- BGG rank
- BGG #4,768
- BGG rating
- 6.1
Magic: The Gathering – Arena of the Planeswalkers
- 2–5 players
- 60 min
- Complexity 2.4/5
- 2015
- BGG rank
- BGG #5,756
- BGG rating
- 6.7
Magic: The Gathering – Arena of the Planeswalkers: Shadows over Innistrad
2016
Rules assistance for Magic: The Gathering – Arena of the Planeswalkers: Shadows over Innistrad
Plain-language explanations of turns, card effects and disputed situations, with official source references and saved question history.
- 2–4 players
- 60 min
- 10+
- Complexity 2.8/5
For 2 players
Rules assistant for Magic: The Gathering – Arena of the Planeswalkers: Shadows over Innistrad
What would you like to know?
Answers come from the official rulebook, with the page to check.
Magic: The Gathering – Arena of the Planeswalkers: Shadows over Innistrad is a board game released in 2016 for 2–4 players, 60 minutes per game, and ages 10 and up. It was designed by Craig Van Ness, James D'Aloisio, Ethan Fleischer, and Austin Rucker and its main mechanics are Hand Management, Dice Rolling, and Grid Movement.
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About the game
Stand-alone expansion to Magic: The Gathering – Arena of the Planeswalkers. Innistrad is a plane in the Multiverse unlike any other. It's a place where humankind is threatened on all sides by vampires, werewolves, spirits, and ghouls. Twisted, pointed stones called cryptoliths have risen throughout the land and have attracted the attention of those trying to unravel a deeper mystery, for they hold a deep power. As players face off against each other over the cryptoliths’ fate, that power can tip the scales of battle. The first player or team to achieve their victory condition wins the game.
Categories
Publishers
- Hasbro
- Wizards of the Coast
Questions and answers
Magic: The Gathering – Arena of the Planeswalkers: Shadows over Innistrad 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 – Arena of the Planeswalkers: Shadows over Innistrad is 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 Magic: The Gathering – Arena of the Planeswalkers: Shadows over Innistrad for ages 10 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 – Arena of the Planeswalkers: Shadows over Innistrad 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.
Magic: The Gathering – Arena of the Planeswalkers: Shadows over Innistrad belongs to these categories: Fantasy, Wargame, and Miniatures. Its main mechanics are Hand Management, Dice Rolling, and Grid Movement. 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 – Arena of the Planeswalkers: Shadows over Innistrad are: Craig Van Ness, James D'Aloisio, Ethan Fleischer, and Austin Rucker. 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 – Arena of the Planeswalkers: Shadows over Innistrad 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.