Step 2. Avoid Attack

CHAPTER SiX: COMBAT
ATTACk SPEllS
When you cast an attack spell, it is both a spell
and an attack. First, you must follow all steps for
casting, just like any spell. Then, if the spell is
not countered, you
must resolve the
attack, following the
steps for attacking.
The target of the
attack is always the
same as the target
you chose when
you cast the spell.
Attack spells will
not show a quick
or full action icon
on the attack bar, because the quick or full action
required to make the attack occurs when the spell
is cast. Also, the range of the attack is determined
by the range of the spell, so no range is shown on
the attack bar. They also do not have an attack
name on the bar, because the name of the attack
is the same as the spell.
Example: This Royal Archer has two attacks. Her Longbow
ranged attack is more powerful, but requires a full action and can
only target an enemy that is 1 or 2 zones away. If she can only
take
a quick action, or if she wants to target an enemy in her zone
(range
0), she must use her weaker Knife melee attack.
ZONE ATTACkS
You must pay these costs during the Declare Attack step, or
the attack is canceled.
Most attacks can only affect a single
If you discover that you cannot legally attack your target
object, but some attacks affect
during this step, you may cancel the attack and choose a
everything in an entire zone! These
different target, or even take a completely different action.
are called zone
attacks and are
Remember: If a Flying creature attacks a non-Flying object,
marked with this symbol. The target
it loses Flying until the end of the attack. See Flying on
zone must be in range of the attacker.
page 15.
Zone Attacks always target a zone,
If later during the attack you discover that your target is no
never a creature or object. Therefore, abilities and
longer legal (for example, it has been Pushed or Teleported
traits that allow a target to
out of range), the attack is canceled.
react when it is the target
If the attacker is Dazed, at the end of the Declare Attack Step
of an attack do not apply
he must roll to see if his attack misses. If it misses, skip to
against a Zone Attack.
Step 5: Additional Strikes. See Daze in the Codex.
Zone attacks always
have the Unavoidable
trait, so Defenses have
no effect against them.
A Zone Attack rolls
damage and additional
effectsseparately
STEP 2. AVOID ATTACK
against each creature
and conjuration in the
target zone, whether
friend or foe. Roll for
The defender may now attempt to avoid an attack by using
each
defender,
one
at a time, in any order the
a Defense.
attacker chooses. Each attack must be completed
Important: The defender must decide whether to use
before the next begins.
a Defense (see Defenses page 24) before the attacker
Walls are always considered outside of a zone, so
proceeds to the next step and rolls the dice.
zone attacks never affect them.
If the attack is avoided, skip to Step 5: Additional Strikes.
23
24
CHAPTER SiX: COMBAT
dEFENSES
The gold shield icon represents a Defense attribute.
The large number at the top of the shield shows how
effective the Defense is: You must roll this number
or higher on the effect die to avoid the attack. First,
announce that you are using your Defense, then roll
the die: if you are successful, the attack is completely
avoided (it misses the target). No dice are rolled. The
attack still takes place and costs the attacker its action,
but it has no effect and no attack dice are rolled (skip
to Step 5: Additional Strikes).
Important:
A creature can never use more than one
Defense against a single attack (even if it has multiple
mandatory enchantments that are all revealed when it
is attacked!). You must choose only one of the available
Defenses to use each time the creature is attacked.
NO MELEE
NO RANGED
INFINITE
DEFENSE
always chose to not use the Defense. A mandatory

Block enchantment must be revealed, but you can
always choose to not pay its reveal cost.
Some Defenses do not work against a particular
attack type. If a Defense has a melee icon with a slash
through it, it cannot be used against melee attacks
(only ranged). Similarly, a ranged icon with a slash
means that it cannot be used against ranged attacks.
You cannot use a Defense against an attack that has
the Unavoidable trait.
Some conditions, such as Stun, may prevent a
creature from using their Defense, while others, like
Daze, reduce their effectiveness and apply a penalty
to the Defense roll.
Some equipment and enchantment spells grant a
creature a Defense when attached to them.
Example: The Warlock has 2 Defenses available: A
Force Sword enchantment and Deflection Bracers
equipment. The Timber Wolf in his zone makes a
melee attack against him. Since both of his Defenses
work against melee attacks, he may choose which one
to use to try and avoid the Wolfs attack. He chooses to
use the Bracers and rolls a d12 effect die. After using
his bracers, he must flip the Ready Marker. He wont
be able to use the Bracers again until after the next
Reset Phase.
The small number at the bottom of the Defense icon

shows how many times each round you may use that
Defense. Most Defenses say 1X, which means that
it can be used only once each round. Ready markers
are used to show when the Defense is used. When
the ready marker is face-up, the Defense is ready to
be used.
Some Defenses show an infinity symbol (). These
Defenses can be used one time per attack, but can be
used every time that creature is attacked.
Most Defenses are optional. You can choose to use
them or not. Even with an infinite Defense, you can
STEP 3. ROLL DICE

Now you roll the attack dice and the effect die to see how
much damage was done!
For example, the Aegis trait reduces the number of dice the
attacker rolls. Or, if the defender has the Lightning +2 trait
(it is weak against lightning damage), you might add dice to
the attack (see Damage Types page 26).
Some attacks gain a bonus against targets with particular
traits or subtypes. For example, Samandriel, Angel of Light
has +1 vs.
Nonliving
or
Dark
creatures
listed on her
attack bar. If she is attacking a creature with the Nonliving
trait, or from the Dark school, she adds +1 die to the number
of attack dice rolled, and also adds +1 to the roll of the effect
die.
Important: No matter how many traits or effects apply, the
attacker always gets to roll at least 1 die, unless the target
is Immune to the damage type of the attack.
Add or subtract all of these modifiers from the number of

dice listed in the attack bar. Roll a number of dice equal to
Each attack lists the base number of attack dice to roll when the final, modified attack value. If the attack has any possible
additional effects listed in the attack bar (always shown as
you make that attack. Normally, you get to roll that many
dice. But, there are some traits and abilities that modify the an additional effect box with a d12 icon), also roll the effect
die at the same time, and add or subtract any modifiers to
number of dice you roll.
that roll.
Attack Modifiers
CHAPTER SiX: COMBAT
REAdiNg THE ATTACk diCE

There are three possible results when you roll an
attack die:
No
Damage:
A blank die face indicates a miss.
This result means the target takes zero damage.
Normal
Damage: A numbered face without a
starburst is normal damage. Normal damage is
reduced by the defenders Armor.
Critical Damage: A face with the starburst
indicates critical damage. Critical damage
ignores the defenders Armor.
25
If an object receives a condition, find the matching condition

marker and place it on the creature. If the effect box shows a
condition with a number in front of it, such as 2 Burn, then
place 2 Burn markers on that defender. Sometimes the effect
box will list two different effects for the same die result, such
as Push & Daze. In this case the defender is both Pushed
and receives a Daze condition.
See Effects and Conditions in the sidebar below.
STEP 5. ADDITIONAL STRIKES

Some traits, such as Triplestrike, allow the attacker to make
additional attacks against the same target. Once the first
strike is finished, you get to make these additional strikes.
Each additional strike is resolved, one at a time, following
these 3 steps: Avoid Attack, Roll Dice, Damage and Effects.
Note: When making multiple strikes against the same target,
the defender will still only get one attack with any damage
barrier and one counterstrike!
After the final strike is resolved, proceed to Step 6.
Example: The Beastmaster attacks an enemy

imp with 6 attack dice. The Imp has 2 Armor.
The Beastmaster rolls: The Imp takes a total of
2 damage from the attack: The 2 critical damage
ignores its Armor, while the 1 normal damage is
reduced to less than 1 by the Imps Armor (1 2 =
-1), so it takes no normal damage.
EFFECTS ANd CONdiTiONS
Spells and attacks can cause a variety of

effects and conditions in addition to, or instead of,
doing damage.
An effect is a brief, immediate change in the targets
status. No marker is needed to record an effect. For
example, the target may be Pushed into an adjacent
zone.
A condition is longer-lasting, and is noted by a
marker placed on the target. Condition markers are
two-sided, and you place the side you are using faceup on the target object. For example, if the target is
STEP 4. DAMAGE & EFFECTS
on fire, a Burn marker is placed on it.
All conditions can be duplicated on the same creature.
First, add up the value of all critical hits showing on the attack This may increase the effects. For example, a
dice. This damage ignores Armor, so it is applied directly to
creature with two Weak Condition Markers would
the target. Then, add up the value of all normal hits showing
have -2 to all of its non-spell attacks. Some conditions
and subtract the targets Armor from this total. If the result
cannot be increased in this way. For example, a
is more than zero, the target also suffers that much damage.
creature that has the Stun condition cannot take any
Note: Critical damage always affects the target, even if it has
actions until the end of its next Action Phase. If it
a high Armor value.
gains a second Stun, it is still Incapacitated only until
Mark the damage on the defender. The Mage records his
the end of its next Action Phase.
damage on the status board, while a creature will use damage Most conditions can be removed in a specific way.
counters (see Life and Damage on page 14).
Some conditions are removed automatically, while
others require an escape roll. Escape rolls are always
made at the end of the creatures Action Phase. Roll
the effect die: if the roll matches the numbers on the
additional
effects
condition marker, it is removed. Otherwise, it remains
on the creature until the end of its next Action Phase,
If the attack can cause
when another escape roll can be attempted.
additional effects (shown as
You can look up effects and conditions in the Codex.
an additional effects box on
the attack bar) compare the roll of the d12 effect die to the
additional effect chart in the attack bar.
In the example shown, if a 6 is rolled on the effect die, the target
would
receive the Daze condition. If a 9 is rolled, the target would
receive the
Stun condition. If a 4 is rolled, no additional effects happen.
26
CHAPTER SiX: COMBAT
ReMovIng DAMAge
Some spells and creature abilities can remove
damage from a creature or object. There are two
main types of damage removal effects:
HEALING: Healing immediately removes an
amount of damage from the target. Normally,
you will roll a number of attack dice to determine
the amount of damage you can remove. Healing
ignores the targets Armor. Critical and normal
damage numbers on the attack dice are all the
same when rolling for healing.
REGENERATION: Regeneration heals (removes)
a certain amount of damage every round, during
the Upkeep Phase. For example, a creature with
the Regenerate 2 trait will
remove two damage during
the Upkeep Phase each
round.
When you remove damage
from your Mage, simply move
the damage cube on your
Mage status board down the
appropriate number of spaces.
If you remove damage from
another creature, remove
damage counters from the
creature card. You can never remove more damage
than the creature currently has. Any excess healing or
regeneration is lost.
Important:
Only Living creatures and conjurations
can be healed or regenerate. Nonliving objects
have the Finite Life trait, and cannot remove
damage in this way.
Some creatures have the ability to heal others as
an action they can take. They have an ability bar on
their card showing the healing icon, and the number
of dice they roll when healing. The ability bar may
list a range, which is the range the target must be
from the healer. Example: The Asyran Cleric has
an ability bar with the healing icon. He can target a
creature 0-1 zones away with healing. He rolls 1 die,
and removes that much damage from the creature.
DAMAge MoDIFIeRS
Some objects have a trait that makes them particularly
strong against, or vulnerable to, certain damage
types. For example, a Knight may have the Lightning
+2 trait, while a Demon might have the Flame -2 trait.
Many attacks show a damage type in the attack bar.
For instance, the Lightning Bolt spell has the lightning
icon, so it does lightning damage.
If a creature has a trait that modifies a type of Damage,
the attacker modifies the number of dice rolled by the
value of the trait. Also, if the attack has an additional effect,
you add or subtract the modifier to the effect die roll.
Example: A Knight of Westlock has the lightning +2
trait. If you attack him with the Lightning Bolt spell,
you roll 2 additional attack dice, and add +2 to the
Effect Die roll to see if the knight is Dazed or Stunned.
All damage type modifiers are cumulative, and are
added together during an attack. If the Knight of
Westlock was enchanted with a spell that granted him
the lightning -3 trait, any lightning-based attack would
instead be reduced by 1 die (2 3 = -1).
DAMAge IMMunITy
A small number of objects are completely immune to
a type of damage. For example, the Firebrand Imp
has the Flame Immunity trait. If a creature is immune
to the damage type of an attack, it is completely
unaffected: do not roll any attack dice or the Effect
Die against that defender.
The DAMAge TypeS

