https://www.thegamer.com This is where you'll find all of TheGamer's coverage, guides, and informative lists for the very best tabletop games — from Dungeons & Dragons to Magic: The Gathering, and everything in-between. Wed, 26 Jul 2023 09:30:21 GMT en-US hourly 60 There are a lot of facets to running a game of Dungeons & Dragons. As the Game Master, you help bring the world to life and help your players have a fun and exciting adventure.

]]> Wed, 26 Jul 2023 09:30:21 GMT https://www.thegamer.com/dungeons-dragons-music-sound-effects-tips/ Magic items generally aren't the easiest to get your hands on in Dungeons & Dragons, but when you do they can enhance your experience while playing like nothing else. Whether they're making you stronger, helping you deal more damage, or generally just doing something interesting, you likely can't help but want the best.

]]> Wed, 26 Jul 2023 07:30:17 GMT https://www.thegamer.com/dungeons-and-dragons-best-magic-items-for-clerics/ It's time to give your beloved players a beautiful item for them to treasure. It's one of the best things a DM can do during their Dungeons & Dragons campaign, after all. Especially when the item is magical but not a good kind of magic. Instead, you can give your players a powerful cursed item.

]]> Wed, 26 Jul 2023 05:30:20 GMT https://www.thegamer.com/dungeons-dragons-how-homebrew-cursed-item/ Very little in Dungeons & Dragons helps to fulfill the high fantasy feeling more than the plethora of magical items in the world, regardless of how difficult they are to find. When you find one that complements your character well, it can enhance gameplay to such an amazing degree, especially if you rely on a certain amount of spell slots like the Sorcerer.

]]> Wed, 26 Jul 2023 00:45:20 GMT https://www.thegamer.com/dungeons-and-dragons-best-magic-items-for-sorcerers/ One of the most rewarding feelings as a dungeon master for Dungeons & Dragons is completing a long-term campaign with a dedicated group of players. While 'long-term' can be anywhere from six months to ten years, all contain memorable adventures with characters your players will never forget.

]]> Tue, 25 Jul 2023 22:15:18 GMT https://www.thegamer.com/dungeons-dragons-tips-running-long-term-campaign/ I am in constant awe of Resident Evil’s prevalence in our lives. How one of the first games I fell in love with as a kid, a campy zombie shooter, is somehow still around and constantly gaining momentum. Not a year goes by without a new Resident Evil game, film, or TV show, and while they aren’t always successful - like the recent Netflix adaptation - the fear of oversaturation hasn’t slowed Capcom down at all. Another live action movie is reportedly in development, while Resident Evil: Death Island, the fourth canonical Resident Evil animated film, releases today.

]]> Tue, 25 Jul 2023 21:17:34 GMT https://www.thegamer.com/resident-evil-death-island-review/ Board games are a great way to spend time with the family. However, not all of them are suitable for kids as they may deal with adult themes - primarily monsters and murder. You need to leave those board games for a night out without the children, or wait till they're asleep.

]]> Tue, 25 Jul 2023 20:01:19 GMT https://www.thegamer.com/best-board-games-for-adults/ 2023 has multiple TCG games to get into, from MTG to Yu-Gi-Oh and even Digimon! You got your cards, your sleeves, so what are you missing? A playmat to put on the table to both protect your sleeves and showcase unique artwork that goes with your taste. Your playmat can inspire you to play better, and it's an extension of how you personalize your card's aesthetics.

]]> Tue, 25 Jul 2023 18:01:18 GMT https://www.thegamer.com/best-tcg-playmats/ If you know one thing about Warhammer 40,000, it’s likely a big, blue Space Marine. The Space Marines, more specifically the Ultramarines, are the Pikachu of Warhammer’s science-fiction wargame, minus the ears and plus a rifle filled with ammunition that explodes on impact. Don’t give Pikachu one of those.

]]> Tue, 25 Jul 2023 16:16:17 GMT https://www.thegamer.com/games-workshop-is-finally-retiring-space-marines/ Mounted combat in Dungeons & Dragons can be a dream come true for adventurers. The idea of rushing into battle on a trusted steed is a scene that has played often in media and in our imaginations. Whether it's a horse or a griffin or even your Infernal War Machine, mounts can revolutionize how you approach your latest adventure.

]]> Tue, 25 Jul 2023 15:45:19 GMT https://www.thegamer.com/dungeons-dragons-mounted-combat-mounts-guide/ I don’t know what’s harder: waiting for Disney Lorcana to launch so you can finally start collecting cards and playing games with your friends, or having a whole bunch of Lorcana cards you can’t tell anyone about. I’m sure no one is going to feel bad for the guy that got the starter decks early, but trust me when I tell you sitting on this info and not being able to play with others has been torture. The only reason I didn’t lose it and start screaming about Mufasa and the Mad Hatter to anyone that would listen is the fact that I have a wonderful wife that loves Disney, and due to my persistence, now loves Lorcana too.

]]> Tue, 25 Jul 2023 12:06:37 GMT https://www.thegamer.com/ive-played-100-games-with-the-lorcana-starter-decks-heres-what-i-learned/ Disney Lorcana looks whimsical and colourful, with all those characters, magic spells, and songs, but there’s a surprising amount you need to learn before shuffling up and playing your first game. Don’t let the Winnie the Poohs and Flounders (just sayin'...) fool you, this is just as deep and strategic as any other TCG.

