Res Arcana Duo

Res Arcana Duo is an independent card game for two players that stands out for its strategic and engaging gameplay. In this game, participants take on the role of powerful mages, competing to master the essences of magic, which include Life, Death, Elan, Calm and Gold. Players begin by choosing their mage and then set about collecting essences to create unique artifacts, which are key to summoning dragons, conquering places of power and achieving victory. The dynamics of the matches take place over 4 to 6 rounds, where each player will take turns in actions that may include placing artifacts, claiming monuments or using special powers, aiming for the best strategy to score victory points. The draft system has been specially adapted for the two-player experience, providing balance and a continuous challenge. Every interaction in the game is crucial, and the decisions made each turn can be decisive for the final outcome. Res Arcana Duo is a unique experience that can be played independently or combined with the Res Arcana expansions, bringing new dimensions and possibilities to players.

Age 12 + 60 min 2 players

Artists: Julien Delval;

Designers: Thomas Lehmann;

Date: 2024

Note:  -

Mechanics: Open Buy, Hand Management, Players with Different Skills, Victory Points as a Resource

Topics: Fantasy

Table of Contents
- How to Play
- Tips for playing
- Game mechanics
- Game components
- Additional Information

How to play Res Arcana Duo

Res Arcana Duo is an expansion that allows two-player games. The aim is to reach 10 victory points before your opponent.

Each player starts with 8 artifact cards, a mage card and 5 essences of different types. You choose a mage and draw 3 artifact cards for your hand, the rest form your own deck.

There are four places of power and two monuments available. Players compete to conquer them, conferring advantages or extra victory points.

The turns are divided into phases: collecting essences, actions (where you can throw an artifact, claim a place of power, among others), and passing (when a player finishes their actions).

Adapt your strategy based on the mages, artifacts and places of power available. Keep an eye on your opponent's movements and assess the best moment to pass, which could be crucial to seizing the initiative in the next round.

Plan your collection and use of essences carefully, finances are limited and must be strategically allocated to ensure you reach your objectives before your opponent.

Direct interaction is limited, but competition for resources and places of power adds a layer of strategy, making it essential to anticipate and react to the opponent's plans.

Main objective

The main objective of the Res Arcana Duo game is to compete against another player in a strategic battle of wizardry to be the first to accumulate 10 victory points, using magical resources, artifacts and places of power skillfully.

Tips for playing Res Arcana Duo

Here are some tips for doing better in the game Res Arcana Duo:

  • Optimize the use of shared artifacts, prioritizing those that offer valuable resources for your strategy.
  • Pay attention to your opponent's actions and adapt your tactics as necessary, exploiting momentary weaknesses.
  • Control time properly: avoid rushing to finish the round if you can to maximize resource gain.
  • Balance the acquisition of victory points with the development of your long-term resource generation capacity.
  • Explore the potential of spells, using them efficiently to change the course of the game at key moments.
  • Occupy places of power strategically, securing ongoing benefits or denying them to your opponent.

Video about the game

Mechanics of Res Arcana Duo

  • Open Buy: In Res Arcana Duo, the open purchase mechanic allows players to choose cards from a common market. During the game, players have the opportunity to add cards to their hand from a pool visible to all. This requires players to plan their actions based on the cards available and consider which cards could be beneficial to their strategy or detrimental if acquired by opponents.
  • Hand Management: Hand management is crucial in Res Arcana Duo, as players start with a limited number of cards and need to optimize the use of them to achieve their goals. Deciding when to play, hold or discard certain cards directly affects the effectiveness of the plays. The ability to manage the cards in your hand well can determine the pace and direction of the game, requiring careful strategy each turn.
  • Players with Different Skills: At the start of the game, each player selects a wizard, each with unique abilities that influence the way the game is played. This mechanic ensures variety and replayability, requiring players to adapt their strategies according to their mage's special ability while also taking into account the abilities of their opponents. This adds a layer of tactical complexity to the game.
  • Victory Points as a Resource: In Res Arcana Duo, victory points not only determine the final winner, but are also an active part of the game process. Certain effects and abilities allow players to spend victory points to gain temporary tactical advantages, forcing them to balance between accumulating points to win and using them to gain immediate advantages. This introduces an important strategic decision-making element when balancing short-term versus long-term gains.

Game components Res Arcana Duo

See all the items in the game below Res Arcana Duo:

  • Magicians
  • Relics
  • Tomos
  • Portals
  • Rituals
  • Magic Stones
  • Elements

Additional Information

en_USEnglish