
- BGG rank
- BGG #890
- BGG rating
- 7.1
KeyForge: Call of the Archons
- 2 players
- 15–45 min
- Complexity 2.5/5
- 2018

Rules assistance for KeyForge: Dark Tidings – Archon Deck
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.
KeyForge: Dark Tidings – Archon Deck is an expansion for KeyForge: Age of Ascension released in 2021 for 2–4 players, 45–90 minutes per game, and ages 14 and up. It was designed by Richard Garfield and its main mechanics are Hand Management and Take That.
Dive beneath the waves of the Crucible’s oceans with Dark Tidings, the fifth set of Archon Decks for Keyforge, the world’s only Unique Deck Game! Dark Tidings introduces a brand-new House to the game: the Unfathamable. Replacing Dis in the current cardpool, the Unfathomable specialize in controlling their opponents by exhausting enemy creatures. What’s more, every House gains the power to call upon the tides of the Crucible, gaining advantages from high tide and avoiding the punishments of low tide. Finally, Dark Tidings also brings the possibility of evil twin decks in existence, except with many of its cards exchanged for their “evil twin” versions, featuring alternative abilities, graphic design & art. —description from the publisher
KeyForge: Dark Tidings – Archon Deck supports 2–4 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 KeyForge: Dark Tidings – Archon Deck is 45–90 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 KeyForge: Dark Tidings – Archon Deck 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.
KeyForge: Dark Tidings – Archon Deck has a complexity rating of 2.5 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.
KeyForge: Dark Tidings – Archon Deck belongs to these categories: Card Game, Fantasy, and Fighting. Its main mechanics are Hand Management and Take That. 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 KeyForge: Dark Tidings – Archon Deck are: Richard Garfield. 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 KeyForge: Dark Tidings – Archon Deck as an expansion for KeyForge: Age of Ascension. Expansions add new content, rules or scenarios to the base game and usually cannot be played on their own, so you need KeyForge: Age of Ascension to use it. Check that your edition of KeyForge: Age of Ascension is compatible, as some expansions were revised between editions.