]]> Tue, 25 Jul 2023 12:01:20 GMT https://www.thegamer.com/disney-lorcana-how-to-play-beginner-guide/ Slivers are back in vogue! Magic: The Gathering's Commander Masters has given us another set of preconstructed Commander decks, and Sliver Swarm is all about Slivers. These needle-nosed creatures share their abilities, so the more you play, the better they all become, until you eventually have an army of unstoppable super monsters.

]]> Tue, 25 Jul 2023 12:01:19 GMT https://www.thegamer.com/magic-the-gathering-mtg-most-valuable-reprints-commander-masters-sliver-swarm/ When starting out with Disney Lorcana, there's a large chance you'll be playing one of the three starter decks. These pre-constructed. 60-card decks are a great way to learn the game and familiarize yourself with many of its mechanics and strategies. The Mickey and Moana starter deck is a Amber/Amethyst deck that's all about powerful combo and dominating your opponent by keeping your hand size healthy.

]]> Tue, 25 Jul 2023 12:01:19 GMT https://www.thegamer.com/disney-lorcana-amber-ameythyst-mickey-mouse-moana-starter-deck-guide/ As the very first set for Disney Lorcana, The First Chapter has a lot to live up to. It needs to be deep enough for TCG enthusiasts, without being offputting to newcomers. It needs to introduce the themes of the game, but still be wide enough for experimentation. A lot has been riding on The First Chapter, but now, at last, we can finally see everything this debut set has to offer.

]]> Tue, 25 Jul 2023 12:00:50 GMT https://www.thegamer.com/disney-lorcana-first-chapter-visual-spoiler-every-card/ Disney Lorcana's first set, The First Chapter, includes over 200 cards across six inks for you to brew decks, test out ideas, and get to grips with the game. However, if you'd rather skip the theory-crafting and get right to shuffling up, the three starter decks are the way to go.

]]> Tue, 25 Jul 2023 12:00:44 GMT https://www.thegamer.com/disney-lorcana-sapphire-steel-aurora-simba-starter-deck-guide/ Disney Lorcana's starter decks are a great way to get your feet wet in the trading card game. If you're prepping for a tournament, getting ready for an event at your local store, or just want to get a leg up in your home games, this guide will get you started.

]]> Tue, 25 Jul 2023 12:00:35 GMT https://www.thegamer.com/disney-lorcana-ruby-emerald-aladdin-cruella-de-vil-start-deck-guide/ You'd be hard pressed to find a better Disney Lorcana teacher than the man who co-designed the game. Last month, I spent an afternoon with brand manager and co-designer Ryan Miller for an extended interview and to play my first ever game of Lorcana. For the second day of TheGamer's Lorcana Week celebration, we're releasing our full gameplay session. Click play on the thumbnail below if you want to get right into the game, or keep reading if you'd like to see some of the cards featured in our match.

]]> Tue, 25 Jul 2023 12:00:28 GMT https://www.thegamer.com/lorcana-co-designer-ryan-miller-schools-us-and-shows-off-some-new-cards/ With the launch of Disney Lorcana's The First Chapter, Ravensburger is releasing three starter decks: a Mickey and Moana deck (Amber/Amethyst), a Cruella and Aladdin deck (Emerald/Ruby), and an Aurora and Simba deck (Steel/Sapphire). These decks will help ease you into the game by showing off a variety of mechanics and teaching many basic, and even some advanced, strategies.

]]> Tue, 25 Jul 2023 12:00:24 GMT https://www.thegamer.com/disney-lorcana-starter-decks-ranked/ When it was first shown off at a convention earlier this year, a few eagle-eyed fans noticed a QR code. The description next to the code referenced as TCG Companion app, but at the time, the QR code only linked to the Lorcana website. Not much was known about the app... until today.

]]> Tue, 25 Jul 2023 12:00:13 GMT https://www.thegamer.com/disney-lorcana-companion-app-launches-today-ryan-miller-gives-us-the-details/ Designing enticing locations for your players is one of the most satisfying jobs of a Dungeon Master, but it's also one of the most complex. Dungeons & Dragons is the perfect game to witness all kinds of places to venture, and cities can be as interesting as even the darkest of dungeons. In fact, they can be more interesting than these places, with all the people, places to visit, and dangers not as obvious as a group of monsters lying around.

]]> Tue, 25 Jul 2023 07:30:20 GMT https://www.thegamer.com/dungeons-dragons-tips-for-designing-a-city/ Most adventure modules in Dungeons & Dragons are built to offer the players a fun and exciting challenge, but if you're the forever Dungeon Master, you may want to spice things up for yourself with a challenge without necessarily committing to homebrew. Homebrew can offer slightly too much freedom at times, enough so that it may not actually be difficult.

]]> Mon, 24 Jul 2023 23:45:20 GMT https://www.thegamer.com/dungeons-dragons-hardest-campaigns-to-run/ Magic: The Gathering’s Commander Masters set includes the return of some of MTG’s most terrifying entities: the Eldrazi. These faceless, otherworldly monstrosities are some of the most powerful beings in the multiverse, and as such, their cards are both extremely potent and usually quite expensive in terms of both mana and money.

]]> Mon, 24 Jul 2023 18:00:21 GMT https://www.thegamer.com/magic-the-gathering-mtg-most-valuable-reprints-commander-masters-eldrazi-unbound/ The 1980s can be considered as the golden era for board games. Some of the games released during that time have not only inspired modern tabletop games, but are still played even today. Of course, they've since received cosmetic makeovers and a bit of polishing with the rules, but they are essentially the same as they were four decades ago.

