How to Play

Setup

1. Place the game board and Blood Tokens in the center.
2. Shuffle and place Location Tiles face-down.
3. Each player picks a faction (War or Death) and gathers their cards, units, and faction sheet.
4. Follow any special faction setup.

Start the Game

Each player gets:
2 Blood Tokens
4 Action Cards
Give the Initiative Token to the first player.

Take Turns (Planning Phase)

On your turn, do any of the following in any order:

1. Draw cards up to your hand limit
2. Move units based on their speed
3. Summon units by paying their blood cost
4. Ready cards by placing them on your Faction Sheet
5. Play Instant cards from hand or your sheet
6. Discard cards you don't need ➡️ Then end your turn

Repeat Turns Clockwise

Players take turns until it comes back to the player with the Initiative Token.

Start Combat Phase

1. Add Victory Cards to the Combat Pile for all contested units
2. Add any readied Plot cards (if contested)
3. Add one readied Scheme card (any player)
4. Shuffle the Combat Pile and reveal cards one at a time
5. Resolve card effects and remove defeated units

End of Round

1. Return Victory Cards to their decks
2. Discard used action cards
3. Pass the Initiative Token clockwise
4. Everyone gains:
   • +2 Blood, and
   • +1 per Village they occupy
5. Draw up to your hand size (add +2 cards per Ruin)

Repeat Until Victory

The game continues with new rounds until one faction completes their Faction Objective and wins.