Passive — Heat Shield: Ignore temperature increases from events. | Mechanic — Thermal Gradient Bonus: +1 BP/turn per additional zone at different temperature ranges (3+ zones).
| ID | Name / Species | Rarity | Metabolism | ⚡ | Temp | O₂ | Special / Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| PY-C-001 | Thermophilic Fermenter Thermotoga maritima | C | Sugars → H₂ + acetate (fermentation) | 1 | 55–90°C | Anaerobe | Key H₂ producer for methanogens in deep zones |
| PY-C-002 | Sulfur-Reducing Thermophile Thermodesulfobacterium | C | H₂ + S⁰ → H₂S | 2 | 65–85°C | Anaerobe | Common deep vent organism; produces H₂S (pairs with sulfur oxidizers) |
| PY-C-003 | Thermoacidophile Sulfolobus acidocaldarius | C | S⁰ → SO₄²⁻ (aerobic oxidation) | 2 | 60–95°C, pH 1–4 | Aerobic | Rare aerobic thermophile; drops zone pH as it oxidizes |
| PY-C-004 | Hot Spring Methanogen Methanothermobacter | C | CO₂ + H₂ → CH₄ | 1 | 55–70°C | Anaerobe | Obligate H₂ consumer; core of The Methanogenic Couple syntrophy |
| PY-C-005 | Hyperthermophilic Archaeon Pyrococcus furiosus | C | Peptide fermentation + facultative S⁰ reduction | 2 | 70–103°C | Anaerobe | Facultative S⁰ — versatile deep zone operator; tungsten-enzyme host |
| PY-C-006 | Vent Chimney Colonizer Methanocaldococcus jannaschii | C | CO₂ + H₂ → CH₄ | 1 | 48–94°C | Anaerobe | First hyperthermophile genome sequenced; model organism for deep vents |
| PY-C-007 | Shallow Vent Microbe Thermococcus sp. | C | Peptide fermentation → H₂ | 1 | 60–93°C | Anaerobe | Universal H₂ donor; feeds methanogens and acetogens |
| PY-C-008 | Hot Spring Mat Former Thermus aquaticus | C | Aerobic heterotroph | 2 | 50–80°C | Aerobic | Source of Taq polymerase — the enzyme behind all PCR. Historical flavor text. |
| PY-C-009 | Volcanic Soil Bacterium Geobacillus stearothermophilus | C | Aerobic/facultative heterotroph | 2 | 30–75°C | Facultative | Endospore former — survives 1 destructive Event per game |
| PY-C-010 | Deep Vent Sulfate Reducer Archaeoglobus fulgidus | C | SO₄²⁻ + H₂ → H₂S | 2 | 60–95°C | Anaerobe | Produces iron sulfide precipitates; inhabits hydrothermal systems |
| PY-C-011 | Thermophilic Iron Reducer Geothermobacterium ferrireducens | C | Fe³⁺ + H₂ → Fe²⁺ | 2 | 65–100°C | Anaerobe | Links iron cycle and thermal zones; pairs with iron oxidizers for cycle bonus |
| PY-C-012 | Shallow Hot Spring Cyanobacterium Thermosynechococcus elongatus | C | Oxygenic photosynthesis | 3 | 45–70°C | Aerobic | Rare: thermophilic phototroph. Cross-suit feel. Requires light. |
| ID | Name / Species | Rarity | Metabolism | ⚡ | Temp | O₂ | Special |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| PY-U-001 | Black Smoker Archaea Pyrolobus fumarii | U | NO₃⁻ + H₂ → N₂ (denitrification) | 2 | 90–113°C | Anaerobe | Grows at 113°C — immune to ALL non-extreme temperature events |
| PY-U-002 | Serpentinite Methanogen Methanosarcinales (deep) | U | Acetoclastic OR hydrogenotrophic methanogenesis | 2 | 50–80°C | Anaerobe | Can use acetate OR H₂ — unusual metabolic versatility for methanogens |
| PY-U-003 | Thermophilic Syntrophic Partner Syntrophothermus lipocalidus | U | Fatty acid → H₂ + acetate | 1 | 50–60°C | Anaerobe | MUST PAIR WITH METHANOGEN — unfavorable alone (ΔG = +76 kJ/mol) |
