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Blood Rage

Blood Rage is a Viking-themed strategy game where players draft and deploy warriors, monsters, and gods to pillage and conquer territories, gain glory, and earn points through combat and quests.

7.92 / 10
BGG Rating
14+
age
2015
published year
2 - 4
player count
3 - 4, 4+
Recommended player count
60 - 90 mins
play time

How Complex is Blood Rage?

2.88 / 5

Blood Rage has moderate complexity, with simple rules and mechanics, but requires strategic planning, card management, and combat tactics, making it accessible to both casual and experienced players.

How much Luck is involved in the gameplay of Blood Rage?

2.5 / 5

Luck plays a moderate role in Blood Rage, as players rely on card draws and dice rolls for combat and quest resolution, but strategic decisions and drafting can mitigate luck.

How much Player Interaction does Blood Rage offer?

4.5 / 5

Blood Rage features high player interaction through area control, combat, and card drafting, as players compete for resources, territories, and quests, and can interfere with each other's plans through card play and battles.

How much Replayability does Blood Rage offer?

4 / 5

Blood Rage offers high replayability due to the variety of strategies, card combinations, and drafting options, as well as the randomized quests and monsters. Expansion content adds even more replay value.

Why you should play Blood Rage

Unique Theme

Blood Rage is set in a Viking-themed world where players take on the roles of different clans vying for control over the land. The game's theme is unique and immersive, making it a great choice for players who enjoy games with strong thematic elements.

Strategic Gameplay

Blood Rage is a strategic game that requires players to carefully plan their moves and make strategic decisions in order to gain the upper hand. The game's mechanics are easy to learn, but difficult to master, making it a great choice for players who enjoy games that offer a challenge.

Beautiful Artwork

Blood Rage features stunning artwork that brings the game's theme to life. The game's miniatures are highly detailed and the game board is beautifully illustrated, making it a great choice for players who appreciate games with great aesthetics.

Replayability

Blood Rage offers a high level of replayability, with different strategies and tactics to explore each time you play. The game's cards and miniatures are randomized, ensuring that no two games are ever the same.

Player Interaction

Blood Rage is a highly interactive game that encourages players to engage with each other throughout the game. Players must compete for control over different areas of the board, and can use a variety of tactics to gain the upper hand.

Quick Playtime

Despite its strategic depth, Blood Rage can be played in under an hour, making it a great choice for players who want a game that can be played quickly.

Expansion Options

Blood Rage has several expansion options available, including additional clans, monsters, and gods. These expansions add even more depth and replayability to an already great game.

Why you should avoid Blood Rage

High Complexity

While Blood Rage is a strategic game, it can be quite complex and overwhelming for new players. The game's mechanics and rules can take some time to fully understand, which may be a turn-off for some players.

High Player Interaction

While player interaction can be a positive aspect of the game, it can also be a negative for some players who prefer games with less direct conflict and competition.

Luck-Based Elements

While the game's mechanics are strategic, there are also luck-based elements such as card draws and dice rolls that can heavily impact the outcome of the game. This may be frustrating for players who prefer games with less luck involved.

Miniature-Based Gameplay

Blood Rage heavily relies on miniatures for gameplay, which may be a turn-off for players who prefer games with a more traditional board game feel.

Violent Theme

Blood Rage's theme is centered around Viking warfare and violence, which may not be suitable for all players. The game features graphic artwork and miniatures depicting violent acts, which may be off-putting for some players.

Where to find the Rules of Blood Rage

You can find the community-driven rules summary, player aid, etc., in the Blood Rage files section on the BoardGameGeek website. You need an account on BGG to download files.

Beginner Strategies for Blood Rage

These strategies are for players who have either not played or played one or two games of Blood Rage.

Focus on upgrading your clan's stats

In Blood Rage, your clan's stats (strength, rage, and horns) are crucial to your success. Make sure to upgrade these stats as soon as possible to give your clan an advantage in battles.

Plan your actions carefully

Each round, you only have a limited number of actions to take. Make sure to plan your actions carefully and think ahead to future rounds. Consider which quests you want to complete, which monsters you want to fight, and which territories you want to control.

Use your cards wisely

Blood Rage has a variety of powerful cards that can give you a significant advantage. Make sure to use your cards wisely and save them for when you really need them.

Don't be afraid to lose battles

Losing battles in Blood Rage is not always a bad thing. Sometimes, losing a battle can actually be beneficial, as it allows you to gain more glory points or trigger certain abilities.

Keep an eye on your opponents

Blood Rage is a game of strategy and deception. Keep an eye on your opponents' actions and try to predict their next moves. Don't be afraid to use your own deception tactics to throw them off.

Overall, Blood Rage is a game that rewards careful planning and strategic thinking. By focusing on upgrading your clan's stats, planning your actions carefully, using your cards wisely, not being afraid to lose battles, and keeping an eye on your opponents, you'll be well on your way to victory.

Advanced Strategies for Blood Rage

Focus on drafting powerful cards

After playing a few games of Blood Rage, you'll start to get a sense of which cards are the most powerful. Make sure to focus on drafting these cards whenever possible, as they can give you a significant advantage.

Use your monsters strategically

Monsters are a powerful tool in Blood Rage, but they can also be expensive to deploy. Make sure to use your monsters strategically, and only deploy them when you're confident that they'll give you a significant advantage.

Pay attention to the board state

As you play more games of Blood Rage, you'll start to get a sense of which territories are the most valuable and which ones are the most contested. Pay attention to the board state and try to control the territories that will give you the most glory points.

Don't be afraid to switch strategies mid-game

Blood Rage is a game that rewards flexibility and adaptability. If you find that your initial strategy isn't working out, don't be afraid to switch gears and try something new.

Use Loki's tricks to your advantage

Loki is a tricky god, but his abilities can be incredibly powerful if used correctly. Make sure to take advantage of Loki's tricks whenever possible, whether that means stealing an opponent's card or sacrificing a unit to gain extra rage.

Overall, the key to success in Blood Rage is to be flexible, adaptable, and strategic. By focusing on drafting powerful cards, using your monsters strategically, paying attention to the board state, being willing to switch strategies mid-game, and using Loki's tricks to your advantage, you'll be well on your way to victory.

Mechanics

Action Points
Simultaneous Action Selection
Hand Management
Open Drafting
Area Movement
Memory
Area Majority / Influence
Take That
Card Play Conflict Resolution
Map Reduction
Closed Drafting

Categories

Fantasy
Fighting
Miniatures
Mythology

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