
- BGG rank
- BGG #11,815
- BGG rating
- 7.2
Magic: The Gathering — Game Night: Free For All
- 2–5 players
- 30 min
- Complexity 2.7/5
- 2022

2017
Rules assistance for Magic: The Gathering – Archenemy: Nicol Bolas
Plain-language explanations of turns, card effects and disputed situations, with official source references and saved question history.
For 2 players

What would you like to know?
Answers come from the official rulebook, with the page to check.
Magic: The Gathering – Archenemy: Nicol Bolas is a board game released in 2017 for 2–4 players, 30 minutes per game, and ages 13 and up. It was designed by Gavin Verhey and Melissa DeTora and its main mechanics are Variable Player Powers, Hand Management, and Take That.
This is a stand-alone one vs. many Magic: The Gathering game. Nicol Bolas is among the most powerful beings in the Multiverse - don't face him alone! Much like the original Archenemy release, Archenemy: Nicol Bolas pits you and two friends against a single powerful foe where you must work together to survive-or fall to Nicol Bolas himself. The set contains four 60-card decks (with no new card content), four non-premium planeswalker cards with new art, and a 20-card scheme deck containing 20 all-new, unique schemes. Playable right out of the box without any additions!
Magic: The Gathering – Archenemy: Nicol Bolas 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 Magic: The Gathering – Archenemy: Nicol Bolas 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 Magic: The Gathering – Archenemy: Nicol Bolas 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.
Magic: The Gathering – Archenemy: Nicol Bolas has a complexity rating of 3.0 out of 5 from BoardGameGeek players, which makes it a medium-weight 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.
Magic: The Gathering – Archenemy: Nicol Bolas belongs to these categories: Fantasy. Its main mechanics are Variable Player Powers, 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 Magic: The Gathering – Archenemy: Nicol Bolas are: Gavin Verhey and Melissa DeTora. 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 Magic: The Gathering – Archenemy: Nicol Bolas 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.