Disney Villainous rules: how to play and how to win

Disney Villainous quick rules

The goal

Each player is a Disney Villain with their own Objective taken from their film: Prince John, for example, must start his turn with at least 20 Power. The first to achieve their Objective wins at once. Most Villains only win at the start of their turn, so they must hold their Objective for a full round.

Your Realm

Your Board is your Realm, with four locations and their action symbols. You play your Villain cards to the bottom of the Board; your opponents play your Fate cards to the top to hinder you. A card only affects the Realm it is in.

Your turn

Move your Villain Mover to a different location, never one with a Lock Token, then perform the actions visible there, once per symbol, in any order. Only at the end of your turn do you draw back up to four Villain cards.

The actions

Gain Power, play a card by paying its Cost, activate an Item or Ally, move an Item, Ally or Hero to an adjacent location, discard cards, vanquish a Hero, or take a Fate action against an opponent.

Fate

Reveal the top two cards of an opponent’s Fate deck, play one against them and discard the other. A Hero goes on the top of their Board and covers the top two actions of that location. With 5 or 6 players, the target takes the Fate Token and can’t be targeted while they hold it.

Vanquish a Hero

You need one or more Allies at the Hero’s location, with a total Strength at least equal to the Hero’s. The Hero goes to the Fate discard pile, the Allies used to the Villain discard pile.

The cards

Allies vanquish Heroes, Items strengthen a card or a location, Effects happen once. A Condition card is played during an opponent’s turn, when its condition is met. A card whose text you can’t follow can’t be played, and card text overrides the rules.

Beginner traps

You only draw at the end of your turn: discarding empties your hand until then. Read your Villain Guide carefully, since each Villain has its own cards and tips. And watch your opponents’ Objectives: a well-placed Fate card can save the game.

How to win Disney Villainous

No points

The first player to achieve their Villain’s Objective wins at once, and the game ends.

At the start of the turn

For most Villains, the Objective must be met at the start of their turn: you have to hold it for a full round.

Villain played

For the record: each player’s Villain, with no effect on the winner.

Example ending

Leo plays Prince John and ends his turn with 21 Power. Mia takes a Fate action against him, but the card she reveals doesn’t take any Power away. At the start of his next turn, Leo still has 21 Power: the game ends at once, and Leo wins.

Common mistakes

• Thinking you win as soon as the condition is met: for most Villains, you must still meet it at the start of your turn.
• Counting points: there are none, only the Objective matters.
• Forgetting that a card only affects its own Realm.

How to set up Disney Villainous

Setup takes a few minutes: each player prepares their Villain, then starting Power is handed out.