Final Fantasy 7 (VII) Rebirth Queen’s Blood Guide – Best Decks & Strategies

Queen’s Blood is a playing card minigame in Final Fantasy VII Rebirth. It’s unlocked at the start of Chapter 2 and stretches all throughout the game. You can play against other NPC players to increase your Queen’s Blood Rank. There are a total of 145 Queen’s Blood Cards to collect, most of them are bought from merchants or won by defeating Queen’s Blood Players. A few come from side quests and special Queen’s Blood Tournaments throughout the game.

This guide explains how to win in Queen’s Blood with the best decks and strategies, for different points in the game. Rank 12 is the maximum obtainable Queen’s Blood Rank. Each Rank requires beating a certain number of players and then defeating a special Rank-Up player.

Queen’s Blood Basics – How Matches are Scored

In Queen’s Blood you place cards on 3 lanes: top – mid – bottom. The board consists of 5 fields per row, or 15 fields total. The match ends when neither player can place any more cards (usually when all board slots are filled). Losing lanes count as “0” regardless of what the point difference is on that lane. Winning lanes have their full score added to the total result.

Example: You win top lane 10-9, win mid lane 8-5, lose bottom lane 2-5 = total match score 20-5 (You: 10 top + 10 mid + 0 bottom for you / Opponent: 0 top + 0 mid + 5 bottom). Even though in this scenario the opponent had 9 points on the top lane, you won the lane by 1 point difference and take the full 10 points while the opponent gets 0.

Because of this system you should always focus on winning two lanes, this almost guarantees a victory. It’s unlikely that the opponent will get more points from a single lane than you get from two lanes. You can even completely ignore one lane in favor of getting a dominant victory on two lanes.

Queen’s Blood Basics – How Cards Work

Each Card has a rank assigned to it, seen in the top left corner by a chess figure symbol. These range from Rank 1-3, indicating how much field control you need to play the card. Each card has a range of yellow squares assigned to it, these add field control. Some cards also have a range of red squares which add special effects such as buffs to your units or debuffs to enemy units.

Making smart use of field control is important to advance the lanes and cut off the opponent. As there are 5 fields per lane, if you can place cards on 3 fields it will leave your opponent with only 2 fields which puts you at a big advantage.

Each card also has a number in the top right corner, this indicates how many points the card is worth. The total sum of your cards in a lane gets added up as that lane’s score.

Each deck consists of exactly 15 cards total per player. As there are two players per match that means 30 cards total are in play, but only 15 fields on the board. You will realistically only ever play between 7 to 10 cards per match as the fields will all be filled up.

How to Win at Queen’s Blood – General Strategies & Tips

• Focus on winning two lanes instead of winning all three. Losing lanes count as “0” at the end of the match. As long as you win two lanes you are almost guaranteed to win the match.
• Focus on pushing the lanes forward as fast as possible so the opponent to cut off the opponent from advancing.
• Always push two connected lanes (top + mid or bottom + mid). Never push top + bottom without the middle lane.
• Focus on board control with Rank 1 cards, these can be played anywhere and are more versatile to cut off the opponent.

First of all, you want to put mostly Rank 1 cards in your deck. These can be placed easily without worrying about card ranks. Pushing the lanes quickly and having superior field control is the priority. Even if your cards have a lower score value, it’s well worth it when you can conquer 3-4 fields in a lane and you opponent only 1-2, this almost guarantees winning the lane.

You always want to win two lanes next to each other. So focus on winning top + mid, or bottom + mid. Don’t try to win top + bottom. The reason is that pushing two connected rows makes it easier to use buffs and special effects, as these usually extend only one field up or down. Controlling the middle lane is always the most important, it gives you the most strategic freedom whether to keep pushing the top lane or bottom lane past the 3rd field of the board (push whichever the opponent has the fewest cards on).

All 145 Cards, Card Locations & Stats

For all 145 Cards refer to » Queen’s Blood All Card Locations. This includes the full card inventory with all their stats, effects and unlock requirements.

