# Descent: Legends of the Dark – The Betrayer's War ## General Info - **Year Published**: 2023 - **BGG Rating**: 8.5 - **BGG Rank**: — - **Players**: 1-4 (Best with: 2) - **Duration**: 120-180 min - **Weight**: 3.25 / 5 - **Designers**: Aaron Haltom, Kara Centell-Dunk, Nathan I. Hajek, Philip D. Henry - **Artists**: Gary Storkamp, Preston Stone - **Publishers**: Fantasy Flight Games, Hobby World, Rebel Sp. z o.o. - **Categories**: Adventure, Expansion for Base-game, Fantasy, Fighting, Miniatures - **Mechanics**: Cooperative Game, Dice Rolling, Grid Movement, Modular Board, Movement Points, Role Playing, Scenario / Mission / Campaign Game, Solo / Solitaire Game, Variable Player Powers ## Verdict Perfect for those who love tactical RPGs and want the immersion of a GM without the hassle of reading endless manuals.Phenomenal app integrationImmersive 3D terrainRewarding character progressionDynamic tactical combatTotal dependence on the appHigh price pointHIGHLY RECOMMENDED ## Description Get ready to return to the Realms of Terrinoth, but this time, the stakes are much higher. In Descent: Legends of the Dark – The Betrayer's War, you and your friends face a scenario where the only way out is the unthinkable: forming an alliance with your worst enemy, Waiqar the Betrayer. The goal? Survive the onslaught of the Uthuk Y'llan and stop the terrifying Dragonlord Levirax. It's the kind of story packed with twists that keeps everyone glued to the table. The big game-changer here is the full integration with an app, which takes over the role of the Game Master. This means no one has to be stuck reading massive rulebooks to control the monsters; the app handles enemy AI, event triggers, and hero progression. The gameplay is fluid: each turn, you have one maneuver action to position yourself and two additional actions to attack, explore, or use the 'ready' mechanic. The latter is fantastic, allowing you to flip your hero sheet or ability cards to unlock new powers mid-fight, shifting your strategy on the fly. Visually, the game is a spectacle. With 3D terrain and detailed miniatures, the immersion is complete. Beyond the intense missions, there's a system of between-scenario activities where you can shop in town, upgrade gear, and craft items, providing a genuine RPG progression feel. If you love the idea of assembling a party, evolving characters, and fighting hordes of monsters in modular settings that change with every mission, this game is for you. Just keep in mind that due to deep changes in rules and components, it is not compatible with older versions of Descent. ## How to Play Game Objective In Descent: Legends of the Dark - The Traitor's War, players take on the roles of heroes seeking to unite the fractured kingdoms of Terrinoth against the threats that plague them. The goal is to protect the refugees of Forthyn and rebuild the Citadel, facing powerful enemies like the Dragon Lady Levirax and the hordes of Uthuk Y'llan. Victory depends on the players' decisions, which shape the fate of Terrinoth throughout the campaign. Setup To start playing The Traitor's War, follow these steps: Update the Descent: Legends of the Dark app and add the expansion to the collection manager. Assemble the 3D terrain elements using the included assembly guide in the box. Place the miniatures, tokens, and markers as instructed by the app. Select a saved game from Act 1 (Blood and Flames) or start a new campaign directly in Act 2. Distribute the Act 2 hero cards and prepare skill, weapon, and companion cards based on campaign progress. Refer to the manual for details on this section. Game Flow The game is divided into missions where heroes face challenges and enemies controlled by the app. Each mission follows a turn structure where heroes take actions to complete specific objectives. The app also controls enemy activations and global events, such as the darkness phase, which can damage tormented enemies. Refer to the manual for details on this section. Actions and How to Play During their turn, each hero can perform one maneuver action and two additional actions. Available actions include: Maneuver: Gain movement points to traverse the map. Combat: Attack an adjacent enemy or one within weapon range. Exploration: Interact with exploration markers or 3D terrain elements. Preparation: Flip one of your cards to activate abilities. Special: Resolve specific card or skill abilities. Heroes can also use surge abilities during their dice rolls to activate additional effects. Refer to the manual for details on this section. End of Game and Scoring The game ends when heroes complete or fail a specific mission. Victory depends on fulfilling mission objectives, which may include protecting refugees, defeating enemies, or interacting with map elements. Scoring is determined by campaign progress and the decisions made by players. Refer to the manual for details on this section. Tips for Winning Use hero surge abilities to maximize dice roll effects. Position shadow markers strategically to control enemy movement and protect heroes. Interact with 3D terrain elements, such as fire, to increase attack effectiveness. ## FAQ ### Do I need a Game Master? No! The free app handles everything, controlling the enemies and the narrative flow. ### Can I play it solo? Yes, the game supports 1 to 4 players and works great in solo mode. ### Is it compatible with the old Descent? No. The rules and components have completely changed, so it's not compatible with previous versions. ### How long does each session take? Missions typically last between 2 to 3 hours, depending on the scenario size and the group. ### Is the game too complex? It has a medium weight (3.25/5). Rules are intuitive, and the app guides most of the process, though combat tactics require focus. ### What's inside the box? Plenty of miniatures, 3D terrain pieces, hero sheets, and ability cards for the campaign. ## Price Comparison ### Best International Offers - **BoardGamePrices.com**: $ 88.35 (https://boardgameprices.com/item/go?source=A&storeitemid=4913075&utm_source=boardgamesbot.com) - **BoardGamePrices.com**: $ 119.99 (https://boardgameprices.com/item/go?source=A&storeitemid=5138904&utm_source=boardgamesbot.com) - **BoardGamePrices.com**: $ 127.99 (https://boardgameprices.com/item/go?source=A&storeitemid=5250359&utm_source=boardgamesbot.com) - **BoardGamePrices.com**: $ 127.99 (https://boardgameprices.com/item/go?source=A&storeitemid=5380437&utm_source=boardgamesbot.com) - **BoardGamePrices.com**: $ 151.26 (https://boardgameprices.com/item/go?source=A&storeitemid=6720033&utm_source=boardgamesbot.com) - **BoardGamePrices.com**: $ 159.43 (https://boardgameprices.com/item/go?source=A&storeitemid=5817722&utm_source=boardgamesbot.com) - **BoardGamePrices.com**: $ 159.99 (https://boardgameprices.com/item/go?source=A&storeitemid=4906370&utm_source=boardgamesbot.com) - **BoardGamePrices.com**: $ 159.99 (https://boardgameprices.com/item/go?source=A&storeitemid=6646167&utm_source=boardgamesbot.com) - **BoardGamePrices.com**: $ 166.26 (https://boardgameprices.com/item/go?source=A&storeitemid=6865626&utm_source=boardgamesbot.com) - **BoardGamePrices.com**: $ 169.78 (https://boardgameprices.com/item/go?source=A&storeitemid=4717179&utm_source=boardgamesbot.com) - See all on BoardGamePrices: https://boardgameprices.com/item/show/44455/descent-legends-of-the-dark-the-betrayers-war?utm_source=boardgamesbot.com