Quick Answer

Battlecrest: Deadrock is a head-to-head card game for two players. Set up the map, choose your hero, and take turns moving, attacking, and using abilities until one hero is defeated. This guide walks through every step so you can start playing in minutes.

What You Get in the Box

Battlecrest: Deadrock Base Game from Button Shy is a hand-assembled tabletop game designed for players ages 14 and up. It includes a compact deck of cards representing heroes, abilities, and the Deadrock map. The game is portable and fits in a wallet-style case, making it easy to take anywhere.

Because the game is hand-assembled, quality can vary slightly between copies, but each deck is carefully crafted for consistent play. You won't find any miniatures or tokens — everything is card-based, which keeps setup fast and the footprint small.

Understanding the Core Mechanics

Battlecrest: Deadrock is a tactical skirmish game with perfect information — both players see all cards and positions, so victory depends on outthinking your opponent. Each player controls a hero with unique abilities. The goal is to reduce the enemy hero's health to zero.

The game uses a grid-based map printed on cards. Movement, attacks, and special actions cost action points (AP). You have a limited number of AP each turn, so every choice matters. There are no dice or random draws during play; the only randomness comes from the initial hero selection.

Step-by-Step Setup and Play Guide

  1. Set Up the Map: Lay out the Deadrock map cards in the arrangement shown in the rulebook. The map is a grid of spaces; each space may have terrain effects that affect movement or combat. Place the map in the center of the table so both players can reach it. Common mistake: misaligning the map cards. Double-check that adjacent spaces line up correctly; a misaligned map can break line-of-sight rules.
  2. Choose Your Hero: Each player selects a hero card from the available options. The Deadrock base game includes two heroes (check your deck for the specific pair). Place your hero card on your starting space on the map. Shuffle your ability deck and draw a starting hand of 3 cards. Common mistake: forgetting to shuffle the ability deck before drawing. If you don't shuffle, you might know the order of your abilities, which gives an unfair advantage.
  3. Determine Turn Order: Players decide who goes first — usually by a coin flip or mutual agreement. The first player takes the first turn. Turns alternate until one hero is defeated. Going first is a small advantage because you can control the center of the map. If you lose the flip, focus on defensive positioning on your first turn.
  4. Take Your Turn: Movement Phase: On your turn, you have a pool of action points (AP). You can spend AP to move your hero one space per AP. Moving through difficult terrain may cost extra AP. You cannot move through spaces occupied by the enemy hero. Common mistake: moving too aggressively early. It's often better to secure a good position than to rush into attack range and leave yourself exposed.
  5. Take Your Turn: Action Phase: After moving, you can spend remaining AP to play ability cards from your hand. Abilities include attacks, buffs, and special maneuvers. Each ability card has an AP cost and may have range or targeting requirements. Resolve the card's effect immediately. Common mistake: playing an ability without checking line of sight. Many abilities require a clear path to the target. If terrain blocks line of sight, the ability fails and you waste the AP.
  6. End Your Turn and Draw: After using all desired AP, discard any unplayed ability cards from your hand (if you exceeded your hand limit). Then draw back up to your hand size (usually 3 cards). Your turn ends, and the opponent's turn begins. Common mistake: forgetting to discard down to hand size before drawing. This can lead to an illegal hand size. Always discard first, then draw.
  7. Win Condition: The game ends immediately when one hero's health reaches zero. The player whose hero is still standing wins. If both heroes would be defeated simultaneously (rare), the game is a draw. Common mistake: assuming you can keep playing after a hero is defeated. The game stops instantly — no last-ditch abilities can be activated after the killing blow.

Product Facts

  • Battlecrest: Deadrock Base Game: Battlecrest: Deadrock Base Game is a hand-assembled tabletop game from Button Shy, designed for players ages 14 and up. This base game offers a compact and strategic experience, perfect for those who enjoy head-to-head challenges. The hand-assembled quality means each copy is individually checked, but if you prefer a more polished mass-produced finish, this may feel less uniform. The age 14+ recommendation reflects strategic depth, not mature content.