- BGG rank
- BGG #1,847
- BGG rating
- 7.1
Harry Potter: Hogwarts Battle – Defence Against the Dark Arts
2019
Rules assistance for Harry Potter: Hogwarts Battle – Defence Against the Dark Arts
Plain-language explanations of turns, card effects and disputed situations, with official source references and saved question history.
- 2 players
- 30–60 min
- 11+
- Complexity 1.8/5
For 2 players
Rules assistant for Harry Potter: Hogwarts Battle – Defence Against the Dark Arts
What would you like to know?
Answers come from the official rulebook, with the page to check.
Harry Potter: Hogwarts Battle – Defence Against the Dark Arts is a board game released in 2019 for 2 players, 30–60 minutes per game, and ages 11 and up. It was designed by Andrew Wolf and Kami Mandell and its main mechanics are Take That, Open Drafting, and Deck, Bag, and Pool Building.
About the game
Harry Potter™ Hogwarts™ Battle Defence Against the Dark Arts is a competitive deck-building game for two players, inspired by Harry Potter Hogwarts Battle. In this fast-paced game, players take turns playing cards, taking actions and acquiring new cards to build a more powerful deck as their defensive skills improve. Stun your opponent three times to win! With the noticeable rise in Dark Arts activity, Headmaster Albus Dumbledore has authorized practical Defence Against the Dark Arts lessons to ensure that students are prepared to defend themselves. Under the supervision of Hogwart’s teachers, students will cast Spells and Hexes, use Items, and gain Allies to stun their opponents and protect themselves from evil forces. THIS IS A STAND-ALONE GAME. While inspired by Harry Potter Hogwarts Battle, none of the content in this game is designed to be incorporated into that game.
Designers
Publishers
- Rebel Sp. z o.o.
- The Op Games
- Rexhry
- Reflexshop
- KOSMOS
- Gameology (Gameology Romania)
- Tabletop KZ
- iHRYsko
Questions and answers
Harry Potter: Hogwarts Battle – Defence Against the Dark Arts 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 Harry Potter: Hogwarts Battle – Defence Against the Dark Arts is 30–60 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 Harry Potter: Hogwarts Battle – Defence Against the Dark Arts for ages 11 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.
Harry Potter: Hogwarts Battle – Defence Against the Dark Arts has a complexity rating of 1.8 out of 5 from BoardGameGeek players, which makes it a 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.
Harry Potter: Hogwarts Battle – Defence Against the Dark Arts belongs to these categories: Card Game, Fantasy, and Movies / TV / Radio theme. Its main mechanics are Take That, Open Drafting, and Deck, Bag, and Pool Building. 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 Harry Potter: Hogwarts Battle – Defence Against the Dark Arts are: Andrew Wolf and Kami Mandell. 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 Harry Potter: Hogwarts Battle – Defence Against the Dark Arts 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.