Malifaux by Wyrd Games: A Dark Skirmish Game of Strategy and Survival
Enter the World of Malifaux, a dark and twisted alternate Earth set in the early 1900s, where Gothic horror, steampunk technology, and supernatural creatures collide. In this tabletop skirmish game, players lead a faction in the pursuit of Soulstones, powerful resources hidden in the lawless depths of Malifaux’s treacherous lands. The allure of these stones has drawn everyone from cunning mercenaries to vengeful undead, each faction with its own motives and methods for gaining power. Malifaux’s distinctive setting combines Victorian intrigue, Wild West grit, and supernatural dread, creating a world where magic and monstrosity go hand in hand.
What Do You Need to Play Malifaux?
Starting Malifaux is easy, and the essentials ensure you’ll be prepared for strategic, story-driven gameplay right out of the gate. Malifaux combines deep lore with tactical skirmish mechanics, making every game an immersive experience.
How Does Malifaux Work?
In Malifaux, the lore and characters drive both the game mechanics and the strategy. Unlike many skirmish games, Malifaux replaces dice with a Fate Deck, a card-based mechanic that adds layers of strategy and chance, letting you take more control over the outcomes of each encounter.
What’s needed to begin playing Malifaux?
To get started with Malifaux, you’ll need:
Miniatures: Each miniature represents a character in the rich world of Malifaux. Your chosen models will bring your faction to life on the battlefield.
Character Cards: Each miniature has a stat card detailing their unique abilities and traits, allowing you to play your chosen team to their fullest potential.
Fate Deck: This replaces traditional dice, adding a card-based strategy that impacts every play and lets you modify outcomes based on your draws.
Terrain: Malifaux battles take place in a war-torn, Gothic world. Terrain adds obstacles, cover, and opportunities for strategic movement.
How do you choose a faction in Malifaux?
Malifaux offers a variety of unique factions, each with its own characters, abilities, and lore. Whether you’re looking to enforce order with the Guild, unleash undead forces as a Resurrectionist, or cause chaos with Bayou Gremlins, there’s a faction that matches every playstyle and strategy:
Malifaux Factions:
The Guild: Guardians of the Soulstone trade, the Guild exerts control over Malifaux City with a blend of law and intimidation, though rebels and rivals constantly threaten their grip.
The Resurrectionists: A dark faction of necromancers and grave robbers who command undead armies and seek knowledge beyond the mortal realm.
The Arcanists: A covert group of spellcasters and rebels fighting for magical freedom, opposing the Guild’s restrictive rule.
The Outcasts: Mercenaries and freelancers, the Outcasts pursue their own interests or sell their services to the highest bidder.
The Ten Thunders: This secretive crime syndicate operates in the shadows, engaging in everything from assassination to smuggling to expand their influence.
The Neverborn: Native creatures of Malifaux, the Neverborn are fiercely protective of their homeland, fighting off human encroachment with nightmarish force.
The Bayou: In Malifaux’s swamps, Gremlins have created a chaotic society that mimics human customs in their own peculiar way.
The Explorer’s Society: Adventurers and aristocrats who push into uncharted lands, driven by the desire for rare artifacts and ancient mysteries.
Other Games in the Malifaux Universe
The Other Side
Set on Earth, The Other Side is a 32mm miniatures game where nations clash over dwindling resources and threats from Malifaux spill into their world. Players command squads of troops, powerful commanders, and massive titans in fast-paced battles for supremacy. Using a deck-based mechanic, The Other Side combines tactical depth with streamlined rules to create an engaging, high-stakes wargaming experience.
Through the Breach
Through the Breach is a role-playing game set in the world of Malifaux. In this unique RPG, players take on the roles of the Fated - characters who have glimpsed their destinies and must now navigate their choices carefully. The game replaces dice with cards, allowing players to shape their fate and alter outcomes. Each session brings characters closer to their destined end, and every decision impacts their journey through Malifaux’s dangerous world.
With a unique setting that melds horror, fantasy, and the Wild West, Malifaux is perfect for tabletop gamers who crave depth and variety. Whether you’re a strategist drawn to the game’s factions or a storyteller captivated by its world, Malifaux has a place for you. Explore the mysteries, battle for Soulstones, and carve your legacy in the shadows of Malifaux!