Villainous is the board game where you get to channel your inner Disney villain and prove that being bad can be oh-so-good!
Picture this: you’re not just watching Disney movies anymore; you’re actually plotting evil schemes as iconic baddies like Maleficent, Captain Hook, or the deviously tentacled Ursula. It’s like a Disney vacation for your dark side, minus the lines and mouse ears!
But here’s the twist – while you’re busy plotting dastardly deeds, those pesky heroes keep getting in your way! It’s like they have a script or something. So, you’ll have to outwit them, complete your villainous objectives, and do it all with a wicked grin on your face.
Villainous isn’t just a game; it’s a delightful romp through the shadowy side of Disney, where curses, betrayal, and dramatic monologues reign supreme. So, summon your evil cackle, sharpen your hooks, and let the villainy begin!
What’s included in Villainous
- Villain Decks: Each player selects a Disney villain character and takes their corresponding villain deck, mover, and player board.
- Fate Decks: There are two Fate decks, one for Heroes and one for Items. Shuffle both separately and place them face down.
- Objective Tokens: Place your villain’s objective token on the start space of your player board.
- Power Tokens: Power tokens represent your resources and are placed on your player board.
- Condition Cards: Condition cards may be required to meet certain objectives and are placed near the respective villain.
- Villain Guidebook: Each player should have a villain-specific guidebook for reference.
How to play Villainous
Setup
- Each player chooses a Disney villain character, takes their corresponding components, and places their mover in their realm.
- Shuffle your villain deck and draw four cards. Place your objective token on the start space of your player board.
- Determine a start player, and they go first.
Rules for Villainous
Villainous is played in turns, and each turn consists of the following phases:
1. Take Actions:
- You have four actions to use during your turn. Actions include playing cards from your hand, using your villain’s ability, vanquishing heroes, moving to a different location in your realm, or playing a Fate action.
2. Play Cards:
- You can play cards from your hand to your realm or use them for their abilities. Some cards have ongoing effects, while others are played for one-time actions.
3. Activate Abilities:
- You can use your villain’s unique abilities as one of your actions. These abilities often tie into your villain’s theme and objectives.
4. Vanquish Heroes:
- To vanquish heroes, you must meet specific requirements listed on your villain’s objective card. Once these requirements are met, you can send heroes to your fate discard pile and move your objective token one space closer to victory.
5. Move to a New Location:
- You can move your mover to a different location within your realm as one of your actions.
6. Play a Fate Action:
- Spend an action to play a Fate action on an opponent. Draw two cards from the Fate deck (Heroes or Items) and choose one to play on the opponent. Fate actions can hinder your opponents’ progress by introducing heroes or items into their realms.
7. Discard and Draw:
- At the end of your turn, if you have more than four cards in your hand, you must discard down to four cards. Then, draw back up to four cards.
8. Check Objectives:
- After your turn, check if you’ve achieved any of your villain’s objectives. If so, move your objective token accordingly.
Winning:
- To win, you must complete all of your villain’s objectives as stated on your objective card. Once you’ve accomplished this, move your objective token to the victory space, and you win the game.
For the official rules, see the link below:
All villains that you can play as
- Maleficent (Sleeping Beauty):
- Objective: Maleficent’s goal is to curse the entire realm, which involves gathering enough Power and playing curses onto each location in her realm.
- Abilities: Maleficent can curse locations, transform into a dragon for combat, and uses her raven Diablo to move and manipulate fate.
- Captain Hook (Peter Pan):
- Objective: Captain Hook’s aim is to defeat Peter Pan at the Jolly Roger ship. He must find and play the specific cards that represent Peter Pan, Smee, and the Crocodile to win.
- Abilities: Captain Hook can move between his ship and Neverland, recruit pirates, and search for Pan’s cards.
- Ursula (The Little Mermaid):
- Objective: Ursula’s objective is to collect the Trident, the Crown, and the Voice cards and then successfully play them all from her hand.
- Abilities: Ursula can use her sea magic to move cards between her hand and her lair, manipulate the Fate deck, and take control of the sea with her contracts.
- Jafar (Aladdin):
- Objective: Jafar aims to find and play the Magic Lamp and the Genie, then use his wish to win the game.
- Abilities: Jafar can search for the Magic Lamp, manipulate the Fate deck to his advantage, and summon the Genie to his side.
- Queen of Hearts (Alice in Wonderland):
- Objective: The Queen of Hearts seeks to have the most wickets at her palace by playing and keeping cards with wickets on them.
- Abilities: She can play and manipulate cards with wickets, hold croquet games, and force other players to play or discard cards.
- Prince John (Robin Hood):
- Objective: Prince John’s goal is to tax his opponents and gather enough Power. He wins by reaching a specific Power threshold.
- Abilities: Prince John can tax his opponents, move the tax bag, and use the Sheriff of Nottingham to hinder his foes.
Guide to be totally evil and still win!
- Know Your Villain’s Objectives: Your primary goal is to complete your villain’s objectives. Understand what you need to do to win and prioritize actions that move you closer to achieving those objectives.
- Balance Your Actions: Villainous requires a balance between advancing your own goals and impeding your opponents. You’ll need to manage your actions efficiently to ensure you’re progressing while also interfering with your opponents’ plans.
- Resource Management: Keep an eye on your resources, such as Power, cards, and Fate tokens. Use these wisely to achieve your objectives and defend against Fate actions. Don’t overspend or waste valuable resources.
- Optimize Your Deck: Understand the composition of your villain’s deck and how it supports your objectives. Consider removing cards that don’t align with your goals and strategically add cards that do.
- Use Fate Actions Wisely: When playing Fate actions on opponents, target their weaknesses or disrupt their strategies. It’s not always about blocking their objectives but slowing down their progress.
- Strategic Card Play: Use your cards strategically. Some cards may have immediate effects, while others may offer ongoing benefits. Play cards that suit the current situation and your long-term goals.
- Plan for Heroes: Heroes will enter your realm, and you’ll need to deal with them. Be prepared to vanquish them or mitigate their effects. Some villains have special abilities or cards to help handle heroes effectively.
- Adapt to Fate: Fate actions can disrupt your plans. Be flexible and adapt your strategy to changing circumstances. Sometimes, it’s better to change your course temporarily to deal with a Fate action.
- Table Talk: Communication and negotiation with other players can be beneficial. Form temporary alliances, make deals, and cooperate when it suits your interests. Just remember, alliances can be short-lived in the world of villains.
- Stay Informed: Keep track of your opponents’ objectives and progress. Knowing what they’re trying to achieve can help you anticipate their moves and disrupt their plans.
- Timing Is Key: Some actions and card plays are more effective at specific times. Timing can be crucial, so consider when to use your villain’s abilities and cards for maximum impact.