Cards that are in play exist in one of two states.
Ready
Ready cards are oriented upright so that their text may be read from left to right. A ready card can be used during a player’s turn, causing it to exhaust.
Exhausted
Exhausted cards are rotated 90 degrees to the side. An exhausted card is not able to be used until it is readied by a game step or card ability. All creatures and artifacts enter play exhausted.
—KeyForge Master Rulebook v18.3, February 2026