How To Play: Guardians

Overview

If you’re like me and you spent the first round of Guardians trying to figure out if you just played a hero or accidentally insulted the table, this guide is for you. Here you’ll find a quick outline of the rules, plus all the best strategies my friends and I tested (yes, snacks were spilled). Read on to master How To Play guardians and actually win a game, for once.

What’s in the box

• 5 Location Boards
• 12 Guardian Cards
• 30 Hero Cards
• 120 Power Cards
• 10 Ultimate Cards
• 6 Player Reference Cards
• 30 Damage Tokens
• 20 Shield Tokens
• 20 Victory Point Tokens
• 6 Turn Order Tokens
• Rulebook

How To Play Guardians: Rules Summary

Setup

1. Each player chooses three unique heroes. I always spend way too long picking because they all look awesome.
2. Shuffle each hero’s power deck and combine them into a single deck. Yes, you will forget this step at least once.
3. Place the three battleground cards in the center of the table. Try not to spill your drink on them.
4. Deal power cards and influence tokens to each player as directed by the rulebook.
5. Put your hero figures (or sad standees if your deluxe dreams are shattered) near your play area.

Gameplay

1. On your turn, choose two different actions. Options include: draw a power card, play a power card, move a hero, or attack.
2. Each hero can only act once per turn. (Trust me, someone will try to cheat here. Watch them!)
3. Battle for control of the battlegrounds using attacks, powers, and clever plans you definitely didn’t copy from the internet.
4. Collect victory points by controlling battlegrounds and knocking out enemy heroes.
5. Refresh, then the next player takes their turn. Repeat until the game ends or your snacks run out.

Winning

1. The game ends when a player reaches the victory point goal (usually 9 for a short game, 12 for longer suffering).
2. Alternatively, the game can end if all battlegrounds are claimed. Then, tally up your points. The winner is the player with the most victory points. If there’s a tie, everyone is a winner (but really, nobody likes a tie).

Special Rules & Conditions

1. Each battleground may have unique rules—read the card and pretend you understand it fully.
2. If you run out of cards in your power deck, reshuffle your discard to form a new one. This is the only time shuffling is fun.
3. Some power cards break normal rules. When in doubt, the card wins. Yes, even if it seems unfair and your friends protest.

After a play session with my friends, I can say this covers all the basics. Knowing How To Play guardians helps keep the game smooth, fun, and stops Chad from making up his own rules every round.

Best Guardians Strategies

Pick the Right Heroes, Make Crazy Combos!

Start With a Balanced Team

I found out the hard way that picking three blasters gets you nowhere. Cover attack and defense. When you wonder How To Play guardians well, balance is key.

1. Grab a tank to soak damage.
2. Add a striker for hitting hard.
3. Choose a support hero with healing or buffs.

Look for Power Pairs

Some heroes just click together. My group calls them power couples. Their abilities boost each other and make the whole team stronger.

1. Pair heroes whose specials chain together.
2. Combine a stunner with a heavy hitter for a nasty surprise.

Be Ready to Adapt

Sometimes your friends pick the heroes you want. In that case, stay flexible. Mix and match heroes to try new combos every game.

Mastering Action Timing: Outsmart and Outplay in Guardians

Why Timing Matters

If you rush your turns in Guardians, you might as well hand your rival victory on a silver platter. Smart timing lets you strike when it hurts most. In our last game, my friend forgot this and watched his best hero get smushed!

Key Action Order Strategies

1. Plan ahead—think two turns forward. Surprises are fun unless you’re the one getting surprised.
2. React to your opponent. Watch their moves before picking your big play. This keeps your How To Play guardians skills razor-sharp.
3. Always save a trick for last. End your turn with a flourish! It pays off… sometimes with wild laughter and sometimes with tears.

Roll With the Punches

Stuff happens. Sometimes, your plan falls apart. Stay flexible and remember, a well-timed move—even if it’s the last possible option—can tip the game your way.

Master Power Card Management to Crush Your Foes in Guardians

Know When to Play Power Cards

1. Always watch your opponents’ moves before tossing down a big card.
2. Save the best cards for game-changing moments. Patience pays off.

Pair Power Cards With Heroes

1. Choose heroes that work well with the cards in your hand. This combo wins games.

Keep Your Hand Fresh

1. Use weaker cards early so you can draw stronger ones faster. No one ever won by hoarding junk.

Remember, How To Play guardians is not just about knowing rules—big wins come from smart Power card management. My friends learned the hard way when I blasted them with the perfect combo!

Ready to Be the Hero?

If you’ve made it this far, congrats! You now know more about How To Play guardians than my cousin Carl, and he still tries to play his power cards backwards. Remember, great hero picks and smart timing will win you more friends (or at least more grudges). Play boldly, keep laughing, and don’t let the power cards gather dust. Now go show your squad who’s the real guardian!

Want to know what we think of Guardians? Read our detailed review of Guardians here