates	A deck rule or reward that checks for no repeated cards. It is not a printed bold keyword.
Imp-formant / Trial	Imp-formants are 3/3 Lifesteal Demons summoned when the enemy draws them. A Trial is a spell built and timed by Godfather Kazakus.
Hero card	Replaces your hero. It usually gives Armor and a new Hero Power, and uses its printed Battlecry.
Jade Golem	Your first is 1/1. Each later one you summon is +1/+1 larger.
Location	Uses a board slot and spends Durability when used. It normally has a wait before you can use it again.
Minion type	A group tag, such as Beast, Demon, Dragon, Mech, Murloc, Naga, Pirate, Quilboar, Totem, Undead, or All.
Prepared / Shattered	Names for the result of Prepare or Shatter. They are not extra keywords on their own.
Rulebreaker	A Legendary that uses its own text to bend or replace a normal rule.
Rune	Blood, Frost, and Unholy symbols limit which Death Knight cards fit together in a deck.
Sideboard	Extra choices tied to a certain deck-building card. You can use them only by that card's rules.
Spell school	A tag such as Arcane, Fel, Fire, Frost, Holy, Nature, or Shadow. Some effects check these tags.

Read the exact card

Check a Rulebreaker's deck rule before building. Plan a Location's next use as well as this one. Count companion deck slots. For a shuffled card, separate putting it in the deck from drawing it and any later effect.

Player deck names may last after a list changes. A tracker might still call a deck “Hand” or “Pure” even when it no longer follows the old pattern. Read the actual cards, what they need, and how they win.