| PY-U-004 | Deep Bore Fermenter Thermosipho sp. | U | Peptide/carbohydrate → H₂ + CO₂ + acetate | 1 | 50–75°C | Anaerobe | Produces H₂, CO₂, and acetate — feeds three different syntrophic partners simultaneously |
| PY-U-005 | Volcanic Nitrogen Fixer Thermocrinis sp. | U | N₂ fixation + H₂ oxidation | 2 | 55–80°C | Microaerophile | Rare thermophilic N-fixer — closes nitrogen cycle in hot environments |
| PY-U-006 | Acid Hot Pool Alga Galdieria sulphuraria | U | Photosynthesis (eukaryote) | 3 | 45–56°C, pH 0–4 | Aerobic | Dual suit (also in Halo). pH 0–4 + high heat = polyextremophile phototroph. |
| PY-U-007 | Deep-Sea Vent Consortium Mixed community | U | Combined syntrophic mat metabolism | 4 | 50–100°C | Anaerobe | Cannot be separated — always scores as a unit. Pre-linked consortium card. |
| PY-U-008 | Thermophilic Ammonia Oxidizer Nitrosocaldus sp. | U | NH₃ → NO₂⁻ | 2 | 55–70°C | Aerobic | Closes nitrogen cycle in hot springs; pairs with PY-U-001 for complete nitrification |
| PY-U-009 | Hydrothermal Mn Reducer Thermus sp. (Mn-reducing) | U | MnO₂ + organic C → Mn²⁺ | 2 | 50–75°C | Anaerobe | Manganese reduction in hot springs — pairs with Mn oxidizers for cycle bonus |
| PY-U-010 | Subseafloor Acetogen Moorella thermoacetica | U | CO₂ + H₂ → acetate (Wood-Ljungdahl) | 1 | 40–65°C | Anaerobe | Alternative to methanogenesis; produces acetate (carbon) instead of methane (waste) |
| ID | Name / Species | Rarity | Metabolism | ⚡ | Temp | Special Ability |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| PY-R-001 | The Highest Temperature Life Methanopyrus kandleri | R | CO₂ + H₂ → CH₄ | 2 | 84–122°C | Grows at 122°C — autoclave temperature. Immune to ALL temperature events. |
| PY-R-002 | Iron-Sulfide Chimney Builder Pyrite-precipitating consortium | R | Fe²⁺ + H₂S → FeS₂ (pyrite) + energy | 3 | 60–100°C | Creates physical structure — zone gains +1 Event resistance permanently |
| PY-R-003 | Radiolysis-Powered Thermophile Deep subsurface archaeon | R | H₂ (from water radiolysis) → energy | 2 | 50–90°C | Functions in zones with Radiation tokens. No surface connection needed. Real deep biosphere metabolism. |
| PY-R-004 | Anoxygenic Phototroph (Thermal) Chloroflexus aurantiacus | R | Anoxygenic photosynthesis (no O₂ produced) | 3 | 45–75°C | Can photosynthesize without poisoning anaerobes. Facultative: grows in dark as heterotroph (1 BP). |
| PY-R-005 | Thermal Gradient Consortium Multi-organism card | R | Spans 2 adjacent zones (different temperatures) | 4 | Any two adjacent zones | Must be placed across a zone boundary. Scores in BOTH zones simultaneously. |
| PY-L-001 | Strain 121 Geogemma barossii | L | Iron reduction at 121°C | 3 | ALL zones | Deploy in ANY zone regardless of temperature. Zone becomes inhospitable to non-Pyro organisms for 2 turns. |
| PY-L-002 | LUCA's Shadow Hypothetical ancestor | L | Fermentation OR methanogenesis OR S reduction OR Fe reduction (switch freely) | 1 each | 40–90°C | Chooses ONE metabolism per Metabolize Phase. Switchable each turn. Models metabolic flexibility of early life. |
| PY-L-003 | Magma Interface Archaea Theoretical deep-core organism | L | Fe³⁺ reduction at extreme pressure/temperature | 4 | >300°C | The ONLY organism that can be deployed in Zone 6 (Core Interface) in Project AXIS. |
Passive — Rock Eaters: Can extract resources from zones with 0 organic carbon. | Mechanic — Electron Shuttle: Pass electron tokens to adjacent zones at no action cost.
