Bakugan FAQ (Frequently Asked Questions)

Here are some of the most commonly asked questions about the rules and strategy of Bakugan...

My ball didn't open up on the card, does it count as standing?
Yes. This is a reversal from an earlier ruling for those who keep track of such things. The reversal was required due to a couple of really cool Bakugan that take up lots of space on cards, sometimes stopping ANY other Bakugan from opening up on the same card! So, going forward, any time a ball stops moving and is on a Gate card, it counts as standing/open.

What is the best/most powerful/coolest/most awesome Bakugan?
The one that wins the battle! Seriously though, every Bakugan is good at different times if you use it well. The highest G-Power Bakugan is generally considered the "best" but there are lots of times when smaller is better. Even the lowest G-Power Bakugan can win on Duck and Win. Personally, I like Stinglash and Mantris cause they just look so cool...

Can I play with both Series 1 and Series 2 cards?
Sure. This is your game, so as long as you and your opponent both agree, feel free to use both cards. A few of the Series 1 Gate cards will be really over-powered if you play this way, but they will still work. If you decide to go this route, I would ignore HSP and stick with the Series 2 victory condition of winning 3 Gate cards. Over time, you'll likely stop using Series 1 cards as the game moves forward and more folks play with Series 2 rules. Series 1 Bakugan will work well in either set of rules. If you want to update your game play to Series 2, the most affordable way to do it is to buy one of the "card-only" products (one of which comes with a whopping 30 new Series 2 cards!).

How do I use the attribute switching Preyas?
Use it as normal. Each time it opens up, it will change to a new attribute. The player doesn't get to change it by hand during the game by spinning it - it will change all by itself, so whatever attribute symbol is shown when it opens is the one it is for that battle.

What is the highlight around one of the attribute bonuses on the Gate card for?
You can safely ignore that... for now... That is called the "highlighted bonus" and there will be cards that come out in the future (as well as Bakugan) that will use that number. When playing a collectable game like Bakugan, things will get updated from time to time, and some things that might not currently make sense (or that might seem really weak) will get updated to keep the game fresh and exciting.

Rolling Bakugan is hard.
OK, this isn't exactly a "question" but it seems that lots of folks want to know the "best" way to roll a Bakugan. There is one really good trick to getting Bakugan to open up on cards - when you roll the bakugan "spin" it like a top with the magnet side down while flicking it towards the Gate cards. This small trick is a HUGE help in getting Bakugan to open up on cards as the magnet will almost always make contact with the metal in any card it touches! Advanced players can use this trick to curve a Bakugan so that it hits the Gate card that is furthest away as well. But the only way to get really good at getting your Bakugan to open up is to practice (which is fun all by itself anyway!).

Can you send me a Bakugan?
Unfortunately, we can't. Sadly, we don't have enough for myself and I design the game! We know it can be very frustrating when you can't find Bakugan on the shelf at the store, but trust us when we say that the folks in production are doing their best to get more product made as fast as possible. Hopefully you'll be able to get some more soon!

When I win a battle, do I get to keep my opponent's card/Bakugan forever?
Definitely not! The gate cards are used to keep track of who is winning (first player to win 3 battles wins the game), but after the game, all game pieces are given back to their owners.

I have only bought booster packs, how do I play this game?
Go here and download the rules. (Wow, that was an easy answer...)

Can you play with 2 Bakugan that are the same?
Sure. You'll still need to have 3 to play the game, but if 2 of them are the same or if your opponent has one just like yours, that's fine. It is likely that when we start doing tournaments that this will change so that you will have to use 3 different Bakugan to keep the game more interesting (your opponent will be able to use one like yours, but you won't be able to use more than 1 of the same Bakugan). But for now, go for it!

Bakugan who landed on the card

When I play an ability card that gives a G-Power bonus does my opponent also get the bonus?
No. The card should always tell you how things work pretty clearly. For instance, it will say something like "...Your Bakugan gains G-Power based on its Attribute." - so it only affects your Bakugan. There might be cards in the future that affect all Bakugan battling, but the card will clearly state that (if I am doing my job well that is...)

How many times can I use an Ability card in a game?
Once. Then they go to your "Used Pile." There are some clever ways to get a card back from your used pile to use again, but generally, just one use of an ability card per game.

Can I play with all of my Ability and Gate cards?
The current rules are that you play with 3 gate and 3 ability cards. This makes choosing what to play with an important part of your strategy. But as I always say, if you and your opponent agree, you can play however you want. But as a warning, playing a game with 100 ability cards could take all day...

When I play the Doom card do I get to keep my opponent's Bakugan for good?
No. The Doom card just takes your opponent's Bakugan out of the game, not into your pocket!