
- BGG rank
- BGG #983
- BGG rating
- 7.3
Thunderstone Advance: Towers of Ruin
- 1–5 players
- 45 min
- Complexity 2.8/5
- 2012

Rules assistance for Thunderstone Quest: Ancient Adversaries
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.
Thunderstone Quest: Ancient Adversaries is an expansion for Thunderstone Quest released in 2024 for 1–6 players, 60–150 minutes per game, and ages 14 and up. It was designed by Mike Elliott and Brett Satkowiak and its main mechanics are Deck, Bag, and Pool Building.
A new expansion for one of the best Deck Builders of all time! Quest number 15: is your party ready for the ancient adversaries? Can you master the magic of the jungle's sacred totems to quell the fiery beast that lives at the heart of this place? The lava dwarves of the lost island are mystically born of earth and fire. Though their ancestors were common dwarves, generations of living in the presence of the island's primal elemental magic has infused them with a fiery essence that cannot be restrained. Molten fire runs through their veins, and their hearts smolder with fervor. They are children of the volcano. Those who challenge the lava dwarves must be prepared to face the flames. In the dungeon, lava dwarves inflict damage that keeps on burning turn after turn. Their flames likewise burn the Champions' weapons, gear, and magic items. Not even the Champions' Totem cards are safe from the dwarves' devouring heat. All the same, the lairs of the lava dwarves are full of treasure, which means the reward for confronting them is definitely worth the blistering risk. —description from the publisher
Thunderstone Quest: Ancient Adversaries 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 Thunderstone Quest: Ancient Adversaries is 60–150 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 Thunderstone Quest: Ancient Adversaries 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.
Thunderstone Quest: Ancient Adversaries belongs to these categories: Card Game, Fantasy, and Expansion for Base-game. Its main mechanics are 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 Thunderstone Quest: Ancient Adversaries are: Mike Elliott and Brett Satkowiak. 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 Thunderstone Quest: Ancient Adversaries as an expansion for Thunderstone Quest. Expansions add new content, rules or scenarios to the base game and usually cannot be played on their own, so you need Thunderstone Quest to use it. Check that your edition of Thunderstone Quest is compatible, as some expansions were revised between editions.