]]> Mon, 24 Jul 2023 18:00:21 GMT https://www.thegamer.com/best-board-games-of-the-80s/ For many Magic: The Gathering players, there’s no greater feeling than playing a giant monster and watching your opponents’ faces break into a sweat. Eldrazi Unbound is the perfect preconstructed Commander deck for just such a player, and it’s coming in Commander Masters.

]]> Mon, 24 Jul 2023 17:16:19 GMT https://www.thegamer.com/magic-the-gathering-mtg-commander-masters-eldrazi-unbound-budget-upgrade-guide/ As lovely as family game night is, it can get a bit vanilla after a while. Sometimes, you just want to let loose and drop the filter when you're among friends. Whether it's accusing them of debauchery, pointing out their weird habits, or just turning on each other, there are card games that add that extra bit of zing to game night.

]]> Mon, 24 Jul 2023 16:00:22 GMT https://www.thegamer.com/best-adult-card-games/ Cards have always been something of a blind spot for me. They should fall right into the sweet spot - video games and trading card games have a lot of crossover in audience and subculture, I like rules and collecting things, I'm a big fan of Pokemon, and I love both traditional board games and more complex tabletop adventures. But cards have always eluded me.

]]> Mon, 24 Jul 2023 15:30:33 GMT https://www.thegamer.com/disney-lorcana-first-tcg-cards-beginner/ One of the most exciting things about Disney Lorcana has been the speculation. Ever since it was revealed last September, we’ve been guessing which characters could appear, and which ones we’d really like to see.

]]> Mon, 24 Jul 2023 15:01:25 GMT https://www.thegamer.com/disney-lorcana-characters-who-we-want-to-see/ Disney isn’t known for being the best creative collaborator. It is incredibly protective over its own properties, even dictating exactly how the famous three circles of the Mickey shape can be displayed. That projects like Who Killed Roger Rabbit, Kingdom Hearts, and now Disney Lorcana can even happen is a miracle.

]]> Mon, 24 Jul 2023 14:30:24 GMT https://www.thegamer.com/disney-lorcana-merlin-self-appointed-mentor-art-hidden-gem/ Card games not only come in many shapes and sizes, but also with varying mechanics. There are the simple classics like Uno, and those that require a lot of time, effort, and money, like Magic: The Gathering. But, as a host, you'll need to gauge the occasion, the number of players, and sometimes even their age, before suggesting a card game.

]]> Mon, 24 Jul 2023 14:00:22 GMT https://www.thegamer.com/best-card-games/ Disney Lorcana is one of the biggest shakeups the trading card game genre has had in decades. If anyone was ever going to upset the status quo of Magic: The Gathering, Pokemon, and Yu-Gi-Oh! dominance, it was going to be the House of Mouse and tabletop giant Ravensburger.

]]> Mon, 24 Jul 2023 13:00:21 GMT https://www.thegamer.com/disney-lorcana-complete-guide/ From Square Enix's Kingdom Hearts to Disney Dreamlight Valley, to the mobile Disney Mirrorverse, the beloved classic characters from Disney have seen their fair share of adventure in video games. But now Ravensburger and Disney are bringing these characters, along with their songs to the tabletop world with Disney Lorcana.

]]> Mon, 24 Jul 2023 12:30:20 GMT https://www.thegamer.com/disney-lorcana-songs-want-to-see/ While you wouldn't immediately think of Dungeons & Dragons when it comes to Barbie, you also probably didn't think of Oppenheimer either. It's the year of contrasts. Plus, with the number of jobs Barbie has had throughout the decades, is it really that hard to imagine her slaying dragons?

]]> Mon, 24 Jul 2023 12:00:21 GMT https://www.thegamer.com/barbie-characters-dungeons-dragons-class/ It’s very difficult for a new trading card game to break into a genre dominated by the likes of Magic: The Gathering, Pokemon, and Yu-Gi-Oh!, but Disney Lorcana has a real chance of pulling it off. Presented as "less competitive" take on card games, Lorcana combines the booster pack ripping and deckbuilding of its contemporaries, with a colourful cast of Disney characters new and old.

]]> Mon, 24 Jul 2023 12:00:21 GMT https://www.thegamer.com/disney-lorcana-confirmed-information-guide/ A big question beginners will ask about playing Dungeons & Dragons, after 'why are you making me play this with you?' and 'how long will this take?' is 'what race should I be?'. At that point there's a conversation about how we don't say 'race' we say 'species' but that everyone's still getting adjusted to that, and eventually we face down the question - what species should you be? If you've come here looking for a definitive answer, I can't offer one, and that's because there isn't one. But it's still an interesting question to consider, no matter what your level of experience with the game is.

]]> Mon, 24 Jul 2023 07:43:47 GMT https://www.thegamer.com/perfect-race-species-character-play-dungeons-dragons/ The first and most imposing challenge of Dungeons & Dragons has always been the creation of your character. Ability Scores stick with you from beginning to end, and how you distribute your stats across them can affect an entire playthrough. Do you use Standard Array? Point Buy? Rolling?

]]> Sun, 23 Jul 2023 17:45:19 GMT https://www.thegamer.com/dungeons-dragons-dnd-standard-array-point-buy-explained/ More often than not, Dungeons & Dragons campaigns take place in more moderate climates, and understandably so. Moderate climates tend to be easier to navigate, and the environment isn't a challenge for both you, the Dungeon Master, and the players. When you move into harsher climates that offer more difficult terrain than not, you have to start considering how the environment affects everything.

