
- BGG rank
- BGG #498
- BGG rating
- 7.9
Descent: Legends of the Dark
- 1–4 players
- 120–180 min
- Complexity 2.7/5
- 2021

Expansion for Descent: Journeys in the Dark (Second Edition)
Rules assistance for Descent: Journeys in the Dark (Second Edition) – The Chains That Rust
Plain-language explanations of turns, card effects and disputed situations, with saved question history.

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Answers come from the official rulebook, with the page to check.
Descent: Journeys in the Dark (Second Edition) – The Chains That Rust is an expansion for Descent: Journeys in the Dark (Second Edition) released in 2016 for 2–5 players and ages 10 and up. It was designed by Kara Centell-Dunk and its main mechanics are Variable Player Powers, Hand Management, and Dice Rolling.
Description from the publisher: Your journey thus far has taken you deep into the Mistlands and the domain of Waiqar the Undying. In this land of shifting mists, uncertain footing, and terrifying undead, you are certain of little. The heroes that you’ve fought alongside for years seem suddenly alien and unknowable. Spirits loom up out of the fog and vanish moments before they touch you. Even the air you breathe seems to be worming its way inside you, tainting your blood and binding you to the Mistlands with indelible bonds. More and more, you are sure of only one thing: you must find a way to escape. The heroes' adventures through the Mistlands continue with The Chains That Rust, a new Descent expansion that pits your might against ever more deadly dangers. Within this expansion, you’ll discover an entirely new one-act campaign that can be played on its own or as a sequel to the campaign included in Mists of Bilehall. New Tainted cards and a new Overlord class give the overlord player new tools, even as eight plastic figures swell his armies with new monsters. Finally, you can stretch beyond your hero’s traditional Class decks for the first time with the addition of hybrid classes!
Descent: Journeys in the Dark (Second Edition) – The Chains That Rust supports 2–5 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 catalogue lists Descent: Journeys in the Dark (Second Edition) – The Chains That Rust for ages 10 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.
Descent: Journeys in the Dark (Second Edition) – The Chains That Rust has a complexity rating of 3.5 out of 5 from BoardGameGeek players, which makes it a medium-weight 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.
Descent: Journeys in the Dark (Second Edition) – The Chains That Rust belongs to these categories: Fantasy, Fighting, and Dice. Its main mechanics are Variable Player Powers, Hand Management, and Dice Rolling. 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 Descent: Journeys in the Dark (Second Edition) – The Chains That Rust are: Kara Centell-Dunk. 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 Descent: Journeys in the Dark (Second Edition) – The Chains That Rust as an expansion for Descent: Journeys in the Dark (Second Edition). Expansions add new content, rules or scenarios to the base game and usually cannot be played on their own, so you need Descent: Journeys in the Dark (Second Edition) to use it. Check that your edition of Descent: Journeys in the Dark (Second Edition) is compatible, as some expansions were revised between editions.