Damage type icons which will appear in an attack bar:
FLAME
HYDRO
LIGHT
HEALING
ICON
LIGHTNING
DIReCT DAMAge
Some effects cause direct damage. This damage
is placed directly on the target creature. It is not an
attack, and cannot be prevented or avoided. Armor
and other traits, effects, and abilities cannot modify
or reduce direct damage.
Exception: If an object has Immunity to a damage
type, it is not affected by direct damage of that type.
POISON
PSYCHIC
WIND
Flame: Roaring fire or searing heat,

these attacks can cause 1 or more
Burn conditions.
Hydro: Powerful waves of water,
these attacks can Push or Daze.
Light: Bright, holy radiance that
blinds, these attacks can Daze or
Stun, and may gain a bonus when
attacking Nonliving creatures.
Lightning:
Bolts of shocking
electricity, these attacks can Daze
or Stun and have the Ethereal trait.
Poison: Venom, toxins or diseases.
Poison spells or attacks can cause
conditions like Rot, Weak, or Cripple.
Psychic: Invisible mental or
telepathic effect or assault. Psychic
spells and attacks can cause the
Stun, Daze, or Sleep condition.
Wind: Powerful bursts of air, these
attacks have the Ethereal trait, and
may gain a bonus when attacking
Flying creatures.
CHAPTER SiX: COMBAT
ReMovAl CoSTS
Most condition markers have a small
number inside a gray circle printed on
the marker. This is the removal cost for
that marker. Some spells and abilities
allow you to remove conditions from a
target by paying their removal cost in
mana. If a marker has no removal cost,
you may not remove it using such a spell
or ability. If a target has multiple markers
with the same condition on it, you must
pay to remove all of them to negate their effect.
Note: You cannot simply pay the removal cost to
remove a condition marker, you must use a spell
or ability which allows you to remove them in this
way. For example, the Priestess has a special
ability which allows her to remove conditions from
creatures. The other Mages do not have this built-in
ability and would require a spell such as Purify to
remove certain conditions.
DAMAge BARRIeRS
A damage barrier is a special kind

of protection that gives a defender a
free attack against every attacker
that makes a successful melee
attack against it. This attack occurs
automatically during the Damage
Barrier Step of the attack.
The defender may not use a damage barrier unless
the melee attack was successful. If all of the
attacks were avoided by Defenses, or missed
(because of being Dazed), then the damage barrier
cannot be used. However, if at least one melee
attack rolled dice during the Roll Dice Step, then
the damage barrier must be used.
A damage barrier can attack each attacker once
each round. If an attacker makes multiple strikes,
the damage barrier only gets to attack once after
all the attacks are complete.
Note: A damage barrier works only against melee
attacks. A creature that is the target of a ranged
attack or other non-melee attack does not get to
use its damage barrier.
Damage barrier attacks always have the
Unavoidable trait, and cannot be avoided by a
Defense.
STEP 6. DAMAGE BARRIER
Damage barriers are a special type of attack, and
are neither melee nor ranged attacks. They only
If the attacker made a successful melee attack on the
have 2 steps to follow when attacking: 1) Roll Dice
defender, and the defender has a damage barrier, the
and 2) Damage and Effects. They will not trigger
defender may make a free attack with the damage barrier
another damage barrier
at this time.
attack or a counterstrike.
A successful attack means that it hit the defender and
Damage barriers
rolled dice during the Roll Dice Step. If the attack missed
function automatically.
because of a failed Daze roll, or was avoided by a Defense,
then the damage barrier does not get to attack. If the attacker Effects, spells, and
conditions that modify
made multiple melee attacks, at least one must have been
a creatures attacks,
successful in order to use the damage barrier.
including Stun, Sleep,
The damage barrier attack is resolved using only Step 3: Roll
Daze, Weak, etc. have
Dice, and Step 4: Damage and Effects.
no effect on damage
Ranged attacks ignore this step. See Damage Barriers sidebar.
barriers. Traits
on
the
defending
creature
(the creature the
damage barrier is
attacking) can modify
STEP 7. COUNTERSTRIKE
the damage barrier
attack with traits
1, or
If the attacker made a melee attack on the defender, and the such as Aegis
a
matching
damage
defender has a quick melee attack with the Counterstrike
trait, the defender may choose to counterstrike the attacker at type modifier such as
Flame +2.
this time. This is a free quick melee attack against the attacker.
Each object can be protected by only
The defender may counterstrike, even if the attackers attack Important:
one
damage
barrier
at a time. A new damage
was not successful (did not roll dice because it missed or
barrier cannot be placed on a creature that already
was avoided).
has one in place.
The counterstrike attack is resolved like a normal attack,
starting with Step 1: Declare Attack, except that no
additional counterstrikes occur. You cannot counterstrike a
counterstrike!
Ranged attacks skip this step.
Important: If the defender has a guard marker, it removes
that marker at the end of this step. It does this regardless as
to whether or not the attackers attacks were successful.
See Counterstrike sidebar on page 28.
27
28
CHAPTER SiX: COMBAT
STEP 8. ATTACK ENDS

Once any defending counterstrike is complete, the attack is
over. If the attacker is using an attack with the Sweeping
trait, or if this is a Zone Attack, make the additional attacks
now (starting with Step 1: Declare Attack). If not, the
attacking creatures Action Phase is over.
Since this is the end of the attackers Action Phase, you will
now resolve any conditions on it (such as removing a Daze
or Stun marker).
Important: Any conditions that the attacker gained as a
result of the defenders damage
barrier or counterstrike are not
resolved at the end of this Action
Phase. For example, if the defender
Stunned the attacker with his
damage barrier, leave the Stun
marker on the attacker and do not
remove it at the end of this Action
Phase. In this manner it will remain
in play and will have an effect
on the attacker for his next
Action Phase.
COUNTERSTRIKE
After a creature is melee attacked, it may use
any of its quick
melee attacks that have the
Counterstrike trait to make a free melee attack
against the attacker. This attack occurs during the
Counterstrike Step of the attack.
The defender may counterstrike, even if the
attackers attack was not successful (did not roll
dice because it missed or was avoided).
A creature may make one counterstrike against
each creature that attacks it with a melee attack
(even if the attacker attacks it with
more than one strike during the attack).
Multiple Counterstrike traits on the same
creature do not allow it to make additional
counterstrikes.
Counterstrike is always voluntary. You
are not forced to make the attack if you
dont want to (and in some cases it may
be a disadvantage to attack!).
The Counterstrike can only be a single
quick
action melee attack. You may
not make a full
action
melee attack or a
ranged attack with Counterstrike.
Example: A Darkfenne Hydra has an
attack with the Counterstrike trait. It
chooses to guard, which gives all its quick
melee attacks the Counterstrike trait. It also has
a Retaliate enchantment on it, which also grants
its attacks the Counterstrike trait. If the Hydra
is the target of a melee attack, it still only gets to
make a single quick melee attack, despite having
Counterstrike on it three times.
A Counterstrike follows the normal attack process,
starting with Step 1: Declare Attack, but it always
skips Step 7 (Counterstrike).
CHAPTER SiX: COMBAT
GUARDING
29
igNORiNg gUARdS
In some cases guards can be ignored. If an attacking

A creature may spend a quick action
creature can ignore a guard, it may choose to melee
to guard. Place a guard marker on the
attack a different target in the zone, and it does not
creature. A guard will try to protect its
have to attack the ignored guard.
zone from enemy attacks.
Guarding has 2 benefits:
Important:
If the attacking creature chooses to
Counterstrike: As long as the creature is guarding, all ofattack the guard anyway, that guard may still
its quick melee attacks gain the Counterstrike trait.
counterstrike.
Protect the
Zone: If a creature is in a zone with one
Elusive Creatures: Creatures that have the
or more enemies with guard markers (except for guards
Elusive trait may ignore guards when choosing a
he can ignore; see sidebar), that creature cannot make a
target for an attack. However, if the Elusive creature
melee attack against any object without a guard marker.
attacks a guard, the guard still gets to counterstrike.
Important: Spells and other ranged attacks always ignore
guards! Also, a creature may always attack itself, or an object
Restrained
Guards: A guard that is Restrained
attached to itself, ignoring all guards.
cannot protect its zone, and can be ignored by any
Only melee attacks are affected. If a guard is not melee
attacker.
attacked, it may retain its guard marker until the start of its
next Action Phase. Guard markers are always removed
Incapacitated: Incapacitated creatures cannot
at the beginning of a creatures Action Phase.
guard, and lose any guard marker they have.
Note: Attacking a guard has no effect on the guards action
marker. If an active creature is on guard, it will still be active
Pests: Creatures with the Pest trait are too small
after the attack. This may allow a creature to attack twice in
the same round: once with the guard counterstrike, then later to block other creatures. They may still guard to get
the Counterstrike trait, but they cannot protect their
during its own Action Phase.
zone and can be ignored by any attacker.
Sweeping
Attacks: If a creature makes an attack
with the Sweeping trait, it must attack enemy guards
first, before it can attack any other creatures.
Using Guards
Guarding allows you to protect important creatures or
conjurations. Having a few guards in the same zone as your
Mage, for example, allows you to direct melee attacks to
your guards, instead of your Mage.
Removing Guards
If a guard is the target of a melee attack, you must remove
the guard marker when the attack is complete, at the end of
the Counterstrike Step, even if the attack is
unsuccessful. Once the attack is resolved, the
creature is no longer guarding and loses both
the Counterstrike trait granted by guarding
and the ability to protect its zone.
If your opponent has guards, the easiest
way to get past them is to attack them with
melee attacks. You can use weaker creatures
to engage and occupy the guards, then
move in and attack a vulnerable target with
a more powerful creature. Choosing which
creatures to engage and attack guards with is
an important part of Mage Wars tactics.
Example: The Beastmaster is protected by a
Steelclaw Grizzly that is guarding his zone. The
Warlock wants to attack the Beastmaster with
his powerful Darkpact Slayer demon, but he has
to deal with the guard first. He sends in his pet
werewolf, Goran, to attack the bear (1). Regardless
of how that attack goes, the bear will lose its guard
marker, leaving the Beastmaster open so the demon
can attack later in the round (2).
Flying
Creatures
and
Guards: Guards affect a
flying creature when it makes a melee attack, but
only if it is attacking a non-Flying creature in the
guards zone. Attacks against other Flying creatures
always ignore guards. If a Flying creature guards,
it loses, and cannot gain, the Flying trait for as long
as it has the guard marker.
CHAPTER SiX: COMBAT
30
BROGAN VERSUS THE HYDRA