]]> Sun, 23 Jul 2023 17:00:22 GMT https://www.thegamer.com/dungeons-dragons-dnd-arctic-campaign-tips-how-to-run/ Dungeons & Dragons' 5th edition is a lot more accessible in its rules than previous editions. You don't need to know what tumbling is, Breath Defence no longer exists and there are fewer scary acronyms like THAC0. Cross-referencing conflicting rules is also a lot easier when you can ask the developers on Twitter.

]]> Sun, 23 Jul 2023 15:15:21 GMT https://www.thegamer.com/dungeons-dragons-dodge-dash-disengage-explained/ Reveling in destruction, death, and chaos, Rakdos mages are great friends to have in Commander. Of all the color combinations in Magic: The Gathering, Rakdos keeps the game interesting. You never know what to expect from Rakdos, and you never have to worry about your Commander game stagnating into a 100-turn odyssey.

]]> Sat, 22 Jul 2023 21:45:19 GMT https://www.thegamer.com/magic-the-gathering-rakdos-black-red-commander-staples-guide/ Learning the action economy rules of Dungeons & Dragons can be a tedious and imposing challenge for first-time enjoyers. With Actions, Bonus Actions, Reactions, Free Actions - the list of possible choices one can make on any given turn of combat can be exhausting. But Bonus Actions are thankfully one of the easiest to perform once you learn the ropes.

]]> Sat, 22 Jul 2023 19:45:20 GMT https://www.thegamer.com/dungeons-dragons-dnd-bonus-action/ The kings and queens of combat in Dungeons & Dragons are always those who hold mastery over action economy, and those who have their hands on the coveted Action Surge feat sit at the top of that list. It's the diamond gem of the Fighter class - the Creme-de-la-Creme, so to speak. Few feats can compete with Action Surge's raw usefulness. RELATED: Dungeons & Dragons: How To Build A College Of Lore BardWhether you're just a Fighter or your average-joe sorcerer, Action Surge is beneficial to you. This feat is the gateway to many broken builds and humiliated bosses, and it's the reason why so many popular multiclass builds dabble into the Fighter class. Even if you don't want anything else from the Fighter, Action Surge is worth the two levels of investment.

]]> Sat, 22 Jul 2023 18:45:18 GMT https://www.thegamer.com/dungeons-dragons-action-surge-guide/ Dungeons & Dragons has its fair share of fun, wacky, and creative subclasses to choose from, but few are as handy or creatively inspired as the Fighter's strangest subclass: the Echo Knight. Capable of getting itself into and out of trouble in the blink of an eye, this subclass boasts an enormous amount of utility and roleplay potential.

]]> Sat, 22 Jul 2023 17:45:20 GMT https://www.thegamer.com/dungeons-dragons-echo-knight-fighter-build-guide/ In Dungeons & Dragons, the Druid class is capable of casting powerful spells that utilize the power of nature. In addition to its impressive spellcasting capabilities, one of the most iconic elements of the Druid class is Wild Shape.

]]> Sat, 22 Jul 2023 15:45:20 GMT https://www.thegamer.com/dungeons-dragons-dnd-wild-shape-guide/ Commander Masters is an all-reprint set available for Magic: The Gathering. It is the first Master set to focus entirely on the Commander multiplayer format. There are plenty of powerful cards available in all the colors to make for a set with a ton of strong cards.

]]> Sat, 22 Jul 2023 15:30:20 GMT https://www.thegamer.com/magic-the-gathering-mtg-edh-best-red-cards-in-commander-masters/ A fun way to break up intense role-play or combat sessions in Dungeons & Dragons is by adding low-stakes mini-games. These styles of games can be found anywhere, from your town's local tavern to the Witchlight carnival in the Feywild, and usually involve a handful of skill checks and no small degree of talent.

]]> Sat, 22 Jul 2023 12:45:19 GMT https://www.thegamer.com/dungeons-dragons-dnd-campaign-mini-games-best-ideas/ There are several different species a player can choose from when creating a Dungeons & Dragons character, depending on what rules, modules, and expansions a Dungeon Master decides to use. According to the 5th edition of the Advanced Dungeons and Dragons Player's Handbook, the basic game has nine species a player can choose from when they roll a character.

]]> Sat, 22 Jul 2023 09:31:20 GMT https://www.thegamer.com/dungeons-dragons-best-races-for-beginners-ranked/ One of the most complicated and rewarding formats in Magic: The Gathering is Legacy. Giving players access to virtually every card that has ever been printed from Magic’s history, there are tons of viable decks to take to tournaments with.

]]> Fri, 21 Jul 2023 22:15:16 GMT https://www.thegamer.com/magic-the-gathering-mtg-best-land-legacy/ Other than through magic items, players and dungeon masters alike might be unaware of the handful of other curses found throughout Dungeons & Dragons. Curses in 5e are unique in that there are only a few ways to remove them, and they can be delivered through any number of means with a variety of effects.

]]> Fri, 21 Jul 2023 21:01:18 GMT https://www.thegamer.com/dungeons-dragons-dnd-curses-for-players/ Enchantments truly are an enduring strategy in Magic: The Gathering's Commander format. There are so many potent enchantments, and so many cards that reward playing enchantments, that it can be difficult to decide what enchantments make the cut and which are left sitting on the sideboard.

