The Guards of Atlantis is a competitive team-based board game inspired by computer games of MOBA genre.
Each player controls a single hero, using a hand of cards to move him around the game-board, use special abilities and attack enemies. Defeating enemy minions earns you coins, which are used to buy levels and upgrade your hero.
The goal of the game is to help your ‘minions’ - units which are not directly controlled by the players - to reach the enemy base and capture it.
Before the game every player chooses a hero character to play. Each hero has 5 cards at the start of the game, with additional 13 upgraded versions to choose from when your Hero gains a level. Each card is unique and can be used for a variety of different actions. The character roles are not preset and can evolve on the battlefield to better suit your strategy and counter the opponent’s choices.
There are no dice to roll, but playing the right card at the right moment is crucial. Even though Guards of Atlantis can be played with just two players, it is much more fun when two teams of players are facing each other. The game encourages teamwork and tactical play.
The game begins with players placing their heroes and minions at predefined spots of the game board. The game is split into rounds, with each round consisting of up to four turns. Every player gets to play one card and resolve one action each turn. The cards are played face down, then revealed and resolved in order of Initiative values indicated on the cards.
If at any point a team loses all of their minions in the area, the lane is pushed - all minions are placed on the board one area closer to the opponent’s base and the game continues, with each team trying to help their minions to move to the enemy base. The first team do this, wins the game.
