Hey
Dice Masters fans, in this post, I will be guiding new players or former players that
are not very familiar with the game even after reading the instruction book. Before
reading the post, you might want to buy a starter set first so it is easier for
you to understand the game and also you can use it for reference as we move
along.
What you need
- 8 sidekick dice
- 8 character cards and corresponding dice
- Play Mat
- Dice bag
Introduction
In Dice Masters, two players take on the role of masterminds directing the actions of a team of powerful super heroes/monsters/adventurers (represented by dice) to battle each other! Each turn, you roll your dice to see what resources you have available, buy more dice, send your team members into the fi eld, and then strike at the enemy mastermind. Reduce the opposing mastermind’s life to zero, and save the day!
Inside your starter set, you will see a number of white dice, take 8 of them out for the purpose of this tutorial. These dice are called sidekick dice, they are the most simplest dice in the game and you will be starting the game with it.
Introduction
In Dice Masters, two players take on the role of masterminds directing the actions of a team of powerful super heroes/monsters/adventurers (represented by dice) to battle each other! Each turn, you roll your dice to see what resources you have available, buy more dice, send your team members into the fi eld, and then strike at the enemy mastermind. Reduce the opposing mastermind’s life to zero, and save the day!
Winning the game
Before anything begin, you need to know the goal for the game and that is to win. Both player will start with 20 life each and as soon as your opponent’s life reaches zero, the game ends and you win! If both players would reach 0 at the same time, the game ends in a tie.
Chapter 1: The Basics
Inside your starter set, you will see a number of white dice, take 8 of them out for the purpose of this tutorial. These dice are called sidekick dice, they are the most simplest dice in the game and you will be starting the game with it.
There are 6 unique sides on a sidekick dice, 4 of them being the main 4 energy type in the game: Mask, Bolt, Shield and Fist. When your die rolls on one of this side, it will provide 1 energy of that type.
The side with the question mark face is known as the wild, when rolled on this side, it can be used as any of the main 4 energy type.
The last side of a sidekick die shows a pawn with numbers at the edges, this is known as a sidekick character. When rolled on this side, instead of providing you with energy, it acts as a character that will be fighting alongside with your heroes and villains in the field.
Chapter 2: Characters
What makes this game interesting is that you will be able to use heroes, villains and monsters from Marvel, Dc comics and Dungeons and Dragons universe to help you achieve your victory. Inside your starter set, whichever set it is, you will have 8 characters with 3 different card and 2 of their dice that is included in it.
The side with the question mark face is known as the wild, when rolled on this side, it can be used as any of the main 4 energy type.
The last side of a sidekick die shows a pawn with numbers at the edges, this is known as a sidekick character. When rolled on this side, instead of providing you with energy, it acts as a character that will be fighting alongside with your heroes and villains in the field.
Chapter 2: Characters
What makes this game interesting is that you will be able to use heroes, villains and monsters from Marvel, Dc comics and Dungeons and Dragons universe to help you achieve your victory. Inside your starter set, whichever set it is, you will have 8 characters with 3 different card and 2 of their dice that is included in it.
Character Cards
Every character dice is represented by a character, and every attributes of the character can be found on their character card.
Cost of character - The number of energy you need to purchase this character's die
Team Affiliation - The team symbol possess by the character, not all character have affiliation.
Character Art - Nothing significant to the game, just a cool art.
Card Name/Title- Name of the Character
Subtitle - Different versions of a character will be differentiated by their subtitle
Collection Number and Series - Shows you which set is this character from and also the collector number.
Card Text - The ability possess by the character
Rarity Line - Represent how rare is this character card.
- White/Grey - Common/Starter
- Green - Uncommon
- Yellow - Rare
- Red - Super Rare
- Purple - Chase
- Blue - Promo
Dice Limit - How many dice you can have on this character.
Character Dice - The faces of the die that is correspond to this character card.
Character Die
Each character that you use will have a corresponding die that comes with it, this are called a character die.
Character Die
Each character that you use will have a corresponding die that comes with it, this are called a character die.
Despite having different colours, design and statistic, every character die have the same contents with regards to their dice faces.
A character dice will have 3 energy sides. These sides will produce a specific energy type. There will be 1 face that will provide 1 energy and 2 faces will provide 2.
