Harry Potter
Defenders Wiki
Explore Hogwarts. Choose your side. Master the rules.
Your guide to Harry Potter: Defenders of Hogwarts by MinaLima. Explore the castle, build your deck, and learn how the four houses face the Dark Arts. Start with your first-game guide or look up the cards, locations and objectives you need.
- Players
- 2–5 players
- Playing time
- 90 minutes
- Recommended age
- 13+
- Publisher
- MinaLima
- Game type
- Asymmetric deck-building
- The two sides
- Houses vs Dark Arts
- Setting
- Hogwarts castle
- Rules reference
- Official publisher rulebook
- Last reviewed
- 2026-10-12
An independent fan-made reference. Rules follow the official MinaLima rulebook.
Explore the Defenders Wiki
From your first turn to your final objective, find the reference that fits your next decision.
Beginner Guide: Your First Game
Check the components, set up for your player count, and follow a complete first-round teaching example.
House Players & the Four Houses
Understand house-player objectives, movement, and the race to complete two Defence Shields.
The Dark Arts Player
Learn how the opposing player advances along the Dark Arts Path and challenges the houses.
Cards, Spells & Tokens
Understand Draw, Discard, Acquire and Location Decks, card types and the game’s key tokens.
Hogwarts Map & Movement
Read the board, learn the movement restrictions, and plan a route through the castle.
How to Collect Defence Shields
Check each shield’s required Book, Scroll and third item, then exchange them at its space to work toward the House victory goal.
Release, Kickstarter & Editions
Separate the announced game and campaign material from availability and shipping estimates.
Frequently Asked Questions
Understand the game format, RPG search terminology, official product links and where to find the published rules.
Compare Your Next Action
Eight hypothetical situations compare House and Dark Arts choices, with card-flow diagrams and exact end-of-turn states. Check every condition before borrowing an example.
Four useful places to begin
Learn the game in the order you will use it.
Getting startedBeginner Guide: Your First Game
Check the components, set up for your player count, and follow a complete first-round teaching example.
FactionsHouse Players & the Four Houses
Understand house-player objectives, movement, and the race to complete two Defence Shields.
Cards & tokensCards, Spells & Tokens
Understand Draw, Discard, Acquire and Location Decks, card types and the game’s key tokens.
Rules & objectivesHow to Collect Defence Shields
Check each shield’s required Book, Scroll and third item, then exchange them at its space to work toward the House victory goal.
Learn one turn. Then choose your route.
Use this reading sequence before your first session. The full beginner guide explains setup and turn details.
- 01
Set up the table
Lay out the castle board and separate each player’s card piles.
- 02
Know your side
House players pursue Defence Shields; the Dark Arts player has a different victory path.
- 03
Play your first turn
Learn movement, card play, acquisition, and when your hand is replenished.
- 04
Plan for your objective
Connect your next location and card choice to the requirements for winning.
One castle. Two ways to win.
Defend Hogwarts
Collect the right items and complete two Defence Shields. Understand your movement and deck before racing for the next set.
Read the house-player guide →The opposing playerFollow the Dark Arts Path
Advance your separate objective, disrupt house players, and use the movement advantages that change how you cross the board.
Read the Dark Arts guide →What do you need at the table?
Search full guide text, entry effects and rule examples. English names and Chinese terms both work.
Before you open the box
Is this a video game or a board game?
Harry Potter: Defenders of Hogwarts is MinaLima’s physical board game, played around a table with a board, cards and pawns. The official campaign names it a board game.
Does the RPG search term mean a video game?
A search term alone does not establish a game’s format. For this title, the official product description and rulebook identify a board game using a board, cards and pawns. Use those official materials to confirm the product and its rules.
Is there an official online game or game download?
The official product pages checked for this wiki describe the physical game; no official online-play or game-installer link was found. Check the official website for new announcements. Rulebook PDFs and tutorials are learning materials, not a playable game.
How many people can play?
The official rulebook lists 2–5 players, age 13+, and about 90 minutes.
Do all players have the same objective?
No. One player takes the Dark Arts role; house players and the Dark Arts player have different victory conditions.
Where can I read the full rules?
Use the publisher’s rulebook linked below. Wiki articles add explanations and reading routes.
Ready for your first game?
Start with the guide, then keep the official rules nearby for card-specific decisions.