As heroes are wont to do, Brogan Bloodstone
bravely attacks his enemys strongest asset: the
Darkfenne Hydra! Brogan has been fortified with
two enchantments: Bear Strength and Cobra
Reflexes. The Hydra has also been enchanted with
a Circle of Lightning. Unfortunately, Brogan has
a Daze Condition Marker on him from an earlier
attack.
Step 1: Declare Attack

Brogan announces he will attack the Hydra with his
melee attack Vorpal Blade. First, he has to see if
his Daze condition causes his attack to miss. He
rolls the effect die. What luck! He rolled a 7, so he
attacks normally.
Step 2: Avoid Attack

Thankfully, the Hydra has no defenses, so nothing
happens in this step.
Step 3: Roll Dice

Now Brogan gets to roll the dice for his attack.
Thanks to his powerful Bear Strength enchantment,
Brogan receives 2 additional dice when he attacks
and rolls 6 dice total:
step
4:
damage
and
The 3 critical
damage ignore Armor and score 3
effects
damage. The 2 normal damage would normally be
reduced by the Hydras Armor, but Brogans attack
has the Piercing +3 trait, so he ignores 3 points of
Armor when he attacks! The hydra takes a total of
5 damage: truly a mighty blow! Damage counters
showing 5 damage are placed on the Hydra.
Step 5: Additional Strikes

The Hydra is no doubt relieved that Brogan only
gets 1 strike when he attacks. Nothing happens in
this step.
Step 6: Damage Barrier

Sadly for our hero, the Hydra has a damage barrier!
It automatically blasts Brogan with a powerful
lightning attack. Brogans Cobra Reflexes is
useless here, since damage Barrier attacks have
the Unavoidable trait and ignore defenses. Even
worse, Brogan is vulnerable to lightning attacks
(metal Armor is a great conductor!), and has the
Lightning
+2 trait, so the Hydras damage barrier
is more powerful. The Hydra rolls 4 dice (2 dice +
another 2 dice for the Lightning +2 trait):
The 1 critical damage ignores Brogans powerful

Armor. The 5 normal damage is reduced by
Brogans 4 Armor, and causes 1 more damage.
Brogan receives 2 damage counters. Hes tough
though: 2 damage is nowhere near the 11 it will
take to kill this mighty hero.
The Circle of Lightning also has an additional
effect roll. Because of Brogans Lightning +2 trait
also adds +2 to the Hydras effect die roll. But
Brogan is truly blessed! The Hydra rolls a 1, and
even with the modifier, thats not high enough to
Daze or Stun Brogan.
Step 7: Counterstrike
But like the serpent it is, the Hydra wont let Brogan
off so easy. It has an attack with the Counterstrike
trait, so it gets to swing back at the brave paladin.
This time, though, the Cobra Reflexes applies.
Brogan rolls the Effect Die to see if his Defense
avoids the attack:
Success! He rolled a 10. Even though he

suffers a -2 penalty for his Defenses from the
Daze condition, the Defense works and completely
avoids the Hydras attack (10-2 = 8!). Sadly, he can
only use the Cobra Reflexes once each round, so
he has to flip the Ready Marker to the used side.
For the rest of the round he will have to rely on his
Armor and natural toughness to survive!
CHAPTER SEVEN: MAGES
31
MAGES
Welcome to the advanced part of the rulebook. You should
only read these rules if you have played a few games using
the Apprentice Mode (page 2). When you are ready, upgrade
to using these special rules for Mages and Spellbooks.
There are several differences between Mages in Apprentice
Mode and in the full game. For example: each of the Mages
listed below has their own unique attributes that you should
mark on your status board when you play. Note: They still
start with 10 mana in their mana supply. They also have
their own unique abilities listed below. Youll need to play
with their Ability Cards. Youll find all the information you
need about the Mages abilities and attributes on their Ability
Card, and explained further below. Also, in the full game, we
play on the entire arena, not just half.
The Mage Ability Card

Each Mage comes with his own matching Ability Card
which tells you everything you need to know about your
Mage:
Class: Beastmaster, Priestess, Warlock, or Wizard, each

type of Mage has unique abilities and advantages.
BEASTMASTER
Spellpoints: This is how many points you can spend to

Beastmasters specialize in calling up natures
build your Mages spellbook. See Training on page 35.
allies and empowering them to be
more than mere beasts. Whether
Life: The maximum amount of damage your Mage can

he wants to empower several large
take before being destroyed. Place a status cube on this
beasts or surround his foes with
space of your Mage status board.
swarms of vermin, his enemies will
Armor: Armor reduces the damage from attacks. Most

know what it is to be hunted. He starts
Mages start with no armor.
with 36 Life, a Channeling rate of 9, and
a basic melee attack of 3 attack dice.
Channeling: The amount of mana your Mage generates

each round. Place a status cube on this space of your
Mage status board.
Subclass: Each Mage Ability card has a subclass. Future

Quick Summoning
expansions of the game will provide new subtype
ability cards, each with new abilities and attributes.
The Beastmasters Quick Summoning
ability allows him to cast a level 1 animal
Type
and
Subtype:
All cards have a type
as a quick spell. He can do this just once per round.
that
So, small animals like Bitterwood Foxes, Thunderift Falcons,
determines how it behaves in the arena. Your Mage is a
and Feral Bobcats can be cast as a quick spell. Since it is a quick
creature, which means he may move around the arena
spell, he can move first before casting the spell, allowing
and take actions. Note, for all purposes, your Mage is
him to summon animals on the run! Also,
treated as a Level 6 creature.
as a quick spell, it can be cast
He also has a subtype, which is his race. For
using his Quickcast action,
example, the Wizard is human.
allowing the Beastmaster
Training:
These are the schools of magic the to potentially summon
two creatures in a turn (one
Mage is
with his Quickcast action,
trained in. See Training on page 35.
Abilities: These are special abilities unique to each and one with his regular
Mage. Read the abilities for your Mage carefully, and be
action.) Of course, since
sure to take advantage of them during your game! Note
it is a quick spell, it is also
that some abilities use special markers (Pet, Bloodreaper, vulnerable to things which
and Voltaric Shield).
affect spells, such as the Jinx
enchantment.
Attacks: This information is used when your Mage

attacks another creature.
32

Beastmaster Pet
PRIESTESS
The Beastmaster has the ability to bond an animal to be his

personal Pet. When a friendly animal creature is summoned, The Priestess is Asyras will manifested on
the Beastmaster can make it his Pet. He does this by placing Etheria. She calls the strongest devotees in
his special Pet marker on the animal and paying mana
Westlock to her side, and keeps them fighting
equal to the animals Level+1. This is done
through Asyras blessing. Whether by
immediately at the time the animal is
surviving the enemys most brutal assaults
summoned.
or bringing divine vengeance upon
her foes, the Priestess will bring
only victory. She starts with 32
For example, if a friendly Timber
Life, a Channeling rate of 10, and
Wolf is summoned, the Beastmaster
a basic melee attack of 3 attack dice.
can choose to make it is his Pet.
Since the Timber Wolf is a Level 2
creature, this will cost him 3 mana
Divine Reward
to make it his Pet (Level 2 + 1 = 3
mana).
Asyra rewards the Priestess each
round for healing and protecting her
forces. Once per round, whenever
Note: The Pet marker can be assigned to any new friendly the Priestess casts and resolves a
animal when it comes into play, regardless as to how it was Holy incantation spell, or reveals a
summoned. For example, it might have been summoned by Holy enchantment spell, she gains 1 Life.
the Beastmasters Lair.
This ability is fairly self-explanatory, and generally the
The Pet marker makes the animal larger and stronger than Priestess will be casting lots of Holy spells, which will help
normal, and gives the
heal and protect her forces. Note: She does not gain Life for
creature these bonuses: It
casting creature, conjuration, equipment, or attack spells.
gains the Melee +1 trait,
and also gains Armor +1
Note: This Life gain is different from healing damage. Life
and Life +3. Because the
is the total amount of damage
Pet is a ferocious protector
you can take before being
of his master, the Pet also
destroyed. So, by gaining Life,
gains an additional Melee
the Priestess has permanently
+1 trait when in the same
made herself stronger, making
zone as his Beastmaster.
her harder to destroy. This
is superior to simply trying
to heal herself after suffering
The Beastmaster can
damage. Healing will remove
only have one Pet at a
damage, but it does not restore or increase your Life total.
time, and thus has only
one Pet marker. The Pet
marker stays with the
animal, until the animal is
destroyed, at which point
the Pet marker returns to
the Beastmaster, where it can be used to assign to a new
animal later.
Restore
The Priestess has the ability to restore and renew her
creatures; quenching fires, removing poisons, or taking
away the effects of stunning lightning bolts. She can remove
condition markers from creatures, such as Burn, Daze, Stun,
Rot, Weak, Cripple, and Sleep.
Note: the Pet marker can only be assigned to a non-Legendary

This ability basically gives the Priestess two repeatable spells
animal creature.
she can cast:
Battle Skill
The Beastmaster has some battle
expertise and is fairly strong. Thus
he has the Melee +1 trait. This
means he adds 1 to the attack dice
when he makes a melee attack.
This includes his basic melee attack,
which means he actually rolls 4 dice
when he uses his basic melee attack.
1) The first is a quick spell (requires

a quick action to cast it), which
targets a creature within 1 zone
of the Priestess and removes one
condition marker on that creature
by paying its removal cost.
2) The second is a full spell (requires
a full action to cast it), which targets
a creature within 1 zone of the
Priestess and removes any number

of conditions on that creature by paying the sum of all of
their removal costs.
She can cast these spells as if the spell
cards for them were always in her hand
as part of her planned spells each round.
Unlike a spell card, it is not discarded
after it is cast. She can cast them again
and again, as often as she is able.
33
equal to the demons Level+1. This is done

immediately at the time the demon is
summoned. The Warlock moves his
Life status marker down on his Mage
Status Board to record the amount of
Life he has lost.
For example, if a friendly Darkpact

Slayer is summoned, the Warlock can choose
to make it is his Bloodreaper. Since the Darkpact
The removal cost for each condition is
Slayer is a Level 3 creature, this will cost him 4 Life to make it his
printed on the marker as a small black number inside a gray Bloodreaper (Level 3 + 1 = 4 Life).
circle. For example: the removal cost for Stun = 4.
WARLOCK
Born of pain and determination, the
Warlock aligned himself with demons.
A master of fire, he will incinerate
those who stand against him.
Through vile blood rituals he
will toy with his opponents,
debilitating them with curses,
and engaging in lethal demonic
pacts. Perhaps it is his day to die,
but the Warlock knows well
that he will see his enemys last
breath before his own escapes
his lips. He starts with 38 Life, a
Channeling rate of 9, and a basic
melee attack of 3 attack dice.
Note: This loss of life is different from receiving damage.