]]> Fri, 21 Jul 2023 20:01:18 GMT https://www.thegamer.com/magic-the-gathering-mtg-commander-masters-enduring-enchantments-budget-upgrade-guide/ Pokemon TCG is one of the most popular card games of 2023, featuring a rich competitive scene and many cards to collect from the beloved series. While it can be daunting and confusing to start from nothing, every aspiring Pokemon trainer must take their first steps to start their collection and do Pokemon battles.

]]> Fri, 21 Jul 2023 18:01:18 GMT https://www.thegamer.com/pokemon-tcg-best-sets-beginners/ Commander Masters is coming to Magic: The Gathering stores on August 4, but in keeping with Magic tradition, Wizards of the Coast has treated us to the full decklists including all the new cards that will be coming in the four preconstructed decks. Those decks are Enduring Enchantments, Eldrazi Unbound, Planeswalker Party, and the much-anticipated Sliver Swarm.

]]> Fri, 21 Jul 2023 17:30:18 GMT https://www.thegamer.com/magic-the-gathering-mtg-commander-masters-precon-decks-ranked/ Masters sets are some of the most powerful Magic: The Gathering sets around. Full of reprints of all kinds of staples and powerhouses, shockingly we've gone this long without getting one specific for the game's most popular format, Commander.

]]> Fri, 21 Jul 2023 15:45:17 GMT https://www.thegamer.com/magic-the-gathering-mtg-commander-masters-visual-spoiler-every-card/ Commander Masters is almost here, and thanks to the most recent previews, every single card has been revealed for the upcoming Commander-focused set. Being Magic: The Gathering's most popular format, Commander Masters is sure to be a huge draw, with tons of high-demand cards seeing reprints.

]]> Fri, 21 Jul 2023 12:00:19 GMT https://www.thegamer.com/magic-the-gathering-mtg-10-best-common-cards-commander-masters/ Three color cards in Magic: The Gathering aren’t the most common thing to find in a set. Most sets will have a few three-colored cards, but generally they're regulated to specific sets built around multicolored cards and mechanics.

]]> Thu, 20 Jul 2023 23:45:19 GMT https://www.thegamer.com/magic-the-gathering-mtg-best-temur-red-blue-green-cards/ Spell components are an often forgotten part of spellcasting in Dungeons & Dragons. While most spells have either verbal or somatic components (requiring you to speak or gesture with your hands to cast them), some spells have material components as well.

]]> Thu, 20 Jul 2023 20:45:17 GMT https://www.thegamer.com/dungeons-dragons-most-expensive-spells/ Action figures are meant to be shown off - in the case of adults, at least. Depending on their quality, they can be highly posable and feature a lot of accessories, making them perfect showpieces for your favourite characters. They're a great way to honour these characters and also look pretty cool on a shelf.

]]> Thu, 20 Jul 2023 18:00:20 GMT https://www.thegamer.com/how-to-clean-action-figures/ Dungeons & Dragons' Spore Druid offers an interesting take on nature-themed spellcasters. Instead of focusing on verdant blooms of green, or transforming into majestic beasts, a Spore Druid looks at the decomposers that form a vital part of the ecosystem. While mushrooms may normally lurk in the darkness, a Spore Druid thrives on the frontline.

]]> Thu, 20 Jul 2023 15:46:18 GMT https://www.thegamer.com/dungeons-dragons-dnd-circle-of-spores-druid-build-guide/ Board games, despite sharing one major thing in common, come in various shapes, sizes, genres, and difficulty levels. No matter how much experience you've had with tabletop games - even if it's zero - there's a board game for you somewhere out there.

]]> Thu, 20 Jul 2023 14:00:26 GMT https://www.thegamer.com/best-board-games/ One of the trickiest creature types in Magic: The Gathering is the Ninjas. With their sneaky attacks and powerful combat-based triggers, it's easy to want to build a Commander deck around this unique creature type.

]]> Thu, 20 Jul 2023 12:45:18 GMT https://www.thegamer.com/magic-the-gathering-best-ninja-commanders/ No matter what RPG they appear in, and they appear in many, Paladins have a lot of responsibilities. Paladins in the Dungeons & Dragons universe are famous for their high Charisma, which often means they act as the party's leader, and crucial duties like healing and drawing enemy blows also usually fall to them.

]]> Thu, 20 Jul 2023 10:00:19 GMT https://www.thegamer.com/dungeons-and-dragons-dnd-best-magic-items-for-paladins/ Most of you may think that playing a board game is a group activity. But the truth is that there are plenty of board games that can even be played by a single person. Much like playing a single-player video game, these board games offer adventures and challenges that can be enjoyed on your own.

]]> Wed, 19 Jul 2023 20:00:17 GMT https://www.thegamer.com/best-single-player-solo-board-games/ The tabletop games industry is only getting bigger with every passing year. Thanks to indie scenes and crowdsourcing, tabletop games have been able to reach wider audiences. There are numerous categories under this broad term, each appealing to a different kind of player. When it comes to tabletop games, there's something for everyone.

]]> Wed, 19 Jul 2023 18:00:22 GMT https://www.thegamer.com/best-tabletop-games/ What do you get when you combine the unfettered life and growth of green with the destruction and rage of red? Very big, very angry monsters that love to smash everything in their path. In Magic: The Gathering, Gruul is all about aggressively playing creatures that come out swinging and don’t stop until they’ve crushed everything in their path.

