
- BGG rank
- BGG #578
- BGG rating
- 7.2
Citadels
- 2–8 players
- 30–60 min
- Complexity 2.1/5
- 2016

2026
Rules assistance for Citadels Duel
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.
Citadels Duel is a board game released in 2026 for 2 players, 30 minutes per game, and ages 14 and up. It was designed by Guillaume Montiage and Manuel Rozoy and its main mechanics are Variable Player Powers, Take That, and Set Collection.
Welcome to Citadels Duel, a tense head-to-head contest of cunning and ambition. Two rival city planners compete to shape the future of the Citadel, striving to design the district plan that generates the greatest wealth and earns lasting renown. Construct powerful buildings across diverse districts—from bustling Commercial hubs to formidable Military strongholds—while enlisting influential figures such as the cunning Queen, the deadly Assassin, and the ruthless Warlord to your aid. Every ally you recruit is an advantage your opponent may also claim, so anticipate their moves and act decisively. When the final building rises, the planner with the most gold claims victory. —description from the publisher
Citadels Duel supports 2 players according to the catalogue. This is the publisher’s listed player count, so the game is designed for exactly that number of participants. Variants for other group sizes, if any, are described in the rulebook of your edition, so check it before setting up a different configuration.
The listed playing time for Citadels Duel is 30 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 Citadels Duel 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.
Citadels Duel has a complexity rating of 2.0 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.
Citadels Duel belongs to these categories: Card Game, Bluffing, and Medieval. Its main mechanics are Variable Player Powers, Take That, and Set Collection. 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 Citadels Duel are: Guillaume Montiage and Manuel Rozoy. 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 Citadels Duel 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.