Bigger than War. Smaller than Bridge.
The ultimate battle of snow monsters
2-4 players
About 30 minutes
Setup
- Set the four yellow enhancement cards aside.
- Shuffle the deck.
- Deal out four hands of 13 cards each.
- Give each player one hand and one enhancement card.
TIP: If this is a two-player game, save the other two hands for the second round. - Players can view and sort their own hand.
Battle
This is a trick-taking game. There will be 13 tricks ("battles") in total.
- To begin the game, everyone plays their lowest numbered Troublemaker.
- Once all cards are played, the person who played the highest card wins!
- The winner of the battle takes these actions:
- Puts the cards from the battle face down in front of them.
- Leads a new card to start the second battle. - In general, the highest card in the lead suit wins the battle.
- Play continues this way until all 13 battles are played.
Example Play
Everyone plays their lowest numbered Troublemaker. Pan has the highest value.
Pan Wins
The person who had Pan now starts a new battle. They decide to lead Troublemakers again.
Player 3 doesn't have a Troublemaker, so they play a card of another suit. Witch's value is higher, but it doesn't win because Gothic was not the lead suit.
Eris Wins
The person who had Eris starts a new battle. They decide to lead Gothic this time.
Everyone has a Gothic card. Frank has the highest value.
Frank Wins
Sound easy so far?
We have twists for you!
Hunters
Hunters are powerful cards that can beat the other three suits.
Hunters can be played if you don't have a card in the suit that was led.
Hunters can't be led until they've been broken.
That means, until someone has played a hunter to defeat a monster, you can't LEAD a hunter.
Example Play
Player 4 didn't have a Troublemaker, so they played a Hunter. Hunters win against monsters.
Demonologist Wins
Slime
- Oozes onto the battlefield with a groan
- Whoever wins the battle with Slime in it loses 20 points
What happens if I throw Slime on a battle I don't win?
Whoever wins the battle loses 20 points.
If I win a battle with Slime as the highest card, do I still lose 20 points?
Yes.
Example Play
Witch Wins
Witch's value is highest, so it wins. Because Slime is in the battle, the player who won the battle will lose 20 points.
Slime Wins
Slime's value is highest, so it wins. The player who won the battle will also lose 20 points.
Siren Head
- Stumbles out with a screechy wail
- Is an agent of chaos and will drive you mad
- Answers as both a cryptid and a hunter
If a Cryptid is led and I have Siren Head and no other Cryptids, do I have to play it?
Yes.
If a Hunter is led and I have Siren Head and no other Hunters, do I have to play it?
Yes.
If I lead Siren Head, what suit does it count as?
Cryptid.
Example Play
Siren Head Wins
Both Siren Head and Ghost Whisperer are Hunters, but Siren Head's value is higher.
Siren Head Wins
When Siren Head is led, players must answer with cryptids.
Siren Head Wins
Hunters were led. Siren Head has the highest number.
Shapeshifter
- Takes on the identity of the previous card played
- Must follow suit as a Troublemaker
What if Shapeshifter is led?
If it is led, other players must follow suit and play Troublemakers. Shapeshifter has value of zero.
Example Play
Player 3's Shapeshifter becomes the previous card, which is Trickster.
Shapeshifter Wins
Player 4's Shapeshifter becomes the previous card, which is Witcher.
Shapeshifter Wins
Player 4's Shapeshifter becomes the previous card, which is Illuminati.
Shapeshifter Wins
Player 2 has no other Troublemakers, so they must play Shapeshifter. Shapeshifter becomes Gremlin.
Trickster Wins
Illuminati
- Cackles ominously when played
- Is a member of all three monster suits
- Is immune to hunters
- Must be played when you have no other cards in the lead suit
Can you lead with Illuminati?
No, unless it's the only card you have in your hand.
Can I play Illuminati if a Hunter is led?
Only if you're out of Hunters.
Example Play
Player 4 didn't have any other Troublemakers, so they played Illuminati.
Illuminati Wins
Player 2 didn't have any other Gothic, so they played Illuminati.
Illuminati is immune to Hunters.
