Res Arcana Duo is both an expansion for Res Arcana (with 35% more cards) and a standalone, two-player game that can be later combined with Res Arcana and its other expansions Lux et Tenebrae and Perlae Imperii.
Gameplay is the same as in the original game: Life, Death, Elan, Calm, and Gold are the essences that fuel the art of magic. Choose your mage, gather essences, craft unique artifacts, and use them to summon dragons, acquire places of power, and achieve victory!
Res Arcana Duo features a new drafting method designed for just two players and a tight set of 16 artifacts. Unlike the base game, it has no attacks, which some couples may prefer.
A game typically lasts 4-6 rounds. In each round, players do these steps:
- Collect essences: performs any Collect abilities, and may take essences from components.
- Do actions, 1 per turn, clockwise from the First Player, until all players have passed:
- place an artifact
- claim a monument or Place of Power
- discard a card for 1 Gold or any 2 other essences
- use a power on a straightened component
- pass: exchange magic items and draw 1 card. If you are first to pass, take the First Player token.
- Check victory (10+ VPs).
If no one has won: straighten all turned components and begin the next round. 