
- BGG rank
- BGG #30
- BGG rating
- 8.1
Lost Ruins of Arnak
- 1–4 players
- 30–120 min
- Complexity 2.9/5
- 2020

Rules assistance for Mage Tower, A Tower Defense Card Game
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.
Mage Tower, A Tower Defense Card Game is a board game released in 2013 for 1–4 players, 30 minutes per game, and ages 13 and up. It was designed by Brett Brimmer and its main mechanics are Hand Management, Open Drafting, and Deck, Bag, and Pool Building.
Mage Tower is a tower defense card game for 1-4 players that combines the frenzy of tower defense games with the replayability and customization of fantasy card games. Each game you make a unique deck from over 170 different spells and abilities. You and opponents pick from a selection of cards to build your deck. Focus on card combos, synergy, balanced energy costs, and watch out for your opponent's strategy! During the game there are two decks: the Monster Deck and your customized Player Deck. Each turn monsters come out of the monster deck to attack you, and you use the cards from your Player Deck to deal damage to them, draw cards, mess with opponents, and more. There are also some subtle deck building elements with "Prize Cards" you can buy during the game to add to your deck. The first players to lose all their life from the monsters lose.
Mage Tower, A Tower Defense Card Game supports 1–4 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 Mage Tower, A Tower Defense Card Game 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 Mage Tower, A Tower Defense Card Game 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.
Mage Tower, A Tower Defense Card Game 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.
Mage Tower, A Tower Defense Card Game belongs to these categories: Card Game and Fantasy. Its main mechanics are Hand Management, Open Drafting, and Deck, Bag, and Pool Building. 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 Mage Tower, A Tower Defense Card Game are: Brett Brimmer. 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 Mage Tower, A Tower Defense Card Game 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.