
- BGG rank
- BGG #4,669
- BGG rating
- 7.1
Dust Tactics
- 2–4 players
- 30 min
- Complexity 2.9/5
- 2010

Rules assistance for Dust 1947: Imperial Japan Navy Starter Set – Shadow of Death
Plain-language explanations of turns, card effects and disputed situations, with official source references and saved question history.

What would you like to know?
Answers come from the official rulebook, with the page to check.
Dust 1947: Imperial Japan Navy Starter Set – Shadow of Death is an expansion for Dust 1947 released in 2018 for 2–8 players, 60–120 minutes per game, and ages 10 and up. It was designed by Paolo Parente and its main mechanics are Dice Rolling, Modular Board, and Action Points.
Forces of the Imperial Japanese Navy have begun to arrive in the Babylon theater. Their purpose at the moment is unclear, but it surely won't be any pick-nick! Their presence will have a great impact on the World's events, as they form one of the most seasoned military formations in the World. To stay discreet, they have arrived with stealth: Ninjas! Shadow of Death includes the following units: - Wen Gsi Wong (one Hero) - one Ninja Infiltration Squad (5 miniatures) - one Tengu Medium Walker (one vehicle) Everything you need to start a new glorious IJN Army is included in this box! Please note that the Dust 1947 Starter rules, a durable neoprene gaming mat, terrain, dice, etc. are included in this Starter Set. This item comes with three Dust 1947 Unit Cards.
Dust 1947: Imperial Japan Navy Starter Set – Shadow of Death supports 2–8 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 Dust 1947: Imperial Japan Navy Starter Set – Shadow of Death is 60–120 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 Dust 1947: Imperial Japan Navy Starter Set – Shadow of Death 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.
Dust 1947: Imperial Japan Navy Starter Set – Shadow of Death belongs to these categories: Wargame, Miniatures, and Science Fiction. Its main mechanics are Dice Rolling, Modular Board, and Action Points. 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 Dust 1947: Imperial Japan Navy Starter Set – Shadow of Death are: Paolo Parente. 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 Dust 1947: Imperial Japan Navy Starter Set – Shadow of Death as an expansion for Dust 1947. Expansions add new content, rules or scenarios to the base game and usually cannot be played on their own, so you need Dust 1947 to use it. Check that your edition of Dust 1947 is compatible, as some expansions were revised between editions.