What is RE?
RE stands for Resource Efficiency. It measures how much value a card
delivers per resource you spend to play it. One RE equals roughly 2 stat points
(power + HP) on a unit. A card with +1.5 RE gives you
3 more stat points than a fairly-costed card at the same cost. A card at
-1.0 RE is 2 stat points short of what you should
expect.
The Cost Curve
The designers built a formula into the game: a ground unit should have roughly
2 + (2 × cost) total stat points. A 3-cost ground unit "should" have
about 8 points of power + HP. Space units get 1 fewer point (they're harder to interact
with). Keywords, abilities, and card text all add or subtract from the total. RE is
the gap between what a card actually delivers and what the formula says it should.
Theoretical vs Adjusted
Theoretical Δ RE is the raw score from card stats alone, what the card
looks like on paper. Adjusted Δ RE blends in tournament data: win rates,
how many decks run the card, and how many copies they play. A card that looks average on
paper but wins more than it should gets a boost. A card that looks great but
underperforms in real games gets pulled down.
Quick Reference
- +2.0 RE or higher
- Exceptional. Among the strongest cards in the game.
- +1.0 to +2.0 RE
- Above curve. Strong pick for competitive decks.
- -0.5 to +1.0 RE
- Fair value. Playable, no red flags.
- -0.5 to -1.5 RE
- Below curve. You're overpaying for what you get.
- -1.5 RE or lower
- Significantly overcosted. Needs a very good reason to play.