
- BGG rank
- BGG #15
- BGG rating
- 8.6
Slay the Spire: The Board Game
- 1–4 players
- 30–150 min
- Complexity 2.9/5
- 2024
- Ask about the rules

Rules assistance for Illusio
Plain-language explanations of turns, card effects and disputed situations, with saved question history.

What would you like to know?
Answers come from the official rulebook, with the page to check.
Illusio is a board game released in 2008 for 2–6 players, 30 minutes per game, and ages 8 and up. It was designed by Philippe Nouhra.
1896: As the pioneers of magic compete against each other to amaze the public, the most spectacular magic show of all times will soon happen and YOU want to win it! To achieve that, you'll portray one of the ten magicians in competition and challenge your competitors with prestigious tricks. Illusio is a card game about mentalism, close-up tricks, illusions and other examples of magic at the end of the 19th century when the magic arts held as much science as mystery. Which one of the great magicians trying to become Master of Illusion are you going to be? Savano the splendid one who controls the animals? The astonishing Shaozu who controls matter? Or the hypnotic Miss Dominated who subjugates the crowd?
Illusio supports 2–6 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 Illusio is 30 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 Illusio for ages 8 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.
Illusio has a complexity rating of 1.7 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.
Illusio belongs to these categories: Card Game. Categories describe the theme, setting and style of a game rather than its rules. Filter the catalogue by the same category to find similar games when you enjoyed Illusio and want something comparable for your next game night.
The credited designers of Illusio are: Philippe Nouhra. 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 Illusio 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.