Zombicide: Black Plague

2015

Dive into Zombicide: Black Plague, a thrilling board game combining the medieval era with a zombie apocalypse. Use magic, weapons, and strategy to survive!

180
minutes

1 - 6
player(s)

14+

Medium

About the game

Zombicide: Black Plague is a thrilling cooperative board game that plunges you into the dark and mysterious world of medieval fantasy, full of dire challenges, heroic deeds, and of course, lots of zombies. Designed for 1 to 6 players, the game takes you on an epic campaign where the heroes must band together to fend off hordes of the undead, collect valuable items, and complete challenging objectives.

The game’s theme is a unique blend of medieval fantasy and zombie apocalypse. The setting is a grim, plague-ridden kingdom where the dead have risen to consume the living. The vibrant artwork and detailed miniatures create an immersive atmosphere, transporting players into the heart of a zombie-infested land.

Game setup Lay it out, line it up, let’s go

Zombicide: Black Plague is a cooperative board game where players work together to defeat zombies and complete various missions. Here is a step-by-step guide on how to set up the game:

Step 1: Player set-up

Choose player characters: Each player chooses a survivor miniature, the corresponding ID Card, and sets the Experience Tracker to Zero. Place the character in the starting zone.
Assign starting equipment: Each player gets a short sword and one more piece of starting equipment, which are then placed on the player’s ID Card.

Step 2: Board set-up

Place the game tiles as indicated in the chosen mission’s layout. Make sure all doors, objectives, starting areas, and spawn zones match the mission layout.
Place the Vault artifacts in the corresponding Vault rooms (if any in the mission).
Shuffle the Zombie cards and Equipment cards separately and place them face down near the board.

Step 3: Objective and resource set-up

Place all Objective tokens face down and shuffle them. Then, place them on the board in the corresponding locations according to the mission layout.
Place the Noise tokens, Doors, and other tokens in a pile next to the board.
Place the dice and the First Player token within easy reach of all players.

Step 4: Spawn zombies

Draw a Zombie card for each Spawn Zone and place the indicated number and type of Zombies there. Note that this is done in player order, starting from the first player.

Step 5: Random elements

Throughout the game, players will draw cards from the Equipment deck when searching rooms and the Zombie deck when spawning zombies. These elements introduce randomness into the game, keeping each playthrough unique and unpredictable.

Now that you have set up the board, you are ready to start your first round of ‘Zombicide: Black Plague’. Remember, the goal is to work together to complete the mission and survive the zombie apocalypse!

Game flow Round and round we go

Zombicide: Black Plague is a cooperative board game where players work together to defeat zombies and accomplish specific objectives. The game consists of several rounds, and each round has its own structure and phases.

1. Player Phase

During the Player Phase, each player, in the order of their choice, takes their turn and performs up to three actions with their survivor. The actions can be performed in any combination and can include the following:

Moving: The survivor uses one action to move from one zone to another adjacent one.
Searching: If the survivor is inside a building zone, they may use one action to draw a card from the equipment deck.
Opening a door: The survivor can use an action to open a door, which can potentially spawn more zombies.
Killing a zombie: The survivor can attempt to kill a zombie in their zone or an adjacent one.
Accomplishing an objective: Some missions will require survivors to spend actions to accomplish objectives.
Trading equipment: Survivors in the same zone can trade equipment cards.

2. Zombies Phase

After all players have taken their turns in the Player Phase, the Zombies Phase begins. This phase consists of two steps:

Activation: Each zombie on the board will perform an action, usually moving towards or attacking survivors.
Spawning: After all zombies have activated, new zombies are spawned in each of the spawn zones around the board. The number and type of zombies are determined by drawing cards from the zombie deck.

3. End Phase

The End Phase is the final phase of each round. During this phase, players check to see if any of their objectives have been accomplished. If all objectives have been met, then the players win the game. If not, the round ends, and a new round begins with the Player Phase.

These are the basic rules and phases of Zombicide: Black Plague. The game continues in this cycle of Player Phase, Zombies Phase, and End Phase until either the players accomplish their objectives and win or all survivors are eliminated, resulting in a loss.

