
- BGG rank
- BGG #5,213
- BGG rating
- 8.0
Reluctant Enemies: Operation Exporter
- 2 players
- 750 min
- Complexity 3.6/5
- 2014

2016
Rules assistance for Last Blitzkrieg: Wacht am Rhein, The Battle of the Bulge
Plain-language explanations of turns, card effects and disputed situations, with official source references and saved question history.
For 2 players

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Answers come from the official rulebook, with the page to check.
Last Blitzkrieg: Wacht am Rhein, The Battle of the Bulge is a board game released in 2016 for 2–4 players, 180–960 minutes per game, and ages 13 and up. It was designed by Dean Essig and its main mechanics are Dice Rolling, Hexagon Grid, and Simulation.
Last Blitzkrieg is the first entry in the new Series: Battalion Combat Series (MMP), which simulates combat in World War II (and beyond) at the battalion scale. Its subject is the German Ardennes offensive Wacht Am Rhein (the Battle of the Bulge) on four detailed maps (at 1km per hex) and with 1,680 counters. Last Blitzkrieg covers the battle in a level of detail rarely seen before and does so in a very playable manner. The BCS itself was designed to show that battalion level combat is its own subject, being neither "small divisions" nor "large platoons". The results may surprise some players, but will hopefully pique the interest of all and allow them to see many things they thought they already knew in a fresh light. Key Battalion Combat Series concepts include: Objectives Recon Units Concentrated Armor and Support Prepared Defense MSRs and Combat Trains Set Piece Combats vs. Shock Attacks vs. Engagements Artillery Barrages Artillery Asset Points Attack by Fire SNAFU Activation by Formation Traffic and Coordination Fatigue Memory Markers Last Blitzkrieg also adds: Bridge Blowing Greif Teams Weather Tiger Maintenance Woes Voraus Units Game play commences on 16 December 44 and ends on 31 December 44 (with each turn being one day) allowing the first phase of the Allied counterattack to proceed. The winner is determined by comparing the German high water mark in Victory Point hexes against the situation at the very end of the game. In addition to the full campaign, which uses a 4-map "box" layout, there are 9 additional scenarios for a total of 10 scenarios of various sizes: Two 4-map scenarios: Last Blitzkrieg Campaign: 16 turns Final Blitzkrieg: 10 turns Two 2-map scenarios: Breakthrough Campaign: 6 turns using Maps C and D Advance & Destroy: 10 turns using Map D and a portion of Map B Six 1-map scenarios (including two scenarios on portions of a single map) Northern Campaign: 6 turns using Map C Southern Campaign: 6 turns using Map D Kampfgruppe Peiper: 5 turns using portion of Map C The Goose Egg: 5 turns using portion of Map C Bastogne: Screaming Eagles Under Siege: 8 turns using portions of Maps B and D (total playing area is less than one map) Tip of the Spear: 4 turns using Map A Last Blitzkrieg was designed to bring all of this—and much more—to your table in a most historically accurate game that is jam-packed with information. The BCS was designed with twin goals: to provide the most insight possible into a battle and to provide games that have maximum playability. Last Blitzkrieg contents: Four 22" x 34" maps Six countersheets One Battalion Combat Series rules booklet One Last Blitzkrieg specific rulebook One Battalion Combat Series Crib Notes booklet Two Battalion Combat Series Charts and Tables booklets Two Last Blitzkrieg Charts and Tables booklets One box and lid Two 6-sided dice (description from MMP website and user)
Last Blitzkrieg: Wacht am Rhein, The Battle of the Bulge 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 Last Blitzkrieg: Wacht am Rhein, The Battle of the Bulge is 180–960 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 Last Blitzkrieg: Wacht am Rhein, The Battle of the Bulge for ages 13 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.
Last Blitzkrieg: Wacht am Rhein, The Battle of the Bulge has a complexity rating of 3.8 out of 5 from BoardGameGeek players, which makes it a heavy 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.
Last Blitzkrieg: Wacht am Rhein, The Battle of the Bulge belongs to these categories: Wargame and World War II. Its main mechanics are Dice Rolling, Hexagon Grid, and Simulation. 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 Last Blitzkrieg: Wacht am Rhein, The Battle of the Bulge are: Dean Essig. 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 Last Blitzkrieg: Wacht am Rhein, The Battle of the Bulge 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.