Table of Contents
Protect Your Magic School: Harry Potter: Hogwarts Battle by Kosmos
The world of Harry Potter and friends is one of the most popular in the world. Joanne K. Rowling’s stories have been delighting young and old since 1997 – and it seems to never end. In the meantime, the magicians have also conquered the musical and the gaming world, which is why we would like to introduce you to the parlor game “Harry Potter: Hogwarts Battle”. For Harry Potter fans, a very emotional gaming experience begins here, so much can be revealed. What awaits you in this game, you will learn in the course of this review.
Game information for “Harry Potter: Hogwarts Battle” by Kosmos
Short description
“In this co-operative game, you take on the role of Hogwarts’ henchmen: Harry Potter, Ron Weasley, Hermione Granger and Neville Longbottom to fight off the phantom menace. You-Know-Who’s supporters are trying to conquer one place after another in the wizarding world and keep attacking you. Defeat You-Know-Who once and for all over the course of seven increasingly difficult adventures!” Source: Game Guide
Publisher: Cosmos
Author: Forrest-Pruzan Creative, Kami Mandell, Andrew Wolf
Released: 2016
Game number: 69339 / EAN: 4002051693398
The game goal
Slip into the role of your favorite heroes and defend your beloved Hogwarts. Defeat and scare off You-Know-Who and his supporters.
Player type
- cooperative deck building game
- board game
- board game
- Harry Potter fans
Number of players, age and duration
- 2 to 4 players
- from 11 years
- between 45 and 60 minutes
Contents
- game schedule
- 252 cards (47 small, 142 medium, 63 large)
- 4 “house” dice
- 7 game boxes
- 7 rules of the game
- 4 hero boards
- 8 “Power of Evil” tokens
- 70 tiles (35 Attack, 25 Influence, 4 Strength, 2 Shields, 4 more)
- 1 game instructions
This is how you play the cooperative board game
“Harry Potter: Battle for Hogwarts” comes with seven different games, which are divided into levels of difficulty, so to speak. Here we explain the rules for the first game, which is right for you if you are new to deck building games.
Get the game started
In the instructions you will find the exact structure of the game starting with placing the game board in your center. Place the game material on it and around it:
- 1 hero board per player:in
- 8 Power of Evil tokens
- 35 Attack Tokens
- 25 influence tokens
- 2 location cards
- 10 dark arts
- 3 villains
- 30 Hogwarts Cards
Train overviews and heroes depending on your number of players
In the first game there is always only one active villain.
Each of you chooses a magic hero and receives the following game components:
- hero board
- train overview map
- 10 action cards
- strength marker
You place the strength marker on the 10 of your hero board. Shuffle the action cards and place them next to your hero board.
Gameplay
The player whose turn it is takes his turn, which always consists of four steps:
Reveal and execute the top Dark Arts card
Perform action of active villain
Reveal and implement the top of your own action cards
all check if one of the locations with four power of evil markers has been captured
The second and third steps are particularly exciting, as this is where most of the action happens. Your action cards bring you resources that you need in the battle for Hogwarts. This is how you can summon allies or gain influence tokens. The latter give you the opportunity to exchange them for Hogwarts tickets. When you get attack tokens, you can use them to rout bad guys.
Unlike some other games, you cannot keep actions and resources to plan your next turn. You are in battle and must immediately use whatever is available to you by chance!
To drive away the bad guys, you have to attack them. If you muster enough strength, they take damage (indicated by the attack tokens). Look closely, because you will find his life points on the cards, which you can use the markers to cut out. As soon as you have covered a villain with the corresponding number of markers, he is considered defeated. Each defeated villain triggers an effect as a reward that you can and should use immediately.
This is how you play round after round. At the end of your turn you fill up your Hogwarts and action cards and one of your fellow players can try their luck.
Everything comes to an end
If a location gains four evil power tokens, it is lost. If you lose all locations in this way, the battle for Hogwarts is lost. If you defeat all villains successfully, you win back your Hogwarts.
Here’s why we like Kosmos’ ‘Battle for Hogwarts’
- lovingly designed
- easy game rules
- Different levels of difficulty so that it stays exciting for longer
- ideal for the whole family
- cooperative game: you lose or win together
- ideal for Harry Potter fans
- multiple expansions available long after the base game’s release
Our conclusion on “Harry Potter: Battle for Hogwarts”
In our opinion, those of you who call themselves “Happy Potter fans” can’t avoid this game. Whether you just read and loved the books or the movies, the battle for Hogwarts was filled with emotion for all of us. So it’s no wonder that some people want to throw themselves into battle and show the necessary respect to “their” beloved school of magic.
What we particularly like about the implementation of “Harry Potter: The Battle of Hogwarts” is that the value was placed on cohesion. Instead of all playing against each other, you have to fight the villains together – just like it was and is in the story of friendship and loyalty. We also find it positive that different levels of difficulty can be played, so that everyone with little to a lot of deck building experience gets their money’s worth.
