## Game Overview In Gloomhaven, enemy stat cards and ability cards are the core components for managing enemy behavior. Understanding how to read them is crucial for correctly executing the gameplay. ## Game Components - **Enemy Stat Cards**: Display the enemy's hit points, defense value, movement speed, and attack power. - **Enemy Ability Cards**: Define the enemy's special abilities and behavior patterns. ## Core Mechanisms Enemy stat cards and ability cards together determine the enemy's performance during the Action Phase. Stat cards provide base values, while ability cards grant them unique abilities. ## Rulebook Text ### Reading Enemy Stat Cards Each enemy stat card contains the following information: | Item | Description | |------|------| | Hit Points | The amount of damage the enemy can sustain | | Defense Value | The damage the enemy can reduce each round | | Movement | The number of hexes the enemy can move each round | | Attack | The enemy's base attack power | ### Reading Enemy Ability Cards Enemy ability cards typically contain: - **Skill Name**: Description of the skill's effect - **Trigger Condition**: When this skill is activated - **Effect Description**: Specific ability description - **Duration**: The number of rounds the skill lasts ## Setup During the setup stage, place the corresponding enemy stat cards and skill cards as required by the scenario. Ensure that each enemy's stat card and skill card are correctly paired. ## Gameplay During the Action Phase, enemies act in the following order: 1. Draw an enemy skill card 2. Adjust the stat card values according to the skill card's effect 3. Perform move and attack actions ## Key Rules & FAQ ### Commonly Misplayed Rules - The effects of enemy skill cards may temporarily modify the values on the stat card - Some skill cards have a duration; you must track the remaining number of rounds ### Frequently Asked Questions **Q: Are the values on the enemy stat card fixed?** A: No. The effects of enemy skill cards may temporarily modify these values. **Q: How do you determine which skill card an enemy uses?** A: According to the drawing rules for the enemy skill card deck, typically one card is drawn each round.

Gloomhaven: How to Read Enemy Monster Statistic Cards & Ability Cards

I. Enemy Monster Statistic Card (Monster Statistic Card)

Purpose: Lets you quickly look up the base statistics for a given enemy monster type at both Normal and Elite levels.

Key Reading: Base statistics change with scenario level. Each edge and each side of the card corresponds to a different scenario level's values; flip or rotate the card to display the base statistics for the current level.

Items on the card:
- Enemy monster name, along with the stat level matching the scenario level
- Normal level stat area and Elite level stat area (kept separate)
- Hit Points: the total damage the monster can sustain before being killed
- Move value: the base number of hexes it can move during a Move ability action
- Attack value: the base damage value it can deal during an Attack ability action
- Range value: the distance (in hexes from its current position, equal to this value) that an Attack or Heal can reach. If it shows "—", the monster's action with a normal Attack ability can only target enemies in an adjacent hex (i.e., a melee attack)
- Special abilities: these are persistent, e.g., "Flying," with the symbol shown next to the name

Matching stat card sleeve: Used to track that monster's damage markers and status markers (placed in the position matching the monster standee's number), and can also cover the stat information not currently needed.

II. Enemy Monster Ability Card (Monster Ability Card)

When drawn: Each round, after players have chosen their own ability cards, draw one card for each monster type present on the board from its corresponding deck.

Purpose: Determines which action abilities that monster type (both Normal and Elite) will perform this round.

… (condensed here; full text on the cunleme Chinese page)

## Key Rules & FAQ ### Frequently Asked Questions **Can a summon's initiative value be considered as always being before its summoner?** No. A summon's initiative value is calculated independently and cannot be considered as always being before its summoner. The summon and its summoner are independent entities in terms of initiative, and they are sorted according to their respective initiative values.

Conclusion: That's basically correct, but strictly speaking, the original text uses the term "initiative order," not a specific "initiative value" for summons.

The original text states that a summon's initiative order is always immediately after the initiative of the character using that summoning ability, and is independent of that character's initiative. So understanding it as "always placed before the summoner, and immediately before the summoner" is correct.

Conditions and exceptions to note:

1. No independent initiative value to compare: The original text only specifies that it is "immediately before the summoner," and does not say that the summon has a numerical initiative value that can be compared with other characters/monsters. So the statement "the initiative value is always before the summoner" does not appear in the rulebook in the wording "initiative value"—the rulebook specifies it as "initiative order is always immediately before the summoner." Understanding it as "always placed one initiative position before the summoner" is fine, but saying it "has an initiative value" is not written in the original text.

2. No actions on the turn it is summoned: A summoned creature can never perform actions on the turn it is summoned. That is to say, it will not appear in the initiative order to act on the turn it is summoned; it only acts immediately before the summoner starting from subsequent turns.

3. An independent turn: This initiative turn is independent of the summoner's own initiative turn and is not part of the summoner's actions.