Players'turn One turn to rule them all

Zombicide: Black Plague is a cooperative board game where players work together to defeat zombies and survive a medieval apocalypse. During a player’s turn, they can perform up to three actions from a list of possible choices. The actions a player chooses can greatly impact the game’s progression and the team’s survival.

1. Movement: Moving your survivor allows you to strategically position them on the game board. Each move action enables your survivor to move one zone.Note: A zone with zombies requires an additional action to leave.

2. Search: A player can search in a building zone for equipment cards. This action can only be performed once per turn and never in a zone with zombies. Acquiring better equipment can significantly enhance a player’s abilities and chances of survival.

3. Open a door: Opening a door requires a weapon capable of doing so and generates noise which can attract more zombies. Once a door is open, the rooms inside are filled with zombies, making this a potentially dangerous action.

4. Reorganize/Trade: Players can reorganize their inventory or trade with another survivor in the same zone for free. This is crucial in making sure each player has the equipment they need.

5. Combat: Players can attack zombies in their zone or an adjacent one (ranged weapons only). The outcome of combat is determined by dice rolls. Killing zombies awards experience points (XP) but gaining too much XP too quickly can lead to increased zombie spawning.

6. Noise: Players can make noise to distract zombies. This is a strategic move and can be used to lure zombies away from vulnerable survivors or towards traps.

7. Special Actions: Some survivors have unique abilities which can be used once per turn. These actions vary greatly in effect and can turn the tide of the game if used correctly.

After a player has performed their actions, it’s the zombies’ turn. They move towards the noisiest zones and attack survivors if they share a zone. Once the zombies have acted, a new player begins their turn, continuing the cycle. Careful planning and strategic use of actions are key in Zombicide: Black Plague.

End of the game All good games must come to an end

The game of ‘Zombicide: Black Plague’ ends when players have either successfully completed all objectives outlined in the specific mission they are playing, or when all survivors have been eliminated.

Victory Conditions:

Objective Completion: The primary way to achieve victory in ‘Zombicide: Black Plague’ is by completing all of the objectives as outlined in the mission. These objectives may include things like finding a specific item, reaching a particular location on the board, or eliminating a certain number of zombies.
Survival: The game can also end in a victory if at least one player’s survivor is still alive at the end of the game, provided all objectives have been met.

Actions Before Final Scoring:

In ‘Zombicide: Black Plague’ there is no traditional scoring at the end of the game. Instead, victory is determined solely based on whether the objectives have been met and if at least one survivor is still alive. However, there are some actions that players may need to take before the game can officially end.

Final Player Turn: The game cannot end mid-turn. Even if all objectives have been met, the current player must finish their turn before the game can end.
Zombie Phase: After the final player’s turn, one last Zombie Phase must be carried out. This includes spawning new zombies, moving zombies, and having zombies attack survivors.
Check Objectives: After the final Zombie Phase, players should double-check to ensure all objectives have actually been met. If not, the game continues.
Survivor Check: Finally, players must check to see if at least one survivor is still alive. If all survivors have been eliminated, the game ends in a defeat, regardless of whether the objectives have been met.

‘Zombicide: Black Plague’ is a cooperative game, meaning players win or lose as a team. The emphasis is not on individual scoring, but on working together to ensure the group’s survival and the completion of the mission’s objectives.

Scoring Did you outsmart your rivals?

Zombicide: Black Plague doesn’t have a traditional scoring system where players earn points. Instead, the game focuses on survival and accomplishing objectives. However, players can track their progression and abilities through the experience points (XP) they gain throughout the game. Here’s how it works:

Whenever a player kills a zombie, they gain experience points (XP). The XP is tracked on a player’s dashboard, and each time the player’s XP marker moves into a new color zone on the track, they get to choose a new skill for their survivor. The color zones also determine the difficulty of the game. As players gain more XP and move into new color zones, more powerful zombies start to appear.

Experience points are awarded as follows:

Walker: Each Walker zombie a player kills earns them 1 XP.
Fatty: Killing a Fatty zombie gives the player 1 XP.
Runner: Runners are worth 1 XP each.
Abomination: Abominations grant 5 XP to the player who kills it.
Necromancer: Each Necromancer zombie killed provides the player with 5 XP.

When it comes to determining the winner in a game of Zombicide: Black Plague, it’s more about team survival rather than individual points. The players win if all survivors meet the victory conditions outlined in the selected mission. However, if players wish to add a competitive element, they could consider the survivor with the most experience points at the end of the game as the ‘winner’.

