# Alchemists

Alchemists is a board game for 2–4 players. It plays in 120 minutes and is meant for ages 12 and up. Ludoya players call it best with 4. It is rated 7.7 out of 10 by 123 Ludoya reviewers. The cheapest copy in stock is $49.95 (United States).

- **Players:** 2–4 (best with 4)
- **Playing time:** 120 minutes
- **Minimum age:** 12+
- **Complexity:** 3.9 out of 5
- **Year published:** 2014
- **Categories:** Fantasy, Puzzle, Deduction
- **Mechanics:** Action Drafting, End Game Bonuses, Constrained Bidding, Open Drafting, Worker Placement, Hand Management, Events, Turn Order: Progressive, Deduction
- **Ludoya rating:** 7.7 out of 10, from 123 reviews
- **Owned by:** 239 Ludoya players
- **Plays logged on Ludoya:** 619
- **Unique players:** 603

**Designers:** Matúš Kotry

**Artists:** David Cochard

**Publishers:** Czech Games Edition

## Where to buy in United States

| Shop | Price | Link |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Cardhaus Games | 49.95 $ | https://www.cardhaus.com/alchemists/ |
| Miniature Market | 59.99 $ | https://www.miniaturemarket.com/cge00027.html |
| eFantasy | 49.99 € | https://www.efantasy.gr/en/products/board-games/62139-board-game-alchemists |
| Spelexperten | 449 kr | https://www.spelexperten.com/sallskapsspel/strategispel/alchemists.html |
| World of Board Games | 449 kr | https://www.worldofboardgames.com/alchemists |
| Alphaspel | 499 kr | https://alphaspel.se/491-bradspel/47398-alchemists |
| Midgard Games | 479 kr | https://midgardgames.no/products/alchemists |
| Zatu Games | 38.35 £ | https://zatu.com/products/alchemists |
| Travelling Man | 38.99 £ | https://travellingman.com/products/alchemists |
| Svet deskovych her | 1130 Kč | https://www.svet-deskovych-her.cz/produkty/4047/alchemists-en |
| Goblin Trader Barcelona | 47.7 € | https://www.goblintrader.es/es/inicio/25006-alquimistas-spanish-8436017222531.html |
| Hyggeonkel | 369.95 kr | https://www.hyggeonkel.dk/produkt/alchemists |
| Uplay | 49.99 € | https://www.uplay.it/it/gioco-da-tavolo-alchemists.html |
| Homoludicus Granollers | 53 € | https://homoludicus-granollers.org/alquimistas |
| Fantasiapelit | 53.5 € | https://www.fantasiapelit.com/index.php?main=ai&kat=single&mista=indeksi&etsittava=_159171 |
| Spielezar | 52.9 Fr. | https://www.spielezar.ch/brettspiele/alchemists |

## Expansions

- [Alchemists: The King's Golem](https://www.ludoya.com/games/alchemists-the-kings-golem)
- [Alchemists: Ring of Favor](https://www.ludoya.com/games/alchemists-ring-of-favor)
- [Alchemists: Publisher](https://www.ludoya.com/games/alchemists-publisher-promo-card)

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- [Andromeda's Edge: Deluxe Edition](https://www.ludoya.com/games/andromedas-edge-deluxe-edition)
- [Golem](https://www.ludoya.com/games/golem-5)
- [Orléans: Big Box](https://www.ludoya.com/games/orleans-jubilaumsbox)
- [Aquaria](https://www.ludoya.com/games/aquaria)
- [Wyrmspan](https://www.ludoya.com/games/wyrmspan)
- [Alma Mater](https://www.ludoya.com/games/alma-mater)
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- [Trismegistus](https://www.ludoya.com/games/trismegistus-new-edition)
- [Little Alchemists](https://www.ludoya.com/games/little-alchemists)
- [Trismegistus: The Ultimate Formula](https://www.ludoya.com/games/trismegistus-the-ultimate-formula)

## Rules questions

### Do I resolve actions in player order, or does the order change from space to space?

Players resolve each action space starting with the player on the highest occupied row, then proceed downward. After everyone takes their first action there, players with a second action take it in the same order (pp. 8–9).

### Can I use all my action cubes in the first round?

No. In the first round, each player may use only 3 action cubes, and three marked actions are unavailable. From the second round onward, you may use your full set of cubes (p. 8).

### If someone makes a negative potion on the student, do I have to pay to test afterward?

Yes. Once a player makes a negative potion while testing on the student, every later player who tests on that student must pay 1 gold, though they may decline instead. The first test—and all tests before the first negative potion—are free (p. 10).

### What happens if I drink a negative potion?

A blue potion makes you lose 1 reputation, a green potion paralyzes you so you play last next round, and a red potion sends your action cube to the hospital, leaving you with one fewer cube next round. No negative potion can affect you twice in the same round (p. 10).

### If I sell a potion that is better than my guarantee, do I get the higher price?

No. You are paid only the price of the guarantee you offered; if the result is worse than that guarantee, you receive nothing. A neutral or wrong-sign result also costs you 1 reputation, regardless of whether you met the guarantee (p. 11).

### What is the difference between publishing and endorsing a theory?

Publishing places a new alchemical token and your seal, costs 1 gold, and gains you 1 reputation. Endorsing places your seal on someone else’s theory, costs 1 gold plus 1 gold to each player already sealed there, and gives no reputation (p. 13).

## Links

- [This page](https://www.ludoya.com/games/alchemists)
- [Alchemists in the Ludoya app](https://app.ludoya.com/g/alchemists)
- [BoardGameGeek entry](https://boardgamegeek.com/boardgame/161970)

_Data from Ludoya, updated 2026-09-23. Ratings, ownership and play counts are Ludoya's own._