The remaining sides of a character die with a character symbol and numbers on the edges is the character face. Similarly to a sidekick character, this side of a character die provides you a character that you will be able to use in the field. However, each side of the character face has a different level. Referring to your character card, the character face on the extreme right is a level 3 face and to the left is level 2, then level 1. Level 3 character will have higher stats and some character will have different abilities at different level.
A character dice will have 3 energy sides. These sides will produce a specific energy type. There will be 1 face that will provide 1 energy and 2 faces will provide 2.
The remaining sides of a character die with a character symbol and numbers on the edges is the character face. Similarly to a sidekick character, this side of a character die provides you a character that you will be able to use in the field. However, each side of the character face has a different level. Referring to your character card, the character face on the extreme right is a level 3 face and to the left is level 2, then level 1. Level 3 character will have higher stats and some character will have different abilities at different level.
A
character side of a dice will show you a few numbers and asterisk (if any). This number represent the stats of a character and will come in handy when you play the game.
Fielding
Cost – How much energy you need to pay to put this character into the field.
Attack
– The damage dealt from this character.
Defence
– The number of damage that can be received from this character before it gets
knocked out.
Burst(s)
– Special or additional abilities for this character. Note that Burst effect on a character card is mandatory.
Team Building
The
first step to the game is to build a team of 8 characters that will fight with
you, choose 8 character cards and then place them on the table. If you have a starter set, just use all 8 different characters provided in the starter set. Once you choose your 8 characters, it is time to place their character dice on them.
Team Building Rules
1. Characters in your team cannot have similar card title, which means that you cannot have a Beast from the Age of Ultron Set and a Beast from Avengers vs X-Men set in your team. But you can have Phoenix and Marvel girl in your team, although they are technically the same person in the comic but they have different card title.
Team Building Rules
1. Characters in your team cannot have similar card title, which means that you cannot have a Beast from the Age of Ultron Set and a Beast from Avengers vs X-Men set in your team. But you can have Phoenix and Marvel girl in your team, although they are technically the same person in the comic but they have different card title.
2. You may place as many dice as you want on a character card as long as it doesn’t
exceeds the maximum limit that is indicated on your character card but must at least have 1 die.
3. The total number of dice you can have in your team cannot exceed your maximum health. In a normal competitive tournament, the maximum health for any player is 20, so you can only place a maximum of 20 dices on your team for all your characters. For the sake of this tutorial, just place the 2 dice on your characters provided in your starter set.
3. The total number of dice you can have in your team cannot exceed your maximum health. In a normal competitive tournament, the maximum health for any player is 20, so you can only place a maximum of 20 dices on your team for all your characters. For the sake of this tutorial, just place the 2 dice on your characters provided in your starter set.
Chapter 3: The Play Mat
The play mat is optional in the game, but for beginners, it helps you to provide a clearer picture when you are playing the game. After some time, you will get used to the different areas of the mat and will eventually be fine without it. Mat can be obtain from your instruction booklet in the stater set, or bought it separately.
Out Of Play
Reserved Pool - The place where you roll your dice and keep your dice results, your dice will stay in this area unless a game effect moves it somewhere else.
Field Zone - The place where you field your characters into and they will be ready to attack and defend at your command.
Attack Zone - When you choose to attack or defend with a character in the field zone, you put them in the attack zone.
Prep Area - The place where all the characters that are knocked out land into.
Used Pile - The place where you place all the dice that are used to purchase something or characters that were unblocked.
Out of Play (Not in the play mat) - Nothing can happen to dice here. Energy spent during your turn goes here, so do Action Dice you use during your turn or unblocked characters.
Out of Play (Not in the play mat) - Nothing can happen to dice here. Energy spent during your turn goes here, so do Action Dice you use during your turn or unblocked characters.
Don't worry if all this terms sound very alien to you, just know that this areas exist in the game and we will touch on them later.
Chapter 4: Turn Order
Now that we have covered the dice and the play mat, let's proceed to the turn orders of the game.
Note: If you are unsure of the turn order when you start playing the game, you can always look at the back of your instruction book.
