
- BGG rank
- BGG #27
- BGG rating
- 8.1
Scythe
- 1–5 players
- 115 min
- Complexity 3.5/5
- 2016

2026
Rules assistance for Duel of Meloch
Plain-language explanations of turns, card effects and disputed situations, with official source references and saved question history.
For 1 player

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Answers come from the official rulebook, with the page to check.
Duel of Meloch is a board game released in 2026 for 1–2 players, 45 minutes per game, and ages 14 and up. It was designed by Jamey Stegmaier and its main mechanics are Variable Player Powers, Hexagon Grid, and Solo / Solitaire Game.
Duel of Meloch is a standalone game that combines mechanisms from two existing games, Scythe and Expeditions, into a 45-minute head-to-head clash. One player uses the Scythe rules and components (including a new faction and player mat); the other player uses the Expedition rules and components (including a new mech, character, and companion). As long as you know one of those games and your opponent knows the other, you can play Duel of Meloch, and you don’t need anything other than Duel of Meloch to play this game. The duel takes place in a tight space on a new double-sided map—only 10 locations and 2 lakes—in a race to 4 stars on a new double-sided Triumph Track, so every turn is crucial. The devious Meloch keeps the game close by giving a small boost to your opponent every time you place a star. All existing Scythe factions, player mats, encounter cards, and factory cards are compatible with Duel of Meloch, as are all existing Expeditions mechs, characters, companions, and discovery cards (items, meteorites, and half of the quests). Likewise, the components in Duel of Meloch are compatible with Scythe and Expeditions: For Scythe, 3 new Factory cards, 6 new encounter cards, a completely new set of 60 combat cards; for Expeditions, 30 new discovery cards (items, quests, and meteorites). —description from the publisher
Duel of Meloch supports 1–2 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 Duel of Meloch is 45 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 Duel of Meloch 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.
Duel of Meloch has a complexity rating of 3.7 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.
Duel of Meloch belongs to these categories: Fighting, Economic, and Science Fiction. Its main mechanics are Variable Player Powers, Hexagon Grid, and Solo / Solitaire Game. 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 Duel of Meloch are: Jamey Stegmaier. 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 Duel of Meloch 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.