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Introducing friends to a new game is a fun experience. You get to show them your knowledge while seeing them enjoy one of your favorite games for the first time. That said, teaching someone a new game such as Arkham Horror can have a few pitfalls. Here are some key elements of how to play Arkham Horror you should cover with beginners.

How To Play Arkham Horror

If you're looking for a new game to break out on a game night that your friends might not be familiar with, Arkham Horror: The Card Game is a great option. It requires strategy, cooperation and lasts a couple of hours. To teach the game to others, it's best to start with the basics.

What Is Arkham Horror?

Arkham Horror: The Card Game is a cooperative living card game set in the universe of Chaosium's Call of Cthulhu roleplaying game. It is set in a Lovecraftian backdrop and was first published by Fantasy Flight Games in 2016.

In the game, players take on the role of investigators trying to uncover and halt eldritch mysteries and horrors in the town of Arkham, Massachusetts. The game is driven by a narrative campaign, in which each game session represents a new chapter in the overall story.

As for the basics of how to play Arkham Horror, players must gather clues, fight monsters, and defeat various other challenges as they try to solve the mystery and prevent the ancient deities known as the Great Old Ones from waking and destroying the world. The game combines elements of deckbuilding, role playing, and board game mechanics, and is known for its immersive atmosphere and challenging gameplay. It is also great to play again and again, trying new strategies each time.

Arkham Horror Rules

As with most games, there are a fair amount of rules to learn when it comes to Arkham Horror. Here are the 3 areas you need to focus on for beginners.

1. Setup

During setup, each player chooses a unique investigator card, which represents their character and determines their starting abilities, skills, and resources. Each player also starts with a deck of basic cards, which includes allies, events, and items that they can use during the game.

2. Game Mechanics

The game is played over a series of rounds, during which players take turns performing actions, such as moving to a new location, investigating for clues, fighting monsters, and using card abilities.

One of the main mechanics of the game is the action phase, during which each player can perform up to two actions, such as moving, investigating, fighting, or using a card ability. Players can also play cards from their hands, spend resources, and use abilities on their investigator card.

3. Card Types

Encounter cards represent the various challenges and obstacles that the investigators face during the game. These can include monsters, mysteries, and other events that the players must deal with. When an encounter card is revealed, the players must resolve its effects, which can involve making skill checks, fighting monsters, or suffering other consequences.

Asset cards represent the various resources and allies that the investigators can use during the game. These can include weapons, spells, allies, and other helpful items. Players can play asset cards from their hand to gain their benefits, and can also spend resources to use the abilities of certain asset cards.

The overall goal of how to play the Arkham Horror card game is for the players to work together to solve the mystery and prevent the awakening of the Great Old One, by gathering clues and defeating the various challenges and monsters that they encounter. The game is won if the players are successful, and lost if the Great Old One awakens or if all of the investigators are defeated.

Gaining Advantages in Arkham Horror

Once players become familiar with the game setup, mechanics and card types, they can work on their strategy to learn how to play Arkham Horror better and get closer to winning. It's important to remember that every player is competing with other players and the game itself at the same time. Other players want to build their decks while the game is making the scenario you need to overcome harder with each turn.

To help new players be more successful, teach them a few key strategy points.

Choose the right investigator for the scenario: Each investigator has their own unique abilities and skills, and some are better suited for certain scenarios than others. Consider the strengths and weaknesses of each investigator and choose one that is well-suited to the challenges you will face.

Build a strong deck: Your deck is your primary tool for overcoming challenges in the game, so it's important to build a strong one. Include a mix of cards that will help you gather clues, fight monsters, and deal with other challenges. It's also a good idea to include a few cards that can help you mitigate negative effects, such as damage or horror.

Focus on gathering clues: Gaining clues is one of the main objectives of the game, and it's important to prioritize them whenever possible. Investigate locations and use abilities that allow you to gain clues more quickly.

Use your resources wisely: Resources are a limited and valuable resource in the game, and you need to use them wisely to get the most out of your cards and abilities. Consider the benefits and costs of each action before you take it, and try to conserve your resources for when they will be most useful.

Work together: The game is cooperative, so it's important to communicate with your teammates and coordinate your actions. Help each other out by sharing resources, supporting each other's investigations, and working together to defeat monsters and other challenges.

Perfecting these tactics can help everyone enjoy the game more.

Card Sleeves for Arkham Horror

Arkham Horror: The Card Game is a wonderful way to see people's personalities and strategy styles through a game. Each replay is different, so start playing with new friends. Keep the key points in mind as you teach them how to play and get Arkham Horror card sleeves to protect your game for plenty of rounds of fun.