| ID | Name / Species | Rarity | Metabolism | ⚡ | Temp / pH | O₂ | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| LI-C-001 | Iron Oxidizer Acidithiobacillus ferrooxidans | C | Fe²⁺ → Fe³⁺ (aerobic) | 2 | 10–37°C, pH 1.5–3.5 | Aerobic | Classic acid mine drainage organism. Pairs with iron reducer for +5 BP cycle. |
| LI-C-002 | Iron Reducer Geobacter sulfurreducens | C | Fe³⁺ + acetate → Fe²⁺ | 2 | 15–35°C, pH 6–8 | Anaerobe | Electrically conductive pili (nanowires). Pairs with iron oxidizer for cycle bonus. |
| LI-C-003 | Sulfur Oxidizer Thiobacillus sp. | C | H₂S → SO₄²⁻ | 2 | 10–45°C | Aerobic | Produces sulfuric acid — drops zone pH by 1 when active. Pairs with sulfate reducer. |
| LI-C-004 | Sulfate Reducer Desulfovibrio vulgaris | C | SO₄²⁻ + H₂ → H₂S | 2 | 15–40°C, pH 5–9 | Anaerobe | Ubiquitous. Produces H₂S. Pairs with sulfur oxidizer. |
| LI-C-005 | Ammonia Oxidizer Nitrosomonas europaea | C | NH₃ → NO₂⁻ | 2 | 5–30°C, pH 7–8 | Aerobic | Step 1 of nitrification. PAIRS WITH LI-C-006 for Nitrification Team (+2 BP) |
| LI-C-006 | Nitrite Oxidizer Nitrobacter winogradskyi | C | NO₂⁻ → NO₃⁻ | 1 | 5–40°C, pH 6–9 | Aerobic | Step 2 of nitrification. PAIRS WITH LI-C-005 for Nitrification Team (+2 BP) |
| LI-C-007 | Denitrifier Pseudomonas stutzeri | C | NO₃⁻ → N₂ | 3 | 4–43°C, pH 6–9 | Facultative | Returns nitrogen to atmosphere. Closes N-cycle in AXIS mode. |
| LI-C-008 | Hydrogen Oxidizer Hydrogenobacter thermophilus | C | H₂ + O₂ → H₂O | 3 | 65–77°C | Aerobic | Clean energy — H₂ is the fuel, water is the waste. High-energy thermophile. |
| LI-C-009 | Manganese Oxidizer Leptothrix discophora | C | Mn²⁺ → MnO₂ | 2 | 15–30°C, pH 7–9 | Aerobic | Creates manganese oxide deposits. Pairs with Mn reducer for cycle bonus. |
| LI-C-010 | Manganese Reducer Shewanella oneidensis | C | MnO₂ → Mn²⁺ (also reduces Fe, U, Cr) | 2 | 4–35°C, pH 6–9 | Facultative | Metabolic jack-of-all-trades. Can reduce Mn, Fe, U, Cr — versatile electron acceptor range. |
| LI-C-011 | Arsenate Reducer Chrysiogenes arsenatis | C | AsO₄³⁻ → AsO₃³⁻ (respires arsenic) | 1 | 25–35°C, pH 7–8 | Anaerobe | Toxic to most organisms. Zone gains arsenic tolerance requirement when this is active. |
| LI-C-012 | Acetogen Acetobacterium woodii | C | CO₂ + H₂ → acetate (Wood-Ljungdahl pathway) | 1 | 20–35°C, pH 6–8 | Anaerobe | Produces acetate as carbon currency. ΔG = -94.9 kJ/mol standard, -24.8 kJ/mol realistic. |
| ID | Name / Species | Rarity | Metabolism | ⚡ | Special Ability |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| LI-U-001 | Electrogenic Bacterium Geobacter metallireducens | U | Fe³⁺ reduction via conductive nanowires | 2 | ELECTRON SHUTTLE: can pass electron tokens to adjacent zones for free. This IS the Litho suit mechanic. |
| LI-U-002 | Perchlorate Reducer Dechloromonas aromatica | U | ClO₄⁻ → Cl⁻ + O₂ | 3 | Produces O₂ from perchlorate — critical for Mars scenarios where perchlorate is abundant. Can oxygenate anoxic zones. |
