Your first Rule34dle run is easiest in standard two-card mode. Keep franchise tags enabled so you learn to spot the difference between a whole series and one character, leave the AI filter off to match the default totals, and keep the three-way showdown off until the basic reveal feels familiar.
First-board checklist
Make the first pick
Tap the card you think has the larger total. On desktop, 1 selects the first card, 2 the second, and 3 the third when Hard mode is active. Wait for both totals to appear before moving on; that reveal is the main learning tool.
If you are correct in Endless mode, the winning tag becomes the visible anchor for the next board and your current run increases. If you are wrong, the run returns to zero, but your personal best remains. Start a new run and use the surprising count as a reference.
A simple beginner strategy
Rank the evidence in this order: tag scope, visible total, franchise reach, character prominence, then recency. Artwork recognition is useful, but it should not outweigh a clear difference between a franchise and a single character.
Do not memorize all 1,897 roster entries. Build broad tiers instead: enormous franchise tags, very popular characters, established mid-tier characters, and niche entries. Each reveal gradually improves those tiers.
When to change modes
Move to Daily mode when you can finish ten comparisons without confusing a franchise tag with an individual. Try the three-way showdown after you can make relative estimates without depending on the visible total. Enable the AI filter when you want all displayed counts to exclude posts tagged as AI-generated.
Next, read Rules, Scoring & Controls for the exact behavior of each format.