4. Multiple summons: When the same player has multiple summons at the same time, each summon acts in the order they were summoned (all of these are placed before the summoner).

5. Ties for "closest": When multiple hostile creatures are tied for closest, priority is given to the one with the earlier initiative—under this premise, a summon takes priority over the player character that summoned it, even if they were summoned this very turn; and the player character performing rest is targeted last.

… (condensed here; full text on the cunleme Chinese page)

**Rulebook Text** **Frequently Asked Questions** **Can a player discard a card to negate lethal damage?** No. Lethal damage cannot be negated by discarding a card.

Conclusion: Yes. When a player character takes any damage, there are two options, one of which is to use a card to negate that damage.

How It Works

Whenever a player character takes any damage, that player has two options:

1. Take the damage — turn the left dial on the life experience tracker down to record the current total health; or
2. Discard to negate — choose one card from hand and place it in the removed area, or choose two cards from the discard pile and place them in the removed area, to negate that damage.

Important Restrictions

• Additional effects still apply: Even if the damage is negated by discarding, any additional effects of that attack are still applied.
• The two cards played this round cannot be used: The two cards the character played at the start of the round, before their action this round, are considered neither in their hand nor in their discard pile or removed area, and therefore cannot be used to negate damage.
• What is negated is "that damage": Negation is applied against a single instance of a damage source.

Regarding "Lethal Damage"

There is no specific term for "lethal damage" in the rulebook. The relevant concept is Exhaustion: if a character's total health falls below 1 point, they become Exhausted. Therefore, when a damage instance would reduce a character's health below 1 point, the player may choose to discard cards to negate it when resolving that damage, thereby avoiding falling below 0 and becoming Exhausted — this is exactly the purpose of discarding to negate.

(There is also an optional variant, "Permanent Death": a character whose health falls below 1 point dies permanently instead of becoming Exhausted, but this is a variant rule, not a core rule.)

This content is for reference only; in case of any conflict, the rulebook and experienced players take precedence.

**Rulebook Text** **Can the Red Guard damage their teammates?** Yes. Many of the Red Guard's abilities (such as attacks or effects from certain cards) can target teammates and deal damage to them. This is sometimes intentional in certain tactical situations, such as triggering "when damaged" effects or adjusting your hand. Be sure to follow all relevant rules when resolving damage.

Conclusion: You cannot voluntarily attack your teammates; however, if a card explicitly includes a part that deals damage or a negative effect to a teammate, you must execute it and cannot skip it.

Conditions & Exceptions

1. Attacks cannot target teammates
   An "Attack X" ability can only deal damage to enemies within range. The rules explicitly state: a character cannot attack their own teammates. Abilities can also never target a teammate — positive abilities designed for teammates use "affect" rather than "target." Teammates may be within the area of effect of an attack, but they are not considered targets.

2. Definition of a teammate
   A teammate refers to any figure fighting alongside the character, including summons, but excluding the character themselves. Unless a card or the rules state otherwise, abilities cannot affect teammates.

3. Negative effects on teammates must be executed
   Players may generally choose not to execute any part of a card's action; however, if a part would cause a negative effect to themselves or a teammate (such as reducing hit points, discarding cards, or inflicting a negative condition), it must be executed.

Regarding the "Red Guard"

No dedicated entry for the "Red Guard" class was found in the rulebook text, nor are there any instructions specific to that class's cards. Therefore, it cannot be confirmed from the rulebook text whether a specific card is printed with an effect that deals damage to teammates.

The only criterion is what is actually printed on the card itself:
- The card reads "Attack X" — it cannot target teammates.
- The card explicitly includes an effect that deals damage to or inflicts a negative condition on a teammate — it must be executed and cannot be skipped.

This content is for reference only; in case of any conflict, the rulebook and experienced players take precedence.

## Rules Overview ### Game Overview In Gloomhaven, each character has a fixed set of equipment slots for carrying equipment. The number and type of equipment slots determine how much equipment a character can carry. ### Core Mechanisms - **Equipment Slots**: Each character has 2 body part slots (body, head) and 2 hand slots, as well as 2 general slots. - **Equipment Limit**: A character can carry a total of **6 pieces of equipment** (excluding consumables). - **Hand Limit**: Each hand can equip at most 1 item; two-handed weapons occupy 2 hand slots. ### Game Components - Equipment cards - Consumable cards (do not occupy equipment slots) ### Setup At the start of the game, characters purchase equipment based on their starting gold, with the amount of equipment limited by their slots. ### Gameplay #### Action Phase Characters can use equipped item cards during their actions. #### Next Round Preparation - Consumables are placed in the discard pile after use - Equipment remains on the character and is not consumed ### Key Rules & FAQ #### Commonly Misplayed Rules - Consumables (such as potions) **do not occupy** equipment slots - Two-handed weapons occupy **2 hand slots**, preventing you from equipping other held items #### Frequently Asked Questions **Q: How much equipment can a character carry?** A: Under standard rules, a character can carry **6 pieces of equipment**, plus any number of consumables (consumables do not occupy slots). **Q: Are there limits on equipment slots?** A: Yes, slots are divided into body (2), hands (2), and general (2), for a total of 6 slots.

