# Mystic Vale: Essential Edition ## General Info - **Year Published**: 2020 - **BGG Rating**: 7.8 - **BGG Rank**: — - **Players**: 2-4 (Best with: 2) - **Duration**: 45-60 min - **Weight**: 2.36 / 5 - **Designers**: John D. Clair - **Publishers**: Alderac Entertainment Group, Angry Lion Games, Fabrika Igr, Maldito Games, Portal Games - **Categories**: Card Game, Fantasy - **Mechanics**: Deck, Bag, and Pool Building, Push Your Luck ## Verdict A dream come true for fans of complex combos and intense resource management.Extremely satisfying combosMassive strategic depthComplete package with expansionsSnappy gameplay paceRequires constant attention to detailModerate learning curveHIGHLY RECOMMENDED ## Description If you're the type of player who looks at a pile of cards and thinks, 'how can I turn this chaos into a point-scoring machine?', Mystic Vale: Essential Edition is your new obsession. In this game, you step into the shoes of a druidic clan leader on a sacred mission: to cleanse the lands of an ancient curse. But don't think it's going to be a walk in the park; magic always comes with a price. The core dynamic is what we call 'card crafting.' You play cards into your field to unlock new powers, gain resources, and, of course, secure victory. The real kicker here is power management. You might try to squeeze every bit of utility out of your turn, but be careful: if you get too greedy and fail to manage your energy, 'decay' will come knocking and end your turn prematurely. It's a constant balancing act between expansion and risk. This 'Essential Edition' isn't just the base game; it's a massive, respect-worthy bundle. It includes the core game along with three essential expansions: Vale of Magic, Vale of the Wild, and Mana Storm. This means you start with massive strategic depth right out of the box, without needing to rush out and buy add-ons immediately. It's the perfect package for those wanting to dive deep into a deck-building and resource management system that rewards smart planning and risk assessment. The experience is intense, snappy, and incredibly rewarding when that combo you've been planning finally 'clicks.' Get ready to manage your deck, dance with luck, and try to be the most efficient druid at the table. Just remember: in magic, excess can be just as dangerous as scarcity! ## How to Play Objective of the Game In Mystic Vale: Essential Edition, players take on the role of druidic clans tasked with restoring the cursed Valley of Life to its former vitality. The goal is to accumulate the most victory points (VP) by the end of the game. Players achieve this by revitalizing their land through advancements, purchasing valuable vale cards, and managing their resources carefully. The player with the highest total VP at the end of the game wins. Preparation (Setup) Follow these steps to set up the base game: Player Decks: Each player takes a deck of 20 sleeved starting cards (9 Cursed Land, 3 Fertile Soil, and 8 blank cards). Shuffle the deck and place it face down in front of you. The Commons: Separate advancements into decks by level (1, 2, and 3). Shuffle each deck and reveal the top 3 advancements of each level. Place the Fertile Soil advancements in a separate deck. Vale Cards: Separate vale cards into level 1 and level 2 decks. Shuffle each deck and reveal 4 cards face up from each level. VP Tokens: Place VP tokens in a pool based on the number of players (23 for 2 players, 28 for 3 players, 33 for 4 players). Setup Fields: Each player creates their starting field by revealing cards from their deck until they have two Cursed Lands in their field and a third one as their on-deck card. Determine Starting Player: Shuffle mana tokens (one for each player) and randomly assign them. The player with the starting player symbol begins the game. Flow of the Game The game is played in turns, with each player taking the following phases in order: Planting Phase: Players choose to either pass or push by adding their on-deck card to their field. If they accumulate 4 or more decay symbols, they spoil and skip the Harvest Phase. Harvest Phase: Players count their mana and spirit symbols, resolve Harvest abilities, score VP, and purchase vale cards or advancements. Discard Phase: Players sleeve any purchased advancements, replenish vale cards and advancements, and discard their field. Prep Phase: Players prepare their field for the next turn by adding their on-deck card and resolving When Played abilities. Actions and How to Play During your turn, you can perform the following actions: Planting Phase: Decide whether to pass or push. Pushing adds your on-deck card to your field and reveals a new one. Be cautious of decay symbols to avoid spoiling. Harvest Phase: Count your mana and spirit symbols, resolve Harvest abilities, score VP, and purchase vale cards or advancements. You can buy up to two advancements and two vale cards per turn. Discard Phase: Sleeve advancements onto cards in your field, replenish vale cards and advancements, and discard your field. Prep Phase: Add your on-deck card to your field and resolve When Played abilities. Ensure you have at least 3 mana symbols in your field for the next turn. End of Game and Scoring The game ends when the VP tokens in the pool run out. Finish the current round so all players have an equal number of turns. Players then count their VP: VP tokens accumulated during the game. VP from advancements and vale cards with gray VP symbols. The player with the most VP wins. In case of a tie, the player with the most combined level 3 advancements and level 2 vale cards wins. If still tied, players share the victory. Tips for Winning Here are some strategies to help you succeed: Balance Growth and Decay: Use growth symbols to offset decay and avoid spoiling. Plan Your Purchases: Focus on acquiring advancements and vale cards that synergize with your deck’s strategy. Manage Your Field: Avoid crafting cards with multiple decay symbols to prevent spoiling. ## FAQ ### Is the game hard to learn? It has a moderate learning curve. The rules are straightforward, but the depth of the combos requires you to pay close attention to what each card does. ### How long does a game last? Usually between 45 to 60 minutes, which is great for a game with this much strategy. ### How many players can play? The game supports 2 to 4 players in a balanced way. ### Do I need to buy expansions separately? With the Essential Edition, no! It already includes the three main expansions. ### Is the game very luck-dependent? There is a 'push your luck' element, but success comes more from your planning and risk management than pure luck. ### Who is this game for? For players who love strategic card games, engine building, and enjoy thinking several steps ahead. ## Price Comparison ### Best International Offers - **BoardGamePrices.com**: $ 67.99 (https://boardgameprices.com/item/go?source=A&storeitemid=4673390&utm_source=boardgamesbot.com) - **BoardGamePrices.com**: $ 70.69 (https://boardgameprices.com/item/go?source=A&storeitemid=6722534&utm_source=boardgamesbot.com) - **BoardGamePrices.com**: $ 72.22 (https://boardgameprices.com/item/go?source=A&storeitemid=3946039&utm_source=boardgamesbot.com) - **BoardGamePrices.com**: $ 75.00 (https://boardgameprices.com/item/go?source=A&storeitemid=4890212&utm_source=boardgamesbot.com) - **BoardGamePrices.com**: $ 76.99 (https://boardgameprices.com/item/go?source=A&storeitemid=3410091&utm_source=boardgamesbot.com) - **BoardGamePrices.com**: $ 80.25 (https://boardgameprices.com/item/go?source=A&storeitemid=5640686&utm_source=boardgamesbot.com) - **BoardGamePrices.com**: $ 87.12 (https://boardgameprices.com/item/go?source=A&storeitemid=3659466&utm_source=boardgamesbot.com) - **BoardGamePrices.com**: $ 89.99 (https://boardgameprices.com/item/go?source=A&storeitemid=4861455&utm_source=boardgamesbot.com) - **BoardGamePrices.com**: $ 89.99 (https://boardgameprices.com/item/go?source=A&storeitemid=6962986&utm_source=boardgamesbot.com) - **BoardGamePrices.com**: $ 89.99 (https://boardgameprices.com/item/go?source=A&storeitemid=5620143&utm_source=boardgamesbot.com) - See all on BoardGamePrices: https://boardgameprices.com/item/show/41257/mystic-vale-essential-edition?utm_source=boardgamesbot.com