How to Play

Gloomhaven

1-4 players 60-120 min 8.6 Board Game Geek Rating

In Gloomhaven, adventurers explore a persistent fantasy world through tactical combat scenarios. Players cooperatively battle automated monsters using a unique card system - selecting two cards each turn for initiative and abilities. Careful card management prevents exhaustion. Story choices between missions create branching narratives across multiple sessions, with character progression through experience and loot.

Published 2017

Get Ready

Setup the game with these step-by-step instructions before diving into your turn.

Create characters

Each player chooses a character class and takes its character mat, miniature or standee, ability cards, attack modifier deck, and starting items

Prepare character decks

Each character selects a starting hand of ability cards as listed for their class

Choose a scenario

Select a scenario from the scenario book and read its introduction and special rules

Build the map

Assemble map tiles and overlay tiles exactly as shown in the scenario entry

Place enemies and objects

Place monsters, obstacles, traps, doors, treasures, and objectives as indicated

Monster setup

Use standees and monster stat cards corresponding to the scenario and party size

Prepare monster decks

Shuffle ability decks for each monster type in the scenario

Set element board

Place element infusers on the element board in the waning state

Set scenario level

Determine scenario level based on average party level

Draw battle goals

Each character draws 2 battle goal cards and secretly keeps 1

Resolve pre-scenario effects

Apply any scenario or item effects that occur before the scenario begins

On Your Turn

What you can do during your turn.

Game structure

Scenarios are played over multiple rounds until success or failure

Round sequence

Each round consists of Card Selection, Initiative Ordering, Turns, and End of Round

Card selection

Each character secretly selects 2 ability cards, choosing one top action and one bottom action

Determine initiative

Initiative is set by the number on the leading card for each character and monster type

Taking turns

Figures act in initiative order

Character turn

Perform one top action and one bottom action from the chosen cards in any order

Monster turn

Monsters perform actions shown on their revealed ability card

Movement and actions

Characters may move, attack, heal, loot, or use abilities as allowed by their cards

Attack resolution

Attacks draw from an attack modifier deck and apply damage, effects, and conditions

Element use

Elements may be infused or consumed to enhance abilities

End of round

Discard or lose cards

Used cards are discarded or lost based on their icons

Advance elements

Infused elements move toward inert

Resting

Short rest

Lose 1 random discarded card to recover the rest

Long rest

Skip a turn to recover discarded cards, heal, and choose a lost card

Winning

How to claim victory.

Scenario success

The party wins immediately when the scenario’s goal conditions are met

Scenario failure

The scenario is lost if all characters are exhausted

Exhaustion

A character is exhausted when they cannot play two cards at the start of a round

Campaign progress

Winning a scenario grants experience, gold, and campaign rewards as listed

Replay results

Failed scenarios may be replayed without penalty

watch & Learn

Let the pros teach you with these top videos.

[SPOILERS] Group Play - Gloomhaven - Game 15 - Vibrant Grotto

Session

Facing The Winged Horror! Gloomhaven Scenario 46

Session

Gloomhaven

Get Ready

On Your Turn

Winning

watch & Learn

[SPOILERS] Group Play - Gloomhaven - Game 15 - Vibrant Grotto

Facing The Winged Horror! Gloomhaven Scenario 46

MORE VIDEOS

Gloomhaven's Biggest Conspiracy! Gloominati [1]

Playing Gloomhaven's SECRET Campaign Alone - The Blacksmith and the Bear

The Corridor Of Doom! Gloominati! [3]

The FINAL SCENARIO! Gloomhaven Scenario 51

The Room Of Pain! Gloominati! [4]

The SECRET Gloomhaven Expansion MOST Fans Don't Know About!

This Is Our ULTIMATE FORM! Gloomhaven Scenario 39

Unearthing Hidden Documents! Gloominati! [2]

FULL rules

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