| LI-U-003 | Uranium Reducer Geobacter uraniireducens | U | U⁶⁺ → U⁴⁺ (immobilizes radioactive waste) | 2 | When in a zone with Radiation tokens, converts them to immobilized U⁴⁺ — removes the radiation hazard. Bioremediation application. |
| LI-U-004 | Anammox Bacterium Kuenenia stuttgartiensis | U | NH₄⁺ + NO₂⁻ → N₂ (anaerobic ammonia oxidation) | 2 | Completes the N-cycle anaerobically — shortcut requiring no O₂. Doubling time: 11 days (slowest growing bacterium in game by lore). |
| LI-U-005 | Deep Fracture Sulfidogen Desulfotomaculum (deep) | U | SO₄²⁻ + H₂ → H₂S (deep subsurface) | 2 | Viable in deep Zones 4–5. Spore former: survives 1 destructive event. |
| LI-U-006 | Magnetotactic Bacterium Magnetospirillum magnetotacticum | U | Microaerophilic Fe oxidation/reduction | 2 | Orients in magnetic fields. Immune to "orientation disruption" events. Produces magnetite crystals (magnetosome biomineralization). |
| LI-U-007 | Chromium Reducer Shewanella (Cr-reducing) | U | Cr⁶⁺ → Cr³⁺ | 2 | Detoxifies hexavalent chromium. Zone with Cr contamination: non-resistant organisms take Stress. This card is immune and scores normally. |
| LI-U-008 | Cave Biofilm Community Mixed chemolithotrophs | U | Multi-metabolism: Fe + Mn + S oxidation | 3 | Consortium card: counts as 3 organisms for diversity scoring. Always active in subsurface zones. |
| LI-U-009 | Serpentinite H₂ Consumer Hydrogenothermus sp. | U | H₂ + NO₃⁻ → N₂ + H₂O | 2 | Uses geologically-produced H₂ (serpentinization). Couples H₂ oxidation to denitrification — unique combination. |
| LI-U-010 | Methane Oxidizer (Aerobic) Methylococcus capsulatus | U | CH₄ + O₂ → CO₂ | 3 | Consumes methane — prevents CH₄ greenhouse buildup. Earns +2 BP when in a zone with methanogens (sinks their waste). |
| ID | Name / Species | Rarity | Metabolism | ⚡ | Special Ability |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| LI-R-001 | Cable Bacterium Candidatus Electrothrix | R | Long-distance electron transport (cm-scale filaments) | 3 | DRAFT TIER S. Syntrophic link can span ADJACENT ZONES. The only base-set card that links across zone boundaries. |
| LI-R-002 | AOM Consortium ANME archaea + Sulfate-Reducing Bacterium | R | Anaerobic oxidation of methane (reverse methanogenesis) | 3 | +4 BP syntrophic bonus — highest paired bonus in game. 10-year doubling time by lore. Removes methane from zones. |
| LI-R-003 | Radiolysis-Driven Community Mixed deep subsurface community | R | H₂ (from water + radiation) → energy | 2 | No surface connection. Functions in any zone with Radiation tokens. The Dark Biosphere — sunlight-independent. |
| LI-R-004 | Comammox Organism Nitrospira inopinata | R | NH₃ → NO₃⁻ (complete nitrification in one organism) | 3 | Does LI-C-005 + LI-C-006 in one card. Earns the Nitrification Team syntrophy bonus solo. Real organism discovered 2015. |
