# Spirit Island: Branch & Claw

## General Info
- **Year Published**: 2017
- **BGG Rating**: 9.0
- **BGG Rank**: —
- **Players**: 1-4 (Best with: 2)
- **Duration**: 90-120 min
- **Weight**: 4.23 / 5
- **Designers**: R. Eric Reuss
- **Artists**: Adam Rebottaro, Cari Corene, Graham Sternberg, Jason Behnke, Jorge Ramos, Joshua Wright (I), Kat G Birmelin, Loïc Billiau, Lucas Durham, Moro Rogers, Nolan Nasser, Rocky Hammer, Shane Tyree, Sydni Kruger
- **Publishers**: Greater Than Games, LLC, Arrakis Games, BoardM Factory, Fox in the Box, Ghenos Games, Grok Games, Hobby World, Intrafin Games, Pegasus Spiele, Portal Games, Rexhry
- **Categories**: Expansion for Base-game, Fantasy, Fighting, Mythology
- **Mechanics**: Cooperative Game, Hand Management, Modular Board, Open Drafting, Simultaneous Action Selection, Variable Player Powers

## Verdict
Essential for those seeking deeper tactical layers and new challenges. The token system fundamentally changes map control.New spirits with unique mechanicsEvents bring variety to every sessionControl tokens effectively stall invadersBoosts replayability with new scenariosIncreases complexity and game lengthRequires full mastery of the base gameHIGHLY RECOMMENDED

## Description
If you've already mastered the art of kicking colonizers off your island, the Branch & Claw expansion is here to crank up the chaos. In this addition, nature doesn't just react—it strikes back with far more ferocity. The expansion introduces two powerful new Spirits: Sharp Fangs Behind the Leaves, for those who love fast and lethal strikes, and the Keeper of the Forbidden Wilds, perfect for players who prefer controlling the terrain and punishing invaders.

But it's not just about new characters. The game's dynamics gain an extra layer of unpredictability with the Event Deck. Now, the Invader Phase features surprises that can shift the tide of the match every single turn. Additionally, new tokens enter the fray to create real obstacles: Wilds prevent exploration, Disease halts construction, and Strife interrupts ravaging. To give you a helping hand, wild Beast tokens appear on the map to ambush invaders when you least expect it.

To support these new mechanics, the expansion brings a massive arsenal of Power cards (31 Minor and 21 Major) that interact directly with the new tokens, along with new Fear cards, Blight cards, and fresh scenarios. It's the perfect dose of complexity for those who feel the base game has become 'too easy' or for those who want to explore new tactical synergies. Get ready, because France arrives as the new Adversary, and they aren't coming to play nice. It's time to show them that nature is relentless!

## How to Play
Objective of the Game
In Spirit Island: Branch & Claw, you play as powerful Spirits working together to protect your island from relentless Invaders. The Invaders are pushing forward, and you must grow and change to resist them. Your goal is to drive the Invaders back and prevent them from destroying the island and its inhabitants, the Dahan.

Setup
To set up the game, follow these steps:

    Invader Board: Add the Invader Board extension to the base game.
    Tokens: Place the Beasts, Wilds, Disease, and Strife tokens in their corresponding areas on the Invader Board extension.
    Event Deck: Shuffle the Event Deck and place it on the Events space on the Invader Board extension. Note that playing with a Blight Card is now required.
    Scenario Setup: Place one Blight and one Fear token on each Island Board. The Blight goes in the lowest-numbered land with no printed Setup icons; the Fear goes in land #2 (with the City).
    Thematic Maps: If using Thematic Boards, place Beasts, Wilds, Disease, and Strife tokens as indicated by the Setup icons in each land.


Game Flow
The game follows a specific turn order. All play is simultaneous within the phases:

1. Spirit Phase

    Growth: Spirits may choose Growth options.
    Gain Energy: Spirits gain Energy.
    Choose Powers: Spirits play and pay for Power Cards.


2. Invader Phase

    Blighted Island: Resolve any Blighted Island effects.
    Event: Draw and resolve one Event Card.
    Fear Effects: Resolve any Earned Fear Cards.
    Ravage: Invaders deal Damage (including Strife effects).
    Build: Invaders build (including Disease effects).
    Explore: Invaders explore (including Wilds effects).
    Advance Invader Cards: Move the Invader Cards on the Invader Action Track.


3. Time Passes

    Played Power Cards go to personal discards.
    Damage and Elements are removed.


4. Slow Power Phase
Resolve any remaining Slow Power Cards and Innate abilities.

Actions and How to Play
The game involves various actions and mechanics that influence the outcome:

Invader Actions
Invaders perform Invader Actions: Ravage, Build, and Explore. These are "normal" actions when caused by Invader Cards on the Invader Board, and "extra" actions when caused by Events, Fear, Powers, or Adversary rules.

Tokens

    Beasts: Harms Invaders and generates Fear as specified by Powers and Event Cards.
    Wilds: Prevents the next Explore action in that land and is then Removed.
    Disease: Prevents the next Build action in that land and is then Removed.
    Strife: Placed under a specific Invader. When that Invader deals Damage to Dahan and/or the land, it deals exactly 0 Damage and the Strife is Removed.


Choice Events
Some Event Cards are Choice Events, offering two paths with different consequences. Players must reach a consensus. If no consensus is reached, the first listed option is the default. Some choices may require paying an Energy cost, which can be Aided by a specific Element by Forgetting or Discarding Power Cards.

End of Game and Scoring
The game ends based on the following conditions:

    Defeat: If there is ever no Blight left on the Blighted Island, the players lose the game.
    Victory: The manual does not explicitly define the specific victory condition for the players in this provided text, other than stating that victory is attainable if a clear path is found through the possibilities.


Tips for Winning
Consulte el manual para detalles sobre esta sección.

## FAQ
### Do I need the base game to play?
Yes, this is an expansion. You must own Spirit Island to use any of this content.

### Does it make the game much harder?
Yes, complexity increases, and the new Events and the French Adversary bring much more intense challenges.

### How much longer do games take?
Expect an increase in setup time and tactical discussion, as there are more variables on the board.

### Are the new spirits balanced?
Yes, they follow the game's design standard, offering very distinct and powerful playstyles.

### Is it worth it for solo players?
Absolutely! New spirits and scenarios completely refresh the solo experience.

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