The following types of cards are featured in the game:

Hero – The character which a given player is playing as. Each player starts with a hero, and it is the hero which determines what other cards can be utilized or included in the deck (e.g., Horde heroes can only have Horde allies). The hero card provides information about starting health, race, class, specializations, and professions. Lastly, each hero has a unique power which can be used once per game (after which, the hero card is turned face down).
Ability – Cards played from the hand (often after paying a resource cost) to cause some immediate impact to the game. Abilities can either be of the standard type, able to played only during one’s turn, or can be instant abilities, able to be played at virtually any time. As with a number of the cards, many abilities include a trait icon, which limits what classes can include the card in their decks.
Armor – Defensive cards which protect the player from damage. Once played, by paying the appropriate resource cost, armor can be exhausted each turn in order to reduce damage dealt to a player’s hero. Players are limited in how many different pieces of armor they may equip on any given body part, e.g., only one piece of chest armor at a time. Armor cards may also have additional effects above and beyond their defensive value.
Weapon – Offensive cards which can augment a player’s melee or ranged capabilities, as well as provide other benefits. As with armor cards, players are limited on how many weapons they may have equipped (in play) at once. In order to use a weapon card to increase attack power during combat, a player must pay a resource cost associated with the weapon (which also exhausts the weapon). Weapons can be used when either attacking or defending, but usually only one weapon can be used per combat (a new card in the Dark Portal edition – Dual Wield – enables striking with 2 melee weapons in a single combat).
Quest – Special cards which act as resource cards, but with additional abilities. Quests can be completed by fulfilling a condition described on the card. When this is done, a reward is earned (e.g., drawing additional cards) and the quest is converted into a normal resource (by turning it face down).
Ally – Other individuals and companions who assist and fight on behalf of the main hero. Most allies are affiliated with either the Horde or the Alliance (although neutral allies do exist), so only cards matching the hero’s own affiliation are permitted in a deck. Once brought into play by paying the appropriate cost, allies remain until destroyed or removed from play. Allies can attack (or be attacked), and can also provide special powers or abilities.
Loot – Loot cards are special versions of cards which can be used within the card game (e.g., as normal allies), but which also contain a scratch-off code. This code can be entered into the website for the online game, providing a unique in-game item, such as a pet, mount, or tabard.
Additionally, any card can be played as a resource card (with a limit of one per turn) by playing it face down to a designated area. All resources are equivalent and can be exhausted to pay any cost.