The game of OverPower is broken down into different phases of game play.  Some things are only allowed during certain game phases and not during others.  I have tried to make things a little easier with a phase by phase breakdown.

    O.  Decide who will start the game - This should be pretty self explanatory.

    1.  Draw 8 cards - There are only a few cards in OverPower that can modify this, otherwise, this does not change.

    2.  Resolve Events - For each player, if an Event card is drawn, then it must be played.  If more than one Event is drawn by the same player, then one is chosen to be played and all others are discards.  When an Event is played, the player draws one card from the top of the draw pile to replace the Event card.  Any other Event cards that are discards are not replaced.  If both players have an Event, then the player that will go first this battle resolves his Event first, then the second player resolves his Event.  It is usually best to tell your opponent each battle whether you have an Event or not, before trying to move on to the next game phase.
    When I have an Event, I will usually place it face down on the table and draw my replacement card.  I do not like to reveal my Event card until my opponent plays his, because it may influence any decision he has to make.
    There is one thing to remember with Events.  If both players play the exact same Event [meaning, they are the exact same card], then the effect only happens once.  If both players play an Event that has the same effect but are different cards [meaning they are from different Mission sets], then both Events happen.

    3.  Discard duplicate and unusable cards - Under normal circumstances, you are not allowed to keep duplicates of any card.  Because there are many different types of cards in OverPower, there are a few different things to consider when it comes to duplicates.  Here is a breakdown of each card type and what is considered a duplicate:

• Power cards - You are only allowed to keep one of each valued Power card, regardless of power type.  This means that if you draw a 6 Strength and a 6 Fighting, you must choose which one you will keep and any and all other power cards of the same number are discards.
• Universe: Basic - Basic Universe cards that have the same "To use" value AND bonus of the same power type are considered duplicates, even if the artwork is different or if they are from different sets [i.e., one from Marvel and one from DC]. You probably will not use any of these cards anyway.
• Universe: Training - Training Universe cards are considered duplicates if the "To use" values AND bonuses are the same power types.  This is pretty much the same rule as for Basic Universe cards.  You probably will not use any of these cards anyway.
• Universe: Teamwork - Teamwork cards are duplicates if the "To use" value is the same number and power type.  It does not matter what power types the follow-up bonuses are or if they are different values, only the "To use" value is considered.
• Universe: Ally - Ally cards are duplicates if the "To use" value is the same.  It does not matter if the attack value or power type are different. You probably will not use that many of these anyway.
• Special cards - Essentially, Special cards are duplicates if they are the exact same card.  If the cards are for the same character and have the same name or code but have different game effects, then they are not duplicates [this does not happen often].  Any Characters are duplicates if they have the same effect.  Most Any Characters are One Per Deck anyway, so you can not have more than one in your deck.
• Tactic: Doubleshot - Doubleshot cards are duplicates if the "To use" values are the same. You probably will not use any of these cards anyway.
• Tactic: Artifact - Artifacts are duplicate cards if they have the same name.  Two different versions of one Artifact have been printed, one a promo and the second a reprint, but they have the same name and effect and are duplicates of each other.
• Aspect cards - As you are not allowed to use that many Aspect cards in any given deck yet, Aspects are considered duplicates if they are the exact same card.  Since Aspects are new to the game, there is a possibility that things will change, but they closely resemble Special cards and probably always will.

• Universe: Teamwork - If you do not have a power card to use as a follow-up and cannot place it, then it must be discarded.  On a related note, if you draw more Teamworks than power cards and cannot place the extras, then they are also discards.  Also, if you only have one character remaining on the front line, all teamworks are discards, unless you can bring back a second character for this battle.
• Universe: Ally - If you draw an Ally card and do not have a Special card that could be used as the additional attack and cannot place it, then it is a discard.
• For all others - There is no simple rule of thumb, other than what is said above.

    5.  The Venture - If you are not playing the game with Mission cards, then you can skip this phase.  This is perhaps the most difficult part of the game to learn.  See my article on The Venture for more help with how to venture.
    The player who goes first this battle must venture first.  If this player ventures more than 2 cards, then the opponent is allowed the option to draw one card from the top of the draw pile for each Mission ventured over 2.  Any cards drawn now must be discarded if they are a duplicate or unusable.  The player does not have to draw these cards, if he knows that he will concede anyway, and that these new cards will probably not make a difference in this battle.  These cards are drawn before the second player ventures.
    After all of this is taken care of, then the second player must venture.  If this player ventures more than 2 Missions, then the first player is given the same option to draw one card for each Mission over 2.  After the second player ventures, he is also given the option to concede before any cards are allowed to be played.  If he chooses to stay in the battle, then the first player also has this option.  Important note:  Even cards that state that they may be played 'when the opponent concedes' or 'after the opponent concedes' may not be played at this time.  They may only be played once you are in the next game phase, the Battle Phase.
    The option to concede is only available in the Missions game.  The Battles only game, which has not really been supported by Marvel but should still be sufficient for beginners to learn the basics, does not have the option to concede.

    6.  Battle - Each player takes turns playing cards.  Most of the time only a single card is played.  With Teamworks, Allies, and certain Special cards more than one card is played during that player's turn.  But otherwise, each player only plays a single card.

    7.  Determine Venture Winner - All cards that are on your opponent's Hits to Current Battle count for your Venture total, along with any Special cards that modify the Venture total.  The player with the higher Venture total wins this Venture and advances his ventured Mission cards.  The other player loses this battle and his ventured Missions are lost.  If one player concedes, then this phase is ignored as that player automatically loses the battle.  Any cards that were in effect only for the "remainder of battle" would be removed now.  All cards remaining in each player's hand is discarded to the appropriate pile.

  8.  Return to #1 - The player who won this battle goes first in the next battle.