
- BGG rank
- BGG #7,216
- BGG rating
- 8.3
SAGA Rulebook (2nd Edition)
- 2–6 players
- 40–320 min
- Complexity 2.6/5
- 2018

Rules assistance for The Art of War
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.
The Art of War is an expansion for Warhammer Ancient Battles released in 2007 for 2–6 players, 120 minutes per game, and ages 14 and up. Its main mechanics are Variable Player Powers, Dice Rolling, and Secret Unit Deployment.
Expands Warhammer Ancient Battles From the publisher: The Art of War: The Chinese approach to warfare 2205 BCE – 280 CE is a source book for Warhammer Ancient Battles. China has the longest continuous civilization in history and was finally unified by the First Emperor in 221 BCE. The Warring States period was over, and Qin victorious! Yet only 16 years later, the Qin Dynasty was in turmoil, the Emperor dead and all that would remain of his legacy would be the silent warriors of Xian- the Terracotta army. This source book contains an historical overview that covers the principle military events and developments of Chinese culture from small bands of tribal warriors right up to the mighty Imperial armies that dominated Asia. Featured within this book are detailed army lists including: Shang Dynasty Zhou Dynasty Warring States Eastern Steppe Nomads Han Dynasty Red Eyebrow Rebels Yellow Scarves Religious Cultists Three Kingdoms Using these army lists and variants within them you can create over 34 different varieties of armies from early Chinese history! Other resources included are scenarios, battles, a campaign system and Ruses for use in your games, as well as advice for modelling Chinese armies and terrain in full colour. The Art of War also contains a full colour section portraying the armies of the time and a wealth of illustrations and maps. Expands: Warhammer Ancient Battles
The Art of War supports 2–6 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 The Art of War is 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 The Art of War 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.
The Art of War belongs to these categories: Wargame, Miniatures, and Ancient. Its main mechanics are Variable Player Powers, Dice Rolling, 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 catalogue lists The Art of War as an expansion for Warhammer Ancient Battles. Expansions add new content, rules or scenarios to the base game and usually cannot be played on their own, so you need Warhammer Ancient Battles to use it. Check that your edition of Warhammer Ancient Battles is compatible, as some expansions were revised between editions.