Clear and Draw Step
During
your turn, before you do anything, move all dice that are still in your reserve pool to
your used pile. This includes all your unused energy from the previous turn. This won't be necessary when you just begin your first turn.
Now,
put all your 8 sidekick dice in your bags, every turn, you randomly draw 4 dice
from your bag. If your bag has less than 4 dice, draw all of them, then place all
the dice from your used pile into the bag and draw until you have drawn 4 dice
in total. Place all dice drawn into your prep area.
If,
after refilling the bag from the used pile, you are still able to draw only 3
dice or less, take 1 damage and gain a generic energy for each die below four
that you drew.
3 dice - 1 damage and receive 1 generic energy
2 dice - 2 damage and receive 2 generic energy
1 dice - 3 damage and receive 3 generic energy
0 dice - 4 damage and receive 4 generic energy
We will talk about generic energy later so don't worry about it for now.
Roll and Reroll Step
Roll
the four dice as well as all of the dice that were already in your prep area. After
you have rolled your dice, you may choose to reroll any, all or none of them.
Then reroll all the dice(s) as a group.
You
do not get a second reroll opportunity so choose wisely. Whichever dice face you get from the dice roll will be the result.
Main Step
In
this step, you may do the following actions in any order you wish. You may
perform any of the actions as many times as you like as long as you fulfilled
the criteria for those actions.
· Fielding Characters - When you field a character, you must pay energy equal to the character’s fielding cost. This cost can be paid with any type of energy, even generic. You cannot field a character if you cannot pay the energy cost. Energy used to pay for fielding cost goes straight to Out of Play when spent.
If you do wish to or cannot purchase anymore dice or field anymore characters, then you can end your main step. Now move all unfielded character die to your used pile.
Attack Step
In this step, you will now declare any characters as attackers if you wish to attack. Unlike the main step, the attack step’s actions must be followed in the following order:
• Declare attackers – You may declare any character in your field as an attacker. When you decide to attack with them, place them into your attack zone.
• Declare blockers – After you declared an attacker, your opponent can now declare a blocker. Similarly to declaring attackers, your opponent can declare any characters in their field as a blocker. However, the difference is that he or she may put 2 or more blockers to block one attacker, but may not put 1 blocker to block more than one attackers.
• Assigning damage - Both players then assign damage. Damage occurs simultaneously, each attacker(s) deals its attack to their respective blocker(s), and each blocker deals its total attack value to the attacker. If an attacker has 2 or more blockers, the player can choose to split its damage to each blocker or assign its damage to only 1 blocker.
Attacking characters that were unblocked assign it's damage to the defending player instead of a character. That damage will be deducted from the player’s life total. Move that character die into Out of Play.
Once all damage has been assigned, knock out each character that took damage greater than or equal to its defense. When a character is knocked out, move it to that player’s Prep Area.
Clean-up Step
Characters
that blocked or were blocked but not knocked out return to the field.
All
damage to all characters is reset, so character defence is back to their
printed defence. Your dice that have energy faces remain in the Reserve Pool.
Move all dice from your Out of Play into your used pile.
Now is time for your opponent to do the same thing according to the turn order. Both of you will proceed with the turn order until one of you end the game.
You have now learned the standard game play for Dice Masters, you might want to practice a few rounds with the sequence before we go to the next chapter.
Chapter 5: Action Dice
Apart from character dice, you may also use action dice to help you achieve your victory in the game. Action die can be found in both your starter set and in foil packs. Starter set action are called Basic Action card while equipment, gear and vehicle cards from foil packs are known as action card.
Basic Action Card
Move all dice from your Out of Play into your used pile.
Now is time for your opponent to do the same thing according to the turn order. Both of you will proceed with the turn order until one of you end the game.
You have now learned the standard game play for Dice Masters, you might want to practice a few rounds with the sequence before we go to the next chapter.
Chapter 5: Action Dice
Apart from character dice, you may also use action dice to help you achieve your victory in the game. Action die can be found in both your starter set and in foil packs. Starter set action are called Basic Action card while equipment, gear and vehicle cards from foil packs are known as action card.
