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+# Continuumatrice Essence symbols (CCG card catalogue)
+
+Continuumatrice uses **Essence** for card resources, not Magic: The Gathering mana. The canonical Essence symbol order is:
+
+```text
+M S O G E A Q C B R L V T P N
+```
+
+These are **15 distinct symbols**. `N` is explicitly **colorless Essence**. The other 14 codes currently have **no names, canonical colors or game rules assigned in the client**. Do not infer them from the corresponding MTG letters. All Essence codes are uppercase.
+
+## Native Continuumatrice XML v4
+
+The parser supports arbitrary XML `<prop>` entries, so no change to the existing XML v4 schema format is needed. These three native property names are defined in `libcockatrice/card/game_specific_terms.h`:
+
+| Property | Meaning |
+| --- | --- |
+| `essencecost` | Card's explicitly authored Essence cost, e.g. `{M}{S}{N}` |
+| `essence` | Card's explicitly authored Essence identity/types, e.g. `MSN` |
+| `essencevalue` | Optional numeric aggregate value for existing cost-curve UI; this is not calculated from cost |
+
+**Test-only sample**, not a playable/canonical card:
+
+```xml
+<?xml version="1.0" encoding="UTF-8"?>
+<continuumatrice_carddatabase version="4">
+  <sets>
+    <set><name>CTEST</name><longname>Essence Import Test</longname></set>
+  </sets>
+  <cards>
+    <card>
+      <name>Essence Sample Card</name>
+      <text>Test Essence symbol rendering only.</text>
+      <prop>
+        <type>Test Card</type>
+        <essencecost>{M}{S}{N}</essencecost>
+        <essence>MSN</essence>
+      </prop>
+      <set num="001">CTEST</set>
+      <tablerow>1</tablerow>
+    </card>
+  </cards>
+</continuumatrice_carddatabase>
+```
+
+Do not automatically derive `essence` or `essencevalue` from `essencecost` until gameplay rules define the correct relationship. The card database **stores metadata**, not mutable match resource balances.
+
+Previously authored XML `<manacost>`, `<colors>`, and `<cmc>` properties remain readable by the inherited `CardInfo` API for compatibility, but new Continuumatrice cards should use the native properties. Format compatibility does **not** mean MTG `W` or `U` are accepted as Essence symbols.
+
+## Icons and custom asset assignment
+
+All 15 Essence letters have small bundled SVG **placeholder** icons under:
+
+```text
+cockatrice/resources/icons/essence/
+  M.svg S.svg O.svg G.svg E.svg A.svg Q.svg C.svg B.svg
+  R.svg L.svg V.svg T.svg P.svg N.svg
+```
+
+Each is rendered using an independent `icons/essence/` asset namespace. In the currently selected Continuumatrice theme you may override any SVG with an SVG, PNG, JPG or JPEG using the same stem:
+
+```text
+~/.local/share/Continuumatrice/themes/<YourTheme>/icons/essence/
+    M.svg
+    S.png
+    N.svg
+```
+
+The current bundled placeholders show just the letter. `N` is neutral gray; the others use a shared neutral treatment. They are **not** final Essence artwork or a commitment to elemental color assignments. The chart interface uses a separately generated *chart-only* palette so fifteen statistical series can be distinguished.
+
+## Features updated
+
+- Card database properties: native Essence cost, identity and optional value, with fallbacks for older XML.
+- Card information display and deck editor column headers: `Essence`, `Essence Cost`, `Essence Value`.
+- Cost parser: single Essence symbols in bare form (`MSN`) or braces (`{M}{S}{N}`); numeric tokens may be preserved as generic amounts.
+- Deck identity: unique, ordered Essence codes (including `N`).
+- Search filters: filter for specific Essence codes, or `colorless` meaning `N`. An empty identity is not automatically `N`.
+- Analytics: counts all 15 Essence cost symbols. Production counts only literal `Add {M}`-style grants to avoid guessing any resource rules.
+
+Hybrid, phyrexian, and other MTG-specific mana-cost syntax are **not** introduced as Essence mechanics. Nor is automatic calculation of resource costs, card affordability, or game turn rules included.
+
+## Build and verification
+
+From `feature/continuumatrice-essence`:
+
+```bash
+cmake -S . -B build --fresh -G Ninja -DCMAKE_BUILD_TYPE=Release \
+  -DWITH_CLIENT=ON -DWITH_SERVER=ON -DWITH_ORACLE=OFF -DTEST=ON
+cmake --build build --target continuumatrice continuum-servatrice essence_types_test --parallel 16
+ctest --test-dir build -R EssenceTypesTest --output-on-failure
+./build/continuumatrice/continuumatrice
+```
+
+Verify that all fifteen icons render, `N` loads and filters separately from `C`, the XML importer accepts `essencecost` and `essence`, and the analytics show no WUBRG assumptions.
+
+**Status:** Source-level implementation committed. User-side Qt compilation and visual/runtime testing remain required.