Moonlight Peaks Nokturna Card Game Guide

Nokturna is the collectible card game played by many residents of Moonlight Peaks. It is optional, but it is also one of the game's more substantial side activities: you build custom decks, unlock cards with different abilities, and face NPC decks with their own strategies.

The rules below combine a 60-hour playthrough with post-launch Eurogamer and Neoseeker documentation.

Deck Rules

• exactly 20 cards per deck;
• no more than 2 copies of the same card;
• no more than 60 printed points across the deck;
• up to 13 custom decks can be saved;
• the opening hand contains 5 cards.

Neoseeker's current numbered database reaches at least card 68. That proves more than 67 entries are documented, but it does not establish the final total number of collectible cards.

Match Structure

A Nokturna match is won by taking two rounds.

During each round:

1. Both players use cards from their custom decks.
2. Each round contains three turns, normally allowing each player to play one card per turn.
3. Card values and abilities determine the round score.
4. The higher score wins the round.

This makes Nokturna easy to learn, but card abilities create longer-term decisions across the full match.

Why Plant Cards Matter

Most cards leave play after a round. Plant cards can remain on the board for the entire match, continuing to add value in later rounds.

The trade-off is tempo: Plant cards can begin with lower point values than immediate-score cards. Playing several Plants early may sacrifice the first round in exchange for a stronger second and third round.

Plant Counters

Persistent value is not free. Gameplay footage shows cards that can destroy an opponent's Plants, and other cards can gain points from destroyed cards.

Before committing to a Plant-heavy plan, consider whether the opponent has already shown a removal card. If they have, spreading your strategy across Plants and immediate points is safer than relying on one board state.

Beginner Strategy

Learn the opponent over the first round

NPCs use their own decks. Treat the opening round as information: look for Plant removal, point swings, and cards that reward a specific board type.

Do not judge a card only by its printed points

A low-value Plant that survives for multiple rounds may outscore a larger one-round card. A removal card may create value twice by lowering the opponent's score and enabling a destruction payoff.

Build around a plan

A custom deck is stronger when its cards support the same idea. Start with one simple plan—persistent Plants or direct points—then add counters for the cards that repeatedly beat it.

Keep more than one deck concept

Different residents use different decks. A strategy that dominates one opponent can be weak into another, so save alternate builds instead of forcing one list against everyone.

Ability and Location Cards

Ability cards add an effect as well as their printed point value. Eurogamer documents effects such as drawing cards, making cards unflippable, reducing opposing values, and returning a card to hand.

Location cards follow a replacement rule: playing a new Location replaces the previous one.

Getting More Cards

After Dragan introduces the game and provides the Starter Deck, additional cards can come from:

• winning matches;
• digging;
• fishing.

Confirmed vs. Still Being Checked

Confirmed from gameplay:

• custom player decks;
• 20-card, 60-point deck construction;
• three turns per round;
• first to two round wins;
• persistent Plant cards;
• Plant removal and destruction synergies;
• NPC-specific decks.

Still being checked:

• the final total number of collectible cards;
• unlock requirements for every card;
• tournament schedules and rewards;
• whether specific NPC matches change difficulty over time.

Source

• Josh's Gaming Garden — review after 60 hours, Nokturna section around 12:34–13:59.
• Eurogamer — Nokturna explained, for match rules, ability cards, and card acquisition.
• Neoseeker — Nokturna Card Minigame, for deck construction and the in-progress card/opponent database.

We will expand this page with a verified card database once card names, effects, and unlock conditions have been cross-checked in the release build.