Do hidden cards have a ready/exhausted state, and if so, do they enter play exhausted when revealed?

Ruling: Hidden cards do not have an exhausted or ready state while hidden. When you play a unit from hidden, it enters play following standard rules—meaning it enters exhausted unless otherwise stated, just like playing from hand.

Sequence:

• While hidden, cards are not considered played yet and have no ready/exhausted quality
• Hidden cards are not affected by awaken steps or other effects
• When you play/reveal the hidden card, it follows normal play rules at that time
• Units played from hidden enter exhausted (unless an effect states otherwise)

Nuances:

• The physical orientation (vertical/horizontal) of hidden cards doesn't matter as long as it's clear there is a hidden card and which battlefield it belongs to
• Most players hide cards in an exhausted orientation to save space, but this is not required