| LI-R-005 | Electroactive Biofilm Geobacter mixed culture | R | Direct electron transfer to minerals (no H₂ intermediate) | 3 | Can "charge" iron tokens — converts Fe²⁺ to Fe³⁺ without O₂. Powers the iron cycle in anoxic zones. |
| LI-L-001 | Desulforudis audaxviator Candidatus D. audaxviator | L | Completely self-sufficient: N-fixation + C-fixation + radiolytic H₂ | 4 | DRAFT TIER S. Needs NO syntrophic partners. Cannot form syntrophic pairs. Found 3.1 km underground in South African gold mine. Real organism. |
| LI-L-002 | Deep Carbon Observatory Theoretical deep consortium | L | Processes carbon from mantle degassing | 5 | Highest single-card yield in game. Can only be deployed in Zone 4 or 5 (Project AXIS). |
| LI-L-003 | Electrode Organism Geobacter (engineered) | L | Direct electricity generation from waste organics | 3 | Generates 1 free Energy Token per turn for any player (shared benefit). Political card — giving opponents energy can be strategically useful. |
Passive — Light Harvest: +1 Energy Token per turn for their zone. | Mechanic — Oxygen Economy: Oxygenic phototrophs produce O₂ each turn — too much kills anaerobic partners.
| ID | Name / Species | Rarity | Metabolism | ⚡ | Special |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| PH-C-001 | Cyanobacterium Synechocystis sp. | C | H₂O + CO₂ + light → O₂ + organics (oxygenic) | 3 | Produces O₂ — enables aerobes, threatens anaerobes. The most impactful common card. |
| PH-C-002 | Green Sulfur Bacterium Chlorobium tepidum | C | H₂S + CO₂ + light → S⁰ + organics (anoxygenic) | 2 | No O₂ produced — safe for anaerobes. Uses H₂S instead of H₂O. Pairs with sulfate reducers. |
| PH-C-003 | Purple Sulfur Bacterium Chromatium okenii | C | H₂S → SO₄²⁻ + organics (anoxygenic photosynthesis) | 2 | Deposits elemental sulfur granules internally. Visible as purple-red coloration in real environments. |
| PH-C-004 | Purple Non-Sulfur Bacterium Rhodospirillum rubrum | C | Light + organic C → growth (photoheterotroph) | 2 | Versatile — can switch to dark fermentation (1 BP) when light unavailable. |
| PH-C-005 | Filamentous N-fixing Cyanobacterium Anabaena sp. | C | Oxygenic photosynthesis + N₂ fixation (heterocysts) | 3 | Dual function: produces O₂ AND fixes nitrogen simultaneously. Heterocysts are anaerobic niches within an aerobic filament. |
| PH-C-006 | Hot Spring Phototroph Chloroflexus aurantiacus | C | Anoxygenic photosynthesis (flexible) | 2 | Facultative: grows in dark as heterotroph (1 BP). Forms filamentous mats in hot springs. |
| PH-C-007 | Diatom Thalassiosira weissflogii | C | Oxygenic photosynthesis (eukaryote) | 3 | Silicate frustule (glass shell) provides +1 Event resistance. Uses Cd-carbonic anhydrase when Zn scarce (only Cd metalloenzyme known). |