Equipment Slot Rules

Clear Conclusion: The number of items a character can equip is limited, determined collectively by the various equipment slots. Equipped item cards are placed below the character panel and can be used to enhance the character's abilities during combat.

Specific Slots and Quantity Limits:

In other words: for the hand slots, you either carry up to two one-handed items, or you carry one two-handed item — you cannot mix them to exceed the limit.

Additional Related Rules:
- Item cards are not class-restricted; any character can use any item.
- A character cannot own more than one copy of any item card with the same name.
- A character can own many items (stored in the item pool), but only those within the above limits can be equipped and brought into a scenario; the exact number is determined by the character's equipment limit.
- Items occupy the corresponding empty position on the body (Head, Body, Legs, One Hand, Two Hands, Small Item); certain equipped items also add a specified number of attack modifier cards to the equipper at the start of the scenario.
- For a slot diagram, refer to the "Equipment Slots" entry on page 8 of the rulebook.

This content is for reference only; in case of any conflict, the rulebook and experienced players nearby take precedence.

Can the Red Guard pick up a chest six hexes away when choosing their own hand cards?

Conclusion: Yes, but only if the card reads "Pick Up X" and X ≥ 6.

Conditions

The "Pick Up X" skill allows a character to take all money markers and treasure tiles within range X. So as long as the skill's range value reaches 6, you can pick up a treasure tile 6 hexes away.

Exceptions & Limitations

1. Line of sight applies: This action is considered a "range skill," so it must obey line of sight rules—the target treasure tile must be in line of sight; if a wall is in between, it does not work.
2. Not blocked by monster or obstacle positions: This action is not blocked by the positions of enemy characters or obstacles—you can pick up even with a monster or obstacle in between.
3. Distance cannot be counted through walls.

Regarding "Red Guard Hand Selection"

No entry specific to the "Red Guard" class was found in the rulebook text, nor was any rule corresponding to the phrase "hand selection." Therefore, the values of any specific card cannot be confirmed from the rulebook text. The only criterion is the "Pick Up X" value actually printed on the card face: 6 or above is required to pick up a treasure tile 6 hexes away; less than 6 cannot.

Addendum: Mandatory Pickup at End of Round

At the end of their own turn, a character must pick up any money markers or treasure tiles in the hex they occupy—this applies only to the hex they are standing on and does not involve the 6-hex range.

This content is for reference only; in case of any conflict, the rulebook and experienced players nearby take precedence.

# Gloomhaven Equipment Slots? (Advanced Mode)? ## Game Overview In Advanced Mode, the equipment slot system is more complex, and players need to plan their limited slots carefully to maximize their character's capabilities. ## Core Mechanisms Equipment slots are divided into the following categories: - **Weapon Slots**: Used to place various weapon equipment - **Armor Slots**: Used to place armor-type equipment - **Accessory Slots**: Used to place accessories and special items ## Game Components | Slot Type | Quantity | Description | |---------|------|------| | Weapon Slot | 2 | Can equip melee or ranged weapons | | Armor Slot | 1 | Can equip body armor | | Accessory Slot | 1 | Can equip any accessory | ## Key Rules & FAQ ### Commonly Misplayed Rules - Only **1** item can be equipped in each slot at a time - Swapping equipment does not cost an action - Some equipment may occupy **2** slots ### Frequently Asked Questions **Q: Can I equip two weapons at the same time?** A: Yes, provided you have **2** weapon slots and the equipment does not occupy additional slots. **Q: Can equipment slots be expanded?** A: In advanced mode, some characters can gain additional slots upon leveling up.

Conclusion: In Gloomhaven, the number of items a character can equip has a clear limit, determined by slot.

Specifics:

• Head, Body, Legs: each slot can only equip 1 item.
• One Hand: can equip up to 2 one-hand items.
• Two Hands: can equip 1 two-hand item (occupying both hands).
• Small Item: the number you can equip equals half the character's level, rounded up.

Conditions & exceptions:

• One-hand and Two Hands slots are mutually exclusive: if you equip a two-hand item, you cannot equip one-hand items, and vice versa.
• Item cards are not class-exclusive; any character can use any item.
• A character cannot own multiple copies of the same item card (maximum 1 copy of each item card).
• Equipped item cards are placed below the character panel and can be used during combat to enhance abilities.

Regarding "Advanced Mode": no equipment slot rule named "Advanced Mode" was found in the Rulebook Text; the above covers everything about equipment slots in the base rules.

This content is for reference only; in case of any conflict, the rulebook and experienced players take precedence.