Bellum Magica

About this board game

Bellum Magica is a 30-minute board game for 2–5 players in which each player takes the role of an evil lord building a creature-filled kingdom.

Recruit creatures ranging from simple goblins to terrifying dragons, then assign them to different tasks. Some creatures gather resources and explore the surroundings, while others join your army to attack the human kingdom or a rival player’s castle.

Each turn begins by choosing an active horde. The Captain rolls the dice to determine which horde works that day, with the option to spend one barrel resource to make the Captain roll again. Once the active horde is established, players gather food up to that horde’s capacity.

1. Gather resources: Collect food according to the capacity of the active horde.
2. Call back scouts: Treasure cards can help you win a Metal or Wooden chest immediately.
3. Attack: In turn order, beginning with the Captain and continuing clockwise, each player may launch one attack against the human kingdom or another player’s castle. Attacks compare shields and swords.
4. Recruit creatures: Spend food and symbols to recruit more creatures and expand your access to resources and chests.

The contest is a race for treasure as well as a test of military strength. Expanding your horde gives you more creatures to assign, while attacks provide a way to challenge the human kingdom or interfere with another evil lord’s castle.

In Bellum Magica, the first player to collect 10 or more chests ends the game. The player whose chests have the highest total value wins, claiming the title of the richest and most powerful evil lord.