In case of a tie, the game doesn’t provide explicit tie-breaking rules. However, players can devise their own tie-breaker, such as the player who killed the most powerful zombie or the player who completed most of the objectives, etc.

Particular Cases and Exceptions Wait… is that legal?

Zombicide: Black Plague is a cooperative board game where players become survivors of a zombie apocalypse, working together to complete various missions. While the game rules are generally straightforward, there are some rare or special rules, exceptions, and clarifications that are worth noting.

1. Zombie Spawn: One of the most important aspects of the game is the zombie spawn mechanism. While zombies generally spawn at the end of each player’s turn, there are a few exceptions to this rule:

Exception 1: No zombies spawn in the first round of the game.
Exception 2: Zombies do not spawn in a zone where a player is currently located.
Exception 3: In the event of a tie between survivor’s noise tokens, zombies are attracted to the zone with the most survivors.

2. Fatties and Runners: These special zombies each have their own unique rules:

Fatties: Fatties are tougher zombies that require at least 2 damage to be eliminated. They always come with two Walkers.
Runners: Runners are faster zombies that can perform two actions per turn, either moving or attacking.

3. Door Opening: Doors cannot be opened if there are zombies on the other side. Additionally, opening a door generates noise, which can attract more zombies.

4. Equipment and Inventory: There is a limit to how many items a player can carry in their inventory. Items can be traded between players, but only if they are in the same zone. Also, using an item does not generate noise unless specified in the item description.

5. Wounded Players: When a player takes damage, they receive a wound. If a player receives three wounds, their character is eliminated. Healing a wound requires specific equipment or abilities.

6. Dragon Fire: The Dragon Fire is a powerful weapon that can eliminate multiple zombies at once, but it also damages survivors in the targeted zone.

Remember, Zombicide: Black Plague is a game of strategy and cooperation. Always consider other players’ moves and work together to survive the zombie apocalypse!

Tips and tricks Play smarter, not harder!

Zombicide: Black Plague is an engaging cooperative board game that requires players to work together to survive the onslaught of zombies. Here are some strategies, tips, and common mistakes to avoid in order to optimize your gameplay.

Advanced Strategies:

Efficient use of actions: Remember, each survivor has only three actions per turn. Use them wisely to move, search, open doors, or fight. It’s also important to keep in mind that some actions like opening doors or searching can attract zombies.
Special abilities: Each survivor has unique special abilities. Make sure you are familiar with these abilities and use them to your advantage. For example, some survivors can move more freely around the board, while others are more effective in combat.
Equipment management: Properly managing your equipment can be the difference between life and death. Always be on the lookout for better weapons and share resources with your teammates when necessary.

Beginner Tips:

Stick together: It can be tempting to split up and cover more ground, but this can often lead to disaster. Zombies can overwhelm a lone survivor easily, so it’s best to stick together, especially in the early game.
Plan your moves: Always think a few turns ahead. What areas will you need to clear of zombies? Where are the best search spots? Which survivor is best suited to which task? These are all questions you should be asking yourself.
Don’t be afraid to retreat: Sometimes, the best option is to retreat and regroup. Don’t be afraid to fall back if you’re overwhelmed. It’s better to live to fight another day than to lose a survivor.

Common Mistakes to Avoid:

Ignoring the noise mechanic: The noise mechanic in Zombicide: Black Plague is crucial. Noise markers attract zombies, so be mindful of how much noise you’re making and where you’re making it.
Forgetting about the danger level: As survivors kill zombies and gain experience, their danger level increases. This can lead to more zombies spawning. It’s important to balance killing zombies with managing your danger level.
Not using equipment effectively: Every piece of equipment has its uses. Make sure you’re using your equipment effectively and sharing resources with your teammates.

Ways to Optimize Gameplay:

Communication: Communication is key in Zombicide: Black Plague. Make sure everyone is on the same page and working together towards a common goal.
Understanding the game mechanics: The more you understand the game mechanics, the better you’ll be able to strategize and plan your moves. Take the time to familiarize yourself with the rules and mechanics of the game.
Practice: Like any game, the more you play, the better you’ll get. Practice makes perfect!