
- BGG rank
- BGG #2,898
- BGG rating
- 8.3
Deliverance
- 1–4 players
- 60–120 min
- Complexity 3.1/5
- 2023

2013
Rules assistance for Chains to Champions
Plain-language explanations of turns, card effects and disputed situations, with official source references and saved question history.
For 2 players

What would you like to know?
Answers come from the official rulebook, with the page to check.
Chains to Champions is a board game released in 2013 for 2–6 players, 40 minutes per game, and ages 14 and up. It was designed by Ryan Hauge and Amanda Taylor and its main mechanics are Hand Management, Dice Rolling, and Grid Movement.
Chains to Champions is a gladiator themed board game that consists of three phases. In phase one you purchase a gladiator at an auction, in phase two you equip your gladiator with weapons, helmets, armor, and training, and then in phase three all players fight to the death in the Arena. The last man standing wins! From the back of the box: "Hurry, hurry! The auction is about to begin! There are many gladiators from which to choose. If you choose wisely, you could end up with riches beyond your wildest dreams. If you choose poorly, your gladiator may end up splattered on the sand of the arena. However, the strength behind the swing of his sword isn’t the only thing it takes to make your gladiator a champion. You’ll have access to the finest training and weapons that Rome has to offer before your gladiator is tossed into the arena for a merciless fight to arena in chains, but only one will emerge a champion. Chains to Champions combines mathematical probability with human ingenuity to create a strategy game that is unique each time you play."
Chains to Champions supports 2–6 players according to the catalogue. This range comes from the publisher’s listed player count, so the game can be set up for any group size within it. Some setups, rules and scoring details may still vary by player count, so check your edition’s rulebook for the exact configuration.
The listed playing time for Chains to Champions is 40 minutes. This is the publisher’s estimate for a full game. The actual duration depends on the group, the player count and familiarity with the rules: first sessions usually run longer, while experienced groups often finish faster. Setup and teaching time are not included in this estimate.
The catalogue lists Chains to Champions for ages 14 and up. This is the publisher’s recommendation and reflects reading demands, rule complexity and small components rather than theme alone. Younger players can often join with help from an adult, so check the age guidance on your edition and consider your group’s experience with board games.
Chains to Champions has a complexity rating of 2.5 out of 5 from BoardGameGeek players, which makes it a medium-light game. The rating reflects how much rules knowledge, planning and decision-making a typical game demands. Expect a longer first teach for heavier games, and use a preparation guide before game night.
Chains to Champions belongs to these categories: Fighting, Miniatures, and Ancient. Its main mechanics are Hand Management, Dice Rolling, and Grid Movement. Categories describe the theme and setting of a game, while mechanics describe what players actually do on their turns. Each mechanic links to a catalogue hub with similar games, which helps when you want something comparable.
The credited designers of Chains to Champions are: Ryan Hauge and Amanda Taylor. These credits come from the published game data and name the people responsible for the game’s design, not its illustrators or publishers. Designer pages on MeepleRules collect other titles by the same designers, which helps when you enjoy a game and want to find similar ones.
The catalogue lists Chains to Champions as a base game. It can be played on its own with the components in the box and does not require any other title. Expansions, if any exist, add new content or rules on top of it and are listed separately in the catalogue with a link back to this base game.