Stick 12 is played by turns. Select 5 cards. Paper rock scissors for first turn. The first person attacks using the attacks listed below the illustration. The number below the picture is how much damage the attack commits. There is a health box in the top right corner. Use the attacks to get your opponent's active card health down to zero. You can only have one playing card playing at once. The rest are decked cards. If one of your cards is eliminated, it will go to your opponent. They may not use the card, but place it down beside them. This is the point pile. Who has the most points at the end of the game, wins. If you have leftover cards once the game ends, they will go into your point pile.

​

Upgrades are cards that can help your cards with turns, health, damage, and many more. You put the upgrades to the sides until used. To use, add the upgrade to your playing card and use it. Once used, the upgrade should go into your opponent's point pile. They can only be used once. You can have as many upgrade cards as you want.

​

There are three additional modes to play. Prisoner mode is the exact same as classic but every time you eliminate a card, it will go to your team. This mode will often take longer than the other game modes. Twisted is another game mode where different types have different weaknesses. Plant type has fire as a weakness, eclectic has magic as a weakness, water has electric, magic has fire, rock has plant, and fire has water. If the card you have is a weakness to your opponents, the damage is doubled. Losing to win is where you want to lose. You can also make up modes and play with them. Post your mode and your collection on Twitter.