
- BGG rank
- BGG #2,123
- BGG rating
- 7.0
Pandemic: Hot Zone – North America
- 2–4 players
- 30 min
- Complexity 1.9/5
- 2020

Rules assistance for Root: The Squires and Disciples Deck
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.
Root: The Squires and Disciples Deck is an expansion for Root released in 2026 for 2–4 players and ages 13 and up. It was designed by Joshua Yearsley and its main mechanics are Variable Player Powers, Hand Management, and Point to Point Movement.
Try out new strategies with the Squires and Disciples deck! Just like the Exiles and Partisans deck, this deck can be swapped in to replace the deck from the base game. This deck includes cards inspired by the Marauder and Homeland factions and abilities that depend on hand composition, with a dash of goofs and shenanigans. Want to change when the game ends or how dominance cards work? You can!
Root: The Squires and Disciples Deck 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 catalogue lists Root: The Squires and Disciples Deck 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.
Root: The Squires and Disciples Deck has a complexity rating of 3.2 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.
Root: The Squires and Disciples Deck belongs to these categories: Animals, Wargame, and Print & Play. Its main mechanics are Variable Player Powers, Hand Management, and Point to Point 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 Root: The Squires and Disciples Deck are: Joshua Yearsley. 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 Root: The Squires and Disciples Deck as an expansion for Root. Expansions add new content, rules or scenarios to the base game and usually cannot be played on their own, so you need Root to use it. Check that your edition of Root is compatible, as some expansions were revised between editions.