| PH-C-008 | Green Alga Chlamydomonas reinhardtii | C | Oxygenic photosynthesis + H₂ under anaerobic conditions | 3 | Dual output: O₂ in light/aerobic, H₂ in dark/anaerobic. The only phototroph that also feeds methanogens. |
| PH-C-009 | Heliobacterium Heliobacterium modesticaldum | C | Anoxygenic photosynthesis (single photosystem) | 1 | Simplest photosynthetic organism. Low cost to deploy. Represents earliest photosynthesis evolution. |
| PH-C-010 | Prochlorococcus Prochlorococcus marinus | C | Oxygenic photosynthesis (adapted to blue light) | 3 | Most abundant phototroph on Earth. +1 BP in high-light zones. Smallest known photosynthetic organism. |
| PH-C-011 | Lichen Photobiont Trebouxia sp. | C | Photosynthesis (in fungal symbiosis) | 2 | PAIRS WITH HALO FUNGAL CARD for +3 BP. Models real lichen mutualism. |
| PH-C-012 | Stromatolite Community Mixed cyanobacteria | C | Oxygenic photosynthesis + CaCO₃ deposition | 3 | Creates physical structure — zone permanently gains +1 Event resistance. Builds the oldest macroscopic fossils on Earth. |
| ID | Name | Rarity | ⚡ | Special Ability |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| PH-R-001 | Cyanobacterial Mat (3-Layer) | R | 4 | Requires 3 Photo organisms in zone. Creates oxic surface + anoxic interior. Both aerobic AND anaerobic organisms can coexist in this zone. |
| PH-R-002 | Artificial Leaf | R | 4 | Equipment-organism hybrid. Water splitting via solar → H₂ + O₂ directly. No biological constraints apply. |
| PH-R-003 | Coral Holobiont Symbiodinium + coral | R | 4 | Consortium card. +2 Event resistance (reef structure provides physical protection). |
| PH-R-004 | Giant Kelp Macrocystis pyrifera | R | 5 | Highest raw yield phototroph. Requires specific conditions (cool, nutrient-rich, light) — but when met, generates more energy than any other single card except LI-L-002. |
| PH-R-005 | Chloroplast Origin Event Endosymbiosis card | R | — | Attach to any eukaryotic organism card — gives it photosynthesis capability. Models the real origin of plant chloroplasts from cyanobacterial endosymbiosis. |
| PH-L-001 | Cyanobacterial Mat Formation | L | 5 | DRAFT TIER S. Requires 3 Photo organisms. Both aerobic and anaerobic organisms coexist in zone. +3 BP/turn for the formation itself. |
| PH-L-002 | The Great Oxygenation | L | — | One-time play. Permanently changes ALL surface zones to oxic. Cannot be reversed. Wipes all strict anaerobes from surface zones. The most consequential single card in the game. |
| PH-L-003 | Light Harvesting Antenna Complex Theoretical maximum | L | 6 | Highest Energy Yield in the game. 99.7% photon capture efficiency. Requires light + water + 4 specific additional resources. Extremely hard to deploy — extremely rewarding when achieved. |
Passive — Stress Resistance: +2 to all Event resistance rolls; lose 1 Stress Token naturally per turn. | Mechanic — Polyextremophile Bonus: +1 BP/turn per additional stress type tolerated beyond primary.
