Quick answer

In Dragonkeepers, you use the magic book to take baby dragons under your protection. Start by understanding the two open pages that show which dragons you can take, then use your trick cards to manipulate the book in your favor.

Understanding the magic book

The magic book is the heart of the game. Each turn, the two open pages show which dragons and how many you can protect. Pay close attention because the book changes as other players manipulate it. A common mistake is to focus only on your own hand and ignore what the book reveals to everyone.

Your trick cards let you change the book's pages, giving you access to different dragons. Use them wisely—saving a powerful trick for a critical moment can turn the game around.

Common first-play mistakes

New players often rush to take dragons without planning ahead. Remember that you can only protect dragons shown on the current pages. If you don't see what you need, use a trick card to flip a page instead of passing.

Another mistake is hoarding trick cards. While it's tempting to save them, the game moves quickly. If you never use your tricks, you might miss opportunities to block opponents or secure a key dragon.

First-play steps

  1. Set up the magic book: Open the book to the first two pages. Each player gets a hand of trick cards. Place the dragon tokens nearby. Check that everyone understands what the open pages show before starting.
  2. Take your first turn: Look at the two open pages. Choose a dragon shown on either page and take its token. If you don't want any, play a trick card to change one page, then take a dragon from the new page. Don't skip your turn—always try to take a dragon or use a trick.
  3. Use trick cards strategically: Play a trick card to flip a page, swap a page, or force another player to lose a dragon. Save at least one trick for the late game when only rare dragons remain. Using tricks early is fine, but keep one for the final rounds.
  4. End the round: When all dragons of one type are taken, the round ends. Score points for each dragon you protected. The player with the most points after three rounds wins. Track which dragon types are nearly gone so you can plan your final moves.

Product facts

  • Dragonkeepers: The magic book shows which dragons and how many you can take under your protection on each turn. This means your strategy must adapt every round based on what the book reveals, not just your own hand.

    Dragonkeepers

    Dragonkeepers