Objective of the Game

Harry Potter: Hogwarts Battle is a cooperative deck-building game. The main goal of the game is to work together with the other players to protect Hogwarts School from dark forces by playing as one of the iconic members of the "Golden Trio" - Harry, Ron, or Hermione - (and other characters in later games). Players collaborate to defeat villains, eliminate threats, and ultimately win each year played.

Game Components

• Player Boards: Each player receives a character board showing their health and special abilities.
• Villain Cards: These represent the enemies that players must defeat during the game.
• Hogwarts Cards: These are the spells, allies, and magical items players can acquire for their decks.
• Dark Arts Cards: These represent events or attacks that negatively affect the heroes.
• Location Cards: These indicate where players are acting within the universe and what threat levels exist.

Setup

1. Starting Decks: Each player starts with a personal deck of ten basic cards consisting of spells, allies, and items.
2. Place Villains: Three villain cards are revealed, which players must face in the first phase.
3. Location Card: The current location card, showing the level of threat, is revealed.
4. Shuffle Cards: Hogwarts cards are shuffled, and five cards are laid face up in the middle of the board.

Gameplay

The game plays in several rounds, each phase critical to the team's success:

1. Dark Arts Phase

• Dark Arts Cards are drawn, and the described effects are immediately resolved. This can include discarding cards or losing health.

2. Villains Phase

• Each active villain on the board activates their respective effects against the heroes. Players must be prepared to counter these effects or compensate for them.

3. Hero Actions Phase

• Play Cards: Players use the cards from their hands to launch attacks against villains or use spells and allies for support.
• Collect Influence and Health: Players gather influence to purchase new Hogwarts cards and provide health to themselves or their teammates.

4. Draw New Cards

• Players draw five new cards from their deck and prepare for the next round.

Winning Conditions

The game is won if each Location Card is secured and all villains of a set are defeated. Loss occurs if the Death Eater markers control the location cards so thoroughly that players can no longer defend any locations.

Tips and Strategy

• Collaboration is Key: The game requires high cooperation, as players must closely work together to effectively combat threats.
• Deck Optimization: Strategically purchase cards that support each other or enhance your character's abilities.
• Resource Management: Avoid spending all resources on immediate effects in the early game; long-term planning is necessary to remain strong in later rounds.

"Harry Potter: Hogwarts Battle" offers an exciting way to explore the magical world of Hogwarts and relive important moments from the book series through cooperative elements and deck-building mechanics.