# Legends of the Three Kingdoms

Legends of the Three Kingdoms is a board game for 2–10 players. It plays in 40 minutes and is meant for ages 12 and up. Ludoya players call it best with 8. It is rated 9.1 out of 10 by 2 Ludoya reviewers.

- **Players:** 2–10 (best with 8)
- **Playing time:** 40 minutes
- **Minimum age:** 12+
- **Complexity:** 2.2 out of 5
- **Year published:** 2007
- **Categories:** Fighting, Card Game, Bluffing, Novel-based, Ancient, Civil War
- **Mechanics:** Hidden Roles, Role Playing, Once-Per-Game Abilities, Team-Based Game, Variable Player Powers, Hand Management, Take That, Player Elimination
- **Ludoya rating:** 9.1 out of 10, from 2 reviews
- **Owned by:** 7 Ludoya players
- **Plays logged on Ludoya:** 6
- **Unique players:** 2

**Designers:** KayaK

**Artists:** KayaK

## Expansions

- [San Guo Sha: Battle](https://www.ludoya.com/games/san-guo-sha-battle)
- [San Guo Sha: Wind](https://www.ludoya.com/games/san-guo-sha-wind)
- [San Guo Sha: Fire](https://www.ludoya.com/games/san-guo-sha-fire)
- [San Guo Sha: Forest](https://www.ludoya.com/games/san-guo-sha-forest)
- [San Guo Sha: Mountain](https://www.ludoya.com/games/san-guo-sha-mountain)
- [San Guo Sha: Overnight Fame](https://www.ludoya.com/games/san-guo-sha-overnight-fame)
- [San Guo Sha: Overnight Fame 2012](https://www.ludoya.com/games/san-guo-sha-overnight-fame-2012)
- [San Guo Sha: SP Characters 2011](https://www.ludoya.com/games/san-guo-sha-sp-characters-2011)
- [San Guo Sha: SP Characters 2012](https://www.ludoya.com/games/san-guo-sha-sp-characters-2012)
- [San Guo Sha: The Return of Legend](https://www.ludoya.com/games/san-guo-sha-the-return-of-legend)

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- [Unmatched: Battle of Legends, Volume Two](https://www.ludoya.com/games/unmatched-battle-of-legends-volume-two)
- [Unmatched: Battle of Legends, Volume One](https://www.ludoya.com/games/unmatched-battle-of-legends-volume-one)
- [Carthage](https://www.ludoya.com/games/carthage)
- [Quest: Avalon Big Box Edition](https://www.ludoya.com/games/quest-avalon-big-box-edition)
- [Hero Realms](https://www.ludoya.com/games/hero-realms)
- [Talisman: The Magical Quest Game – 5th Edition](https://www.ludoya.com/games/talisman-the-magical-quest-game-5th-edition)
- [Dice Throne: Season Two – Battle Chest](https://www.ludoya.com/games/dice-throne-season-two-battle-chest)
- [Veiled Fate](https://www.ludoya.com/games/veiled-fate)
- [Dice Throne: Season One Rerolled](https://www.ludoya.com/games/dice-throne-season-one-rerolled)
- [Saboteur: 20th Anniversary Edition](https://www.ludoya.com/games/saboteur-20-jahre-edition)

## Rules questions

### What exactly happens during my turn?

A turn has six phases in this order: Start, Judgment, Draw, Play, Discard, and End. During the Play phase, you may use cards and abilities at successive open timing points; you may also end the phase voluntarily. (Rulebook, pp. 53, 68, 70–72)

### How many cards do I draw, and when do I have to discard?

Your normal Draw phase gives you 2 cards, unless an effect changes your rated draw amount. During the Discard phase, discard cards until your hand size is no greater than your current HP—not your maximum HP. (Rulebook, pp. 40, 70, 72)

### Can I attack anyone, or does distance matter?

A character is within attack range when their final attack range is at least the final distance to the target; you are never within your own attack range. Distance is calculated around the table using the shortest direction, and dead characters no longer count when calculating it. (Rulebook, pp. 38–39)

### If damage reduces me to 0 HP, am I immediately dead?

No. You first enter the Dying state and players may respond in turn; a character may use Peach, or Wine in its dying-state use, where applicable. If the character’s HP is still 0 or less after no one can continue responding, that character dies. (Rulebook, pp. 107, 111–114)

### Does using a card automatically work if I choose a target?

No. The card must have enough legal targets and must satisfy its target restrictions, including distance and other game or skill restrictions; otherwise it cannot be used. After a card is used, a target may still be removed or the card may be made ineffective by responses or effects. (Rulebook, pp. 79–82, 88–89)

### What happens when a player dies in Identity mode?

Reveal the dead player’s identity and check the victory conditions immediately: the Lord’s death normally ends the game in favor of the Rebels, unless the sole survivor is the Traitor, while the Lord and Loyalists win when all Rebels and Traitors are dead. A Rebel who is killed also gives the killer a three-card reward. (Rulebook, pp. 66, 113–114)

## Links

- [This page](https://www.ludoya.com/games/legends-of-the-three-kingdoms)
- [Legends of the Three Kingdoms in the Ludoya app](https://app.ludoya.com/g/legends-of-the-three-kingdoms)
- [BoardGameGeek entry](https://boardgamegeek.com/boardgame/35188)

_Data from Ludoya, updated 2026-09-19. Ratings, ownership and play counts are Ludoya's own._