Regicide: Rules, Scoring and Strategy
A cooperative boss-battling card game that transforms a standard deck into twelve enemies, shared survival decisions and powerful suit effects.
A cooperative boss-battling card game that transforms a standard deck into twelve enemies, shared survival decisions and powerful suit effects.
This independent rules guide explains how the game works, how the game ends, examples of important decisions and who it suits. Editions and optional modules are separated where they matter.
What makes Regicide different
The same card provides attack strength and a suit effect; the active Royal is immune to its own suit until a Jester changes that.
Game at a Glance
Setup
Stack shuffled Jacks over shuffled Queens over shuffled Kings as the twelve-card Castle deck, and reveal the first Jack. Shuffle numbers 2–10 and four…
Key decision
The same card provides attack strength and a suit effect; the active Royal is immune to its own suit until a Jester changes that.
Strategy
Plan moves around the game’s most valuable opportunities and constraints.
Who it suits
1–4 players; see the reader-fit section for a detailed comparison.
Setup and hand sizes
Stack shuffled Jacks over shuffled Queens over shuffled Kings as the twelve-card Castle deck, and reveal the first Jack. Shuffle numbers 2–10 and four Aces into the Tavern deck; add no Jesters for two players, one for three players or two for four. Starting maximum hands are 7, 6 and 5 respectively. In the official solo variant keep the two Jesters beside you and begin with a maximum hand of eight.
Turn sequence
On your turn play a card or a legal combination, or yield if the preceding players have not all yielded. Apply suit powers, then deal damage. If the enemy survives, discard enough value from hand to cover its current attack. Failure to cover damage or being unable to play or yield loses the game for everyone.
Four suit powers
Hearts recycle cards from the discard pile to the bottom of the Tavern deck, diamonds draw cards distributed among players without exceeding their hand limits, clubs double attack damage, and spades permanently reduce the current enemy’s counterattack until it falls. Powers are mandatory where applicable. An enemy is immune to its own suit.
Royal health and attack
Jacks have 20 health and 10 attack; Queens have 30 health and 15 attack; Kings have 40 health and 20 attack. Defeat all twelve to win. After defeating an enemy discard played attack cards; place the Royal into the discard pile, or facedown on the Tavern deck if the attack dealt exactly the health needed. Start the next Royal without taking the defeated enemy’s attack.
Animal companions, combos and Jesters
An Ace may be played alone or paired with one other non-Jester card and contributes one attack as well as its suit. Combinations of equal-number cards are legal when their combined value is at most ten, such as a pair of fives or triple threes. A played Jester cancels enemy suit immunity and lets its player choose who takes the next turn; it does no damage.
Solo rules
In solo play use an eight-card hand with the two Jesters set aside as emergency refreshes. Flip a Jester before Step 1 or Step 4 to discard your hand and refill to eight, up to twice per game. A win with zero, one or two used Jesters is a Gold, Silver or Bronze victory respectively.
Strategy and worked example
Against the Jack of Clubs, an 8 of Clubs still supplies 8 attack but cannot double damage while immunity remains. A later Jester cancels immunity for future plays, making club attacks more valuable. Preserve diamonds so the team can replenish, use spades early to reduce repeated incoming damage, and remember that an exact finishing attack can recycle the defeated Royal into the Tavern deck.
Who should play Regicide?
A good fit for solo players and small cooperative groups who enjoy a challenging card puzzle with shared planning. Its strict damage and hand-management rules make it less forgiving than The Mind or The Game.
FAQ
Can Regicide use a normal pack? Yes: a standard 52-card deck and up to two Jokers supplies the essential components. Does a matching-suit card do no damage? No, only its suit power is suppressed by immunity. Do you need to beat every King? Yes, the last King must fall. Is yielding always allowed? No, all other players may not have yielded consecutively.
Strategy: practical decisions and mistakes to avoid
Against the Jack of Clubs, an 8 of Clubs still supplies 8 attack but cannot double damage while immunity remains. A later Jester cancels immunity for future plays, making club attacks more valuable. Preserve diamonds so the team can replenish, use spades early to reduce repeated incoming damage, and remember that an exact finishing attack can recycle the defeated Royal into the Tavern deck.
For competitive play, distinguish short-term gains from the game’s actual victory condition. For cooperative play, protect the shared resources that prevent an early defeat. These are rules-based suggestions rather than claims of personal playtesting.
Frequently asked questions
Can Regicide use a normal pack? Yes: a standard 52-card deck and up to two Jokers supplies the essential components. Does a matching-suit card do no damage? No, only its suit power is suppressed by immunity. Do you need to beat every King? Yes, the last King must fall. Is yielding always allowed? No, all other players may not have yielded consecutively.
Similar games and what to play next
- The Game — Compare the gameplay approach, length and player experience.
- The Mind — Compare the gameplay approach, length and player experience.
- For Northwood! — Compare the gameplay approach, length and player experience.
Supporting articles
Read the more focused explanation where you need additional examples or a side-by-side comparison.
Sources and editorial scope
Researched October 12, 2026. No publisher affiliation or personal playtesting is claimed. For rare card interactions and edition-dependent exceptions, use the instructions supplied with your copy. Editorial policy and corrections.