For eleven centuries, Tistrofel drowned in endless war. Armies clashed, kingdoms burned, and the dead piled higher than the walls that failed to protect them.
Then Kao raised his tower, shattered the old world, and forced the kings to change. No more marching legions. No more fields soaked in blood. Now, the crowns meet in one place—the Arena of Kings—to decide who rules until the next tournament.
Your banner claims the land. The Arena decides who keeps it.
Choose Your King
Select a king to learn his story, see his signature weapon, and discover how he warps the Arena of Kings.
- King of Hearts — Florian Hartwynn A smiling survivor with a healer’s touch and a traitor’s heart, turning shields and politics into his deadliest weapons.
- King of Spades — Serrun Guthwith A banner-hungry warlord whose trophies make him stronger every round, punishing anyone who underestimates him.
- King of Diamonds — Andor Opismire A charming weapon master who hits harder than anyone else in the game—if he lives long enough to swing.
- King of Clubs — Varius Goerwhey A walking fortress whose shields never seem to end, deciding who lives, who dies, and when the game actually ends.
- Bone King — Bonduc Hartwynn A risen king who feeds on fallen shields and dead dominoes, building an undead army while everyone else burns out.
Where armies stay home, the Core Kings decide Tistrofel’s fate one tournament at a time.
How to Play in the Arena of Kings
Battle Kings is a competitive arena game for up to five players where each of you controls a king, wields cards and dice, and leans into your king’s unique powers to win the Tournament of Kings.
- 1. Choose your king: Each king has a unique playstyle, from relentless tank to necromantic horror.
- 2. Draw, roll, and attack: Use Battle Cards, dice, and dominoes to build attacks, shields, and spells.
- 3. Bend the rules: Trigger your king’s abilities, spend Power Tokens, and fear the Equalizer when it appears.
- 4. Outlast the others: A banner lost is not a king defeated — it’s a warning. Rise again with renewed fury, rebuild your strength, and return the favor.
What’s in the Box?
Everything you need to run the Arena of Kings straight out of the box:
- Pieces box: 11 embroidered banners, 2 markers (red & green), 3 Power Crystals, 10 Power Tokens, and the Royal Seal.
- Dice box: 30 dice — 5 red, 5 black, 5 blue, 5 green, 5 white, 5 grey.
- Domino box: 28 mini dominoes for shields, spells, and undead minions.
- Battle Card box: 54-card Battle Deck (including Jokers), 5 Turn Stage quick reference cards, 5 Path of Prestige cards, and the Equalizer.
- Rulebook insert: 5 Thrones (player cards), 1 Bone Rack, and 1 rule quick reference card tucked inside.
- Not pictured: A 4×6" quick reference card and 2 domino bags — one grey (King’s Guard pouch) and one black (Graveyard).
Note: Some item colors may vary between print runs (such as embroidered banners, dominoes and/or domino case, Royal Seal, and the card box).
Lore of Tistrofel
Tistrofel was once just another broken continent, hurled into the Hollow Sea after the War of the Gods. The waves closed around it like a fist. Jagged reefs and volcanic barriers turned it into a prison no ship could reach—and no one could leave.
For over a thousand years, four kingdoms bled each other dry. Kings burned generations for a few miles of muddy ground. The Under Legion hid in the canyon at the continent’s heart, sheltering the wounded, the twisted, and the War Torn that the surface world discarded.
Then a stranger walked out of the storm, built a tower where no door should be, and forced the crowns to change the terms of war. No more armies. No more sieges. Just kings and the Staff of the Four, fighting in a single arena for the right to rule. When the people chant “Equalize!”, the Staff listens.
Now the Arena of Kings decides who wears the crown… and what happens when a king refuses to stay dead.
Equalizer timing
Q: If the Equalizer is on top after drawing during my Stage 3, is my turn over?
A: No. If you can attack from your hand, you may do so, or you can choose to equalize the deck, then move to Stage 4. If you are required to draw a card (such as the result of a 2/2, 4/4, 6/6 spell or an Ace), your turn will end if you draw the Equalizer.
Echo undead minion
Q: What does the Echo undead minion do for minions with identifiers 1–5?
A: Echo adds its value to the minion’s total HP and boosts its effect: 1 (Ghoul) gains HP, 2 (Skeleton Warrior) gains shield, 3 (Skeleton Archer) gains attack, 4 (Skeleton Mage) gains a reroll, and 5 (Wight) draws 2 cards instead of 1. On a 6 (Lich), Echo doesn’t copy abilities, but it massively increases total HP.
Q: Can Echo be used alone?
A: Yes. Echo can sit in any empty minion slot (except the Lich) so you still gain its benefits.
Equalizing the deck
Q: When the deck is equalized, do we shuffle all cards or just the discard pile?
A: All cards are shuffled anytime the deck is equalized—including those in player hands.
King of Spades damage
Q: The King of Spades has +3 damage (and shield) from the start. I attacked with a king Battle Card and took my domino—do I still cause 3 damage to my target?
A: No. Cards that don’t inherently deal damage don’t gain his bonus on their own. But if that king card, or a resulting spell (like 2/2: Wrath), later produces damage, you add his +3 modifier.
Hearts’ Heart Shield vs. Heartless Shield
Q: What’s the difference between Heart Shield (costs a Power Token) and Heartless Shield (roller’s choice only)?
A: Heart Shield needs a Power Token and a domino in the King’s Guard pouch—once the pouch is empty, it can’t be used. Heartless Shields, however, can be stacked without limit and flipped even in the endgame to soak damage, though they don’t trigger spell sides when flipped. Use them to stay alive long after normal shields are gone.
Q: Can Heartless Shields cancel a Jack?
A: No. A Jack that breaks a shield still deals its damage. Your choice is when to flip Heartless Shields—to absorb incoming damage early, or wait until the Resolve stage to blunt the final total.
Quick reference correction (Queens & banners)
Q: The white 4×6" quick reference card says a Queen lets me take a banner back if my HP is high enough, but the rulebook says I need a roller’s choice roll. Which is correct?
A: The rulebook. You must successfully make a roller’s choice roll to reclaim a banner. The 4×6 card is misprinted—email [email protected] to get a corrected copy.
Prototype owner upgrades
Q: I bought a 2024 prototype of Battle Kings. Can I get updated materials?
A: Yes. Email [email protected] with “Prototype” in the subject and include: (1) where and when you received your copy, (2) the prototype number engraved on the front and written between the hinges, and (3) whether the back of the Thrones shows only the image or image + backstory. AJ will send updated materials free of charge.