Basic Action Card
Similarly to a character card, a basic action card have the same context. However, unlike most character card, a basic action card's purchase cost doesn't have any specific energy type, so when you want to purchase a basic action die, you do not need a specific energy to do so. The dice limit of a basic action card uses the word "Use" instead of "Max", so you must put 3 basic action dice on the basic action card.
From your starter set, you will be given 4 sets of 3 basic action dice, each being different colour. A basic action die consist of 3 faces with a number '2' face. This are generic energy, when you rolled on these faces, the basic action die will provide you with 2 generic energy. Generic energy can be used like any other energy but it does not provide a specific energy type.
The sides with the exclamation mark is an action face, when you rolled on those faces, you will be able to use the effects stated on your basic action card. There are also bursts sides of a basic action die, some basic action card have special or additional effect in your die rolls on the burst face.
In addition to your 8 characters, your team needs to have 2 basic action card. You will have 10 basic action cards provided in your starter set. Each basic action card must have 3 basic action die. You may use any colour of the action dice as long as each action cards have a distinct colour. Now use the action indicator provided in your starter to indicate which colour is for which action so that players wouldn’t be confused by what colour their action dice represents. One unique thing about Basic Action card is that you and your opponent can buy each other's basic action die.
Action Card
Action card is another type of action available for the game.
The Dice faces of an action card is unique on it's own, it has 3 faces of a specific energy, 1 face that produce an energy and 2 faces that produce 2 energies. The other 3 faces will show a symbol to represent the action (usually an object, gear or equipment), unlike characters, this symbols do not have numbers on their edges, and when rolled on these faces, you may use the action effect indicated on the card text. The burst sides also react accordingly to the additional or special effect on the card, if any. Unlike a basic action card, you and your opponent cannot purchase each other's non-basic Action die.
When can you use an action?
Once you rolled on a action face on an action die, you can use action when you are allowed to, using an action requires no additional cost. You may use action during the following step:
- Main step, in additional to fielding a character and purchasing a die, you could also use your actions during your main step.
- Attack step, only after you declare your attackers and your opponent declare blockers, you could use your action.
Once you used an action die, it goes into your Out of Play. During the clean up step, any action that is left unused will be put into the used pile.
Chapter 6: Global Abilities
Some of your card text has a text in red font underneath the character ability or action effect. This are known as the Global abilities. Global abilities are one time power up, boost or debuff that you can use by spending energy.
Global abilities can be used anytime when you are allowed to. To use a global ability, simply spend the energy stated on the card and then use the power up, boost or debuff. The used energy will then be put into Out of Play.
Similarly to buying a basic action die, you could use a global ability from a character card that belongs to your opponent, vice versa. Some global are usable once per turn and some unlimited, some are reactive global while some are passive, you can learn more about Global abilities in one of my post.
When can you use Global abilities
- YOUR Main Step, in additional to purchasing a die, fielding a character and using an action, you could also use global abilities.
- YOUR attack step, only after you declare your attackers, your opponent declare blockers and you played an action (if any), then you are allowed to use global abilities.
- After YOUR OPPONENT'S main step, yes you didn't read it wrongly, you are allow to use your global abilities on an opponent's turn, however, you must wait for your opponent to pause his/her main step and before he/she starts the attack step, for you to use global abilities.
- YOUR opponent's attack step, when your opponent is able to use global abilities during the attack step, you could use them as well.
When the active player choose to end his/her main step and the opposing player doesn't want to use any global abilities, if the active player choose not to attack, then no player can use global ability for that turn.
Chapter 7: The advanced rule
Character abilities
Apart from the stats provided by your characters on their die, most character possess abilities. There are a few types of abilities in this game:
Fielding Abilities - When you field this character die, immediately triggers it's ability.
Attacking Abilities - When you declare this character die as an attacker, trigger it's ability.
Blocking Abilities - When you declare this character die as a blocker, trigger it's ability.
Active Abilities - As long as a copy of this character die is in the field, the effect will trigger. Unlike the other 3 abilities, an active ability from a character only trigger once no matter how many copies of the die is in the field.
Bonuses
Some character abilities, actions effect or global abilities allow you to boost a character by giving it additional attack or defend until the end of the turn. This means that your bonuses are gone when you reached your next clean up step.
Timing Conflict
If there is a timing conflict for any effect or abilities, the active player resolves the effect first.
