What is Flash Duel?
Flash Duel is a simple, fast card game for 1 to 5 players that simulates sparring matches amongst Fantasy Strike characters practicing for an upcoming tournament.
You only need to score one hit to win a round, so it's all about jockeying for position on the 18-space board to land that hit.
20 Characters
There are a whopping 20 characters in Flash Duel, each with their own special abilities. You can play the game without special abilities at first so that it's simple enough even for non-gamers like your mom. Then you can add the character abilities and explore the 190 different matchups. Find the characters that fit your playstyle, there's a lot to choose from.
Play Right Away
Flash Duel is a complete game. This second edition combines the base game with two different expansions, all in one box. You get all 20 characters, the track, and the numbered action cards so you can play right away. There are no random packs or rares that stand in your way of experiencing the full game.
Fast and Easy
With a playtime of just 5 minutes for the 1v1 mode, Flash Duel is so fast that you can play it on-the-go, or even between other games while you wait. You can use it as a gateway game to get more of your friends to started on card games, then get them interested in meatier games like Yomi or Puzzle Strike later. That said, there's more depth than you might expect.
Gameplay
Modes, Modes, Modes!
Flash Duel has SEVEN different gameplay modes that range from 1 to 5 players. The simple mode is a good place to start so you can learn (or teach) the game while focusing just on the basics. Next, you can try the full game where each player chooses a character and has that character's three special abilities.
The Custom Clockwork mode lets you "draft" your own customized character with four abilities. You and your opponent go back and forth picking abilities before the game starts. Some abilities combo really well with each other, so you'll want to look for those while keeping your opponent from assembling too strong of a character. This mode is best once you've played the "full" game enough to become familiar with the abilities.
For a simpler experience, you can play by yourself against three different "bots." There's even a set of 10 achievements to earn in solo mode!
Team Battle lets you join up with a friend against another team of two players. There's even more interactions in this mode, and you gain a new "dashing block" maneuver to help out your teammate. Cooperation is encouraged and you can collaborate and strategize with your teammate however you want.
The two Dragon Raid modes take the game to another level with cooperative play.
Raid on Deathstrike Dragon
Master Menelker is one of the 20 characters in Flash Duel. His human form is potent, but when he takes the form of the black Deathstrike Dragon, he's one of the most powerful beings in the realm. Up to four mortals can team up against him in Flash Duel. The mortals can cooperate and strategize together, and if any one of them defeats the dragon, the mortals all win as a team. Beware though--the dragon's abilities are more numerous and powerful than the abilities of mere mortals. Deathstrike Dragon's 8 ability cards are much bigger than regular cards, too!
Betrayal at Raid on Deathstrike Dragon
If you have mastered the Raid on Deathstrike Dragon, you can try the treacherous betrayal mode. In this mode, one of the mortals is secretly working for the dragon. This traitor must play poorly when helping the mortals, but not so poorly as to be noticed. If you have a dominant player who likes to order everyone around, he'll be a lot more quiet here because the traitor can instantly defeat any mortal whose hand cards he can guess! The traitor can also choose to reveal himself and fight alongside the dragon. Be warned that it's challenging for the mortals to overcome!
Portable Version Included
Flash Duel comes with a portable version inside every box: a smaller tuck box that contains just the cards you need to play the 1v1 game. It includes five cards that you lay end-to-end to make the board. This way you can carry around just the small tuck box and some coins for the pawns and play pretty much anywhere. Another perk is that you can use the portable version to actually play two simultaneous 1v1 games. You can use the regular board for one game and the portable board for the other. There exactly enough numbered cards to run two separate games, and enough pawns too.