
- BGG rank
- BGG #14,393
- BGG rating
- 7.0
Pathogenesis (Second Edition)
- 1–4 players
- 30–60 min
- Complexity 2.5/5
- 2019

Rules assistance for Pathogenesis: STD Expansion
Plain-language explanations of turns, card effects and disputed situations, with official source references and saved question history.

What would you like to know?
Answers come from the official rulebook, with the page to check.
Pathogenesis: STD Expansion is an expansion for Pathogenesis released in 2019 for 1–4 players, 30–60 minutes per game, and ages 14 and up. It was designed by Loren Cunningham and Jamie Cunningham and its main mechanics are Cooperative Game, Open Drafting, and Deck, Bag, and Pool Building.
Pathogenesis STD adds the fourth tract to the body, the Genitourinary tract, introducing pathogens, traits, and virulence factors appropriate for this area of the body. Further, keeping to the science, the Genitourinary tract has no toxin cards but instead a new mechanic has been introduced, Collateral Damage cards! Collateral Damage cards add the damage from the immune system's attack against your pathogens to the damage your pathogens deal to the body if your pathogens survive the immune system's attack.
Pathogenesis: STD Expansion 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 Pathogenesis: STD Expansion is 30–60 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 Pathogenesis: STD Expansion for ages 14 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.
Pathogenesis: STD Expansion 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.
Pathogenesis: STD Expansion belongs to these categories: Card Game, Educational, and Medical. Its main mechanics are Cooperative Game, 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 Pathogenesis: STD Expansion are: Loren Cunningham and Jamie Cunningham. 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 Pathogenesis: STD Expansion as an expansion for Pathogenesis. Expansions add new content, rules or scenarios to the base game and usually cannot be played on their own, so you need Pathogenesis to use it. Check that your edition of Pathogenesis is compatible, as some expansions were revised between editions.