Life is the total amount of damage you can take before being
destroyed. So, by losing Life, the Warlock has permanently
weakened himself, making himself easier to be destroyed.
Healing damage will remove damage, but it does not restore
or increase your Life total.
Note: The Bloodreaper marker can be assigned to any new
friendly demon when it comes into play, regardless as to
how it was summoned. For example, it might have been
summoned by the Warlocks Pentagram.
The Bloodreaper marker turns the demon into a ferocious

predator. It has a savage lust for blood, and will actively seek
out any bleeding creature and attack it in a maniacal frenzy.
The Bloodreaper gains the Bloodthirsty +2 trait. This
means that anytime it attacks a damaged Living creature,
it gains 2 additional attack dice. Furthermore, because of
its lust for blood, it must
choose to attack a damaged
Living creature in its zone,
if there is one. This gives an
Curseweaving
opportunity for opponents
to lure the Bloodreaper
Curse weaving enables the
into attacking a different
Warlocktore-usecurse
enchantments, after the creature target, perhaps one who is
less important, or that has a
they target is slain. Once per
Defense.
round, if a creature that you
have a curse on is destroyed,
you can return that curse to your
spellbook rather than put it in
Additionally, this special
the discard pile.
blood pact, allows the
Warlock to benefit from
the bloodletting by stealing
You can only return one curse
some of the life force of
per round to your spellbook.
the Bloodreapers victim.
So, if the creature that dies has 3
The first time each round that the Bloodreaper attacks and
of your curses on it, you must choose only one of them to
successfully damages a Living creature, the Warlock may
return to your spellbook. Or if several creatures die in the
heal up to 2 damage from himself. If he has no damage to
same round, each having one or more of your curses on
remove, then he does not gain any benefit from that attack.
them, you still can only salvage just one curse.
The Warlock can only have one Bloodreaper at a time and
thus has only one Bloodreaper marker. The Bloodreaper
The Warlock is able to sacrifice some of his life to form a
marker stays with the demon until it is destroyed. At this
blood pact with one of his summoned demons.
point, the Bloodreaper marker returns to the Warlock,
allowing him to assign it to a new demon later. Note that
When a friendly demon creature is summoned, the Warlock each new Bloodreaper reduces the Warlocks Life further and while the Warlock has many ways to heal, it is much
can make it his Bloodreaper. He does this by placing his
special Bloodreaper marker on the demon, and losing life harder for him to gain Life.
Bloodreaper
34

Note: The Bloodreaper marker can only be assigned to a
non-Legendary demon creature.
used up (the unused points of damage reduction do not carry

over into a future attack).
Battle Skill
Note that Voltaric Shield only protects against attacks, not

from direct damage. The Wizard can still receive damage
from effects which deal direct damage, such as the Ghoul
Rot curse, burn damage from a Burn condition, or spells like
Drain Life.
The Warlock is a strong frontline fighter. Thus he has the

Melee +1 trait. This means he adds 1 to the
attack dice when he makes a melee attack.
This includes his basic melee attack, which
means he actually rolls 4 dice when he
uses his basic melee attack.
WIZARD
Wizards believe that true
strength in magic comes from
the mysterious plane of Voltari.
With their understanding of
the arcane they can flexibly use
any of the elements to defeat
their opponents. Through their
control of mana, they increase
their own supply while limiting
their opponents. As a distraction,
they summon from a variety of
fantastic and bizarre creatures,
and will bind themselves to an
elemental school. They understand
that battles are won with tactics, not
brute force. He starts with 32 Life,
a Channeling rate of 10, and a basic
melee attack of 3 attack dice.
The shields power has a very

short duration - whether the
shield is used or not that
round, it is always turned
off at the end of the round.
The Mage will still have to
spend 2 mana to reactivate it
for the next round.
Arcane Zap
The Wizard is the only Mage with his own built-in magical
attack spell, Arcane Zap. This is a very simple and useful
attack spell, producing a small bolt of eldritch power. The
Wizard uses it just as if he had chosen an attack spell card
for his hand during the planning phase called Arcane Zap.
Arcane Zap can be cast just once each game round. Unlike
a card spell, it is not discarded after it is cast. He can use it
again every round! Arcane Zap costs 1 mana each time it is
cast. The Wizard subtracts this from his mana supply just
like casting any spell.
It is a ranged attack, with a range of 0-1 zones. So, the
Wizard can target any creature or conjuration in his zone, or
one zone away.
The attack deals 3 dice of damage. It also has the Ethereal
trait, which makes it effective against Incorporeal objects like
the Whirling Spirit or a Fog Bank.
Voltaric Shield
The Wizard has a built-in Mana Shield, an invisible energy
field that surrounds and protects him, stopping damage from
enemy attacks. The shield is either turned on or off, and
a shield marker is used to keep track of this (one side says
on, and the other off).
The Voltaric Shield can be activated (turned on) by paying
2 mana during the Upkeep Phase at the beginning of each
game round. If activated, simply flip the shield marker to
the on side. Now the Wizard has some protection for the
coming game round.
Because it is a quick spell, the Wizard uses a quick action to

cast it, which means it can be used with his normal action
or with his Quickcast action. Of course, the fact that Arcane
Zap is a spell also means that it can be countered or affected
by spells like Jinx.
Note: All of these abilities are explained in greater

The Shield prevents 3 damage from the very first attack
detail online at magewars.com
which deals damage to the Mage each round. As soon as that
attack is complete, the shield is used up and is flipped to its
off side. The attack has to deal at least one point of damage
to the Wizard in order to trigger and use the shield, and this
damage is counted after armor has already taken effect. If
the attack deals no damage to the Wizard (for example, all
damage is absorbed by armor, or the attack is blocked by a
Defense), the shield is not used. If the attack deals only 1 or 2
damage, all of that damage is prevented, but the shield is still
CHAPTER EigHT: SPELLBOOKS
SPELLBOOKS
35
Training
Your Mage is trained in one or more schools of magic. These
are the spells that are easiest for your Mage to learn. If you
add a spell from a trained school into your spellbook, you
must spend spell points equal to the Level of the spell.
If you add a spell from a school your Mage is not trained
in, you must spend Spell Points equal to twice the Level of
the spell.
Some spells belong to more than one school of magic. Spells
which belong to multiple schools with an OR symbol
joining the schools allow you to choose which school you
must use for that spell. Their spell Level is the Level listed
for any of those schools. For example, the Elemental Wand spell
is a Level 2 spell, and is either Earth, Water, Air, or Fire. So, a
Warlock can treat it as a Fire spell and add it to his spellbook for
just 2 spell points, since he is trained in Fire magic.
Some spells belong to several schools and have an & symbol
joining the schools. For these spells, you must pay the cost
for all the schools. The Level for these spells is the sum of all
the Levels for each school listed.
For example; Adramelech is both
a Level 2 Fire spell and a Level 4
Dark spell. Therefore, Adramelech
is a Level 6 spell (2 Fire + 4 Dark).
The Wizard, who is trained in Fire
magic, but not Dark magic, would
To truly experience Mage Wars, you need to create your
have to pay a total of 10 spell points
own unique spellbook. Your custom spellbook includes the
to add this demon to his
spells you choose, so you can explore many different Mage
spellbook [(4 X 2) Dark +
Wars strategies.
(2) Fire]. The Warlock, who
Every player has his own library of spells: all of the spell
trained in both Dark and
cards that you have in your collection. When you design your
Fire schools, would only pay
own spellbook, you can use any of the cards in your library.
6 spell points.
You might design and have several different spellbooks
Some Mages are opposed
in your library, perhaps several different spellbooks for
to particular schools of
each Mage.
magic. These are listed
Your Mages ability card tells you what limitations you must
under the training section
follow when you build your spellbook. This information is
of their ability card. For
presented at the top of the card and includes:
example, the Warlock
Maximum Spell points
must pay three times the
Training
spell points to add a Holy
spell to his spellbook.
Maximum
spell
points
When you build your spellbook, you get to spend your

Mages spell points to purchase the spell cards you want
to include. You may not spend more Spell Points than the
Maximum Spell Point total listed on your Ability Card.
Every spell in Mage Wars has a spell Level. This value is
a rough indicator of how powerful that spell is and how
difficult it is to cast. Each spell is also part of one or more
schools of magic.
The number of spell points you must spend to add a spell to
your spellbook is determined by the spell Level, and which
schools of magic your Mage is trained in.
Example: The Beastmaster

is trained in Nature Magic.
He may purchase a Level
3 Nature spell for 3 Spell
Points. He is not trained in War magic, so he would have to pay 6
Spell Points to add a Level 3 War spell. Because of the destructive
nature of fire, the Beastmaster is opposed to the Fire school. He
pays 3 times the cost for Fire spells (see the training section of
his ability card). He must pay 9 Spell Points to add a Level 3 Fire
Spell.
36
BUILDING YOUR
FIRST SPELLBOOK
Here are a few useful spells that you might consider
including in your first spellbook:
Equipment: Mage Wand, Elemental Wand,
Moonglow Amulet, a Weapon, some Armor, and
maybe a spell that gives you a Defense.
Incantations: Dispel, Minor Heal, Dissolve, and
a few utility spells like Force Push, Teleport,
Charge, or Knockdown.
Conjurations: A Spawnpoint, Mana Crystals or
Mana Flowers, and perhaps a couple Walls.
Creatures:
Everyone can use a little creature
support! Try a few low Level creatures and at
least one larger one.
Attacks: Include a few attack spells. A zone
attack spell can be very powerful at the right
moment!
Enchantments: Some augmenting spells (such
as Rhino Hide or Bear Strength), and some that
control or hamper enemy creatures.
How Many Copies Of A Spell

