The Gloomhaven Beginner Tips guide is here to help new players adapt faster to this amazing tactical adventure game. Every character is a unique experience and each will find their own starter guide on Bezzro soon. In the meanwhile, check out these tips to contribute more to the party sooner. These tips are useful for Gloomhaven, Jaws of the Lion, and Frosthaven.
If you’re looking to learn how to play, check out our curated resource article.
Card conservation
Your primary resource in Gloomhaven are action cards. They not only represent normal and exceptionally powerful lost actions, but also your overall adventure endurance. Losing a card early in your adventure can be devastating to your endurance, and can cost you an early exhausted character.
In a typical hand size of 10 cards, a player gets 25 total actions over 9 hand cycles. Losing a card from this hand in the first cycle costs 4 actions. Every 2 hand cycles you wait extends your endurance by 1 round.
Instead try to burn unnecessary cards at the end of the mission for a strong finish. Generally these powerful actions have the same impact towards the end of a scenario without the associated costs and risks.
Loot & Experience
Looting and experience awards can be a trap. The actual value of coins and experience is lower than expected. Playing the game without chasing coins and experience will still generate a reasonable amount of gear and levels. Many classes find it difficult to create experience or gather coins as a balancing feature – do not be dismayed if your class struggles in these areas.
Instead, loot and gain exp when the opportunity presents itself. Coordinating elements and attacks are much more important.
Battle Goals
Outside of successfully completing the scenario, the battle goal is the most important objective to work towards. Focus to complete this goal at almost all costs. The perks are hugely important for improving your character effectiveness.
Perks
Perks are different from one character to another, but there are common themes. While less fun than the plus element/effect cards, your initial perks should focus on card removal and swapping which greatly improves the expected value of card draw. Avoiding poorly timed -1 and +0 cards is the core of building a solid character.
Personal Quests
When you complete your personal quest, don’t feel obligated to select the unlocked character immediately. It might not be the best choice for your desired playstyle and team class dynamics.
More Resources
If this Gloomhaven Beginner Tips article helped you contribute to your team, check out our video version below.
Jaws of the Lion at Board Game Geek
Frosthaven (sequel coming 2021) at Board Game Geek