]]> Wed, 19 Jul 2023 17:45:21 GMT https://www.thegamer.com/magic-the-gathering-gruul-red-green-commander-staples-guide/ Warhammer has a vast array of board games, and they’re generally of very high quality. You’ve got the Bloodborne-esque style oozing from Cursed City, the brutal sporting contests of Blood Bowl, and cult classics like Mordheim that helped spawn myriad spiritual successors. None of these games have particularly robust rulesets, however, with the latter two especially relying heavily on dice rolls. If it’s rules you’re after, Games Workshop has you covered in different ways.

]]> Wed, 19 Jul 2023 16:30:15 GMT https://www.thegamer.com/warhammer-is-bringing-back-one-of-its-best-board-games-combat-arena-lair-of-the-beast/ Druids were present in the Dungeons & Dragons universe since the early days, first appearing in the Greyhawk module that was released in 1974. Twenty years later, the Eldritch Wizardry supplement made them playable, and today they're one of the game's most popular and versatile classes.

]]> Wed, 19 Jul 2023 08:00:16 GMT https://www.thegamer.com/dungeons-and-dragons-dnd-best-magic-items-for-druids/ Sometimes in Dungeons & Dragons, you want to give your players a punishment they weren't expecting. Maybe your party can rush in without thinking or perhaps make a bad decision resulting in dire consequences. If that sounds familiar and you're looking to spice things up at your table, then a clever punishment could be just the right thing to build that tension.

]]> Tue, 18 Jul 2023 21:00:17 GMT https://www.thegamer.com/dungeons-dragons-clever-punishments-players/ Originally designed by the famed Matt Mercer of Critical Role, the Blood Hunter class is one of the most versatile classes available in Dungeons & Dragons. Unlike other classes that have a determined primary statistic, Blood Hunters get to choose between Intelligence or Wisdom as their hemocraft ability modifier.

]]> Tue, 18 Jul 2023 14:15:16 GMT https://www.thegamer.com/dungeons-dragons-blood-hunter-subclass-ranked/ You may be a master tactician while playing board games and tabletop RPGs. You could know every strength, weakness and loophole to completely break or manipulate the game you're playing. However, there are some things that you just cannot control, no matter how skilled you are. Call it chance, luck, or fate, but all board game players are at the mercy of the almighty dice roll.

]]> Tue, 18 Jul 2023 14:00:15 GMT https://www.thegamer.com/best-board-games-that-use-dice/ Dungeons & Dragons is the epitome of epic fantasy adventure. Its world is as rich and diverse as its ever-expanding lore, and the locations found within the D&D universe range from sublime to awe-inspiring and even terrifying.

]]> Mon, 17 Jul 2023 22:15:17 GMT https://www.thegamer.com/dungeons-dragons-universe-epic-best-locations/ When players discover a new board game, they look forward to the miniatures and how good they look. From small heroes to gigantic monsters, miniatures are the main attraction that fills you with various emotions as you face terrible foes or get immersed in the game world. They also allow the owner to express some of their creativity by adding their personal touch during the painting process.

]]> Mon, 17 Jul 2023 21:45:17 GMT https://www.thegamer.com/board-games-with-best-miniatures/ Warhammer is a behemoth nowadays. It’s always been big – bigger than the community would care to admit – but now it’s huge. Did you know that Games Workshop provided more for the UK economy last year than the entire fishing industry? Maybe that’s indicative of the rise of veganism or the need for fantasy escapism as the country descends further into the depths of hell, but toy soldiers are more popular than fish – you heard it here first.

]]> Mon, 17 Jul 2023 16:45:18 GMT https://www.thegamer.com/warhammer-monthly-90s-comic-series-come-back/ EX sets in the Digimon Card Game are usually known for introducing not-so popular Digimon into the game that the small core audience loves. In EX4 Alternative Being, many alternate forms of fan-favorite Digimon make their first appearance in the game. Digimon like Ravemon and even the Champion form of the small blue Dragon Digimon Veemon, GoldVeedramon is found in the set.

]]> Mon, 17 Jul 2023 10:00:18 GMT https://www.thegamer.com/digimon-card-game-ex4-alternative-being-best-cards/ In Dungeons & Dragons, you'll likely come across jokes and stereotypes of the numerous classes. Although, like most jokes, these are just for the sake of humor and memes, there are some who take it a bit too far and genuinely think that some classes should act like their stereotypes or don't even take characters seriously if they're in that class.

]]> Mon, 17 Jul 2023 09:30:17 GMT https://www.thegamer.com/dungeons-dragons-class-stereotypes-avoid/ Spiders are a niche creature type in Magic: The Gathering. They receive solid support here and there but never truly anything spectacular to hold an entire Commander deck together. The printing of Shelob, Child of Ungoliant in The Lord of the Rings: Tales of Middle-earth ushered in a massive spike in Spider popularity, which put the eight-legged critters back in the spotlight.

]]> Mon, 17 Jul 2023 08:00:18 GMT https://www.thegamer.com/magic-the-gathering-mtg-best-spider-cards-typal/ Shadowverse: Evolve is from Bushiroad, the developers behind Cardfight!! Vanguard. Based on the digital card game with the same name, this game focuses on high-fantasy characters with an anime art style that is sure to grab the attention of collectors everywhere. Like most sets in a card game’s infancy, the high-rarity cards are sought after due to their low pull rates. With popular characters stemming from mobile games like Granblue Fantasy, players are eager to jump in and fight against each other with their shiny foiled Leader cards.

