
- BGG rating
- 7.3
Fantasy Defense: The Stone King
- 1–2 players
- 15–20 min
- Complexity 2.0/5
- 2017

2017
Rules assistance for Fantasy Defense
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.
Fantasy Defense is a board game released in 2017 for 1–2 players, 15 minutes per game, and ages 10 and up. It was designed by Evan Song and Yoshiyuki Arai (あらいよしゆき) and its main mechanics are Variable Player Powers, Hand Management, and Trading.
Fantasy Defense is a challenging card game that can be played either solo or cooperatively. Manage your limited units to defeat the orcs besieging the seven gates of your city. Each attack you fail to repulse decreases your kingdom's morale, drawing oblivion a step closer. Secure victory by slaying the invaders before it's too late — but don't breathe too easily! With each milestone reached, you unlock hidden game features: powerful units join your cause, devastating foes appear, and special rules twist the challenge in new directions. The objective of the game is to defeat the invading orcs by discarding their entire deck before your kingdom's power is reduced to zero. By playing your cards on the city gates, you can defend against the invading orcs, but with every fight there will be casualties on your side. Play your cards wisely to achieve victory. If you win, you will be able to unlock new terrifying foes entering the battle.
Fantasy Defense 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 Fantasy Defense is 15 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 Fantasy Defense 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.
Fantasy Defense has a complexity rating of 2.1 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.
Fantasy Defense belongs to these categories: Card Game, Fantasy, and Fighting. Its main mechanics are Variable Player Powers, Hand Management, and Trading. 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 Fantasy Defense are: Evan Song and Yoshiyuki Arai (あらいよしゆき). 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 Fantasy Defense 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.