
- BGG rank
- BGG #236
- BGG rating
- 8.0
Sekigahara: The Unification of Japan
- 2 players
- 180 min
- Complexity 2.8/5
- 2011

2008
Rules assistance for Magnet
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.
Magnet is a board game released in 2008 for 2 players, 30 minutes per game, and ages 8 and up. It was designed by Matt Calkins and its main mechanics are Grid Movement and Secret Unit Deployment.
Magnet won 2010 Runner Up Abstract Game of the Year in Games Magazine. An abstract game where players try to get their king to the middle of the board. Each player has 12 blocks, 11 of which can be promoted 1, 2, or 3 times, thus increasing their movement capability (the king cannot be promoted so don't promote all your other pieces, or you will give away your king's location). A "magnet," a black pawn, is placed on a gridded point and affects all of a player's pieces on lines radiating out from that point, moving them closer to the magnet. You can capture other pieces in this way, removing them from the board.
Magnet supports 2 players according to the catalogue. This is the publisher’s listed player count, so the game is designed for exactly that number of participants. Variants for other group sizes, if any, are described in the rulebook of your edition, so check it before setting up a different configuration.
The listed playing time for Magnet 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 Magnet for ages 8 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.
Magnet has a complexity rating of 2.3 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.
Magnet belongs to these categories: Abstract Strategy. Its main mechanics are Grid Movement and Secret Unit Deployment. 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 Magnet are: Matt Calkins. 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 Magnet 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.