But Gravehold is on the brink of collapse, and its your job to defend it.
Learn everything you oughta start playing Spirit Island, a tabletop strategy game that can be played cooperatively.
The main threat comes from terrifying boss monsters known as the Nameless, or Nemeses.
Your goal is to protect Gravehold while defeating the deadly Nemesis invading your home.
Luckily, you have a team of skilled mages at your side.
This guide covers setup, rules, and how to play.
However, there are two ways to lose.
First, if all players characters become exhausted.
Second, if Graveholdyour homelandloses all its HP.
This guide covers the core games rules.
Most big box expansions of Aeons End follow the same rules while introducing some new mechanics.
The core game includes a total of four Nemeses.
Then,each player picks a player number tokenfrom one to fourthis choice doesnt affect gameplay.
Next, look at your player mat.
Find the cards listed under ‘Starting Hand’ and ‘Starting Deck.’
Place your deck in the ‘Deck’ area on the left side of your player mat.
The cards players start with have an ‘S’ symbol in the bottom-left corner.
Cards without this symbol may be placed in the supply area.
Depending on the symbols shown,you may need to rotate or flip your Breach tiles.
If the Breach icon is a fully yellow square, it starts as an ‘Opened Breach.’
Additionally,each player takes ten life tokensand places them in the designated area on their player mat.
Turn Order Deck Setup
You also need to set up the Turn Order Deck.
For a 4-player game:
Shuffle one Turn Order card for each player into the Turn Order Deck.
From this point on, you are not allowed to check the Turn Order Deck.
It must always remain facedown.
Nemesis Setup
Choose the Nemesis you will be facingand place its Nemesis Mat in the play area.
Read its rules carefully.
Then,set the Nemesis Life Dial according to the HPvalue shown on the Nemesis Mat.
This HP value is located to the left of the Nemesiss name.
Each Nemesis has unique cards, which can beidentified by their name in the bottom left corner.Set these aside.
Additionally, you will need to add some Basic Nemesis Cards to the deck.
Once the Nemesis Deck is built,do not shuffle it again.
Also, follow any additional setup instructions found on the back of the Nemesis Mat.
Some Nemeses have Tier Zero cards.
If this applies, follow the setup instructions for them accordingly.
Supply Setup
it’s crucial that you set up the Supply, also known as the Market.
The Supplyconsists of nine different piles, each containing multiple copies of the same card.
This continues until the Turn Order Deck is empty.
Draw Phase
If its your first turn, you wont be able to do anything during the Casting Phase.
Keep in mind that unless stated otherwise, the damage from spells cannot be divided.
Specifically, Third and Fourth Breaches have the “+1 damage when cast” effect.
When you cast a spell from these breaches,it deals one extra damage.
However, even if the spell doesnt deal damage, you still get the right to deal one damage.
Gem cards give you aether, the currency of the game, which has no physical component.
When you buy a card from the supply pile,place the card on top of your discard pile.
Gain a charge
You canspend two aether to gain a chargeduring your turn.
you’re free to continue gaining charges as long as you have enough aether.
When you gain a charge, place it on your player mat.
You cannot gain charges for other players by spending your aether.
The maximum number of charges you could have is indicated on your player mat.
You cannot gain more than what is available in the charge slots.
The cost to focus a breach is locatedabove the circular arrow symbol on the closed breach.
You cannot place spells on unfocused breaches.
When you focus a breach with the yellow portion on top, it will initiate the breach.
A breach can only have one spell prepped at a time.
Prepped spells can then be cast during the Casting Phase at the start of your turn.
Resolve a TO DISCARD: effect
Some Nemesis power cards have the “To DISCARD” keyword.
This provides an opportunity for you to discard those cards.
You may look at the discard pile at any time, but you must not look at your deck.
Additionally, there is no maximum hand size in the game.
Then, draw the necessary number of cards.
Remember, while playing Aeons End, you must never shuffle your deck.
The Nemesis turn is divided into two phases: the main phase and the draw phase.
If a card has a ‘Persistent’ effect, resolve it.
If a Power Card is revealed, remove a power token from it.
If there are no power tokens left on the Power Card, trigger its effect.
If a cards effect cannot be fully resolved, do as much as you’re free to.
Do not confuse the Draw Phase with the Main Phase.
‘PERSISTENT’ effects are not triggered in this phase.
Eight damage is then dealt to Gravehold.
The Nemesis reaches zero life.
Defeat
All players become exhausted.
(their life reaches zero).
Gravehold reaches zero life.
How To Play Solo Mode
In solo mode, you’re able to control multiple mages.
In this case, you shouldset up the game according to the standard multiplayer setup.
When playing with a single mage:
The only board game rates six stars.