]]> Sun, 16 Jul 2023 22:16:17 GMT https://www.thegamer.com/shadowverse-evolve-most-valuable-expensive-cards-bt01-advent-of-genesis/ Humanoid species are exceptionally popular in Dungeons & Dragons, but they're hardly the only race you can play. In fact, some of the non-humanoid species, like the Thri-Kreen, can be stunningly powerful. The Thri-Kreen are powerful warriors with amazing species traits, and while their mantis-like appearance might be off-putting to some of you, they shouldn't be written off for that reason alone.

]]> Sun, 16 Jul 2023 22:00:18 GMT https://www.thegamer.com/dungeons-dragons-thri-kreen-facts-curiosities-trivia/ Across the many sourcebooks and adventure modules, Dungeons & Dragons has dozens of diseases that contain a variety of effects and ways to cure them. One way a DM can introduce plot hooks, adventure rewards, or character development is by spreading plague and misery.

]]> Sun, 16 Jul 2023 21:30:16 GMT https://www.thegamer.com/dungeons-dragons-best-diseases-to-use-on-your-players/ Dungeons & Dragons is a game filled to the brim with mechanical complexity and rules that can easily be missed by new players. One of the most common roles that a party aims to fill is that of a healer. While healers most often replenish their allies hit points through the use of healing spells, adventurers are also capable of healing themselves through the use of potions.

]]> Sun, 16 Jul 2023 17:15:22 GMT https://www.thegamer.com/dungeons-dragons-potion-brew-system-explained-guide/ Spend any time in a Warhammer community and you’ll hear the word Mordheim bandied about. It’s a term discussed like an old friend, someone who had a legendary presence in the pub but has since moved on. Nobody’s quite sure where they went, but they don’t hang around here any more. But everyone remembers the stories they told for the price of a round, everyone remembers the drunken hijinks you got up to after a few too many, and everyone wonders when they’re coming back. But what is Mordheim, other than a legend whispered between the older generation of wargamers? And why does everyone love it so much?

]]> Sun, 16 Jul 2023 14:00:19 GMT https://www.thegamer.com/mordheim-warhammer-everyone-loves/ While main sets like BT11 Dimensional Phase introduces meta-defining decks, the Digimon Card Game side sets, known as “EX” sets, usually include lower power cards. These sets compensate for their weakness in competitive DGC by using mechanics brand-new to the card game or following a specific theme within the Digital World.

]]> Sun, 16 Jul 2023 12:45:18 GMT https://www.thegamer.com/digimon-card-game-ex4-alternative-being-most-valuable-cards/ If you've been playing Dungeons & Dragons for a long time, there's a decent chance that you want to do something that challenges your skills, whether that's as a Dungeon Master or as a player - maybe even both. Difficult campaigns and adventures aren't new to the world of Dungeons & Dragons.

]]> Sun, 16 Jul 2023 08:00:18 GMT https://www.thegamer.com/dungeons-dragons-most-challenging-campaigns/ One of the most popular Yu-Gi-Oh! products in a long time are the Legendary Collection 25th Anniversary Edition. It's clear that people love opening these old packs for the nostalgia and to hopefully pull some iconic cards. You also get seven promos, which, right off the bat, nets you plenty of value.

]]> Sun, 16 Jul 2023 06:30:18 GMT https://www.thegamer.com/yu-gi-oh-legendary-collection-25th-anniversary-edition-most-valuable-cards/ When you're playing Dungeons & Dragons, there's definitely going to be a point where the party is going to be taking a long rest. More often than not, these rests aren't going to be in a comfortable cavern or cosy tavern, but they'll be out in the wild. Travel will take time and oftentimes a dungeon can't be something to be ransacked in a single night.

]]> Sun, 16 Jul 2023 00:45:17 GMT https://www.thegamer.com/dungeons-dragons-encounters-long-rest/ It's difficult to say for sure why the Warlock is one of the most popular classes in Dungeons & Dragons, but the class's flavorful ties to a patron, whether they're good or evil, is one likely explanation. Among the patrons and subclasses available, the Hexblade in particular seems to call to many players due to its reputation as one of the few gish playstyles available in the game.

]]> Sat, 15 Jul 2023 21:46:18 GMT https://www.thegamer.com/dungeons-dragons-dnd-hexblade-warlock-build-guide/ The Bard's reputation in Dungeons & Dragons is that of a whimsical, happy-go-lucky figure whom the party can always rely on for their next punch line. Funnily enough, comical characters like these may seem like a joke at first, but they often manage to become some of the most memorable and heartwarming figures in a campaign.

]]> Sat, 15 Jul 2023 17:45:16 GMT https://www.thegamer.com/dungeons-dragons-dnd-college-lore-bard-build-guide/ When you combine the awesome power of red with the inquisitive and insightful nature of blue, you get Izzet, the color combination of your classic mad scientist. In Magic: The Gathering, Izzet mages love to intermingle blue's ability to draw cards with red's ability to deal damage, often by slinging more spells than your opponents can keep up with.

]]> Sat, 15 Jul 2023 16:45:18 GMT https://www.thegamer.com/magic-the-gathering-mtg-izzet-blue-red-commander-staples-guide/ Football is the greatest thing humanity has ever invented. The wheel? Make it a sphere instead of a circle and kick it around mate. Electricity? All the better to watch the footy with. That's why I recently decided to add football to my upcoming Dungeons & Dragons adventure. It started out as a play on words, that the party would need to look for a famous sorcerer, they'd meet someone who didn't speak their language, and be pointed towards a famous soccer-er, but I ended up cutting that joke for a much cleaner run up to the game.

