Alarún

About this board game

Alarún is a potion-brewing strategy game for 2–4 players, with sessions lasting about 45 minutes. Under the watchful eye of the old druid Alarún, you collect mysterious ingredients and arrange them into a personal 5×5 magic square.

The game unfolds over 8 rounds, each following the same structure. Across those rounds, you gather 24 ingredients, while your druid apprentice completes the remaining space in your square. Your goal is to combine the ingredients as effectively as possible and brew powerful potions.

On your turn, choose one of three actions:

• Swap: Exchange one ingredient from your hand with one of the three ingredients face up in the centre of the table.
• Pass: Do not swap an ingredient.
• Swap and pass: Exchange all three ingredients in your hand for all three face-up ingredients, then pass at the same time.

Once a player passes, every other player gets one final action. Careful timing and selection help you shape a square whose rows and columns meet the prerequisites for valuable potions.

At the end of the game, every row and column in your completed magic square forms a potion. These potions score points according to their requirements, while secret bonus points provide additional ways to improve your result. Collect the rarest herb, arrange your ingredients wisely, and aim to take over Alarún’s mighty staff as the best druid apprentice.

With its repeated round structure and focus on ingredient management, Alarún challenges you to make the most of every swap while planning the final shape of your magic square.