Can I Have In My Spellbook?
Since each spell can be used only once during the game, you
may want to include additional copies of key spells. You
may include up to 6 copies of each Level 1 spell in your
spellbook, and up to 4 copies of all higher-level spells.
spell
traits that
affect Your
spellbook
Some spell traits affect how you may add those spells to your
spellbook. These traits are colored grey on the spell cards, to
help you identify them when building your spellbook. These
traits normally have no affect during the game, and can be
ignored during play.
Mage Class Only: Some spells are restricted to a specific
class of Mage. You may not include these spells in your
spellbook unless you are playing that type of Mage. For
example, the Lair says Beastmaster Only, so a Priestess can
never include a Lair in her spellbook.
School of Magic Only: Some spells can only be cast by a
Mage that is trained in a specific school of magic. You may
only include these spells if the Mage you are playing has the
proper training. For example, the Temple of Asyra says Holy
Mage Only, so only Mages trained in Holy magic, like the
Priestess, can use this spell.
Epic Spells: Spells that have the Epic trait are extremely
difficult to master, even though they may have a low spell
Level. You may only have 1 copy of each Epic spell in your
spell book.
Novice Spells: These are relatively simple spells with a low
mana cost and limited effect, but they can be very useful to
a Mage. Any Mage may purchase any Novice spell for just 1
spell point, regardless of school.
THE SCHOOLS OF MAGIC

There are six primary or major schools of magic, and four elemental or minor schools:
THE PRIMARY SCHOOLS

Dark School
Mind School
With a word, curses wither enemies to

dust. Their lifeblood pours forth, and with
Dark magic one drinks of this river. Under
the weight of pestilence, pain, and death
enemies will buckle. Demons from deep
within Etheria answer the call of the blood rites. Ravenous
vampires and animate corpses stir from their graves.
Life enforces no laws here. For the price of a mere soul,
unbreakable pacts signed in blood grant ultimate power.
True power originates within the self.

Voltari can move objects, but the mind
can move mountains. Create perfect
illusions in which to trap foes. Forge
weapons of pure thought. Turn enemies
into allies by your force of will. When power comes from
within, one can never be disarmed.
Arcane School
Holy School
Darkness recoils from the light of Asyra.
Disciples of Holy magic wield a cleansing
light. When turned upon the righteous they
bolster their strength, steel their resolve,
and bind their wounds. Turned against
the impure, it is a pure white light burning
away all of their iniquity. Valorous soldiers
and virtuous angels answer the prayers. When standing
before this holy assembly is there any doubt of Asyras
grace?
Voltari is magic. A simple truth taking

lifetimes to master. By watching the
flows of magic, one can see the Arcane.
Then bend the tides of mana. A subtle
magic weaving its way though all
others. This is the cornerstone upon
which all other schools build. With this understanding
one can sap their mana and ignore their spells. Arcane
allows you to summon strange unearthly beasts forged
by arcane manipulation. Arcane is the foundation, and
when it moves all others tremble.
War School
Nature School
The power of Nature is unmatched even
unto other realms. Become one with its fury
and mete out its vengeance. Predators of
the land heed the call. Hunting wolf packs
and giant bears from the North. Great cats
and vicious apes from the South. With
Natures blessings, allies become stronger, faster, and
more ferocious. Nature is true power, raw and unfettered.
Strife, conflict, struggle: These are the

forces that fuel War magic. Through
struggle one becomes inured to its
hardships, stronger than legions, and
armed for destruction. Formations of
soldiers answer the call to arms. Gifts
of ancient armors and deadly weapons will adorn one
trained in War. So armed, stride into the crucible of war,
confident in dominance.
THE ELEMENTAL SCHOOLS

Earth School
Air School
With the steadfast endurance of stone be

armed. Command rock and metal to obey.
Forge power from the very strength of earth.
Who can move the mountains?
Reach into the sky and pull down thunder

and lighting. Summon the forces of the
gale to sunder the enemy. Air is invisible,
forceful, and fickle. It strikes with the rage
of a tornado, then instantly calms into
a gentle breeze. Who can contain the
hurricane?
Water School
Fire School
Train in the infinite malleability of water.

Water is a crashing wave, a frozen lake,
and a steaming geyser. It is inevitable in its
persistence, and unpredictable in its method.
Who can hold back the flood?
A spark, a flame, a firestorm. Fire is

an insatiable hunger, an all consuming
force. It is a hunger to be unleashed on a
docile world. Flames will consume all on
the path, and eventually the path as well.
Who can withstand the inferno?
37
38

STARTING SPELLBOOKS
After youve played a few Apprentice Mode games and you feel ready, we recommend using these new spellbooks. They are
not recommended for first time players. These spellbooks were designed using the rules for building spellbooks, so they are
legal for any games. You can modify or tweak these basic spellbooks, or design your own from scratch, whichever you
prefer! Note: You can build all four of these spellbooks at once with the spell cards provided.
EquipmEnT
COnjuraTiOnS
CrEaTurES
EnChanTmEnTS
inCanTaTiOnS
aTTaCkS
BEASTMASTER
WARLOCK
WIZARD
PRIESTESS
1 Bearskin Armor
1 Elemental Cloak
1 Mage Wand
1 Regrowth Belt
1 Ring of Beasts
1 Staff of Beasts
1 Demonhide Armor
1 Elemental Wand
1 Fireshaper Ring
1 Helm of Fear
1 Lash of Hellfire
1 Leather Gloves
1 Molochs Torment
1 Ring of Curses
1 Arcane Ring
1 Dragonscale Hauberk
1 Elemental Wand
1 Leather Boots
1 Mage Wand
1 Moonglow Amulet
1 Staff of the Arcanum
1 Suppression Cloak
1 Crown of Protection
1 Dawnbreaker Ring
1 Deflection Bracers
1 Ivarium Longbow
1 Mage Wand
1 Moonglow Amulet
1 Ring of Asyra
1 Staff of Asyra
1 Wind Wyvern Hide
1 Lair
3 Mana Flower
1 Mohktari
1 Rajans Fury
3 Tanglevine
1 Tooth & Nail
2 Wall of Thorns
1 Battleforge
2 Mana Crystal
1 Pentagram
2 Wall of Fire
2 Mana Crystal
1 Mana Siphon
2 Poison Gas Cloud
1 Hand of Bim-Shalla
2 Mana Flower
1 Temple of Asyra
3 Bitterwood Fox
1 Cervere, The Forest Shadow
1 Emerald Tegu
2 Feral Bobcat
1 Mountain Gorilla
1 Redclaw, Alpha Male
1 Sosruko, Ferret Companion
1 Steelclaw Grizzly
2 Thunderift Falcon
3 Timber Wolf
1 Adramelech, Lord of Fire

2 Darkfenne Bat
2 Darkpact Slayer
2 Firebrand Imp
2 Flaming Hellion
1 Goran, Werewolf Pet
1 Malacoda
1 Necropian Vampiress
2 Skeletal Sentry
2 Blue Gremlin
1 Darkfenne Hydra
1 Gorgon Archer
1 Huginn, Raven Familiar
2 Mana Leech
1 Moonglow Faerie
1 Stonegaze Basilisk
3 Asyran Cleric
1 Brogan Bloodstone
1 Gray Angel
1 Highland Unicorn
2 Knight of Westlock
2 Royal Archer
1 Valshalla, Lightning Angel
2 Bear Strength
1 Block
1 Bull Endurance
1 Cheetah Speed
1 Cobra Reflexes
1 Eagle Wings
1 Marked for Death
1 Mongoose Agility
1 Nullify
1 Regrowth
1 Retaliate
2 Rhino Hide
1 Agony
1 Bear Strength
1 Chains of Agony
1 Death Link
2 Enfeeble
1 Force Orb
2 Ghoul Rot
1 Hellfire Trap
1 Magebane
1 Maim Wings
1 Marked for Death
1 Poisoned Blood
1 Vampirism
1 Block
1 Circle of Lightning
2 Decoy
2 Essence Drain
1 Force Hold
1 Force Sword
1 Harmonize
1 Jinx
2 Nullify
1 Reverse Attack
1 Reverse Magic
1 Teleport Trap
2 Block
1 Bull Endurance
1 Divine Intervention
2 Divine Protection
1 Hawkeye
1 Nullify
2 Pacify
1 Regrowth
1 Retaliate
1 Rhino Hide
1 Sacred Ground
1 Battle Fury
2 Call of the Wild
1 Charge
2 Dispel
1 Dissolve
1 Force Push
1 Group Heal
1 Heal
1 Knockdown
2 Minor Heal
1 Piercing Strike
1 Perfect Strike
1 Rouse the Beast
1 Shift Enchantment
1 Dispel
1 Drain Life
1 Evade
2 Explode
1 Force Push
1 Seeking Dispel
1 Teleport
2 Vampiric Strike
1 Banish
1 Dispel
2 Dissolve
1 Drain Power
2 Minor Heal
1 Purge Magic
2 Seeking Dispel
1 Sleep
1 Steal Enchantment
2 Teleport
1 Dispel
2 Dissolve
1 Force Push
1 Group Heal
2 Heal
1 Lay Hands
1 Minor Heal
1 Perfect Strike
1 Purge Magic
1 Purify
1 Resurrection
1 Sleep
2 Geyser
1 Jet Stream
2 Fireball
1 Firestorm
2 Flameblast
1 Ring of Fire
1 Chain Lightning
1 Electrify
2 Jet Stream
3 Lightning Bolt
1 Thunderbolt
1 Blinding Flash
2 Pillar of Light
CHAPTER NiNE: MULTIPLAYER
39
MULTIPLAYER
Mage Wars was designed for two players, but you can easily information between players on the same team, because they
play with more. Playing with four players at once adds a lot still must follow rules as if the team were a single player.
of fun and exciting new tactics to the game. You can play
For example, that team can only have one copy of a unique
as teams, or in a grand free-for-all, the choice is up to you! spell in play, and that team can only have one copy of an
Playing with more players requires a few changes to the
enchantment on the same target (hidden or revealed).
game:
The arena included in this basic set is big enough for a 4
Passing Initiative: During the Initiative Phase, pass the
player team game. Each team should start with both Mages
initiative marker to the player on your left. If this is a team in the same zone, in opposite corners from each other.
game, be sure to be sitting so that the initiative will go back
and forth between each team (dont allow teams to retain the
It is best if you use unique colors for action markers for
initiative 2 players in a row).
each player. You can use tokens for the additional colors. A
multiplayer expansion pack will be available soon.
Turn Order: During the Action Stage, turns pass clockwise
Free-For-All Games: During a free-for-all game, the winner
starting with the player who has the initiative. When it is
is the last Mage standing. You are free to negotiate and make
your turn to take an Action Phase, you may pass if any of
the other players has more active creatures in the arena thandeals, but there is no rule that prevents you from breaking
them! Feel free to backstab, double-cross, or otherwise
you.
manipulate your opponents so you can claim supremacy in
Team Games: Make sure to sit so that the teams are sitting the arena!
in alternating positions: team A, team B, team A, team B,
etc. That way each team will have a chance to react, rather Note: The arena in this basic set is a little small for a freethan an entire team taking their Action Phases back-to-back. for-all game. We recommend using a double-sized arena (4
zones by 6 zones). You can join another players arena to
To win a team game, your team must eliminate all of the
yours, or purchase a second arena map, or use tiles or squares
opposing teams Mages.
to expand the existing arena.
When playing a team game, all players on one side are treated
as a single player controlling multiple Mages. Be sure to share
40
CHAPTER TEN: CODEX
CODEX
Activate
Condition
When you choose to take an Action Phase with a creature you activate it. Conditions are various states that can occur for objects, and are indicated
Flip its action marker over, and remove any guard marker on it.
with markers placed on the object. All conditions stack and their effects are
cumulative. See Effects & Conditions on page 25.
Aegis X
All attacks made against this object subtract X attack dice before rolling. Controller
Attacks cannot be reduced below 1 die. The Aegis trait does not stack or Each spell or object in the game is controlled by the player who cast it. The
combine with other Aegis traits. If an object acquires more than one Aegis controller may use and act with that object, and makes all decisions and
trait, use only the highest one. This trait cannot reduce an attack below one
choices for that spell or any abilities that object may have.
die.
Armor
Corporeal
During an attack, Armor is subtracted from the normal

