Game Modes

Aeon's End has a huge amount of content across all of its sets. As such, there are many different ways to play the game, spread across different expansions.

## Game Difficulty

Every game of Aeon's end may be modified at set-up to change the difficulty level for the players.

 Extinction

### Beginner

* Each player starts the game with 12 life.
* Gravehold starts with 35 life.
* The nemesis starts with 10 less life (do not reduce life of nemeses that start with 10 or less life). Follow any Additional Rules printed on the nemesis mat

### Standard

* Each player starts with 10 life.
* Gravehold starts with 30 life.
* No extra modifications. Follow any Additional Rules from the nemesis mat.

### Expert

* Each player starts with 10 life.
* Gravehold starts with 30 life.
* Use the **Increased Difficulty** rules shown on the nemesis mat. These rules may affect Setup, Unleash, or the Additional Rules section of that nemesis.

### Extinction

* Each player starts with 8 life.
* Gravehold starts with 25 life.
* The nemesis starts with 10 more life than printed on the nemesis mat.
* Use the **Increased Difficulty** rules shown on the nemesis mat. These rules may affect Setup, Unleash, or the Additional Rules section of that nemesis.

## Modes of Play

### Standard Mode

Standard Mode is the original mode of play from Core Set and War Eternal. Each game sees the players selecting whichever Breach Mage and Nemesis they would like to play with (randomly or by choice). The supply is setup up independently at the start of each game. Nothing caries over between different games.

### Solo Play

You can play solo as multiple separate mages where you control all of those mages. If you choose to play like this, follow the rules of Standard Mode set up for a player count that matches the number of mages you play with.

You may also play a true solo game, with only one mage. Follow the Nemesis Deck constructing rules for 1 player. Setup the turn order deck with 2 nemeses turn order cards and 3 mage turn order cards (you could use two player 1 cards and the wild card). When any player turn order card is drawn, the solo player takes a turn.

**Rule Changes:**

* The solo player is their own ally. Any card that effects an ally can effect the solo player instead. For example,  would allow the solo player to gain a charge for themselves.  would allow the solo player to gain a total of 2 charges.
* The solo player does not lose the game if they are exhausted. The game is not lost until Gravehold reaches 0 life.

### Legacy Mode

Legacy Mode is exclusive to Aeon's End Legacy. It is a story/campaign mode of Aeon's End where players play the game in a curated order, unlocking new content as they go. Cards and consequences from previous games may carry over and effect future games. Due to the nature of the Legacy experience, no other details will be given here to keep this page spoiler-free.

### Expedition Mode

Expedition mode was first introduced in The New Age, and continued in Outcasts. Expedition mode allows players to play through 4 games in a miniature (and randomly generated) campaign. This mode may incorporate any mage or nemeses from other sets. As players successfully win games, they unlock Treasures to keep in future games, giving them strong advantages. However the nemeses upgrade their own basic cards too, making them harder to defeat.

### Outcast Mode

Outcast mode was first introduced in Outcasts. This mode replaces Gravehold with an alternate life dial. While the life dial functions the same way as Gravehold, is represents an breach mage ally who you're helping. Unlike Gravehold, this mage can influence the game, playing his own cards to help the fight against the nemesis.