Spirit Island Expansions Guide: Branch & Claw, Jagged Earth & Nature Incarnate

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Spirit Island expansions deepen the base game by adding Spirits, Power cards, Adversaries, Events and token systems. The major content path is Branch & Claw → Jagged Earth → Nature Incarnate, while Feather & Flame collects previously separate promo Spirits and content.

Quick answer: choose Branch & Claw if you want the smallest step into Events and tokens, Jagged Earth if you want the largest all-around expansion, Nature Incarnate if you already own Jagged Earth and want more advanced Spirits, and Feather & Flame for a compact Spirit-focused addition.

Spirit Island expansion comparison

Expansion Main additions Complexity Best fit
Branch & Claw Events, tokens, new Spirits and Powers Medium increase Small first expansion
Jagged Earth Many Spirits, Events, tokens, Badlands, new boards and scenarios Large increase Players wanting the fullest expansion
Nature Incarnate New Spirits and the Incarna system High Experienced players with Jagged Earth
Feather & Flame Promo Spirits and associated content Variable More Spirit variety without a huge box

Branch & Claw

Branch & Claw introduces several systems that became central to later Spirit Island expansions: Events and island tokens such as Beasts, Disease, Wilds and Strife.

Events add uncertainty between Spirit actions and the Invader phase, while tokens create more localized control over exploration, building, ravaging and other effects.

Best for: groups that want the expanded rules framework but prefer a smaller box before committing to Jagged Earth.

Jagged Earth

Jagged Earth is the largest structural expansion. Its rulebook incorporates the Branch & Claw token/event framework and adds further material including the Badlands token, many new Spirits, Powers, Adversaries, scenarios and island boards.

The publisher recommends that players have several base-game sessions before adding the expansion systems, because combining Events, tokens and highly asymmetric Spirits significantly raises decision load.

Best for: players who know the base game well and want the broadest increase in replayability.

Nature Incarnate

Nature Incarnate builds on the expanded Spirit Island rules ecosystem and introduces Incarna, special pieces representing a Spirit’s more direct physical manifestation on the island.

It is aimed at experienced players rather than being the cleanest first expansion purchase.

Best for: groups already comfortable with Jagged Earth complexity and looking for more advanced Spirits and novel spatial mechanics.

Feather & Flame

Feather & Flame collects Spirits and related material that originally appeared through promo packs. It increases Spirit variety without adding a huge new rules framework.

Best for: players who mainly want additional Spirits and Power interactions rather than another major systems expansion.

What about Horizons of Spirit Island?

Horizons is a standalone entry point, not a normal expansion. It contains compatible Spirit Island rules and Spirits, but it is designed as a more accessible package. Treat it separately from Branch & Claw, Jagged Earth and Nature Incarnate when planning an expansion path.

Which Spirit Island expansion should you buy first?

If you want the gentlest progression, start with Branch & Claw. If you already know you want a large amount of additional Spirit Island content, Jagged Earth is the stronger all-in-one expansion because it includes the expanded token/event framework and much more content.

Detailed Spirit Island expansion guides

Related Spirit Island guides

Publisher sources

Expansion line checked September 2026.

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