damage rolled on the attack dice. It does not reduce
critical damage. If an objects armor icon has a red slash
across it, that object cannot have armor at any time.
Corporeal objects are normal, physical objects. All creatures and

conjurations are Corporeal, unless they have the Incorporeal trait.
Counter
Modifies an Armor attribute by +/- X. Armor cannot be reduced below 0.
A spell which has been countered does not resolve. It is destroyed and
goes to the discard pile. All costs and actions spent to cast the spell are lost,
unless otherwise noted..
Bashed
Counterstrike
Armor +/- X
When a creature is Pushed into a wall with the Passage Blocked trait it is If a creature is the defender of a melee attack, and it has a quick action
Bashed. It receives an Unavoidable attack of 3 attack dice of damage. The melee attack with the Counterstrike trait, it may use that attack against
walls around the arena have the Passage Blocked trait.
the attacker during the Counterstrike Step of the attack. See Counterstrike
on page 28.
Blocks LoS
This Wall blocks Line of Sight. You cannot target an
object or a zone if the Line of Sight is blocked. See
LoS on page 17.
Cripple
This is a Poison condition. Creature is Restrained. At

the end of each of its Action Phases, Crippled creature
may attempt an escape roll: on a roll of 7 or higher,
Bloodthirsty +X
remove Cripple. Cripple has a removal cost of 4.
This creature is a savage predator with a lust for blood. This creature gainsCannot affect conjurations.
+X attack dice when it makes a melee attack against a Living creature
with 1 or more damage. If the attack makes multiple attacks against the Critical Damage
same or different objects, it gains this bonus only for the first attack it can
make with this bonus. If there is a damaged Living enemy creature in the Critical damage bypasses Armor (Armor does not reduce the damage dealt).
Bloodthirsty creatures zone during its Action Phase, it must melee attack Critical damage is shown as numbers inside a starburst on the attack dice.
that creature (if possible). If there is more than one choice, or it has also
DamageBarrier
been Taunted, it can choose which creature to attack.
A damage barrier surrounds an object and makes an
automatic attack against each enemy which makes
a melee attack against the object it surrounds. See
Burn
Damage Barriers on page 27.
Object is on fire. This is a Flame condition. Each
Upkeep Phase, roll 1 attack die of direct damage
DamageType
for each Burn marker on each object. On a roll of
0, remove that Burn marker. Burn markers have a
Damage can belong to a certain type - such as flame or
removal cost of 2.
lightning. See Damage Types on page 26.
Burnproof
DamageType
+/-
Attacks against this object, which match this damage type, modify the
Cannot gain the Burn condition. May be vulnerable to flame damage, but
number of attack dice rolled by X, and modify the effect die roll by X.
cannot burn. All Incorporeal objects are Burnproof.
Damage type modifiers are cumulative. An attack cannot be reduced below
1 die. See Damage Modifiers on page 26.
Cancel
If a spell, attack, or effect is canceled, it stops and has no further effect.
Channeling
Daze
Creature is disoriented and/or blinded. Whenever this

creature makes an attack, roll the effect die. This is
Some objects have a Channeling attribute, which is
normally done at the end of the Declare Attack Step,
how much mana they collect each round during the
but if the attack skips that step, then roll as soon as the
Channeling Phase.
attack begins. If the result is 7 or higher, the attack is
resolved normally. If the result is 6 or less, the attack
Channeling +/- X
misses its target and is considered to have been avoided (even if the
Modifies a creatures Channeling attribute by +/- X. Channeling cannot be attack is Unavoidable). If it makes a Zone Attack, only check once: the
reduced below 0. Modifies only existing Channeling, it has no effect an
entire attack either fails or succeeds normally. If a creature has more than
object without a Channeling attribute.
one Daze on it, roll only one time to see if the creature misses. In addition,
the Dazed creature suffers a -2 penalty to all Defense rolls for each Daze
Charge +X
marker it has. All Daze markers are removed at the end of the creatures
Action Phase. Daze has a removal cost of 2. Conjurations cannot be
Creature gains +X attack dice for its very next melee attack, if it makes that
attack immediately after it takes a move action, and moves at least 1 zone.Dazed.
Climbing
Creature may take a special full action to climb over any Corporeal wall
and move into the adjacent zone. If the wall has the Passage Attacks trait, Defender
it attacks the creature before it moves.
A creature or conjuration which is being attacked. They may not necessarily
be the target of that attack (see Zone Attack in the Codex).
CHAPTER TEN: CODEX

Defense
Flying
Some objects have a Defense attribute, which

represents an ability to avoid an attack. The number
on the Defense is what you must roll, or higher, on
1d12, to successfully avoid an attack. See Defenses
on page 24.
See Flying Creatures on page 15.
Defrost
41
Friendly
A friendly object is one which is currently controlled by the player, or
players on his team (in a multi-player game).
Full Action
During their Action Phase, if a creature does not take

This is a trait of flame attacks. It will be defined in a future expansion of the
a move action, it can take a full action. Full actions
game in which frost damage is introduced.
include casting full spells, or making full action
attacks (which are marked on the creature card with a
Destroyed
special full action (hourglass) icon). See Full Actions
A destroyed object is removed from play and is placed in the owners
on page 11.
discard pile. Creatures and conjurations are destroyed when the amount
of damage on them is equal to or greater than their Life total. Objects can
Full Spell
also be destroyed when a specific spell or effect destroys them.
A full spell requires a full action to cast it. It has the full action (hourglass)
icon on its casting line, just to the right of its casting cost.
Direct Damage
Damage that is put directly on a creature. The damage is critical (bypasses
Guarding
armor). It is not considered an attack, and the creature cannot use a Defense
As a quick action a creature can choose to guard, in
to avoid the damage. See Direct Damage on page 26.
order to protect his zone and gain a counterstrike. See
Guarding on page 29.
Discard Pile
Each player has his own discard pile where he places destroyed objects
or discarded spells after they are cast. See Discarding Spells on page 13.Heal
Healing removes damage from Living creatures and
conjurations. See Removing Damage on page 26.
Doublestrike
This attack makes a second attack against the same target as part of the
Hidden Enchantment
same attack action. The additional attack occurs during the Additional
All enchantments are cast face-down and are kept hidden
Strikes Step.
from your opponent. Enchantments all have a casting
cost of 2 mana, printed next to the hidden (closed eye)
Effect Die
icon on their spell card. When they are revealed (turned
The 12-sided die is called the effect die, and it is used
face-up), their controller pays their reveal cost. See
to roll for additional effects for attacks, as well as
Enchantments on page 18.
escape rolls, or other rolls.
Elusive
Hinder
This creature is quick and slippery. This creature

If a creature begins its Action Phase in a zone with any enemy creatures, it
ignores enemy creatures. Enemy creatures cannot hinder its movement. It is hindered and may only move 1 zone during its Action Phase (even if it
is not required to attack enemy guards when making a melee attack.
has the Fast trait). If it moves into a zone occupied by an enemy creature,
it is hindered, and must stop and cannot take any more move actions this
Action Phase. Incapacitated, Restrained, or Pest creatures cannot hinder
Enemy
An enemy object is one which is currently controlled by your opponent(s). movement. Flying creatures cannot hinder the movement of non-Flying
creatures, and visa-versa. Elusive creatures cannot be hindered by other
creatures.
Epic
Only 1 copy of this spell can be in a Mages spellbook.
Escape Roll
Ignore
Some conditions or enchantments require an escape roll, using the effect

An ignored enemy creature cannot hinder movement of friendly creatures.
die, to see if you can remove them from the creature they are attached to.
An ignored enemy creature that is guarding does not have to be attacked
when making a melee attack.
Ethereal
This attack is magically enhanced. It deals full damage to Incorporeal

objects (count all the numbers on the dice, not just the 1s). Incorporeal
objects can receive effects and conditions from this attack.
Extendable
Immunity
This object is immune to all attacks, damage, conditions, and effects of the
specified damage type, including critical damage and direct damage.
Cannot be targeted or affected by spells of the specified type.
When you cast this wall, you may pay an additional cost equal to the manaIncapacitated
cost of the wall, plus the walls Level, as part of the cost of casting the
spell. If you do, when this spell resolves, you may take an additional wall An Incapacitated creature cannot take any actions, including moving,
of the same name out of your spellbook and place it on any zone border attacking, guarding, casting spells, or counterstriking. It cannot use
any Defenses, and if a guard marker is on the creature, it is removed
connected to the first wall. The second wall must be placed within LOS.
immediately. A Flying creature loses, and cannot gain, the Flying trait as
See Walls on page 17.
long as it is Incapacitated. Any Damage Barrier on an Incapacitated creature
continues to function normally.
An Incapacitated creature cannot hinder the movement of enemies. Other
Familiar
creatures may ignore an Incapacitated creature.
This object can cast spells. See Familiars on page 16.
Fast
This creature may take 2 Move Actions before taking a Quick Action.
It may take a maximum of 2 Move Actions during its Action Phase. If a
Fast creature gains the Slow trait, both traits are cancelled out. See Fast
Creatures on page 14.
An Incapacitated creature still takes an Action Phase during the round, but
it cannot perform any actions during its Action Phase (normally, the action
marker is simply flipped over).
Conjurations cannot be Incapacitated.
Mages are affected by Incapacitation differently. A Mages mind is so

powerful that even if he is Incapacitated he can still work his magic! An
This creature cannot heal, regenerate, or gain life. If the creature gained Life
Incapacitated Mage can still use actions to cast quick non-attack spells.
before it gained this trait, it keeps that Life but cannot gain additional Life. He cannot cast full spells or attack spells.
All Nonliving objects have Finite Life.
Finite Life
42
CHAPTER TEN: CODEX