| ID | Name / Species | Rarity | Primary Stress | ⚡ | Metabolism | Special |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| HA-C-001 | Halophilic Archaeon Halobacterium salinarum | C | Salt (>15% NaCl) | 2 | Bacteriorhodopsin — light-driven proton pump (NOT photosynthesis) | Unique mechanism: uses light without photosynthesis. Purple membrane creates proton gradient. |
| HA-C-002 | Salt Lake Bacterium Salinibacter ruber | C | Salt (>15% NaCl) | 2 | Aerobic heterotroph (extreme halophile) | Independently evolved many of the same salt-tolerance strategies as haloarchaea — convergent evolution. |
| HA-C-003 | Radiation-Resistant Bacterium Deinococcus radiodurans | C | Ionizing radiation | 2 | Aerobic heterotroph + extreme DNA repair | Immune to all Radiation events. +2 BP when radiation present. Survives 5 kGy — 500× lethal human dose. |
| HA-C-004 | Desiccation-Resistant Cyanobacterium Chroococcidiopsis sp. | C | Desiccation | 1 | Photosynthesis when hydrated; cryptobiosis when dry | Immune to desiccation events. Survives complete desiccation for centuries. Best candidate for Mars bioforming. |
| HA-C-005 | Acidophilic Iron Oxidizer Ferroplasma acidiphilum | C | Acid (pH 0–1) | 2 | Fe²⁺ → Fe³⁺ at extreme acid | Has no cell wall — the only wall-less organism in the game. Extreme acidophile + lithotroph combo. |
| HA-C-006 | Alkaliphilic Bacterium Bacillus alcalophilus | C | Alkalinity (pH 10–13) | 2 | Aerobic heterotroph in soda lakes | Soda lake specialist. Functions in zones where pH crashes destroy other organisms. |
| HA-C-007 | Psychrophilic Bacterium Psychrobacter arcticus | C | Cold (-10 to 10°C) | 2 | Aerobic heterotroph | Permafrost survivor. Active at -10°C in salt-enriched films. Immune to cold events. |
| HA-C-008 | Barophilic Bacterium Shewanella benthica | C | Pressure (>1000 atm) | 2 | Facultative anaerobe | Deep ocean trench specialist. Functional in Zone 5 (Lower Mantle in AXIS). Requires high pressure. |
| HA-C-009 | UV-Resistant Cyanobacterium Gloeocapsa sp. | C | UV radiation | 2 | Photosynthesis + scytonemin UV shielding | Immune to UV events. Scytonemin is a natural biological sunscreen. Also found in Antarctic rocks. |
| HA-C-010 | Heavy Metal Resistant Bacterium Cupriavidus metallidurans | C | Heavy metals | 2 | Aerobic heterotroph + metal resistance | Immune to heavy metal events. Found colonizing gold nuggets — literally eats dissolved metals. Gold-associated in real environments. |
| HA-C-011 | Endospore Former Bacillus subtilis | C | Starvation / multiple | 2 | Aerobic heterotroph | SPORULATION: survives any single destructive event unharmed (spore mode), then reforms next turn. |
| HA-C-012 | Xerophilic Fungus Aspergillus penicillioides | C | Dryness (water activity 0.585) | 1 | Heterotroph at extreme dryness | Eukaryote. Grows in the driest environments where liquid water barely exists. Low energy, high resilience. |
| ID | Name / Species | Rarity | ⚡ | Stresses Tolerated | Special Ability |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| HA-U-001 | Tardigrade Milnesium tardigradum | U | 1 | All (cryptobiosis) | CRYPTOBIOSIS: survives ANY environmental event. But produces very little energy. The ultimate survivor, poorest scorer. |
| HA-U-002 | Bdelloid Rotifer Adineta vaga | U | 1 | Desiccation + radiation | Desiccation resistant + acquires 1 Gene Token for free per game via environmental HGT (real biology — bdelloids steal genes from environment) |
| HA-U-003 | Black Mold (Melanin Radioprotection) Cladosporium sphaerospermum | U | 2 | Radiation | +1 BP per Radiation Token in zone. Real organism grows TOWARD Chernobyl reactor core. Mechanism still uncharacterized in real science. |