When using a global ability, the active player can use as many as he/she desired before passing the priority to the opposing player, who can only use 1 global ability, then the opposing player will pass priority back to the active player. This will continue until both player do not wish to use anymore global abilities.
Fundamental Rules
1. Card text always supersedes basic rule text.
2. Unless otherwise stated, game effects can only target character dice that are in the field. The Attack Zone is considered part of the field.
3. If two cards directly conflict, the one that says “you can’t” beats the one that says you can.
4. You cannot avoid paying costs.
5. A player cannot gain life beyond the game’s starting amount. Excess gains are wasted.
6. Level 3 character die cannot be spun up, neither can a level 1 character die be spun down.
When can you use an action?
Once you rolled on a action face on an action die, you can use action when you are allowed to, using an action requires no additional cost. You may use action during the following step:
- Main step, in additional to fielding a character and purchasing a die, you could also use your actions during your main step.
- Attack step, only after you declare your attackers and your opponent declare blockers, you could use your action.
Once you used an action die, it goes into your Out of Play. During the clean up step, any action that is left unused will be put into the used pile.
Chapter 6: Global Abilities
Some of your card text has a text in red font underneath the character ability or action effect. This are known as the Global abilities. Global abilities are one time power up, boost or debuff that you can use by spending energy.
Global abilities can be used anytime when you are allowed to. To use a global ability, simply spend the energy stated on the card and then use the power up, boost or debuff. The used energy will then be put into Out of Play.
Similarly to buying a basic action die, you could use a global ability from a character card that belongs to your opponent, vice versa. Some global are usable once per turn and some unlimited, some are reactive global while some are passive, you can learn more about Global abilities in one of my post.
When can you use Global abilities
- YOUR Main Step, in additional to purchasing a die, fielding a character and using an action, you could also use global abilities.
- YOUR attack step, only after you declare your attackers, your opponent declare blockers and you played an action (if any), then you are allowed to use global abilities.
- After YOUR OPPONENT'S main step, yes you didn't read it wrongly, you are allow to use your global abilities on an opponent's turn, however, you must wait for your opponent to pause his/her main step and before he/she starts the attack step, for you to use global abilities.
- YOUR opponent's attack step, when your opponent is able to use global abilities during the attack step, you could use them as well.
When the active player choose to end his/her main step and the opposing player doesn't want to use any global abilities, if the active player choose not to attack, then no player can use global ability for that turn.
Chapter 7: The advanced rule
Character abilities
Apart from the stats provided by your characters on their die, most character possess abilities. There are a few types of abilities in this game:
Fielding Abilities - When you field this character die, immediately triggers it's ability.
Attacking Abilities - When you declare this character die as an attacker, trigger it's ability.
Blocking Abilities - When you declare this character die as a blocker, trigger it's ability.
Active Abilities - As long as a copy of this character die is in the field, the effect will trigger. Unlike the other 3 abilities, an active ability from a character only trigger once no matter how many copies of the die is in the field.
Bonuses
Some character abilities, actions effect or global abilities allow you to boost a character by giving it additional attack or defend until the end of the turn. This means that your bonuses are gone when you reached your next clean up step.
Timing Conflict
If there is a timing conflict for any effect or abilities, the active player resolves the effect first.
When using a global ability, the active player can use as many as he/she desired before passing the priority to the opposing player, who can only use 1 global ability, then the opposing player will pass priority back to the active player. This will continue until both player do not wish to use anymore global abilities.
Fundamental Rules
1. Card text always supersedes basic rule text.
2. Unless otherwise stated, game effects can only target character dice that are in the field. The Attack Zone is considered part of the field.
3. If two cards directly conflict, the one that says “you can’t” beats the one that says you can.
4. You cannot avoid paying costs.
5. A player cannot gain life beyond the game’s starting amount. Excess gains are wasted.
6. Level 3 character die cannot be spun up, neither can a level 1 character die be spun down.
Conclusion
This is just a basic way to learn the game, if you still couldn’t understand the game by
reading, or you want to know more about the game such as tactics and strategies
for the game, you should always head down to a local store and meet up with the community so they could teach you or even give you useful tips in the game! Hope all of this helps and thanks for
reading!
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