Even if the game is a bit older, there are still expansions that promise you new fun. It’s best to get an idea for yourself and go into battle!
Everything you need to know about Harry Potter: The Battle of Hogwarts by Kosmos
Available extensions and versions
- released 2017: Harry Potter: Battle for Hogwarts – Monsterbox (areas of the magic school and the forbidden Walt)
- released 2019: Harry Potter: Battle for Hogwarts – Defense Against the Dark Arts (2-player variant)
- released 2020: Harry Potter: Hogwarts Battle – Charms and Potions (with Ginny and her talents, 5th player)
What kind of game is Harry Potter: The Battle of Hogwarts by Kosmos?
This game is a cooperative deck building game where you win or lose together.
Who is Kosmos’ Harry Potter: Hogwarts Battle suitable for?
For all fans of the Harry Potter stories as well as those who like or want to try deck building games.
How many players can play Harry Potter: Hogwarts Battle by Kosmos?
There should be at least two of you and four at most.
Who will win Kosmos’ Harry Potter: The Battle for Hogwarts?
If you manage to drive away all the villains, you win the fight for Hogwarts together. If the villains become too strong, you lose together.
Are there any expansions to Kosmos’ Harry Potter: Hogwarts Battle?
Yes, there are currently three expansions called “Monsterbox”, the 2-player version “Defense Against the Dark Arts” and “Charms and Potions” with which you can also play Ginny.
As a Harry Potter fan, do you love the game “The Battle of Hogwarts” by Kosmos?
Yes, in any case. Who among you would not wish to support Harry, Hermione and Co. in their fight?
Can Harry Potter: Hogwarts Battle be played multiple times?
Yes, because the gameplay is constantly changing. Especially because the game has seven levels of difficulty, the fun and excitement stays for a long time.
Is “Harry Potter: Battle for Hogwarts” also possible with more than five players?
Yes, you need the Charms and Potions expansion, which adds Ginny and supports you with charms, potions or curses.
The Battle for Hogwarts Quick Start Guide
Rules of the game in brief
Construction
Set up the game board, distribute the game material around the board and also deal game material to each of you (e.g. hero board, turn overview card, etc.).
Turn 1: Reveal and resolve Dark Arts card
On your turn, you reveal the top Dark Arts card in the deck and resolve its action.
Turn 2: Perform the active villain’s action
Now comes the action of the villain, which can start at different points in the game.
Turn 3: Reveal and implement your own action cards
The active wizard student player reveals the top five action cards and uses them to collect important resources. By acquiring influence tokens, you can purchase Hogwarts cards to add to your action cards (or discard pile). When gaining attack tokens, you can backtrack the villain. Always uses revealed actions and resources because they cannot be carried over to the next round.
Turn 4: Check locations
Check if any of the locations have been captured with four power of evil tokens and the villains’ attack tokens. Accordingly, you lose or the villain effect sets in and fills up the action cards.
Win or lose
If you defeat the villain(s), you win. If a location is completely taken, you lose together.
Is Harry Potter: Hogwarts Battle a good game?
Final Thoughts. Harry Potter: Hogwarts Battle is a great game for fans and their board gaming friends. The different Games enable players to develop their understanding of deck building and possible strategies as they progress through the game and also provide a way for fans to reminisce.
Is Harry Potter: Hogwarts Battle a legacy game?
Jonas Emmett. Just to be clear, it’s definitely not a legacy game, and it’s not really a campaign—you don’t have the play the same characters each game, and they don’t exactly grow either (e.g. your deck resets each game).
How long does Harry Potter: Hogwarts Battle take to play?
Harry Potter: Hogwarts Battle is a cooperative deck building game for 2 – 4 players that, depending on which game you’re playing, could take 30 minutes, or well over 90 minutes. Hogwarts Battle plays best with 4 consistent players.
Can you play Harry Potter: Hogwarts Battle with both expansions?
Although both expansions can be combined, playing The Monster Box of Monsters beforehand isn’t required to get in on the teamwork!
How many Hogwarts battle games are there?
Product Description. Play as your favorite characters and defend the wizarding world from evil forces. Enhance your abilities as you build your deck with over 140 cards. Seven successive game adventures offer increasing difficulty as you battle Villains and unlock new abilities, secrets and challenges.
Can you play Hogwarts battle with 5 players?
It is for 2-5 players. This expansion adds 4 new boxes of content to expand the game with, including a new playable character, Ginny Weasley. For more information on Harry Potter: Hogwarts Battle and how to play the game, please follow the link below.
Can you play Hogwarts battle solo?
Just like learning a new spell, these official Harry Potter Hogwarts Battle Solo Play Rules will have you studied up in no time to be rewarded with even more replay-ability, perfect for enjoying a single-player game night with a personal serving of butterbeer and English toffee.
Can you play a detention in Harry Potter: Hogwarts Battle?
Yes. Detention Cards can be played like any other card in your hand.
