Each Rule34dle card represents a roster tag and a stored indexed total. Your task is to choose the card with the larger total under the settings active for that run. The value measures tagged posts in the game’s dataset; it is not a vote, power level, or general web popularity score.
Field guide
Default count versus non-AI count
With the AI switch off, the standard post count decides the answer. With Ignore AI-tagged posts on, Rule34dle uses the corresponding non-AI total for every candidate. A large absolute drop does not automatically change the winner; what matters is how both sides change.
Franchise mixing changes the pool
Turning on Mix in franchise tags adds entries marked as franchises. It does not merge a franchise total into each member character, and it does not change the count of existing character cards. Expect larger scope gaps and check the exact tag before choosing.
Ties and close matchups
The winning card is the one backed by the larger stored total. When values are extremely close, old screenshots or memorized digits can be misleading after a data refresh. Use the current game’s reveal as the authoritative result for that round.
A safe way to keep notes
Record the date, filter state, and relative result: “A above B with AI posts excluded.” This stays useful longer than a bare number and prevents filtered and unfiltered memories from getting mixed together.