> For the complete documentation index, see [llms.txt](https://pallette-wars.gitbook.io/pallette-wars-docs/llms.txt). Markdown versions of documentation pages are available by appending `.md` to page URLs; this page is available as [Markdown](https://pallette-wars.gitbook.io/pallette-wars-docs/how-to-play.md).

# How to play

Ink tank, Robinhood gas, faction lock, leftover ink.

{% hint style="warning" %}
Bring **ETH on Robinhood Chain**. `$WAR` is what you paint with. ETH pays gas for deposits, withdraws, opening Auto-Paint, every paint submission, and claiming. Without ETH, your ink sits unused. Add network **4663** (hex `0x1237`) in your wallet if it is missing.
{% endhint %}

{% stepper %}
{% step %}

## Get $WAR and ETH

Buy `$WAR` on [pons](https://www.ponsfamily.com) (Robinhood). The token starts on a bonding curve and graduates into a locked Uniswap v4 pool. Fees are on the **trade** (protocol fee + 1% creator tax, in ETH) — not on a later vault deposit.

Also keep a small ETH balance on Robinhood. Palette Wars does not sponsor gas at launch. Bridge ETH to Robinhood before you try to deposit.
{% endstep %}

{% step %}

## Deposit into the Ink Tank

`depositInk` moves `$WAR` from your wallet into the Vault. This is an on-chain tx — you pay ETH gas. Your on-chain `inkBalance` is the tank. Unused ink can be withdrawn with `withdrawInk` (also costs ETH gas).
{% endstep %}

{% step %}

## Open Auto-Paint

Approve an epoch session key (`openPaintSession`). That setup tx costs ETH gas. The key can only paint, and it dies at `warEndsAt`.

After that: no wallet popup per pixel. Each paint still spends ETH gas (the session key submits the tx). Auto-Paint removes confirmations, not gas.
{% endstep %}

{% step %}

## Paint — first color locks your faction

Warm colors 0-3 become Blaze. Cool colors 4-7 become Frost. That lock lasts the whole war. You cannot flip sides mid-epoch to claim the other jackpot.

Each tool click is still a Robinhood transaction. If ETH runs out, paints revert even if the Ink Tank has `$WAR`.
{% endstep %}
{% endstepper %}

## What each click costs

| Cost        | Paid in              | When                                               |
| ----------- | -------------------- | -------------------------------------------------- |
| Tool price  | `$WAR` from Ink Tank | Every successful paint                             |
| Network gas | ETH on Robinhood     | Deposit, withdraw, open session, each paint, claim |

There is no off-chain pixel credit. If it did not hit the vault, it does not count for the jackpot.

## Faction rules

* First paint (or explicit join) locks you for the epoch
* Blaze may only paint Blaze colors, including on Frost turf
* Frost may only paint Frost colors, including on Blaze turf
* Theme colors 8-19 are home only after you are locked
* Next epoch you may pick the other side

{% hint style="warning" %}
Switching mid-war is impossible on purpose. Paint Frost for 5 hours then flip to Blaze would steal the jackpot.
{% endhint %}

## Canvas

1000x1000, split at x = 500. Blaze home is the left half. Frost home is the right half. Pixels are not stored in contract storage — clients rebuild the board from `ToolUsed` events via the Game Hub.

## Empty tank / new epoch / leftover ink

* Empty tank: deposit more ink (one tx, ETH gas)
* Epoch ends: session dies; open a new Auto-Paint key for the next war (ETH gas). Leftover ink stays in the tank — it is not swept into the jackpot.
* Claim war jackpot after resolve: `claim` on the Vault (ETH gas)
* Claim monthly after the UTC month closes: `claimMonthly` (ETH gas)


---

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