Duel of Meloch is a standalone game: neither Scythe nor Expeditions is required for its standard one-versus-one format. It also contains new components usable in those parent games, which is why Stonemaier lists it among both base games and expansions. This guide separates what comes in the box, what can be added to another game, and what still needs extra pieces.
Which box do you need?
| What you want to play | Required game | What changes |
|---|---|---|
| Standard Scythe versus Expeditions Duel | Duel of Meloch only | Two different rule systems share the small Duel map and Triumph Track. |
| Duel solo with Automa | Duel of Meloch only | Its own Automa deck, phase cards and solo rulebook replace a human opponent. |
| Scythe versus Scythe Duel | Duel of Meloch plus enough Scythe factions/player mats and pieces | Both players use Scythe rules under the Duel variant. |
| Expeditions versus Expeditions Duel | Duel of Meloch plus extra Expeditions mech/character components | Both players use Expeditions rules under the Duel variant. |
| Use Duel additions in ordinary Scythe or Expeditions | The relevant parent game | Selected cards and characters expand the original game; its original board and rules remain. |
What does it add to Scythe?
Stonemaier’s rulebook specifically names a new faction and player mat, six encounter cards, three Factory cards and the new 60-card combat deck as usable in Scythe. Its new faction is Constantinople. The included alliance token and home-base tile belong with parent-game use and are not used in the standard Duel. Do not confuse the two combat-deck instructions: inside Duel, use its new deck rather than the original Scythe combat cards; in regular Scythe, the new deck is an optional addition identified by the rulebook.
The Duel map is not a normal Scythe map substitute: it lacks the full popularity track and was designed for the duel. Similarly, the Duel rulebook says its format was not designed for Scythe airships. If you are comparing additions specifically for the parent game, see the Scythe expansion guide.
What does it add to Expeditions?
There is a new mech with matching mat and starting card, a new character/companion pair, and 30 discovery cards divided among items, meteorites and quests. The publisher says those are usable in the original Expeditions game. It recommends keeping Duel’s new corruption tokens and workers separate when expanding Expeditions. The Duel’s ten-location map cannot stand in for the original twenty-location game: it has no locations 11–20.
What can you import into a Duel?
Existing Scythe factions and player mats, plus most encounter and Factory cards, can supply more combinations. Existing Expeditions mechs, characters, companions and most discovery cards may also be used. The Duel setup instructs you to discard and redraw a quest referring to locations 11–20, and to redraw an encounter that does not make sense in this context. The rulebook also provides a starting-resource fallback for an older Expeditions mech when its matching Gears of Corruption card is unavailable.
Airships from Scythe and the corrupted mech from Expeditions are specifically excluded from the intended Duel format. Even with parent-game pieces, do not assume every crossover is valid; apply the appendix and faction-specific notes. The optional Tournament of Meloch sheet organizes successive duels with additional combinations and may lead to same-system matchups.
What if I own only one parent game?
You can still play the standard Duel because its box supplies both sides. You can also take its compatible additions into the parent game you own. You need extra components only for the optional same-system matchup on the Duel map. Consider the learning burden before buying: the standard Duel uses Scythe and Expeditions procedures with specific changes, so the included summaries and the full parent rulebooks may be useful even though the physical parent boxes are unnecessary.
Continue: Game overview · Rules and setup · Strategy and tips · Compatibility with Scythe and Expeditions · Solo Automa.
Publisher references
Sources and scope: Stonemaier Games product and component list · Stonemaier’s 2026 multiplayer rulebook (publisher-authored PDF, retailer-hosted copy) · Publisher rules and FAQ page. Checked October 4, 2026. Strategy is editorial analysis of the published rules, not a claim of firsthand playtesting.