---
key: mechanic/deck-building--family-start
type: mechanic
id: deck-building--family-start
lang: en
title: Starting conditions and deck structure
summary: >-
  The starting deck defines available cards, draw probabilities and constraints
  on future strategy.
updatedAt: '2026-10-22'
status: active
url: 'https://gamemechanics.pro/en/knowledge/mechanic/deck-building--family-start/'
jsonUrl: >-
  https://gamemechanics.pro/api/v1/knowledge/en/mechanic/deck-building--family-start.json
markdownUrl: >-
  https://gamemechanics.pro/content/knowledge/en/mechanic/deck-building--family-start.md
aliases: []
tags:
  - Deck building
  - Core rules
sourceIds:
  - source-1894d113a4c40312
  - source-10b015ff3d1d4888
sources:
  - id: source-1894d113a4c40312
    title: Griftlands description of Klei
    url: 'https://store.steampowered.com/app/601840/Griftlands/'
    verifiedAt: null
  - id: source-10b015ff3d1d4888
    title: Balatro
    url: 'https://store.steampowered.com/app/2379780/'
    verifiedAt: null
relations: []
placements:
  - catalogId: deck-building
    id: family-start
    title: Deck building
    url: 'https://gamemechanics.pro/en/mechanics/deck-building/#family-start'
    categoryIds:
      - section-1
supersededBy: []
attributes:
  preview:
    updatedAt: '2026-10-22'
    title: Starting conditions and deck structure
    description: >-
      The starting deck defines available cards, draw probabilities and
      constraints on future strategy.
    image:
      src: images/mechanics/systems-balatro-06.webp
      width: 1440
      height: 810
      game: Balatro
      sourceUrl: 'https://store.steampowered.com/app/2379780/'
      originalUrl: >-
        https://shared.akamai.steamstatic.com/store_item_assets/steam/apps/2379780/ss_ae055e0e583ac65000920ce33511df73f40814f4.1920x1080.jpg?t=1790693638
      credit: LocalThunk / Playstack
      rights: © LocalThunk / Playstack. All rights reserved.
      caption: Erratic Deck starts with random ranks and suits
      alt: Erratic Deck starts with random ranks and suits
      markers:
        - x: 17
          'y': 35
          label: The deck rule changes the starting card distribution
    tips:
      - Show the starting composition and restrictions before play begins.
    examples:
      - title: Balatro
        url: 'https://store.steampowered.com/app/2379780/'
endsAt: null
provenance: >-
  Original editorial design catalog consolidated from project discussions on
  2026-10-20. Complete discussion item lists and contextual limitations are
  preserved; linked primary sources support specific techniques, not the entire
  classification. English translation was prepared with machine assistance and
  editorial review.
license: CC-BY-4.0
codeLicense: MIT
attribution: gamemechanics.pro contributors
catalogKey: catalog/deck-building
---
# Starting conditions and deck structure

id: deck-building--family-start
type: mechanic
key: mechanic/deck-building--family-start
lang: en
status: active
url: https://gamemechanics.pro/en/knowledge/mechanic/deck-building--family-start/

The starting deck defines available cards, draw probabilities and constraints on future strategy.

## At a glance

![Erratic Deck starts with random ranks and suits](https://gamemechanics.pro/images/mechanics/systems-balatro-06.webp)

[Balatro](https://store.steampowered.com/app/2379780/) · © LocalThunk / Playstack. All rights reserved.

1. The deck rule changes the starting card distribution

- Show the starting composition and restrictions before play begins.

- [Balatro](https://store.steampowered.com/app/2379780/)

## How it works

What deck and what restrictions are available to the player at the beginning.

## Variants

### Variants and applications

<a id="family-start-variants"></a>

- Starting deck. Rule: A starting deck that is the same for everyone or asymmetrical sets the first opportunities and weak cards for subsequent replacement. <a id="variant-start-01"></a>
- Card pool selection. Rule: The choice of hero, faction or team determines the available card pool and starting abilities. <a id="variant-start-02"></a>
- Starting draft. Rule: The player builds a starting deck from limited offerings before the main game cycle. <a id="variant-start-03"></a>
- Team deck. Rule: The cards of several selected characters are combined into one deck; the composition of the command specifies a set of possible combinations. <a id="variant-start-04"></a>
- Multiple decks. Rule: The player develops separate decks for different tasks, such as combat and negotiations, distributing development opportunities between them. <a id="variant-start-05"></a>
- Shared deck. Rule: Participants have separate decks or a common deck with rules for access, ownership and distribution of cards. <a id="variant-start-06"></a>
- Sideboard. Rule: Between encounters, it is allowed to transfer player-owned cards between the active deck and the stock. <a id="variant-start-07"></a>
- Deck constraints. Rule: Minimum or maximum size, copy limit, required cards, and type requirements determine acceptable builds. <a id="variant-start-08"></a>

## Context and limits

Design taxonomy of basic rules and options, including card operations and external systems. The number of entries is not a generally accepted classification of independent mechanics.

## Connected materials


## Sources and provenance

Original editorial design catalog consolidated from project discussions on 2026-10-20. Complete discussion item lists and contextual limitations are preserved; linked primary sources support specific techniques, not the entire classification. English translation was prepared with machine assistance and editorial review.

- [Griftlands description of Klei](https://store.steampowered.com/app/601840/Griftlands/) (id: source-1894d113a4c40312)
- [Balatro](https://store.steampowered.com/app/2379780/) (id: source-10b015ff3d1d4888)

CC-BY-4.0 · gamemechanics.pro contributors