
- BGG rank
- BGG #31,295
- BGG rating
- 5.4
We Didn't Playtest This at All
- 2–10 players
- 1–10 min
- Complexity 1.1/5
- 2007

2015
Rules assistance for Legendary Showdown: Machines & Magic
Plain-language explanations of turns, card effects and disputed situations, with official source references and saved question history.

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Answers come from the official rulebook, with the page to check.
Legendary Showdown: Machines & Magic is a board game released in 2015 for 2–7 players, 30–60 minutes per game, and ages 12 and up. It was designed by Blake Hansen and its main mechanics are Hand Management, Take That, and Player Elimination.
Legendary Showdown: Machines and Magic combines the worlds of Girl Genius & Gunnerkrigg Court to create comically epic battles! The worlds of Girl Genius and Gunnerkrigg Court are about to collide in a legendary showdown! Legendary Showdown: Machines & Magic is a game of comically epic battles where each player uses strategy, sabotage, and one-upmanship to develop a secret battle plan. This lighthearted and easy-to-learn tabletop game is designed to be enjoyed by experienced gamers and newcomers alike. Haven’t read the comics before? No problem! No background reading is required to help your characters win battles and be the last one left standing! Let the mass chaos, devious strategies, and humorous battles begin! Who is this Girl Genius? Girl Genius is a three-time winner of the highest honor awarded for works of science fiction and fantasy: the prestigious Hugo Award. The webcomic follows Agatha Clay, a seemingly mild-mannered mechanic who discovers she has inherited the abilities of a spark (a feared mad scientist with the natural ability to understand complex sciences and wield them for their own chaotic purposes). Even more shocking, Agatha discovers that she is the descendent of a long lost line of sparks whose unparalleled skills and insanity made them legends in their own time. Cleverly written and beautifully illustrated by Kaja and Phil Foglio, Girl Genius is full of adventure, romance, and plenty of MAD SCIENCE! What is this “Gunnerkrigg Court” of which you speak? This highly praised comic is the work of the celebrated author and artist, Tom Siddell. The story follows Antimony Carver as she attends an isolated boarding school called Gunnerkrigg Court. Antimony soon learns that the Court is no ordinary school - the teachers are hiding ancient conspiracies, it is bordered by a forest full of dangerous monsters, and the school is inhabited by strange creatures and students with special abilities. In the course of her adventures, Antimony befriends an ancient trickster god, discovers her own supernatural powers, and begins investigating the dark secrets of the court. Why do we love these comics so darn much? If you aren’t already faithful readers, allow me to let you in on a little secret: these comics rock. The stories are masterfully crafted, the art is top notch, and the characters are instantly endearing. It's no wonder that these comics have won so many rewards and attracted such loyal fans. We also appreciate that both comics feature characters who make great role models. For example, Antimony Carver and Agatha Clay are some of the strongest and most intelligent women you could hope to meet and their friends will stop at nothing to stand by their sides. How to play the game that will... change your life: Each player is dealt a total of five characters from the worlds of Girl Genius and Gunnerkrigg Court. These characters line up in anticipation for their chance to battle. During the round, you try to equip characters in your line with powerful weapons and bonuses while equipping characters in other players’ lines with faulty or otherwise terrible equipment. You can also give yourself secret advantages or sabotage your opponents. When the round ends, the characters at the front of each line will engage in a (legendary) showdown. But the madness doesn’t stop there! You can rearrange your line and the lines of your opponents to change who will be competing in the final battle. The round suddenly ends when all players but one (the poor chap) are ready to fight. At that point, each player reveals his or her battle strategy and the winner is decided.
Legendary Showdown: Machines & Magic supports 2–7 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 Legendary Showdown: Machines & Magic 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 Legendary Showdown: Machines & Magic for ages 12 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.
Legendary Showdown: Machines & Magic has a complexity rating of 1.0 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.
Legendary Showdown: Machines & Magic belongs to these categories: Card Game, Fighting, and Humor. Its main mechanics are Hand Management, Take That, and Player Elimination. 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 Legendary Showdown: Machines & Magic are: Blake Hansen. 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 Legendary Showdown: Machines & Magic 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.