Star Wars: The Clone Wars

Set the main board in the center and place threat and invasion markers on their starting tracks. Choose a villain, set up its sheet face down, and shuffle its deck. Draw initial invasion cards to populate planets with droids. Each player selects a unique Jedi, takes their matching figure and reference card, and places them on the indicated starting planet. Shuffle the squad deck and deal starting cards to each player. Finally, draw mission cards based on your difficulty level, place the first missions and their target markers on the board, and determine the first player.

Players take on the roles of iconic Jedi generals working cooperatively to push back separatist Droid forces. The primary goal is to travel across the galaxy, complete all assigned mission cards, and survive villain interference. Once all standard missions are fulfilled, the villain's true finale side is revealed, and players must complete one final challenge to win the game and save the Republic.

A player's turn consists of four distinct phases executed in order. First, ready any exhausted cards in front of you. Second, perform up to four actions in any order, which include flying to connected planets, reinforcing your hand with squad cards, attacking enemies, or attempting missions. Third, activate the villain by checking persistent effects, drawing and resolving a villain card, and triggering any planet-under-siege mechanics. Fourth, invade planets by drawing invasion cards and adding droids or blockades to the board.

Success is determined through a combination of die rolls and played squad cards. When attacking or attempting missions, roll the special action die and count your symbols. You may boost these results by exhausting matching assault, stealth, or transport cards from your hand. Accumulating enough successes allows you to clear enemies, remove blockades, or successfully complete missions.

The game ends in victory immediately when players fulfill all regular missions, transition to the villain's finale side, and successfully complete the final required mission objective. Conversely, the game ends in an immediate defeat for all players if the threat track marker ever reaches the final bottom space due to overcrowding, failed missions, or specific card effects.