---
key: mechanic/deck-building--family-timing
type: mechanic
id: deck-building--family-timing
lang: en
title: 'Timing, triggers and sequences'
summary: >-
  Effects depend on trigger events, resolution order and which cards have
  already been played.
updatedAt: '2026-10-22'
status: active
url: 'https://gamemechanics.pro/en/knowledge/mechanic/deck-building--family-timing/'
jsonUrl: >-
  https://gamemechanics.pro/api/v1/knowledge/en/mechanic/deck-building--family-timing.json
markdownUrl: >-
  https://gamemechanics.pro/content/knowledge/en/mechanic/deck-building--family-timing.md
aliases: []
tags:
  - Deck building
  - Card operations
sourceIds:
  - source-7726ac5e97630c73
  - source-10b015ff3d1d4888
sources:
  - id: source-7726ac5e97630c73
    title: 'Dominion: Adventures rules'
    url: >-
      https://www.riograndegames.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/01/DomAdventures2022.pdf
    verifiedAt: null
  - id: source-10b015ff3d1d4888
    title: Balatro
    url: 'https://store.steampowered.com/app/2379780/'
    verifiedAt: null
relations: []
placements:
  - catalogId: deck-building
    id: family-timing
    title: Deck building
    url: 'https://gamemechanics.pro/en/mechanics/deck-building/#family-timing'
    categoryIds:
      - section-2
supersededBy: []
attributes:
  preview:
    updatedAt: '2026-10-22'
    title: 'Timing, triggers and sequences'
    description: >-
      Effects depend on trigger events, resolution order and which cards have
      already been played.
    image:
      src: images/mechanics/systems-balatro-07.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_204350350761316ad3aa8b0184689f3f93e01f7b.1920x1080.jpg?t=1790693638
      credit: LocalThunk / Playstack
      rights: © LocalThunk / Playstack. All rights reserved.
      caption: Fibonacci triggers when the listed ranks are played
      alt: Fibonacci triggers when the listed ranks are played
      markers:
        - x: 49
          'y': 37
          label: The when played condition ties the bonus to playing the card
    tips:
      - Define trigger order and show the resulting effect chain.
    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
---
# Timing, triggers and sequences

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

Effects depend on trigger events, resolution order and which cards have already been played.

## At a glance

![Fibonacci triggers when the listed ranks are played](https://gamemechanics.pro/images/mechanics/systems-balatro-07.webp)

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

1. The when played condition ties the bonus to playing the card

- Define trigger order and show the resulting effect chain.

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

## How it works

When the effect is triggered and on what events it depends.

## Variants

### Variants and applications

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

- Event triggers. Rule: The effect reacts to receiving, drawing, playing, discarding, removing, holding a card, or other explicitly specified event. <a id="variant-timing-01"></a>
- Turn hooks. Rule: A card or permanent object triggers in a fixed phase of the turn. <a id="variant-timing-02"></a>
- Delayed effect. Rule: The result of the drawing occurs after a specified number of moves or after a future event. <a id="variant-timing-03"></a>
- Duration. Rule: The card continues to operate after the current turn before returning to normal circulation. <a id="variant-timing-04"></a>
- Prepare. Rule: The card must first be placed in a separate slot or state, and activated later. <a id="variant-timing-05"></a>
- Activation window. Rule: The effect is available only in a given phase, after a certain action or at the appropriate moment of reaction. <a id="variant-timing-06"></a>
- Resolution ordering. Rule: The order of cards, triggers and modifiers changes the outcome of the combination; the rules set or allow you to choose a sequence. <a id="variant-timing-07"></a>
- Sequence combo. Rule: A card gains an additional effect after the desired type, name, color or series of previous plays. <a id="variant-timing-08"></a>
- Per-turn counter. Rule: The effect depends on the number of cards already played, drawn, discarded or removed. <a id="variant-timing-09"></a>
- Trigger limit. Rule: The ability acts once per turn, battle, deck cycle, or after a separate cooldown. <a id="variant-timing-10"></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.

- [Dominion: Adventures rules](https://www.riograndegames.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/01/DomAdventures2022.pdf) (id: source-7726ac5e97630c73)
- [Balatro](https://store.steampowered.com/app/2379780/) (id: source-10b015ff3d1d4888)

CC-BY-4.0 · gamemechanics.pro contributors