Index -> Glossary -> Exert

Exert

Sometimes a character may be exerted because a special ability or another card requires it. You may exert a character by placing a wound on that card to show that the character takes an action that depletes his vitality. Exerting a character is different from wounding a character, even though both require placement of a wound token. Cards that prevent wounds may not prevent a wound token placed by exerting. Conceptually, wearing a suit of armor protects you from a sword strike (taking a wound token), but it won't help you lift a heavy weight (placing an exertion token). Once a wound token is placed, whether from exerting or wounding, it can be healed by any effect that heals a wound. No player may exert a character who is exhausted (who has only 1 vitality remaining). Such a character cannot be chosen as a character who must exert. To exhaust a character means to exert that character as many times as you can. If a card tells you to exhaust a character with a vitality of 4 who has 1 wound, then you must exert that character 2 times by placing 2 wound tokens. A character with a vitality of 2 is exhausted with a single wound. A character with a vitality of 1 is always exhausted.