Incorporeal
An insubstantial or amorphous object that is very resistant to damage.
All attack dice rolled to damage this object, from any source, only count
the 1s on the dice (ignore all 2s), unless the attack has the Ethereal
trait. Cannot receive effects or conditions from attacks that are not
Ethereal. All Incorporeal objects also have the Nonliving, Burnproof, and
Uncontainable traits. Incorporeal objects do not have an Armor attribute,
and cannot gain armor. See Incorporeal on page 15.
Initiative
Players take turns having the initiative, which is
noted with an initiative marker. Whoever has the
initiative gets to use their quickcast action first during
a Quickcast Phase, and gets to take the first Action
Phase during the Action Stage. Also, it is used to
resolve any timing issues.
Legendary
Mana
Drain
+X
If this attack damages an enemy creature, that creatures controller loses X

mana from his mana supply (if he has any). If the attack makes multiple
attacks against the same or different objects, it gains this bonus only for
the first attack it can make with this bonus.
Mana Transfer +X
Exactly as Mana Drain +X, with this addition: The controller of this attack
gains mana equal to the amount of mana lost.
Melee +X
This creature gains +X attack dice when it makes a melee attack. If the
attack makes multiple attacks against the same or different objects, it
gains this bonus only for the first attack it can make with this bonus. Does
not grant a melee attack if this creature does not have one. Does not affect
ranged attacks, damage barriers, or other non-melee attacks.
Melee Attack
This is a close-in attack which can only attack targets

Only 1 copy of this object can be in play at a time. You may not cast a
in the same zone. It can trigger a damage barrier or
Legendary spell if an object with the same name is already in play, until the
a counterstrike. When making a melee attack you
first copy is destroyed. Legendary objects cannot be brought back into play
must attack an enemy guard if there is one in your
from the discard pile if another copy is already in play.
zone. A melee attack will remove a guard marker from
a guarding creature.
Level
All spells have a Level, printed as a small number next to the spell school itMove Action
belongs to. The Level represents the approximate power of that spell. The During its Action Phase a creature can take a move action, which allows
Level is sometimes used as a way to determine the cost of a spell, and is it to move one zone to an adjacent zone. Afterwards it may take a quick
also important when building a spellbook. See spell Levels under Trainingaction. See Movement on page 9.
on page 35.
Multiple Attacks
Life
Creatures and conjurations have a Life attribute. Life
is the maximum damage they can receive before being
destroyed.
Some attacks consist of multiple separate attacks against the same or

different targets. Multiple attacks include those with the Doublestrike,
Triplestrike, or Sweeping traits.
Nonliving
All Nonliving objects have the Poison Immunity and Finite Life traits. All
Life +/- X
creatures are Living, unless they have the Nonliving trait. All conjurations
Object gains or loses X Life. Gaining Life is not healing; and losing Life is are Nonliving, unless they have the Living trait. Incorporeal objects always
not taking damage. Adjustments to Life is adjusting the maximum amount have this trait.
of damage an object can receive before being destroyed.
Novice
LoS (Line of Sight)
You cannot target an object or zone if Line of Sight is blocked. Some walls
have the Blocks LoS trait. See Walls on page 17.
Basic apprentice spells. All Mages may add Novice spells to their spellbooks
for 1 Spell Point, even if they are not trained in, or are opposed to, that
spells school of magic.
Object
Enchantments, equipment, creatures, and conjurations are spells which

Living
become objects in the game, remaining in play after they are cast. The
Living objects may heal, regenerate, and gain life. All creatures are Living, Mage is also considered an object. Incantation and attack spells do not
unless they have the Nonliving trait. All conjurations are Nonliving,
become objects.
unless they have the Living trait.
Owner
Mage
The owner of a spell is the player who started with that spell in his
This creature is a Mage, and represents the player in the game. The Mage spellbook at the beginning of the game.
can channel, cast spells, and has a special quickcast action each round.
Passage Attacks
The Mage is a Level 6 creature. If your Mage is destroyed, you lose!
All Creatures that move through this wall are
automatically attacked by the wall. The attack occurs
Magebind +X
before the creature moves. See Walls on page 17.
This enchantment is a little tougher to attach to a Mage. If this enchantment
is attached to a Mage, the reveal cost is increased by X. This adjusted reveal
Passage Blocked
cost is used for all purposes in spells, abilities, or effects which refer to the
Creatures may not move through this wall. If a
reveal cost of this spell.
creature is Pushed into this wall, it is Bashed. The
walls around the outside of the arena all have the
Passage Blocked trait, and affect Flying creatures.
Magecast
See Walls on page 17.
This spell can only be cast by a Mage. It cannot be cast by other objects
which can cast spells.
Pest
Mage Only
Some spells are restricted to particular Mage classes. For example, a spell
may have the Warlock Only or Holy Mage Only trait. See Spell Traits
That Affect Your Spellbook on page 36.
A small nuisance creature that cannot hinder enemies. Enemy creatures may
ignore a Pest that is guarding to make a melee attack against another target.
CHAPTER TEN: CODEX
43
Piercing +X
Ranged +X
This attack subtracts X from the targets armor when determining the
amount of damage dealt. It cannot reduce the targets armor below 0.
This creature gains + X attack dice when it makes a ranged attack. If the
attack makes multiple attacks against the same or different objects, it
gains this bonus only for the first attack it can make with this bonus. Has
no effect on zone attacks. Does not grant a ranged attack if this creature
does not have one.
Poison
Some attacks may have the poison damage type.
Note that many attacks, while not having the poison
damage type, may still cause poison conditions.
Poison Immunity
Nonliving objects have Poison Immunity.
See Immunity in the Codex.
Psychic Immunity
This object has a very powerful mind, or no mind at all. All conjurations
have Psychic Immunity. See Immunity in the Codex.
Push
Ranged Attack
This attack can be used on targets within its minimum
and maximum range, and within Line of Sight. A
ranged attack can always be made against a Flying
creature in the same zone, even below its minimum
range. Ranged attacks do not trigger damage barriers
or counterstrikes. Ranged attacks ignore guards, and
do not remove guard markers from guarding creatures.
Reach
Push is an effect caused by some spells and attacks that moves the target This melee attack can target and attack Flying creatures
in the same zone.
into an adjacent zone. Unless the effect says otherwise, the Pushed creature
must move one zone away in the opposite direction from the source of the
Push. If there is a choice of direction (such as pushing a creature diagonallyReady Marker
opposite, or if the source of the Push is in the same zone as the target), theReady markers are used to keep track of when abilities
source of the Push chooses the direction.
are used. For example, if a creature has a defense, it
Some spells may Push in a random direction. To determine the direction, will use a ready marker to keep track of when it is used
choose one side of the board to be North and roll the Effect Die: a 1-3
(flip marker to the gray used side), and when the defense is
Pushes the creature North, 4-6 = East, 7-9 = South and 10-12 = West.
ready again (flip marker to the green ready side). Ready markers all flip
A creature may be Pushed through a wall, but only if the wall does not have
over to their green ready side during the Reset Phase.
the Passage Blocked trait. The Pushed creature suffers any attack from the
wall if the wall has the Passage Attacks trait. If a creature is Pushed into
Regenerate X
a wall with the Passage Blocked trait, it is Bashed against the wall and
suffers an Unavoidable attack of 3 attack dice. Note the walls around the This object heals (removes) X damage each Upkeep Phase. The Regenerate
outside of the arena all have the Passage Blocked trait. Note that Flying
trait does not stack or combine with other Regenerate traits. If an object
creatures ignore walls, except for the ones around the outside of the arena.acquires more than one Regenerate trait, use only the highest one. The
Some creatures and all conjurations have the
Finite Life trait prevents regeneration.
Unmovable trait. They cannot be Pushed and ignore
all Push effects.
Removal Cost
Quick Action
During their Action Phase, creatures can take a move
action, followed by a quick action. Quick actions
include guarding, casting a quick spell, taking a
second move action, or making a quick action attack. See
Quick Actions on page 11.
Quickcast Action
Most conditions have a removal cost, printed on the

condition as a small number in a gray circle. Certain
spells or abilities may permit you to remove the
condition by paying this cost in mana. See Removal
Costs on page 27.
Restrained
If a creature is Restrained, it cannot take any move actions. It can still be
Pushed or Teleported. Aside from movement, a Restrained creature may
take any quick or full actions during its Action Phase. A Restrained creature
cannot hinder the movement of enemies. A Restrained creature may go on
guard, but attacking creatures may ignore it (they do not have to attack it).
The only advantage a Restrained guard receives is the Counterstrike trait.
Flying creatures lose, and cannot gain, the Flying trait for as long as they are
Restrained. A Restrained creature suffers a -2 penalty to all defense rolls.
Uncontainable creatures and all conjurations cannot be Restrained.
Each Mage can take a special additional action each

round called the quickcast action. This allows him to
cast one quick spell, in addition to any other actions
he may choose to take that round. The quickcast action
can be used before or after any friendly Action Phase,
or during a Quickcast Phase, and a quickcast marker is used to track using
this action. See Quickcast Action on page 8.
Reveal
Cost
When you reveal a hidden enchantment, turn it

face up. The controller pays the reveal mana cost, if
Quickcast Phase
any, (noted on the open eye symbol on the card), or
There is a Quickcast Phase at the beginning and end of each Action Stage. else the enchantment is destroyed. See Revealing
This is an opportunity for either player to use their quickcast action to
Enchantments on page 18.
cast one quick spell, in order of initiative. See Quickcast Phase on page
8.
Rot
Quick Spell
A quick spell requires a quick action to cast it. It has the quick action
(lightning bolt) icon on its casting line, just to the right of its casting cost.
Rage +X
This is a Poison condition. This object receives 1

direct damage during the Upkeep Phase each round.
Rot has a removal cost of 2.
Sleep
This is a Psychic condition. This creature is in a deep

When wounded, this creature becomes extremely vicious and aggressive. sleep and is Incapacitated. If this creature receives
Each time it is attacked and Damaged by an enemy creature, place a Rageany damage (such as an attack from a friendly
token on it. It cannot have more than X Rage tokens on it. It gains the
creature), remove Sleep and replace it with a Daze
Melee +1 trait for each Rage token on it. Each time it heals or regenerates,marker (which is conveniently printed on the other
remove 1 Rage token. If it has no damage on it, remove all Rage tokens. side of the Sleep marker). Sleep has a removal cost
equal to the sleeping creatures Level.
44
CHAPTER TEN: CODEX

