
- BGG rank
- BGG #320
- BGG rating
- 7.9
Star Realms: Frontiers
- 1–4 players
- 20–45 min
- Complexity 1.9/5
- 2018

Rules assistance for Star Realms: Gambit Set
Plain-language explanations of turns, card effects and disputed situations, with official source references and saved question history.

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Answers come from the official rulebook, with the page to check.
Star Realms: Gambit Set is an expansion for Star Realms released in 2014 for 1–6 players, 20 minutes per game, and ages 12 and up. It was designed by Robert Dougherty and Darwin Kastle and its main mechanics are Take That, Solo / Solitaire Game, and Open Drafting.
This Star Realms expansion contains 18 new cards! 2 Solo Challenge cards allowing for solitaire play. 2 Cooperative Challenge cards, team up with your friends to defeat the Pirates of the Dark Star or the deadly Nemesis Beast! 2 Merc Cruiser Ship cards that can act as an ally for any faction. 12 Gambit cards that give players special abilities they can unleash during the game! 1 Nemesis Beast (co-op) 1 Nemesis Beast (solo) 1 Pirates of the Dark Star (co-op) 1 Pirates of the Dark Star (solo) 2 Merc Cruiser 1 Bold Raid 2 Energy Shield 2 Frontier Fleet 1 Political Maneuver 2 Rise to Power 1 Salvage Operation 1 Smuggling Run 1 Surprise Assault 1 Unlikely Alliance The latest (2014 Gen Con) Gambit Set adds a further 2 cards. 1 Merc Cruiser 1 Wild Gambit The Star Realms: Gambit Set is a combination of Promo Set 1 and Promo Set 2 and breaks down as follows: 1 Nemesis Beast (co-op) (set 2) 1 Nemesis Beast (solo) (set 2) 1 Pirates of the Dark Star (co-op) (set 1) 1 Pirates of the Dark Star (solo) (set 1) 2 Merc Cruiser (sets 1 & 2) 1 Bold Raid (set 2) 2 Energy Shield (set 2) 2 Frontier Fleet (set 1 & 2) 1 Political Maneuver (set 1) 2 Rise to Power (set 1) 1 Salvage Operation (set 1) 1 Smuggling Run (set 2) 1 Surprise Assault (set 1) 1 Unlikely Alliance (set 2)
Star Realms: Gambit Set supports 1–6 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 Star Realms: Gambit Set is 20 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 Star Realms: Gambit Set 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.
Star Realms: Gambit Set has a complexity rating of 1.9 out of 5 from BoardGameGeek players, which makes it a 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.
Star Realms: Gambit Set belongs to these categories: Card Game, Fighting, and Science Fiction. Its main mechanics are Take That, Solo / Solitaire Game, and Open Drafting. 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 Star Realms: Gambit Set are: Robert Dougherty and Darwin Kastle. 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 Star Realms: Gambit Set as an expansion for Star Realms. Expansions add new content, rules or scenarios to the base game and usually cannot be played on their own, so you need Star Realms to use it. Check that your edition of Star Realms is compatible, as some expansions were revised between editions.