How to Play The Resistance: Avalon
Welcome — this guide will get you playing The Resistance: Avalon with friends. If you like social bluffing and teamwork, you’ll fit right in. For more game guides and tips, visit Playmore.
Quick facts
| Item | Details |
|---|---|
| Game name | The Resistance: Avalon |
| Type | Hidden-team social deduction |
| Typical players | 5–10 |
| Deck or components | Use the components included with the game (role cards, mission cards, voting tokens) |
| Beginner focus | Clear team voting and bluffing decisions |
| Official rules | Check your copy for the exact role mix and mission rules |
What you are trying to do
Players are secretly on one of two sides: the loyal (good) team or the traitorous (evil) team. The good side wants missions to succeed. The evil side wants missions to fail. Some special good roles secretly know extra information. You must use votes, proposals, and secret actions to find allies or hide your plans.
What you need and how to set up
Use the components in the box. Roles, mission cards, a leader token and voting tokens are usually included. Lay out the role cards face down and let a moderator or the game instructions deal each player one card. Keep your role secret. Place the leader token with the first leader as directed by your copy. Arrange mission spaces where the table will track success or failure. The exact role mix and number of players per mission depends on the rule set in your box, so check the official rules before you start.
How to play
- Leader proposes a team for the next mission. The leader chooses a certain number of players to go on the mission according to your rule set.
- All players vote to approve or reject the proposed team. Votes are usually secret and then revealed together so everyone can see patterns.
- If the team is approved, the chosen players go on the mission and secretly submit a mission card for success or fail. Good players must submit success. Evil players may choose success or fail depending on their strategy and the rules.
- Reveal the mission cards and record whether the mission succeeded or failed. The reveal shows the result but not who played which card.
- Pass the leader token to the next player and repeat. Play moves through a number of missions until the game end condition is met (see below).
How a round or game ends
The game is played over several missions. After each mission, the table logs whether that mission succeeded or failed. The overall winner depends on how many missions each side wins. Exact win conditions and any special endgame actions are version-dependent, so check the rules in your box or the publisher’s official rules for the exact number of mission wins needed and any assassination or reveal phases.
Beginner tips
- Listen closely. Voting choices and how people explain them are huge clues.
- If you’re good, be helpful but subtle. Overly precise claims can make you a target.
- If you’re evil, blend in. Too much silence or too many arguments can make you stand out.
- Watch leader rotation. Who proposes teams and who gets picked often shows alliances.
- Start with basic roles. Add advanced roles slowly as your group learns the flow.
- Agree on any house rules before you start, especially for role mixes and how many rejections are allowed.
FAQ
Do I need to memorize every special role?
No. Start with the basic loyal vs evil idea. Learn one special role at a time, like a role that gains extra information or one that hides it. Your game box lists all roles and exact effects.
How many players are best for a first game?
Five players is a good number to learn with. It keeps things simple. You can add more players once everyone understands votes and missions.
What if my group disagrees on a rule mid-game?
Pause and read the official rule in your box. If no copy is available, agree on a clear house rule and note it for later. Consistency keeps games fair and fun.