How To Play: Relic

Overview

If you like games where you risk it all for glory (or shame if you play like me), Relic should be on your table. In this guide, I’ll explain the game basics nice and simple so you can stop arguing about rules. Plus, I’ll share the best strategies I found after a few heated sessions. If you want to know how to play Relic and crush your friends, you’re in the right place.

What’s in the box

• 1 Game board
• 10 Character busts
• 10 Character sheets
• 4 Six-sided dice
• 20 Attribute markers
• 36 Power cards
• 25 Relic cards
• 25 Mission cards
• 84 Adventure cards
• 21 Enemy cards
• 1 Rulebook
• 1 Reference sheet
• 18 Life counters
• 18 Willpower counters
• 18 Strength counters
• 24 Wound markers
• 14 Corruption tokens
• 10 Color bases

How To Play Relic: Rules Summary

Setup

1. Place the board in the middle of your table. If your table is wobbly, watch your drink!
2. Give each player a character sheet, standee, and matching token.
3. Shuffle the adventure, relic, and event decks, then put them face down in their spots.
4. Put gear, wargear, and enemy tokens nearby. Trust me, you don’t want to hunt for them later.
5. Each player picks a color and puts their standee on the starting space.
6. Hand out starting life, fate, and power as the rules say. Don’t try to sneak a couple extra—someone will notice.

Gameplay

1. Players take turns in clockwise order. I still mess this up after three cups of tea.
2. On your turn, roll a die to move your character and choose which way to go.
3. Draw adventure cards when you land on a spot with a number. Sometimes you find loot. Most times it’s trouble.
4. Fight enemies or face events using the dice and your skill stats. Winning earns trophies, losing might cost you a life. Or your dignity.
5. Spend trophies to level up. There’s nothing like flexing when your stats go up.
6. Visit spaceports and other special zones to get gear, warp around, or gobble up upgrades.

Winning

1. The main goal: be the first to finish the inner tier challenge and grab the Relic.
2. To enter, you need three completed missions and a Relic card. So, don’t nap in the outer tier for too long.
3. Race through the inner tier, fighting nasty stuff and beating challenges. Whoever grabs the center prize wins. It’s that simple (and that hard).

Special Rules & Conditions

1. If you lose all your lives, you return to the start next turn. You keep your stuff, but everyone laughs.
2. Some cards let you mess with other players. If you’re not a fan of chaos, tough luck.
3. Certain events break the normal rules—read each card carefully! Forgetting a rule is the top cause of arguments at my table.

That’s the basics of How To Play Relic! Get your dice rolling and see if you can beat your friends without flipping the board.

Best Relic Strategies

Mastering Character Power Balancing in Relic

Choose Wisely at the Start

When picking your character in Relic, I always remind myself: flashy powers are tempting, but steady skills win games. Some folks grab the first hero they see, but you should always check the balance.

1. Look at both strengths and weaknesses.
2. Avoid characters that rely on luck alone.
3. Pick a hero who helps your group as well as themselves.

Adapt as the Game Unfolds

I learned the hard way: if your character starts falling behind, don’t panic. Instead, adjust your play style to cover those gaps.

1. Team up to offset weaknesses.
2. Use upgrades to patch your worst stats.

Make Friends (or Foes) as Needed

Sometimes, your power might turn you into a target. Use this to your advantage by forming alliances—or distracting rivals at the right moment.

Shiny Stuff Wins Games: Gear and Relic Genius

Pick Gear That Packs a Punch

Never choose gear just because it looks cool. Instead, choose items that help your character’s weak spots. For example, do you lack defense? Grab some armor!

1. Match gear with your biggest weakness.
2. Choose items that add rerolls.
3. Don’t forget about movement boosts!

Choose Relics That Rock

Relics can change the whole game. Before you pick, think about where you are on the board and your current goal. Winning isn’t about grabbing the fanciest relic first.

1. Pick relics that help your current quest.
2. Use relics that counter your main rivals.
3. Swap relics if you fall behind.

How To Play relic with Top Gear Choices

After many games (and way too much pizza), I learned you must adapt. I once went heavy on offense and got stomped by event cards. Learn from my pain: balance your gear and relics for real victory.

Mastering Event Card Timing in Relic

Know When To Hold or Play

I learned the hard way: playing event cards too soon ruins your momentum. Instead, always watch the board and your rivals.

1. Wait until a key opponent is vulnerable.
2. Hold back if the board looks stable.
3. Pounce when chaos benefits you.

Read The Room

Sometimes, the best move is patience. After all, you don’t want to help your friends—unless they’re buying pizza.

1. Review who benefits from the card.
2. Consider what the next turn might bring.

Stack The Odds

Once I waited three rounds before dropping an event card. That patience paid off, leading straight to victory (and some sore losers).

1. Combine event effects with your relics.
2. Don’t be afraid to bluff your intentions.

## Wrapping Up: Relic Glory Awaits!

So there you go, my fellow relic hunters! If you stick to these tips, you’ll have a better shot at crushing your friends instead of just watching them lap you with some overpowered gear. From learning how to play Relic to obsessing over the best gear, this game will mess with your head—in a good way. I once tried to win by hoarding every relic. Turns out, my friends made an alliance against me and I ended up relic-less, eating humble pie. Don’t be me. Play smart, watch your back, and may the dice roll in your favor!

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