Gloomhaven Scenario Success, Failure & Exhaustion Explained
Gloomhaven scenarios do not share one universal victory condition. Each scenario specifies its own objective, but character exhaustion and card stamina follow the core combat system and often determine whether the party reaches that objective in time.
A character can exhaust from health or cards
A character is exhausted if their hit points fall to zero. A character can also exhaust because their remaining hand and discard resources are no longer sufficient to select two cards at the start of a round or otherwise satisfy the rules for continuing play.
Lost cards accelerate the stamina clock
Discarded cards can return through resting, but lost cards normally do not. Each rest cycle permanently removes another card, so the maximum number of future rounds decreases over time. Playing powerful loss actions early makes that decline faster.
Exhaustion does not always end the scenario immediately
An exhausted character is removed from active scenario play, but other characters can continue if the scenario remains winnable and its failure condition has not been met. If all characters exhaust before the objective is completed, the party cannot continue the scenario.
Scenario-specific objectives decide success
Read the scenario goal carefully. Some scenarios require defeating enemies, reaching locations, protecting something, surviving a sequence or completing another special task. The objective text, special rules and current official errata override generic assumptions.
Successful scenarios apply completion rewards and campaign consequences
On success, resolve the scenario’s listed rewards and any campaign unlocks, events or follow-up effects. Characters also resolve the normal end-of-scenario progression steps specified by the rulebook and campaign state.
Failure is not campaign elimination
Failing a scenario does not normally end the campaign. Follow the rulebook for what earned progress or resources are retained, reset the scenario state as required and attempt the scenario again later if it remains available.
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Sources: Cephalofair Games: Gloomhaven and official rules and errata. Checked September 20, 2026.