| HA-U-004 | Lichen Consortium Usnea sp. (fungus + alga) | U | 2 | UV + desiccation + cold | Syntrophic pair built into one card — never needs a separate partner card. Models real lichen mutualism. |
| HA-U-005 | Deep Mine Nematode Halicephalobus mephisto | U | 1 | Pressure + heat + anoxia | Found 3.6 km underground in South Africa. Can be deployed in Zones 3–4. Multicellular animal — the deepest eukaryote known. |
| HA-U-006 | Antarctic Dry Valley Microbe Mixed community | U | 2 | Cold + dry + UV + salt | Polyextremophile: +1 BP per stress type active in zone. In a zone with cold + UV + salt events, scores +3 additional BP. |
| HA-U-007 | Snottite (Cave Acid Biofilm) Acidithiobacillus + Acidimicrobium | U | 2 | Acid (self-produces sulfuric acid) | Creates acidic microenvironment — zone permanently drops 2 pH. Protects from alkaline events. Named for resemblance to stalactites made of mucus. |
| HA-U-008 | Hot Acid Alga Galdieria sulphuraria | U | 2 | Acid + heat + desiccation | Dual suit (also PY-U-006). Can photosynthesize at pH 0–4, 45–56°C simultaneously. Polyextremophile phototroph — rare combination. |
| HA-U-009 | Perchlorate-Resistant Bacterium Marinobacter sp. | U | 2 | Perchlorate (Mars toxin) | Critical for Mars scenarios. Perchlorate (ClO₄⁻) in Martian regolith is toxic to most Earth organisms. This card is immune. |
| HA-U-010 | Nuclear Fuel Pool Bacterium Deinococcus geothermalis | U | 2 | Radiation + heat | Lives in spent nuclear fuel pools. Immune to both radiation events AND temperature events simultaneously. |
| HA-R-001 | Melanin Radiotroph (Enhanced) Cladosporium sphaerospermum (enhanced) | R | 3 | Radiation (beneficial) | Triple energy yield in irradiated zones. The radiation IS the food. Converts ionizing radiation → metabolic energy. Grows toward Chernobyl reactor. |
| HA-R-002 | Polyextremophilic Archaeon Haloarcula sp. (deep) | R | 3 | Salt + heat + pressure | Tolerates all three simultaneously. +1 BP per stress type. In a zone with 3+ stresses, scores +3 additional BP. |
| HA-R-003 | Self-Repairing Biofilm Mixed polyextremophile community | R | 3 | Multiple | Automatically removes 1 Stress Token per turn from ALL organisms in the zone. Acts as zone-wide healer. |
| HA-R-004 | Cryptoendolith Friedmannia sp. | R | 2 | UV + desiccation + cold | Lives inside Antarctic rock. Immune to ALL surface events (rock provides physical shielding). Slow but genuinely invulnerable. |
| HA-R-005 | Bdelloid Rotifer Colony Philodina sp. (colony) | R | 2 | Desiccation + gene scavenging | Can copy one ability from any organism in the same zone (once per game). Models bdelloid promiscuous gene acquisition from environment. |
| HA-L-001 | Conan the Bacterium Deinococcus radiodurans (ultimate) | L | 3 | Radiation + desiccation + UV + cold | Immune to all events. But requires O₂ + organic carbon — dependent on others for food. Maximum survivability, moderate dependency. |
| HA-L-002 | The Dark Biosphere Theoretical deep-life consortium | L | 5 | All subsurface stresses | Deploy only in Zones 4–5. Completely independent of surface — generates own energy, fixes own C and N. Represents the deep hot biosphere hypothesis (Thomas Gold). |
| HA-L-003 | Extremophile Chimera Synthetic polyextremophile | L | 4 | All (synthetic) | All stress resistances + flexible metabolism. Deploy anywhere. Deploy cost: 8 Energy — most expensive card. Worth it if you can afford it. |
Pyro (30) · Litho (30) · Photo (30) · Halo (30)
See index.html for printable card sheets | See rulebook.html for complete rules, AXIS cooperative mode, tournament format, curriculum, and Kickstarter analysis
All organisms and metabolisms are based on real science. Every combo you discover is a real metabolic pathway.