The player handbook
Rules & objectives
Find the answer you need for your next turn. Learn the foundations, explore the two sides, and keep cards, locations, and winning conditions within reach.
Start in orderLearn setup and your first turn.
Know your objectiveDifferent sides have different ways to win.
Keep a reference nearbyArticles link back to publisher rules.
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3 guides · Search entries and examples too →
Rules & objectivesCompare 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.
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.
Rules & objectivesFrequently Asked Questions
Understand the game format, RPG search terminology, official product links and where to find the published rules.
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Related reference entries
Parchment Scroll →Dark Detector →Dumbledore’s Army Coin →Defence Shield →Explore Action →Learn Action →Replenish Action →Use a Hogwarts Token →Hogwarts Loyalty Track →Final Phase at the Last Path Space →Stun / Stunned →Bump / Bumped →Multi-Move →
Open the complete reference library →Worked rule examples
Dark Arts ends on a House pawn: resolve a bump →House ends on Dark Arts: both stun, then recover in order →Loyalty opens the Room; a later drop can trap a pawn →Exchange a Shield: match the icon and spend the items →A Hogwarts Token gives a later, matching Explore action →Three Progress Tokens are only part of a Dark Arts win →The last Dark Arts space starts the final phase →A Secret Passage needs permission and costs one movement point →Draw before moving: the played card is not in Discard yet →End outside first, then resolve conditional extra movement →React from hand: effect now, no movement, then discard →Resolve the House Event before choosing a Progress Token →
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