How to Play Defenders of Hogwarts: Beginner Rules Guide

RULES BASIS · MinaLima’s official rulebook
Independently summarized and checked on 11 October 2026. Printed-page references appear beside each rule. Follow your applicable official edition and any publisher corrections if they differ.

How does the game work?

THE SHORT ANSWER

Defenders of Hogwarts is a 2–5 player physical board game. One player controls Dark Arts; the others choose Hogwarts Houses. House players choose Explore, Learn or Replenish and work toward two Defence Shields. Dark Arts collects three Progress Tokens and gathers the required pawns at an assigned location.

Learning for the first time? Follow the three steps below. Already playing? Jump straight to the rule you need.

01Set up
your table →02Play your
first turn →03Check how
each side wins →

Can I discard cards when I Replenish?→How does Dark Arts play and win?→Prefer a video? Open the optional player↓

Before your first game

Use this preparation checklist alongside the publisher’s setup diagrams; it is not a replacement board layout.

Agree who will teach and keep the rulebook open.Sort components using the inventory on printed page 4.Follow the shared-board diagrams on pages 6–7.Check each player’s area against pages 8–9.Explain both objectives before the first action.

Open the official setup diagrams ↗

Full setup guide and player-count table →

The House Player turn

Choose one main action: Explore, Learn or Replenish. Eligible free actions are additional.

HOUSE TURN CHOOSE ONE

ExplorePlay a card LearnAcquire a card ReplenishRefresh your hand

Eligible free actions are additional. These are alternatives, not three consecutive steps.

OPTION A

Explore

Play a card; resolve its movement and/or effect.

OPTION B

Learn

With a pawn outside protected areas, discard one card for a normal acquisition, or two for an advanced card and Loyalty progress. Put the acquired card atop your draw deck.

OPTION C