# Res Arcana

Res Arcana is a board game for 2–4 players. It plays in 30–60 minutes and is meant for ages 12 and up. Ludoya players call it best with 2. It is rated 7.3 out of 10 by 138 Ludoya reviewers. The cheapest copy in stock is $29.06 (United States).

- **Players:** 2–4 (best with 2)
- **Playing time:** 30–60 minutes
- **Minimum age:** 12+
- **Complexity:** 2.7 out of 5
- **Year published:** 2019
- **Categories:** Fantasy, Card Game
- **Mechanics:** Multi-Use Cards, Race, Income, Open Drafting, Hand Management, Take That, Variable Player Powers, Score-and-Reset Game, Turn Order: Pass Order
- **Ludoya rating:** 7.3 out of 10, from 138 reviews
- **Owned by:** 260 Ludoya players
- **Plays logged on Ludoya:** 1,527
- **Unique players:** 846

**Designers:** Thomas Lehmann

**Artists:** Julien Delval

**Publishers:** Sand Castle Games

## Where to buy in United States

| Shop | Price | Link |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Gamers Guild AZ | 29.06 $ | https://gamersguildaz.com/products/res-arcana |
| Miniature Market | 35.99 $ | https://www.miniaturemarket.com/asmres01.html |
| Cardhaus Games | 39.39 $ | https://www.cardhaus.com/res-arcana/ |
| Board Game Bliss | 46.95 $ | https://www.boardgamebliss.com/products/res-arcana |
| 401 Games | 46.95 $ | https://store.401games.ca/products/res-arcana |
| eFantasy | 39.99 € | https://www.efantasy.gr/en/products/board-games/131396-board-game-res-arcana |
| Zatu Games | 22.45 £ | https://zatu.com/products/res-arcana |
| Homoludicus Granollers | 29.95 € | https://homoludicus-granollers.org/res-arcana |
| Pelipeikko | 32.95 € | https://pelipeikko.fi/fi/lautapelit/521-res-arcana |
| Dragons Lair | 375 kr | https://dragonslair.se/products/res-arcana |
| Travelling Man | 28.99 £ | https://travellingman.com/products/res-arcana |
| Ludifolie | 34.9 € | https://www.ludifolie.com/7442-res-arcana.html |
| Alphaspel | 399 kr | https://alphaspel.se/491-bradspel/101620-res-arcana |
| Games Empire | 57.99 $ | https://gamesempire.com.au/products/resarcana |
| Uplay | 39.99 € | https://www.uplay.it/it/gioco-da-tavolo-res-arcana--edizione-italiana-.html |
| Fantasiapelit | 43.7 € | https://www.fantasiapelit.com/index.php?main=ai&kat=single&mista=indeksi&etsittava=_193536 |

## Expansions

- [Res Arcana: Lux et Tenebrae](https://www.ludoya.com/games/res-arcana-lux-et-tenebrae)
- [Res Arcana: Perlae Imperii](https://www.ludoya.com/games/res-arcana-perlae-imperii)
- [Res Arcana: Mystical Menagerie Promo Place of Power](https://www.ludoya.com/games/res-arcana-mystical-menagerie-promo-place-of-power)

## Similar games

- [Res Arcana Duo](https://www.ludoya.com/games/res-arcana-duo)
- [Soothsayers](https://www.ludoya.com/games/soothsayers)
- [The Vale of Eternity](https://www.ludoya.com/games/the-vale-of-eternity)
- [Pixel Tactics Deluxe](https://www.ludoya.com/games/pixel-tactics-deluxe)
- [Heart of Crown: Fairy Garden](https://www.ludoya.com/games/heart-of-crown-fairy-garden)
- [Skara Brae](https://www.ludoya.com/games/skara-brae)
- [Everdell: Collector's Edition](https://www.ludoya.com/games/everdell-collectors-edition)
- [51st State: Ultimate Edition](https://www.ludoya.com/games/51st-state-ultimate-edition)
- [The Lord of the Rings: Duel for Middle-earth](https://www.ludoya.com/games/the-lord-of-the-rings-duel-for-middle-earth)
- [Tianxia](https://www.ludoya.com/games/tianxia)
- [Summoner Wars (Second Edition)](https://www.ludoya.com/games/summoner-wars-second-edition)
- [Heart of Crown](https://www.ludoya.com/games/heart-of-crown)

## Rules questions

### During the Collect step, do I have to take all the essences from a component if I take any from it?

You may take essences from any of your components, but if you take any essences off a given component you must take all of them (you may choose which components to take from). (p.5)

### Can I use a component’s powers after I’ve turned it sideways?

No — once a component is turned, you may not use its powers until it is straightened, except for some React powers which can be used while turned (unless the power’s cost itself requires turning). (pp.6–7)

### Do placement-cost discounts stack, and can a cost become negative?

Yes — discounts that reduce a placement cost are cumulative, and if a cost is reduced below 0 it becomes 0. (p.6)

### What exactly happens when I pass — what does the first player to pass get and what can I still do after passing?

The first player to pass takes the First Player token (worth 1 point at victory check), swaps their magic item for a different one (flip the new item to its Passed side), and draws one card; once you pass you can take no more actions that round, you ignore Life loss, but you can still gain essences from rivals’ powers. (pp.8, 5)

### If an effect makes rivals lose Life and they don’t have enough Life essences, what happens?

Each rival must lose the indicated Life from their pool; for each Life they lack they must instead, if possible, lose any two other essences (including Gold); players who have passed ignore Life loss. (pp.7, 8)

### What’s the difference between discarding an artifact and destroying one in play?

Discarding is from your hand (tuck the discarded card sideways under your deck as your discard pile), whereas destroying removes a card from play and puts it in your discard pile; any essences on a destroyed card are returned to the supply. (pp.6–7)

## Links

- [This page](https://www.ludoya.com/games/res-arcana)
- [Res Arcana in the Ludoya app](https://app.ludoya.com/g/res-arcana)
- [BoardGameGeek entry](https://boardgamegeek.com/boardgame/262712)

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