Arkham Horror Card Game Setup

In this section of How to Play Arkham Horror Card Game Rules, we list out the steps to set up the game.  

To get the step by step Arkham Horror Card Gameplay Rules Guide, click here.

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Key Game Concepts

The Golden Rule 

Here are some concepts to know when playing the game.

The Golden Rule

• If the text on card contradicts the rule book, observe the instructions on the card

“In Player Order”

• “In player order” determines the order which players execute a game step
• When “in player order”, Lead Investigator executes game step first, followed by each other player, in clockwise order around the table

Per Investigator

• Symbol next to a value indicates a value per investigator
  • Number of clues placed at a location and number of clues required to advance are usually denoted by this symbol

Ready and Exhausted Cards

• Cards enter play in Ready position
• When using card abilities, the card becomes exhausted and is turned sideways
• A card that is Exhausted cannot be used until it is Ready again

Location Cards

• Locations represent various places players travel to and look for clues
• Location cards have 2 sides:
  • UNREVEALED
  • REVEALED
• Revealed side shows the clue details
• Location enters play UNREVEALED. When an investigator enters location for 1st time, it is REVEALED
• Number of clues equal to location’s clue value are placed on that location

Skills and Skills Test

Investigators have 4 skills

• Willpower
• Intellect
• Combat
• Agility

Skill Test 

During the game, investigators may need to perform a Skill Test. This involves the following:

• the player reveals a random chaos token from the chaos bag
• the chaos token modifies the player’s skill value
• investigator passes the Skill Test if modified skill value exceeds test difficulty value

Modifying Skill Value for Skills Test 

Before drawing Chaos Token, the investigator may boost their skill value

• Investigator can use eligible cards from hand to help with the skills test
• Eligible card has one or more icons matching the skill type of the test being performed. Wild icon matches all skill types.
• Each matching icon used for the test increases the investigator’s skill value by 1 for that test
• Investigator may commit any  number of cards for their hand
• Other Investigators at the same location can assist by committing 1 card from their hand to help
• Do not pay card’s resource cost when using it for the skills test
• The investigator may also activate free trigger abilities to modify their skill for the test

Chaos Token Effects

Each chaos token has a symbol or value that modifies the outcome of the skills test

• Each chaos token has the following effect:
  • Refer to scenario reference card and resolve the corresponding effect
  • Refer to investigator card and resolve the investigator’s ability
  • Automatic failure of the skills test
• If the token has a value, that value modifies the investigator’s skill value for this test

Conclusion of Skills Test

Modified Skill value is higher than difficulty value of Skill, Investigator passes.
Otherwise, it is a failure.

• Ability or game step that initiated the skill will provide instructions for consequences of success and failure
• Some skill cards have abilities that resolve upon completion of skill test
• Upon completion of the skill test, discard all investigator cards used to that test, return chaos token to chaos bag

Weakness Card

• a card that has ill effect when drawn by the investigator
• cards are identified by the labels:
  • WEAKNESS
  • BASIC WEAKNESS
• when drawn, the investigator who drew card must resolve its “Revelation ” ability immediately

Keywords/ Instructions/Symbols and Icons

Keywords

Aloof: An aloof enemy does not engage investigators of its own accord. (An investigator may use an action or a card ability to engage it.) An investigator cannot attack an aloof enemy unless he or she is engaged with it. 

Fast: A player may play a fast card without spending an action. 

Hunter: Each hunter enemy moves one location toward the nearest investigator at the beginning of the enemy phase. Massive: A massive enemy is engaged with each investigator at its location. 

Peril: When an investigator draws a card with the peril keyword, that investigator cannot confer with or receive assistance from other players while resolving the card’s revelation ability and/or spawning it. 

Retaliate: If an investigator fails a skill test while attacking an enemy that has the retaliate keyword, the enemy (if it is ready) performs its attack (damage and horror) against the investigator. 

Surge: After an investigator draws and resolves an encounter card that has the surge keyword, that investigator must draw and resolve an additional card. 

Uses (X): The uses keyword creates and defines a particular token type to be placed on a card when that card enters play. The value following the keyword indicates a number of resource tokens to be placed on the card to represent the specified token type. These tokens are used in conjunction with the rest of the card’s ability 

Instructions

Spawn: Indicates where an enemy spawns when drawn.

Prey: Indicates which investigator an enemy will engage (or move toward if it has the hunter keyword) if there are multiple valid options.

Timing Triggers

Action Trigger: Costs an action to use this ability.

Free Trigger: Does not cost an action to use this ability. 

Reaction Trigger: May be used once each time the specified timing point occurs. Does not cost an action.

Symbols and Icons

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