Illuminati Wins
Klutzy Detective
- Slips on the battlefield with a silly whoosh
- Causes the weakest card to win
What if Klutzy Detective is the lowest card played?
Congratulations! KD wins.
What if two cards have the equal lowest value?
The last one played wins.
Example Play
Klutzy Detective causes the weakest card to win.
Jackalope Wins
Klutzy Detective causes the weakest card to win.
Klutzy Detective Wins
Illuminati is immune to all hunters, so Klutzy Detective has no power.
Illuminati Wins
Players 2 and 3 both are out of Cryptids, so they throw other suits.
Both 8s are considered weak cards, because they weren't from the lead suit.
Since they have equal numbers, the last one played wins.
Headless Horseman Wins
Bunker
- Clangs onto the battlefield heavily
- Stops both Apocalypse and Catastrophe
- Has no value
- Is the only card in the deck that doesn't have to follow suit. Play it any time!
Once Apocalypse or Catastrophe are stopped, who wins the battle?
Whatever is highest among the other cards played. If there is no other (like in a two-player game), Bunker wins.
Does it have to be played on Apocalypse or Catastrophe?
Nope! You can play this card whenever you want.
Example Play
Bunker negates Catastrophe. Librarian is the highest of the other two cards.
Librarian Wins
Bunker negates Catastrophe AND Apocalypse. Legend is the only card left.
Legend Wins
Player 4 has a higher Gothic but doesn't want to take Slime. They play Bunker to avoid winning the battle.
Slime Wins
Special Prey
- Six hunters have dedicated monster enemies.
- These combinations are marked by their rabbit and net icons.
- If you play these hunters on their prey, you get a 40 point bonus.
Who gets the bonus?
The person who plays the hunter (with the net icon).
What if I don't win the battle?
It doesn't matter. If you play the Slayer in the same battle as the Vampire, you get the bonus.
Example Play
Player 3 didn't have a Cryptid, so they played Balladeer.
Balladeer Wins
Balladeer also gets +40
Players 3 and 4 didn't have Gothics, so they played Hunters.
Demonologist Wins
Crossroads Musician gets +40
Player 3 didn't have a Troublemaker, so they played Exorcist. Player 4 played Shapeshifter to become Exorcist.
Shapeshifter Wins
Shapeshifter also gets +40
Enhancements
- Each player gets one of these.
- Should be played in a battle in addition to your regular card.
- In the case of a tie, the enhanced card loses.
What if it's the last battle, and I still have my enhancement card?
Your enhancement card MUST be played, even if you don't like the outcome.
Example Play
Harpoon
Adds +3 value to any numbered card.
Can only enhance one of your cards.
Can be played at any time during the battle. That means, if two people play after you, you can throw Harpoon after they've played.
If you enhance a monster to give it higher value than a hunter, the enhanced card wins.
Doppelganger
Doubles value to any numbered card.
Can only enhance one of your cards.
Can be played at any time during the battle. That means, if two people play after you, you can throw Doppelganger after they've played.
If you double a monster to give it higher value than a hunter, the doubled card wins.
Snowball
Eliminates any one card.
Can knock out anyone's card, yours or opponents.
Can be played at any time during the battle. That means, if two people play after you, you can throw Snowball after they've played.
You can't use Snowball to knock out another enhancement, but you can knock out a card that has been enhanced.
Sly Fox
Allows you to play last.
Must be played at the time you would normally play a card.
Once everyone else has played, then you play your regular card.
Scoring
You receive 10 points for each battle you win.
For example, if you win three battles, you'll receive 30 points.Bonuses
| Capture the Slime | -20 |
| Special Prey cards (if your net caught a bunny) | +40 |
| Win no battles | +50 |
To win...
| 4-player game | Play to 300 |
| 3-player game | Play to 400 |
| 2-player game | Play to 500 |
Remember...
- You can't lead Hunters until Hunters have been broken.
- If you still have your enhancement card for the last battle, you MUST use it.
- If all three sixes are played on the same battle, the world ends and no one wins.
Play Online
Need to see the game in action? Want to play solo?