Best Cards Decks for each Chapter

Beginner Deck (Chapter 2): This deck can be put together in Chapter 2 and will serve you well for most of the game. If you’re missing any cards replace with anything else but discard them on first draw (e.g. Queen Bee or Flan should only be included in a deck as backfill to reach the 15 cards). See Step-by-Step Card Placement in next section below.

1. 001 Security Officer (x2) – Starter Card
2. 007 Levrikon (x2) – Starter Card
3. 008 Grasslands Wolf (x2) – Starter Card
4. 011 Elphadunk (x2) – Starter Card
5. 013 Crystalline Crab (x2) – Chapter 2, won from Ned just outside Kalm Inn (marked on map in Kalm).
6. 012 Cactuar (x2) – Chapter 2, won from Nene just outside Kalm Inn (marked on map in Kalm).
7. 107 Chocobo & Moogle (x1) – Chapter 2, purchase from Thorin’s Card Shop for 500 gil, must progress A Rare Card Lost side quest to access him. (*use 014 Quetzalcoatl from Kalm vendor until you have this)
8. 002 Riot Trooper (x1) – Chapter 2, bought from Kalm item vendor on the eastern side of the river.
9. 098 Titan (x1) – Chapter 2, bought from Thorin’s Card Shop for 500 gil, must progress A Rare Card Lost side quest to access him. (*use 015 Zu from Kalm vendor until you have this)

Chapter 4 Optimization: Replace 002 Riot Trooper (x1) & 011 Elphadunk (x1) with 020 Archdragon (x2)

1. 001 Security Officer (x2)
2. 007 Levrikon (x2)
3. 008 Grasslands Wolf (x2)
4. 011 Elphadunk (x1)
5. 013 Crystalline Crab (x2)
6. 012 Cactuar (x2)
7. 020 Archdragon (x2) – Chapter 4, purchase “Queen’s Blood Booster Pack: Weird & Wicked” at Under Junon General Store.
8. 107 Chocobo & Moogle (x1)
9. 098 Titan (x1)

Chapter 5 Optimization: Replace 011 Elphadunk (x1) with 095 Ifrit.

1. 001 Security Officer (x2)
2. 007 Levrikon (x2)
3. 008 Grasslands Wolf (x2)
4. 013 Crystalline Crab (x2)
5. 012 Cactuar (x2)
6. 020 Archdragon (x2)
7. 107 Chocobo & Moogle (x1)
8. 095 Ifrit (x1) – win Queen’s Blood Tournament in Chapter 5 to get it as reward
9. 098 Titan (x1)

Chapter 8 Optimization: Replace 098 Titan with 114 Mythril Golem, replace 008 Grasslands Wolf with 043 Death Claw (this deck will be fine for the rest of the game):

1. 001 Security Officer (x2)
2. 007 Levrikon (x2)
3. 043 Death Claw (x2) – Chapter 8, won from Mary in Card Casino in The Dustbowl
4. 013 Crystalline Crab (x2)
5. 012 Cactuar (x2)
6. 020 Archdragon (x2)
7. 107 Chocobo & Moogle (x1)
8. 095 Ifrit (x1)
9. 114 Mythril Golem (x1) – Chapter 8, complete Support Card: Luxury Real Estate at Queen’s Blood in Wonderment Square in the Gold Saucer

These exact decks are what I used for all of the game and won most matches first try. On your starting hand you’ll always want a Cactuar and Levrikon to open on the top lane, if not you can immediately restart the match. Always put Crystalline Crab in middle lane to buff the top lane. Push forward on top and mid lane with Levrikon, Security Officer, Chocobo & Moogle. Keep Ifrit for last, put him in the first mid lane field on the far left, if you have buffed other cards with Cactuar and Crystalline Crab he’ll get a huge bonus point buff. Sacrifice the bottom lane, but if opportunity allows you can put on bottom lane some Grasslands Wolf or Death Claws or one of your Crystalline Crabs. Elphadunk should be played last, either as backfill on the 1st field of a lane to get some points, or at the front (furthest right) if you have no other cards left to push the lanes forward. Later you can replace Elphadunk with Archdragon which lets you destroy enemy cards and capture another field forward to place one more card.

