- BGG rank
- BGG #3,489
- BGG rating
- 7.4
Wizards of the Grimoire
2022
Rules assistance for Wizards of the Grimoire
Plain-language explanations of turns, card effects and disputed situations, with official source references and saved question history.
- 2 players
- 20–40 min
- 10+
- Complexity 2.1/5
For 2 players
Rules assistant for Wizards of the Grimoire
What would you like to know?
Answers come from the official rulebook, with the page to check.
Wizards of the Grimoire is a board game released in 2022 for 2 players, 20–40 minutes per game, and ages 10 and up. It was designed by Cole Banning and Joe Banning and its main mechanics are Hand Management, Player Elimination, and Open Drafting.
About the game
Years of tutelage under the late Archmage Andor have culminated in this moment; his two protégés must now become rivals and battle to determine who will become the next Keeper of the Grimoire. As protection from your rival, you have only your magical gifts, your mastery of the Grimoire, and a select few spell pages ripped from its binding. Pick carefully; the spells you choose will allow you to counter your opponent, twist the fabric of time, and deal devastating damage, but only if you’re able to find synergies between spells and manage your mana reserves carefully. In this two player strategy card game, you must fulfill your destiny and become the Keeper of the Grimoire. Defeat your opponent by drafting new spells from the magical Grimoire, casting them, managing your cooldowns, and dealing massive damage. Each turn, draft one new spell to be added to your spell repertoire. But be warned! Your opponent has access to the same spells as you do, so choose the spells you want before your opponent does! Continue updating your spell repertoire throughout the game to optimize your deck and counter your opponent. Cast spells. Deal devastating damage or confuse and trip up your opponent. More expensive spells will have a larger impact on the game, but be careful, they’ll cost you more mana and will have a longer cool down. You can cast as many spells as you like on your turn so long as you have enough mana and the spells aren’t in cooldown. Find spell combinations that work together and time them correctly, to increase your damage or counter your opponent. Be the first wizard apprentice to eliminate your opponent's life points to become Keeper of the Grimoire.
Categories
Designers
Publishers
- Grimoire Games
Questions and answers
Wizards of the Grimoire supports 2 players according to the catalogue. This is the publisher’s listed player count, so the game is designed for exactly that number of participants. Variants for other group sizes, if any, are described in the rulebook of your edition, so check it before setting up a different configuration.
The listed playing time for Wizards of the Grimoire is 20–40 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 Wizards of the Grimoire for ages 10 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.
Wizards of the Grimoire has a complexity rating of 2.1 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.
Wizards of the Grimoire belongs to these categories: Card Game, Fantasy, and Abstract Strategy. Its main mechanics are Hand Management, Player Elimination, 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 Wizards of the Grimoire are: Cole Banning and Joe Banning. 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 Wizards of the Grimoire as a base game. It can be played on its own with the components in the box and does not require any other title. Expansions, if any exist, add new content or rules on top of it and are listed separately in the catalogue with a link back to this base game.