Pond
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FroGames — Moments You'll Remember
Someone deploys three frogs in one turn. Someone else recruits a legendary one. Someone counts conquered territories while the other prepares the final assault. And in the end, everyone wants to play again.
WHAT IT'S ABOUT
Conquer the pond with your frog army
Pond is a deck-building game with area control designed by MingYang Lu and illustrated by PondHQ. Published by Brother Ming Games in 2025, it brings to the table four adorable yet competitive frog factions, each with unique powers and completely different playstyles.
On your turn, you play cards to deploy frogs, move them across the pond, and fight for control of areas. You build your deck by recruiting heroes who give you permanent abilities, buy powerful cards from the shared shop, and try to dominate more territories than your opponents. Choices matter, combos multiply, and each game tells a different battle for the pond.
What they say abroad
A deck-builder where every card is a small explosion of tactical options. And the frogs are truly adorable.
— FroGames
The asymmetry works: each faction forces you to think in a completely different way.
— FroGames
Pond
FrogScore · FroGames editorial rating · based on rules, international reviews, and gameplay sessionsThe Tools of Conquest
What you'll find in the box
Colored frog meeples
Each faction has its distinctive frog meeples. You'll deploy them, move them, sacrifice them. And yes, they're adorable even when they fight.
Over 50 shop cards
Common frogs, hero frogs, permanent abilities. Each card changes your engine. Some are silly, some are devastating, all have memorable illustrations.
Modular pond board
The pond changes every game. Different territories, different positions, different strategies. Area control is never identical.
Asymmetric faction cards
Each faction starts with a unique deck and different permanent powers. These aren't just variants: they're completely different ways to play.
By the end of the game, you'll have an army of frogs, a sharp deck, and an irresistible urge to play again with another faction.
📦 CONTENUTO DELLA SCATOLA
A game in five acts
What happens at the table
Not the rules. The experience.
Setup and initial choices
Choose your factions. Someone takes the aggressive one, someone the economic one. Look at the pond board and already start planning where to deploy. The first turns are calm, but everyone knows it's the calm before the storm.
First purchases, first frogs on the pond
You buy the first powerful card from the shop. You deploy the first frogs onto the territories. Someone already controls two areas, someone else is building their engine. No one is fighting yet, but everyone is studying each other's moves.
Open conflict
Someone moves three frogs onto a contested territory. Someone else responds with an attack. Combat cards fly, frogs are eliminated. The board lights up. From here on, every territory is worth gold.
Engines at full throttle
You've recruited three heroes. Each turn your deck gives you more actions, more movement, more combat. But others are also exploding. The board changes every round. You control an area, you lose it, you reclaim it. It's the most tense moment of the game.
Final count
The last hand. Someone spends everything to conquer a key territory. Someone else defends tooth and nail. Then the controlled territories are counted. The player who has dominated the most areas wins. And everyone wants to play again with another faction.
How to play
The flow of each round
Pond is a classic deck-builder grafted onto a board. Each turn follows the same simple structure.
You start the turn with five cards. Some give you resources to buy, others give you actions to deploy and move frogs, and others still allow you to fight.
You play the cards in your hand in any order you prefer. Deploy frogs on the board, move them between territories, attack opponent frogs, buy new cards from the shared shop.
If you have attacked, resolve combat by eliminating enemy frogs. At the end of the turn, you check which territories you control (the player with the most frogs wins the area).
Discard all played and unplayed cards, then redraw five cards. If the deck is empty, reshuffle the discards. The turn passes to the next player.
Why it's different from others
Six mechanics that make a difference
Completely asymmetric factions
These are not cosmetic variants. Each faction has different starting decks, unique permanent powers, and opposing playstyles. One faction is aggressive, another economic, another defensive. Everything changes each time.
Deck-building meets area control
You don't just buy cards for points. Cards allow you to conquer territories. The board is your secondary engine: the more areas you control, the stronger you become. Two intertwining layers of strategy.
Permanent heroes
Some cards are heroes: once recruited, they give you permanent abilities for the entire game. They don't end up in the discards; they remain active. You build an engine that grows instead of cycling.
Simple tactical combat
No dice, no tables. You play combat cards, eliminate enemy frogs. It's fast, tactical, and creates tension without slowing down the game. Every attack is a choice, not a gamble.
Dynamic shared market
Cards in the market are visible to everyone. If you want a strong one, you have to get it before others. The meta builds during the game: if someone buys all the movement cards, others have to adapt.
Explosive replayability
Four factions, over 50 cards, variable pond setup. Each combination of factions changes the dynamics. You never play the same game twice. And each faction forces you to rethink your strategy.
How it ends
How to win and how to lose
Pond ends when an end-game condition is met. The player who has conquered the most territories wins.
Victory
- Control the most territories on the pond at the end of the game
- You have built an engine that allows you to deploy and move more frogs than your opponents
- You have eliminated enough enemy frogs to dominate the key areas of the board
Defeat
- You bought powerful cards but didn't use them to conquer territories
- You ignored area control and focused only on deck-building
- You let opponents dominate the board while you built your engine
Pond is a deck-builder that goes beyond the deck. Every card is a tactical decision on the board, every conquered territory is a point towards victory.
Frequently asked questions
Pond FAQ
Is it suitable for those who have never played deck-builders?
Yes, but with reservations. The basic mechanics are classic (draw, play, buy, discard), but the asymmetric faction powers add complexity. If you are completely new to the genre, it's better to start with Dominion. If you have played at least one deck-builder, Pond is perfect.
How long does a game actually last?
First game with explanation: 60-75 minutes. From the second game onwards, 30-45 minutes. The game scales well: with 2 players it's more tactical and faster, with 4 it's more chaotic and slightly longer.
Are the factions balanced?
Yes, but they are asymmetrical. They don't have the same power curve: one faction starts strong, another explodes mid-game. Balance emerges in strategy, not in numbers. If you're looking for perfect symmetry, this isn't the right game.
Does it work well with 2 players?
Absolutely. With 2 players it's more tactical and less chaotic. You have more control over the board, less random interference. Many prefer it this way. With 3-4 players it's more unpredictable and combative.
Is it available in Italian?
Currently, Pond is available in the English edition. Language dependence is moderate: cards have text, but the icons are clear. With a quick reference in Italian, you can play without problems.
Pond is a deck-building game with area control for 2-4 players, designed by MingYiang Lu and published by Brother Ming Games. Each game lasts 30-60 minutes and is recommended for ages 13 and up. In Pond, you deploy adorable frogs on a modular board, build your deck by recruiting heroes and powerful cards, and fight to conquer the pond's territories. The four asymmetric factions offer completely different playstyles, making each game unique. If you love tactical deck-builders with direct interaction, Pond combines the best of Dominion and area control games. Available on FroGames.it.
Pond
Frequently Asked Questions
The answers you're looking for, no beating around the bush.
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