How to Play Luna | Rules & Setup Guide

Get Ready

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

Distribute player components

Each player receives 5 influence points, all components of their color, and places the Overview sheet in front of them

Select start player

Randomly choose a start player and give them the start player figure

Assemble Temple Island

Construct the Temple Island by connecting the 5 frame pieces together

Place Temple boards

Beginning at the Temple Gate, place a number of randomly selected Temple boards equal to the number of players face-up within the frame; place remaining boards face-down in vacant spaces

Remove unused Temple tiles

Remove all Temple tiles from play that do not match colors of Temple boards in use

Distribute starting Temple tiles

Randomly distribute tiles numbered 1-4 (if not removed) among players

Arrange path tiles

Place remaining Temple tiles and Guard tiles on the path around the Temple

Position Guard of Temple

Place the Guard of the Temple figure on the Guard tile of value "6"

Stack Time tokens

Pile up 4 Time tokens (burning candle side up) in the Meditation Room with "1" on bottom; remove top token in 2-player games

Create Council stack

Beginning with start player, players stack their Member of the Council piece on the first space of the Council of Priests

Prepare influence tokens

Put the influence point coins on the board

Arrange Holy Isles

Randomly place the 7 Holy Isle tiles around the Temple Island

Place Favor tokens

Place a number of matching Favor tokens equal to player count on each Holy Isle

Select Moon Priestess figure

Use value "5" for 2-3 players; use value "6" for 4 players

Distribute special figures

Place the Moon Priestess, Master Builder, and Apostate figures on Holy Isles of your choice

Place starting Shrines

Beginning with start player, each player places one Shrine on a different Holy Isle (not Herbal Isle in 2-player games)

Place starting Novices

Players take turns placing 4 sets of 2 Novices on Isles where they have no pieces yet

Collect starting Favors

Each player receives one Favor token from each of the two Isles where they placed nothing

On Your Turn

What you can do during your turn.

Take one action

Beginning with start player and continuing clockwise, each player performs a single action on their turn

Manage Novice status

Novices on Holy Isles are active; after taking actions, place involved Novices next to the Isle as inactive

Return used Favor tokens

When using a Favor token, return it to its matching Isle; you may only hold one of each type

Priest's Favor

Use 2 Novices on one Holy Isle to gain that Isle's Favor token (1 Novice if you own a Shrine there)

Recruit

Use 2 Novices on one Holy Isle to place an additional Novice from your supply next to that Isle; all 3 become inactive

Shrine

Return a Shrine Favor token and use 2 Novices on the Isle with the Master Builder to build a Shrine there

Herbs

Return an Herbal Favor token to reactivate 1-2 inactive Novices on one Holy Isle (not usable on Herbal Isle)

Journey

Move any number of active Novices to any number of Holy Isles; they become inactive

Tide

Return a Tidal Favor token to move any number of active or inactive Novices from any Isles and/or Landing Stage to any Holy Isles; they become/remain inactive

Sailboat

Return a Sailboat Favor token to move 1-2 Novices from one Holy Isle or Landing Stage to another Holy Isle; they remain active

Promotion

Use 2 Novices from one Holy Isle to claim a free, approved Temple tile matching that Isle's symbol (1 Novice with Shrine); place first Novice on tile, deactivate second

Sanctification

Move a claimed, approved Temple tile with its Novice to the matching space inside the Temple

Sneak In

A displaced Novice at the Landing Stage may return a Bribery Favor token to enter any vacant Temple tile without displacing others or gaining influence

Book

Return a Book of Wisdom Favor token to take a Book from an upright opponent Novice and place it under one of your Novices without a book; lay that Novice down on it

Expulsion

Use any number of Novices on the Isle with the Apostate to move him that many Isles clockwise

Virtual Novice

Return Novice Favor token to replace one active Novice during an action (cannot replace Temple tile claimer or regain Novice token)

Council of Priests

Use any number of Novices from one Isle to move your Council piece up that many seats; place on top of others unless reaching final seat (place at bottom)

Meditation

If you don't want to act, flip a Time token; you may still act on future turns

Score Moon Priestess

Count active Novices and Shrines on her Isle; highest total gains large printed number, second gets middle number, third gets lowest (4 players only); ties broken by Council position

Apply Apostate penalty

Count all Novices (active and inactive) on his Isle; each player loses influence equal to their count plus one

Score Temple presence

Gain 1 influence per Novice in Temple; gain 1 additional influence per Novice on a Book of Wisdom

Reactivate Novices

Place all inactive Novices back on their Isles

Stand Temple Novices

All Novices in Temple are stood upright again

Move Moon Priestess and Master Builder

Both move clockwise a number of Isles equal to the large printed number

Move Apostate

Moves clockwise to the next Isle containing at least one Novice