]]> Sat, 15 Jul 2023 14:00:18 GMT https://www.thegamer.com/add-football-soccer-dungeons-dragons-dnd/ Residing in the Astral Sea, the githyanki are a fearsome group of dragon riders determined to rid all planes of aberrations while serving the lich-queen, Vlaakith. Introduced as a playable species in Mordenkainen's Tome of Foes, this group of psionic warriors can be an intimidating option for Dungeons & Dragons.

]]> Sat, 15 Jul 2023 09:30:17 GMT https://www.thegamer.com/dungeons-dragons-dnd-githyanki-tips/ cEDH is the competitive version of Magic: The Gathering's generally more casual Commander format. It's about winning games with optimized decks and shutting down anything your opponents might do. Due to the very high power of the format, most commanders need to have powerful effects. One of these cEDH commanders is Kinnan, Bonder Prodigy.

]]> Fri, 14 Jul 2023 18:15:19 GMT https://www.thegamer.com/magic-the-gathering-mtg-kinan-bonder-prodigy-cedh-deck-guide/ CEDH is the competitive version of Magic: The Gathering's Commander format. Commander is traditionally more casual than most formats, but cEDH is about pushing your deck's power levels to the highest they can be. Not every commander fits into the cEDH landscape but one of the ones that do is Winota, Joiner Of Forces.

]]> Fri, 14 Jul 2023 16:15:16 GMT https://www.thegamer.com/magic-the-gathering-mtg-winota-joiner-of-forces-cedh-deck-cards-guide/ Trading card games offer an experience you're not likely to get from any other kind of gaming. They combine the creativity of deckbuilding with the camaraderie of coming together to play, and, best of all, they're updated all the time. Whether it's Magic: The Gathering, Yu-Gi-Oh!, Pokemon, or any of the other dozens of TCGs out there, you only have to wait a few months before the game will be revitalised with a new expansion.

]]> Fri, 14 Jul 2023 16:08:18 GMT https://www.thegamer.com/tcg-calendar/ The One Piece hype is alive and well. Not only has the series existed for well over 20 years now, but it’s also managed to spawn a fairly popular and influential trading card game too. Fans poured in and leaped at the chance to collect cards featuring some of their favorite characters from the series.

]]> Fri, 14 Jul 2023 05:30:16 GMT https://www.thegamer.com/one-piece-card-game-pillars-of-strength-most-valuable/ Initial reactions to Magic: The Gathering's Lord of the Rings set pegged it as a low-power venture with 'Core Set' vibes, which bodes poorly for the set's overall impact on various cube formats. Fortunately, it turns out this Universes Beyond set has more to offer than it seemed at first blush.

]]> Thu, 13 Jul 2023 16:30:16 GMT https://www.thegamer.com/magic-the-gathering-mtg-lord-of-the-rings-tales-middle-earth-lotr-ltr-best-cards-for-cube/ With One Piece Card Game's OP3 Pillars Of Strength, the color yellow receives its first wave of support in the shape of the Big Mom Pirates and their unique mechanic of looking at your life cards and rearranging them.

]]> Thu, 13 Jul 2023 12:00:17 GMT https://www.thegamer.com/one-piece-card-game-best-cards-op3-pillars-of-strength/ Magic: The Gathering can be an expensive game to play, which makes things like Amazon's Prime Day deals all the more enticing. It's not just older sets that need stock shifting, either – Amazon has plenty of deals on new and popular releases.

]]> Thu, 13 Jul 2023 01:03:27 GMT https://www.thegamer.com/best-prime-day-deals-magic-the-gathering/ Amazon's Prime Day is finally here, and it's an excellent time to stock up on all those tabletop games you've been eying up. Prime Day runs on July 11 and 12, there are plenty of deals available on the site to sate your appetite.

]]> Thu, 13 Jul 2023 01:00:34 GMT https://www.thegamer.com/best-prime-day-deals-tabletop-board-card-games/ Dungeons & Dragons is more than just a gaming franchise. It's a vast world filled with amazing people, thrilling places, and magical things. There are lots of ways to find D&D games, references, and communities thanks to various online communities that have evolved online.

]]> Wed, 12 Jul 2023 21:00:16 GMT https://www.thegamer.com/dungeons-dragons-best-online-communities-forums/ There are countless plots to use to entertain your party as a GM in Dungeons & Dragons. There are pre-built adventures aplenty, plus anything you can think of can be homebrewed into an adventure. Sometimes though, you need a little extra time to figure out what the next part of the plot is. For those moments, you'll definitely want to pull out a red herring.

]]> Wed, 12 Jul 2023 05:30:17 GMT https://www.thegamer.com/dungeons-dragons-dnd-red-herrings-best-distractions-for-players/ Rangers have had a rough time in Dungeons & Dragons, as they're similar to a Druid but without the same cool powers and fewer healing options. In the original Player’s Handbook, they were underpowered and underappreciated, a jack of all trades but master of none.

]]> Tue, 11 Jul 2023 21:46:42 GMT https://www.thegamer.com/dungeons-dragons-ranger-subclasses-ranked/ Magic: The Gathering has kicked off its preview season for Commander Masters, a deluxe reprint set revolving around the game’s most popular format, Commander. Following on from last year’s Double Masters 2022, Commander Masters is all about high-value reprints, lots of art treatments, and some deep cuts, but with a Commander-heavy twist.

]]> Tue, 11 Jul 2023 20:02:18 GMT https://www.thegamer.com/magic-the-gathering-mtg-commander-masters-debut/