Step-by-Step Card Placement

Good to know: An easy way to remember which cards are good in which lanes is: flying creatures have better top lane control, ground-based creatures have better mid or bottom lane control. Cards that capture one field forward and below are better placed in top lane, while cards that capture one field forward and up are best placed in bottom lane. Cards that push only forward are best placed in middle lane.

If you’re missing a card mentioned here please refer to the “Best Decks” section above for their locations, or » Queen’s Blood All Card Locations. The general method here is to push top and mid lane. Use Cactuar and Crystalline Crab for buffs. Then use Chocobo & Moogle and Ifrit (after unlocking him) to get bonuses from the buffs.

1. Start by putting a Cactuar in the top left corner. If you don’t have one yet put a Levrikon (bird). Cactuar is better because it captures the same fields while also adding a buff in bottom lane 2nd field. If you don’t draw a Cactuar restart the match. A good starting hand is: 1 x Cactuar (top lane), 1 x Levrikon (top lane), 2 x Crystalline Crab (mid/bottom lane), 1 x Security Officer (top/mid lane). Discard other cards on first draw.
2. Top Lane: put Cactuar (or Levrikon)
3. Top Lane: put Levrikon
4. Top Lane: put Levrikon (preferred), or Security Officer, or Chocobo & Moogle –> you now have units on top 3 fields while controlling middle 3 fields
5. Mid Lane: Chocobo & Moogle, or Security Officer on 3rd field (the center field) or Crystalline Crab. –> at this point it will depend what the opponent played so far. If the 3rd field in Mid Lane is taken put a Crystalline Crab on 2nd field in Mid Lane, then try to capture the 3rd field Mid Lane if possible.
6. At this point keep pushing either the top or mid lane if possible. If not possible, push the bottom lane. If the opponent has control over the mid lane but hasn’t filled it with cards, try to place a Grassland Wolf in bottom lane to gain control of the empty mid lane fields, then fill the mid lane. Once you have 020 Archdragon you play it to destroy the enemy unit to your right. If you don’t have it you can play whatever card has the most points.
7. Very last card you should play is Titan / Ifrit / Elphadunk in the 1st field Middle Lane. This field should support a Rank 3 card if you played a card in top and bottom lane. Use this field to score some points late into the round, it should win you Mid Lane almost always. –> Ifrit is super powerful with this deck. Because he gets +2 for each enhanced card. So if you enhanced twice with Crystalline Crab and once or twice with Cactuars you get another 4-6 points added to Ifrits base score of 5.

Note: against some enemies you’ll want to open on the Mid Lane instead of the Top Lane. In most games opening in the top lane is better for one reason: if the mid lane 3rd field turns red, you can turn it back to green by placing a card that controls forward and below. If you get blocked off early in the Mid Lane it puts you at a disadvantage. If you control the 3 mid fields you have much better board control.

If opening in top lane doesn’t work against an opponent do this:

1. Mid Lane: Chocobo & Moogle
2. Mid Lane: Security Officer
3. Mid Lane: Security Officer
4. Then push top lane with Levrikon, or bottom lane with Grassland Wolf (whichever lane the opponent has fewer units on)

Remember that it’s fine to sacrifice one lane. As long as you win two lanes you should easily win the match.

Queen’s Blood FAQ

What’s the highest Queen’s Blood Rank?
The highest QB rank is called Blood Champion (technically Rank 12).

How many Queen’s Blood Cards are there?
There are 145 cards total.

What are some of the best cards?
013 Crystalline Crab, 095 Ifrit, 107 Chocobo & Moogle – these in combination buff each other for big bonus points and are accessible relatively early.

For more guides check out Final Fantasy VII Rebirth Wiki.