# Claim: Dark Elves

## General Info
- **Year Published**: 2019
- **BGG Rating**: 7.1
- **BGG Rank**: —
- **Players**: 2
- **Duration**: 25 min
- **Weight**: 1.00 / 5
- **Designers**: Scott Almes
- **Artists**: Mihajlo Dimitrievski
- **Publishers**: White Goblin Games, MS Edizioni, PaperGames (III)
- **Categories**: Card Game, Expansion for Base-game, Fantasy
- **Mechanics**: Trick-taking

## Verdict
Perfect for those who have mastered Claim and want to upgrade their strategy with new abilities. The highlight is the shift in scoring dynamics.Greatly increases replayabilityUnique and interesting abilityEasy to integrate into the gameAffordable priceRequires base game to playAlters the strategy curveRECOMMENDED

## Description
Ever felt like you've played so many matches of Claim or Claim 2 that you've memorized every single move? That's where the Dark Elves come in! This expansion isn't a standalone game, but a sinister new faction designed to shake up the traditional base game strategy. The concept is straightforward: you swap out one of the original factions for the Dark Elves, completely changing the table dynamics and drastically increasing replayability.

But don't think they are just another set of cards. The Dark Elves bring a unique and treacherous ability that triggers during Phase 2. If you manage to collect at least one Dark Elf into your score pile during a trick, you must discard a non-Dark Elf card from your score pile, removing it from the game. It's a classic risk-reward scenario: you win the trick, but you pay a price by sacrificing another ally. If your score pile consists only of Dark Elves, you don't have to discard anything, and even if you collect multiple Dark Elves in one trick, you still only discard a single card.

This 'sacrifice' mechanic forces players to rethink their hand management and trick order, as you now have to calculate not just how to win, but what you're willing to lose to secure that victory. It's the perfect addition for those looking to breathe new life into their duels, adding a layer of malice and strategy that transforms how you view your score pile. If you enjoy fast-paced, competitive games with a touch of 'I'm screwing you over while helping myself,' this expansion is a must-have for your Claim collection.

## How to Play
Game Objective
In Claim: Dark Elves, players compete to build the best card stack, using strategies to maximize their score. The goal is to accumulate the most points by the end of the game, utilizing the special abilities of the Dark Elves to influence the outcome.

Setup
To prepare the game, follow the steps below:

  Replace one faction in the deck with the Dark Elves. Note that in Claim, you cannot replace the Goblins or the Knights. In Claim 2, you cannot replace the Gnomes or the Giants.

Refer to the manual for details on this section.

Game Flow
The game is divided into phases where players compete for cards to add to their scoring stack. Phase 2 is especially important, as this is when the Dark Elves' special power comes into play.
Refer to the manual for details on this section.

Actions and How to Play
During the game, players can perform the following actions:

  In Phase 2, if you win at least one Dark Elf in a round, you must remove another non-Dark Elf card from your scoring stack.
  If you only have Dark Elf cards in your scoring stack, you do not need to remove any cards.
  If you win more than one Dark Elf in a round, you only need to remove one card from another faction.

Refer to the manual for details on other actions and mechanics.

End of Game and Scoring
The game ends when all cards have been contested and added to the players' scoring stacks. The score is calculated based on the accumulated cards, taking into account the Dark Elves' special power.
Refer to the manual for details on this section.

Tips to Win
Here are some tips to maximize your chances of winning:

  Prioritize winning Dark Elf cards to take advantage of their special ability.
  Carefully manage your scoring stack, removing cards from other factions when necessary.
  Plan your moves to ensure you have Dark Elf cards in your scoring stack, avoiding the need to remove other cards.

## FAQ
### Which game do I need to use this expansion?
You need to own either Claim or Claim 2 to use the Dark Elves.

### How do the Dark Elves enter the game?
You simply replace any one of the base game's factions with the Dark Elves.

### Does it make the game more complex?
Only slightly. The rule is simple, but the strategy shifts because you now have to manage the discarding of cards from your score pile.

### How long does a match take with them?
The playtime remains the same, around 25 minutes, as the core game structure doesn't change.

### Who is this recommended for?
For those who already enjoy the trick-taking system of Claim and want new ways to defeat their opponent.

## Price Comparison
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