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- BGG #3,406
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KeyForge: Mass Mutation
- 2 players
- 15–45 min
- Complexity 2.8/5
- 2020
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- BGG #4,968
- BGG rating
- 7.6
KeyForge: Dark Tidings
2021
Rules assistance for KeyForge: Dark Tidings
Plain-language explanations of turns, card effects and disputed situations, with official source references and saved question history.
- 2 players
- 15–45 min
- 14+
- Complexity 2.8/5
For 2 players
Rules assistant for KeyForge: Dark Tidings
What would you like to know?
Answers come from the official rulebook, with the page to check.
KeyForge: Dark Tidings is a board game released in 2021 for 2 players, 15–45 minutes per game, and ages 14 and up. It was designed by Richard Garfield, Brad Andres, and Aaron Haltom and its main mechanics are Hand Management and Take That.
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About the game
KeyForge: Dark Tidings is the fifth series in the KeyForge line. As always, each deck in the line contains cards from three of the seven houses included in the line, but for Dark Tidings the Dis house will be replaced with the Unfathomable, which specializes in controlling their foes by exhausting enemy creatures. Some cards keep your opponent's creatures down, making it difficult for them to muster a fighting force or reap enough æmber. Once your enemies are exhausted, you can keep them out of commission with other cards or even wipe away their board. Each Dark Tidings deck also includes a high/low tide card. The card starts the game out of play, but eventually one player will bring it into play, especially since some cards in Dark Tidings can carry out their effects — or have a massively larger effect — when the high tide is on that player's side. Many effects can raise the tide, but if they're not available, the player with low tide can always suffer three chains to turn the tide in their favor. Dark Tidings also features the debut of "evil twin decks", a new type of deck. For example, you may open a deck that's entitled "Speaker Domitia's Evil Twin". This deck is an exact copy of "Speaker Domitia", a real deck that has been printed and can be found by another player out in the world. The crucial difference is that in an evil twin deck, many of your creatures look a little different. Specifically, in Dark Tidings, many creatures have evil twin variants, and if you find an evil twin deck, every creature with an evil twin variant appears in that form. These evil twin creatures feature new artwork, graphic design, and abilities, making them a significant departure from the original creature.
Mechanics
Publishers
- Rebel Sp. z o.o.
- Korea Boardgames
- Fantasy Flight Games
Questions and answers
KeyForge: Dark Tidings 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 KeyForge: Dark Tidings is 15–45 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 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 has a complexity rating of 2.8 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 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 are: Richard Garfield, Brad Andres, and Aaron Haltom. 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 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.