- BGG rank
- BGG #12,645
- BGG rating
- 7.5
MERCS
- 2–10 players
- 120 min
- Complexity 2.6/5
- 2010
- BGG rank
- BGG #20,105
- BGG rating
- 7.9
MERCS 2.0
2016
Rules assistance for MERCS 2.0
Plain-language explanations of turns, card effects and disputed situations, with official source references and saved question history.
- 2–4 players
- 90–120 min
- 12+
- Complexity 2.5/5
Rules assistant for MERCS 2.0
What would you like to know?
Answers come from the official rulebook, with the page to check.
MERCS 2.0 is a board game released in 2016 for 2–4 players, 90–120 minutes per game, and ages 12 and up. It was designed by Brian Shotton and its main mechanics are Variable Player Powers, Dice Rolling, and Simultaneous Action Selection.
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About the game
Description from the publisher: This is the second edition of the very popular tabletop miniatures skirmish game. MERCS is designed with the idea that a miniatures combat game should look and feel, on a table, like real combat. It is logical in its associations and what it chooses to make important in terms of combat. It places a premium on good, sound tactics. This is not a game where players sit back and shoot at each other from across the table top. Victory has everything to do with the choices you make on the table. Learn to think tactically. Suppress and move. Maintain squad discipline, but control the table. Create firing lanes and punish those who move through it. Combat begins and ends with movement. Everyone can shoot; survivors know when to shoot and when to relocate. Each MegaCon plays extremely different, having intrinsic strengths and weaknesses. Learn them, then create tactics and adapt in the flow of battle to take advantage of the MegaCon you play. If you learn to marry solid tactics with MegaCon strengths, then perhaps you can call yourself a MERCS player. MERCS 2.0 streamlines many of the dice and modifier interactions that exist in the game. It introduces new reference cards, keywords, initiative, and medium range. It also reimagines flank, melee combat, suppression and overwatch, and dealing with elevation in combat. This version contains all 12 MegaCons, 9 different game modes, and an ever-changing campaign that uses the MERCS: Conflict. custom dice
Categories
Designers
Publishers
- MegaCon Games
Questions and answers
MERCS 2.0 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 MERCS 2.0 is 90–120 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 MERCS 2.0 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.
MERCS 2.0 has a complexity rating of 2.5 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.
MERCS 2.0 belongs to these categories: Wargame, Miniatures, and Modern Warfare. Its main mechanics are Variable Player Powers, Dice Rolling, and Simultaneous Action Selection. 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 MERCS 2.0 are: Brian Shotton. 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 MERCS 2.0 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.