Index -> Playing the Game -> Combat -> Exert a Card for Damage Bonus

The winner of a combat always deals 1 base damage to the losing player. (When there is a tie, both players deal 1 base damage to their opponent.) In this stage of combat, however, players may add to that damage before it is dealt with damage bonuses.

A player dealing damage (the winner, or both players in case of a tie) may exert exactly one combatant to add its damage bonus to the damage being dealt to his opponent. If his combatant was his avatar, he may instead exert exactly one item card to add its damage bonus.