Tyrants of the Underdark: Board Game

Gale Force Nine, LLC, Across the Board, Hasbro · Board game · 2021
8.9 Ludopedia 8.2 BGG 2–4 · best 4 90 min Weight 2.5/5
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8.9 rating Ludopedia
8.2 rating BGG

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Our Verdict
RECOMMENDED

Perfect for those who love aggressive strategy and want to feel the political intrigue of D&D.

Highlights
  • Perfect mix of deck-building and area control
  • Direct and competitive interaction
  • Drow theme is very well implemented
  • Complete edition with expansion included
Keep in mind
  • Moderate learning curve for newcomers
  • Language dependency requires translation
Learn How to Play Step by Step Check out our complete step-by-step rules guide.
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About the game

What you do in a play session

Get ready to dive into the depths of the Underdark, where betrayal is the currency and ambition knows no bounds. In Tyrants of the Underdark, you take command of a Drow house with a simple but brutal goal: dominate the region beneath the Sword Coast. The game blends the tension of territory control with the strategy of deck-building. Your army is represented by minion cards, each belonging to one of the five aspects of Drow society. Do you want to be the one who recruits frantically and promotes allies to the inner circle to secure extra points? Or do you prefer the path of malice, wiping out opposing troops with precise assassinations?

The dynamics revolve around two main resources: influence and power. Use influence to recruit new minions from the central marketplace, strengthening your deck. Power, on the other hand, is what puts your troops on the board, allowing you to expand your domain, manipulate city politics, and, of course, annihilate the competition. The strategy is deep: you must balance the improvement of your deck with your physical presence on the map. Whoever controls strategic sites and promotes the most valuable minions to the inner circle ends the game with the crown. It's worth noting that this 2021 printing is the definitive version, already including the Aberrations & Undead expansion, bringing even more creature variety and tactics to your table. If you enjoy strategy games where resource management meets territorial disputes, this game is a treat. Player interaction is constant and aggressive, so don't expect peace; expect intrigue and sudden twists!

Rules videos

Learn by watching before you open the box

3 videos

Rules manual

Official PDF file

Rules manual — Tyrants of the Underdark: Board Game English · PDF
Download Manual

Best player count

BGG community vote

2–4 players
2 REC
3 REC
4 BEST

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Game details

Mechanics, categories, families and credits

Categories

Families

Game: Tyrants of the Underdark Setting: Dungeons & Dragons Versions & Editions: Big Box Versions of Individual Games
Publisher Gale Force Nine, LLC, Across the Board, Hasbro, Lavka Games, Wizards of the Coast
Designer Andrew Veen, Peter Lee, Rodney Thompson
Artist Aaron J. Riley, Adam Paquette, Alex Aparin, Arnie Swekel, Ben Wootten, Brian Hagan, Bryan Syme, Carlos Nunez de Castro Torres, Claudio Pozas, Conceptopolis, Craig J. Spearing, Damien Mammoliti, Daren Bader, Emily Fiegenschuh, Eric Belisle, Eva Widermann, Francis Tsai, Guido Kuip, Héctor Ortiz, Howard Lyon, Ilich Henriquez, Jacob Masbruch, James Zhang, Jason Engle, Jason Juta, Jesper Ejsing, Jim Nelson, John-Paul Balmet, Julie Dillon, Kieran Yanner, Klaus Pillon (I), Lars Grant-West, Marc Sasso, Marcel Mercado, Marco Nelor, Matias Tapia, McLean Kendree, Milivoj Ceran, Olga Drebas, Ralph Horsley, Raymond Swanland, Richard Whitters, Rick Hershey, Rob Alexander, Ryan Pancoast, Sam Burley, Sławomir Maniak, Stephen Tappin, Steve Ellis (I), Todd Harris, Tomasz Jedruszek, Tyler Jacobson, Tyler Walpole, Vance Kovacs, Wayne England, William O'Connor

Community

Data from BoardGameGeek

7,092owners
1,113wishlist
123want to play

Frequently Asked Questions

Quick answers before you buy

5 questions
Is the game too complex for non-RPG players?
Not at all! While based on D&D, the rules are independent of the RPG. If you've played any deck-builder, you'll pick it up quickly.
How long does a game take?
Usually around 90 minutes, though it may vary depending on how aggressive players are with area control.
Do I need a translation to play?
Yes, there is moderate language dependency. The cards have important text, so a translation sheet or translated cards are recommended.
How many people can play?
From 2 to 4 players. The experience changes significantly between a tense 2-player duel and 4-player anarchy.
What's included in the 2021 version?
This is the 'Big Box' version, which already includes the base game and the Aberrations & Undead expansion.

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