# Star Realms ## General Info - **Year Published**: 2014 - **BGG Rating**: 7.6 - **BGG Rank**: #174 - **Players**: 2 (Best with: 2) - **Duration**: 20 min - **Weight**: 1.91 / 5 - **Designers**: Darwin Kastle, Robert Dougherty - **Artists**: Andres Martinez, Cody Jones, Graphics Manufacture, Kalissa Fitzgerald, Randy Delven, Vito Gesualdi - **Publishers**: Wise Wizard Games, ADC Blackfire Entertainment, ADC Blackfire Entertainment GmbH, Broadway Toys LTD, Devir, Games Factory - **Categories**: Card Game, Fighting, Science Fiction - **Mechanics**: Deck, Bag, and Pool Building, Delayed Purchase, Hand Management, Income, Multi-Use Cards, Open Drafting, Player Elimination, Set Collection, Tags, Take That, Variable Set-up ## Verdict If you're looking for a fast-paced, interactive deck-builder with a strong combat focus, Star Realms delivers an excellent head-to-head experience. Its blend of Magic-like strategy and streamlined mechanics makes it a standout in the genre. Quick to learn, deep strategy Engaging head-to-head combat Satisfying deck-building progression Strong faction synergy mechanics Primarily a two-player experience Luck of the draw can impact games HIGHLY RECOMMENDED ## Description Star Realms is a deck-building game that throws you headfirst into frantic space combat! Created by Magic legends Darwin Kastle and Rob Dougherty, it blends the fun of building your deck with the speed and interactivity we love in collectible card games. The idea is simple: use your ships and bases to generate 'Trade' to acquire more powerful cards, or to generate 'Combat' to blast your opponent's 'Authority'. Reach zero? You win! Cards come in four different factions. You can mix and match, but many have 'Ally' abilities that give an extra bonus if you play cards from the same faction together. When you buy a card, it goes into your discard pile and will soon be shuffled into your personal deck. Ships are used immediately and go to the discard pile at the end of the turn. Bases, on the other hand, stay in front of you, and you can use their abilities every turn. Oh, and combat isn't just for zeroing out your opponent's Authority; it's also crucial for destroying their bases. Some bases are 'Outposts,' and you need to destroy them before you can directly attack your opponent's Authority. Star Realms is super easy to learn, especially if you're familiar with deck-building, but mastering the strategies takes time. Each game is full of important decisions: do I take the best card for me or deny the best card from my opponent? Do I focus on one faction or take the best available? Do I generate more trade or more combat? Do I attack the base or the authority? These choices add immense depth and ensure the game has incredible replayability. The core box comes with everything for two players, but if you combine it with standalone expansions like Colony Wars or Frontiers, you can play with up to six people in various modes, including free-for-all or team play. This is the starting point of the Star Realms series! ## How to Play Objective of the Game Welcome, space commanders! In Star Realms, you're not just playing cards; you're building a formidable space armada to dominate the galaxy. Your ultimate goal? To reduce your opponent's **Authority** to zero! Each player starts with 50 **Authority**, so every strategic purchase and every combat decision brings you closer to galactic supremacy. Get ready to launch your ships, acquire powerful bases, and outmaneuver your rival in this thrilling deck-building showdown! Preparation (Setup) Setting up Star Realms is quicker than a hyperspace jump! Here's how to get your game ready: Each player takes a **personal deck** consisting of 8 **Scout cards** and 2 **Viper cards**. Each player starts with a score of 50 **Authority**. You can use **Authority cards** or any other method to keep track. Leave space next to each **personal deck** for a **discard pile**. Place the 10 **Explorer cards** face up on the table. This is the **Explorer Pile**. Shuffle the **Trade Deck** and place it face down on the table. Lay out 5 cards from the **Trade Deck** face up on the table. This is your **Trade Row**. Leave a space next to the **Trade Row** for the **Scrap Heap** (where cards removed from the game go). Both players shuffle their **personal decks**. Randomly determine who goes first. The first player draws three cards, and the second player draws five cards. Now you're ready to dive into the action! The Turn of Play Players take turns, alternating back and forth, each turn following three distinct phases in order: 1) Main Phase This is where the magic happens! During your **Main Phase**, you can perform any of the following actions, in any order you wish, and as many times as you like: Play cards from your hand: Just place a card face up in front of you and do what it says. Ships: These provide a one-time effect when played and stay in play until your **Discard Phase**. Bases: These are persistent! They stay in play turn after turn until destroyed or scrapped. Each **Base** has a **Defense** value. Some **Bases** are **Outposts**, which protect you and your other non-outpost **Bases** from attacks until all your **Outposts** are destroyed. Use abilities of Ships or Bases in play: Primary Base Abilities: Most **Bases** have an ability in their main text box. If there's an "or" between abilities (like gaining 2 **Authority** OR 2 **Trade**), you choose one. Ally Abilities: Indicated by a faction icon, these trigger as soon as you have another **Ship** or **Base** of that faction in play. Once triggered, you can use them anytime during your **Main Phase**. Scrap Abilities: Marked by a trash can icon. If you choose to use a **Scrap Ability**, you remove the card from play and place it in the **Scrap Heap** forever! Use these wisely. (Note: if an **Explorer** is scrapped, it goes back to the **Explorer Pile**, not the **Scrap Heap**.) Acquire Ships or Bases with Trade: When you play cards that give you **Trade**, it goes into your **Trade Pool**. Use **Trade** to buy cards from the **Trade Row** or the **Explorer Pile**. The card's cost is in the upper right-hand corner. Acquired cards go directly into your **discard pile**. They don't go into play and their abilities aren't used immediately. If you acquire a card from the **Trade Row**, immediately replace it with a new card from the **Trade Deck**. Sometimes cards let you "Acquire a card" without using **Trade** – pretty sweet! Attack your opponent or their bases with Combat: When you play cards that give you **Combat**, it goes into your **Combat Pool**. To attack a **Base**, subtract **Combat** equal to its **Defense**. The **Base** is destroyed and goes to your opponent's **discard pile**. Sometimes cards let you "Destroy target Base" without using **Combat**. To attack your opponent directly, subtract any amount of **Combat** from your **Combat Pool** and reduce their **Authority** by that amount. 2) Discard Phase Time to clean up! During this phase, you: Lose any remaining **Trade** in your **Trade Pool**. Lose any remaining **Combat** in your **Combat Pool**. Put all **Ships** that are "in play" into your **discard pile**. Put any cards left in your hand into your **discard pile**. 3) Draw Phase Get ready for your next turn! During your **Draw Phase**, you: Draw 5 cards. Your turn ends. Important Note: If your **personal deck** runs out, shuffle your **discard pile** to form a new **personal deck**, then continue drawing until you have 5 cards. End of Game and Scoring The game ends immediately when one player's **Authority** is reduced to zero. That player loses, and their opponent claims victory as the undisputed ruler of the Star Realms! Tips for Winning New to the Star Realms universe? Here are a couple of tips to get you started on the path to victory: Balance Trade and Combat: It's tempting to go all-in on attacking, but remember you need **Trade** to acquire more powerful **Ships** and **Bases**. A strong economy fuels a strong offense. Don't neglect your **Trade**! Utilize Faction Synergies: Pay attention to **Ally Abilities**! Building up cards of the same faction can unlock powerful bonus effects, turning a good turn into a game-changing one. Look for opportunities to chain these abilities together. Consider Scrapping Strategically: While giving up a card forever sounds harsh, **Scrap Abilities** can offer immediate, powerful benefits or help you thin out your deck of weaker starting cards (like **Explorers** or **Vipers**) to draw your better cards more often. Think about the long-term benefit versus the immediate cost. ## FAQ ### How many players can play Star Realms? The base Star Realms game is designed for 2 players. However, by combining copies of the base game or its standalone expansions (like Colony Wars), it's possible to play with up to 6 people in multiplayer formats. ### What is the average playtime for a game of Star Realms? A game of Star Realms is super quick, usually lasting between 20 to 30 minutes. It's perfect for a quick session or multiple consecutive games! ### What is the complexity level of Star Realms? Star Realms is considered a light-complexity game (BGG weight of 1.91/5). The rules are easy to learn, especially if you're already familiar with deck-building games, but there's plenty of strategic depth to master. ### What are the main components of the game? The game primarily consists of cards: ship cards, base cards, trade cards, and authority cards. Everything comes in a compact, easy-to-carry box. ### Who is Star Realms suitable for? It's ideal for those looking for a fast-paced two-player combat game, fans of science fiction, and deck-building mechanics. If you enjoy games with tactical decisions and high replayability, you'll love it! ### Are there expansions for Star Realms? Yes, Star Realms has several expansions and standalone sets, such as Star Realms: Colony Wars and Star Realms: Frontiers, which add new cards, factions, and game modes, as well as allowing for more players. ## Price Comparison ### Best International Offers - **BoardGamePrices.com**: $ 17.99 (https://boardgameprices.com/item/go?source=A&storeitemid=940225&utm_source=boardgamesbot.com) - See all on BoardGamePrices: https://boardgameprices.com/item/show/7494/star-realms?utm_source=boardgamesbot.com