Slow
Triplestrike
This creature is very slow. If this creature takes a move action, its Action This attack makes two additional attacks against the same target as part of
Phase immediately ends. It does not get to take a quick action after moving.
the same attack action. The additional attacks occur during the Additional
If a Slow creature gains the Fast trait, both traits are canceled out.
Strikes Step.
Spawnpoint
Unavoidable
This conjuration can cast spells during the Deployment Phase. See
Spawnpoints on page 16.
Defenses cannot be used to avoid this attack. See Defenses on page 24.
Spellbind
Uncontainable
This creature has a slippery and/or amorphous body, making it difficult to

This object can have a spell bound to it, which you can cast as normal oncehold in place. Some spells, conditions, and effects will not work against an
Uncontainable creature. All Incorporeal creatures have the Uncontainable
per round. See Spellbinding on page 21.
trait.
Stun
Unique
Creature is Incapacitated. All Stun markers are

removed at the end of the creatures Action Phase. Stun
has a removal cost of 4. Cannot affect conjurations.
Each player may only have 1 copy of this object in play at a time. Similar to
Legendary, but each player is allowed to have his own copy in play.
Successful
Unmovable
An attack is considered successful, and to have hit its

target, if it did not miss due to a Daze condition, nor was avoided due
to a Defense.
Object cannot be Pushed. All conjurations are Unmovable.
Upkeep +X
Summon
This objects controller pays X mana during each Upkeep Phase or this
object is destroyed.
When you cast a creature spell it is also referred to as summoning a

creature.
Vampiric
When this attack causes damage to a Living creature, the attacker heals
(removes) up to half the damage caused (round up). If the attack does more
Sweeping
This attack has a wide sweeping arc and can target and strike 2 different damage than the targets life total, the excess damage does not count for
healing. If the attack makes multiple attacks against the same or different
targets in the same zone. The second attack occurs at the end of the attack
sequence from the first attack. Start a new attack sequence beginning withobjects, it gains this bonus only for the first attack it makes. The Vampiric
the Declare Attack Step. Note: The second attack cannot be made against trait does not stack; if a creature acquires this trait more than once, treat it
the same target as the first attack. If there is not a different valid target foras if it only had the trait once.
the second attack, then the Sweeping trait has no effect this round.
Taunt
This is a special condition that can be caused by the
attack of certain creatures (In this set: Sosruko, Ferret
Companion). Place a Taunt marker on the creature.
Taunted creature must make a melee attack against
Sosruko during its next action phase, if able, and if
Sosruko is in its zone. If it is required to make an attack
on a different target from a competing effect (such as Bloodthirsty), the
controller may choose which target to attack. Remove taunt at end of its
Action Phase or whenever Sosruko is activated.
Teleport
An effect that moves an object directly to another zone, bypassing walls
and objects. See Teleporting on page 10.
Token
Wall
A wall is a subtype of a conjuration spell. It is placed on a zone
(the
line between 2 zones). See Walls on page 17.
border
Weak
This is a Poison condition which weakens a creature.

For each Weak condition on it, the creature loses 1
attack die from all non-spell attacks it makes. Cannot
reduce an attack to zero dice. Has no effect on damage
barriers or attack spells. Weak has a removal cost
of 2.
Zone
A zone is a square region on the arena game board, used to regulate
movement, the placement of objects, and for counting range.
Zone Attack or Spell
This attack or spell affects all creatures and conjurations

A token is a small marker used to keep track of something. Tokens are not
in the target zone, without actually targeting them
provided with Mage Wars - please use anything you wish for a token individually. Does not affect walls on the zones
pennies, dice, beads, etc.
border. Zone attacks have the Unavoidable trait and
make a separate attack against each object in the zone.
Tough -X
See Zone Attacks on page 23.
This creature is tough and resistant to effects from attacks. Whenever the
effect die is rolled for additional effects from an attack made against this
Zone Exclusive
creature, modify the roll by X.
There can be only 1 Zone Exclusive conjuration at a time in each zone. See
Zone Exclusive on page 17.
Traps
An enchantment subtype that triggers when an enemy enters the zone. See
Zone Border
Traps on page 20.
This is the line or intersection between two adjacent zones. Walls are
always placed on zone borders.
CREDITS
CREdiTS
Mage Wars Created by Bryan Pope
Co-Designer: Benjamin Pope
RUlES
STORy
Rules Writer: William Niebling

Rules Development: Marc
Aquino, TJ
Huzl,
JohnRoss Pike, Ryan Stapleton
Systems Analysis: Alexander Mont
Story World: Dr. Thomas Allen

Story Development: Eric Sexton
Story and Flavor Text: Dr.Thomas Allen,
Aaron Brosman, John Guytan, Sean McCoy,
John Rogers, Eric Sexton
CReATIve TeAM
ARCANE WONdERS
Creative Director: Chris Henson

Art Direction: John Guytan, Sean McCoy
Rulebook/Box Art/Mage Art: Craig Spearing
Interior Rules and Component Art:
Nick
Deligaris,
Jason
Engle, Diego
Gisbert,
John Guytan, Sean McCoy, rk post,
Maichol Quinto
Card Art: Attributed on each card
President/CEO: Bryan Pope

Director of Operations: Sean McCoy
General Manager: Alfiya Pope
Communications Director: Patrick Connor
IT Development: Colin Meller, Bonnie Brown
Production: Cristofer Pope
Staff Manager: TJ
Huzl
Special Thanks: Will Niebling, Aaron Witten

ASSiSTANT dESigNERS ANd lEAd PlAyTESTERS
Thanks to all of you for your tireless hours of testing, feedback, proofreading, suggestions, and development!
Also, all of the names listed above are included in this list as well.
Lewis Bronson
Ray DArcy
CJ DeSilvey
Derek Dix
Ryan Dusek
Alan Gerding
Joshua Githens
Harry Gloss
Steven Hoffman
Joshua Hughes
Adam Humpolick
Matt Humpolick
Cameron Maynard
Chad Shamrowicz
Chris Steele
PlAyTESTERS
Special thanks to all of our Playtesters for their suggestions, feedback, and support!
Ryan Brock
Colton Bullock
Corey Burt
Justin Burt
Nathan Burt
Jordan Darrington
Zak Dolan
Cameron Duncan
Steven Fields
Anthony Gill
Chris Gilroy
Brendan Hill
Derick Janssen
CW Karstens
Christin Kolstad
Allison Land
Rufus Looney
Mat Malecot
Mike McKown
Tammy Niebling
Henry Pfeiffer
Andrew Pope
Phil Riley
Ed Reinhardt
Rebecca Reinhardt
Jaddua Ross
Joshua Smith
Matt Smolik
Shawn Storie
Martin Villagrana
Brendan Whatley
Son Wynn
Find us on Facebook or visit us at www.magewars.com
45
THE GAME ROUND

READY STAGE
1
2
3
Initiative Phase
Initiative is passed to the other player.
Reset Phase
Flip all action markers,
quickcast markers, and
ready markers to the active side (face-up).
Channeling Phase
ATTACK ORDER
1.
2.
3.
4.
5.
6.
7.
8.
SPELL ORDER
Declare
Attack1. Cast Spell
Avoid Attack2. Counter Spell
Roll
Dice3. Resolve Spell
Damage
and
Effects
Additional Strikes
Damage
Barrier
Counterstrike
Attack Ends
Each Mage and object that channels

adds mana equal to their channeling
to their mana supply.
Upkeep Phase
ACTIONS
Pay any upkeep costs. Some spells or conditions

take effect during this phase.
Planning Phase
Deployment Phase
Each Mage chooses up to 2 spells

from his spellbook. Choose spells
for Spawnpoints and Familiars too.
QUICK ACTIONS
In initiative order, each player may cast the spells

chosen for their Spawnpoints.
ACTION STAGE
Make a
Attack
Cast a
Spell
Guard
First Quickcast Phase
Quick
Quick
Take another
Action
Move
Each Mage has an opportunity to take a quickcast

action, starting with the player with initiative.
Action Phases
Players take turns taking Action Phases with their
creatures, starting with the player with initiative,
until all have acted. Each Action Phase starts with
activating a creature, flipping their action marker,
and removing a guard marker if they have one.
For its Action Phase, a creature may choose from
these actions:
+
MOVE ACTION
FULL ACTIONS
Make a
Attack
Full
Cast
Spell
Full
QUICK ACTION
QUICKCAST ACTION
OR
FULL ACTION
Final Quickcast Phase

When all creatures are finished acting, each Mage
has a final opportunity to use his quickcast action, if
he has not already used it this round, starting with
the player who has initiative.
Once per round, each Mage may use his quickcast

action to cast one quick spell. The action can be
used during:
Either Quickcast Phase,
Or, before or after any friendly creature
action phase.

Step 2. Avoid Attack

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CHAPTER SiX: COMBAT

CHAPTER SiX: COMBAT

always chose to not use the Defense. A mandatory

The small number at the bottom of the Defense icon

STEP 3. ROLL DICE

Add or subtract all of these modifiers from the number of

CHAPTER SiX: COMBAT

REAdiNg THE ATTACk diCE

If an object receives a condition, find the matching condition

STEP 5. ADDITIONAL STRIKES

Example: The Beastmaster attacks an enemy

EFFECTS ANd CONdiTiONS

Spells and attacks can cause a variety of

CHAPTER SiX: COMBAT

The DAMAge TypeS

Flame: Roaring fire or searing heat,

CHAPTER SiX: COMBAT

A damage barrier is a special kind

CHAPTER SiX: COMBAT

STEP 8. ATTACK ENDS

CHAPTER SiX: COMBAT

In some cases guards can be ignored. If an attacking

CHAPTER SiX: COMBAT

BROGAN VERSUS THE HYDRA

Step 1: Declare Attack

Step 2: Avoid Attack

Step 3: Roll Dice

Step 5: Additional Strikes

Step 6: Damage Barrier

The 1 critical damage ignores Brogans powerful

Success! He rolled a 10. Even though he

CHAPTER SEVEN: MAGES

The Mage Ability Card

Class: Beastmaster, Priestess, Warlock, or Wizard, each

Spellpoints: This is how many points you can spend to

Life: The maximum amount of damage your Mage can

Armor: Armor reduces the damage from attacks. Most

Channeling: The amount of mana your Mage generates

Subclass: Each Mage Ability card has a subclass. Future

Attacks: This information is used when your Mage

CHAPTER SEVEN: MAGES

The Beastmaster has the ability to bond an animal to be his

Note: the Pet marker can only be assigned to a non-Legendary

1) The first is a quick spell (requires

CHAPTER SEVEN: MAGES

equal to the demons Level+1. This is done

For example, if a friendly Darkpact

Note: This loss of life is different from receiving damage.

The Bloodreaper marker turns the demon into a ferocious

CHAPTER SEVEN: MAGES

used up (the unused points of damage reduction do not carry

Note that Voltaric Shield only protects against attacks, not

The Warlock is a strong frontline fighter. Thus he has the

The shields power has a very

Because it is a quick spell, the Wizard uses a quick action to

Note: All of these abilities are explained in greater

CHAPTER EigHT: SPELLBOOKS

When you build your spellbook, you get to spend your