Learn Splendor Duel
Learn the game in 5 short steps. Everything links to the full rules.
Set up the shared display
Build the market
Shuffle the three Jewel decks separately. Reveal a pyramid of 3 level-three, 4 level-two, and 5 level-one cards below the Victory tile. Fill all 25 board spaces in the printed spiral, then place the four Royal cards below the board. (Setup)
The player who goes second starts with one Privilege. Your permanent card bonuses will reduce later purchase costs.
Take tokens from the board
Choose a line
On your turn, take up to three adjacent tokens in a straight horizontal, vertical, or diagonal line. You may take fewer, and you cannot take gold this way. A Privilege can be returned to take one non-gold token from any board space. (Turn and Actions)
If you take both pearls in one action, your opponent gains a Privilege. Keep an eye on the ten-token limit: after your action, return tokens of your choice until you are at or below it.
Buy or reserve a Jewel
Pay the remaining cost
Buy a face-up Jewel or reserve one from the pyramid. A matching permanent bonus reduces that color’s cost by one; reduce each color separately, then pay the remainder with tokens. Gold can replace a missing color. (Turn and Actions)
When reserving, take a gold token if one remains. If a purchase opens a gap, refill from the same deck before resolving a Royal or victory check.
Use bonuses and claim Royals
Build your engine
Jewel cards give prestige, a permanent color bonus, and sometimes an ability or crowns. Abilities resolve as printed when you acquire the card. At your third and sixth crown, take an available Royal and resolve its ability immediately. (Turn and Actions, Game End and Scoring)
The Counterfeiters expansion adds Glassware costs, a new action, and Royals with alternate victory conditions; see its rules.
Check the three victory conditions
Win at the end of your turn
After resolving your action and any effects, check whether you have at least 20 prestige, 10 crowns, or 10 prestige in one bonus-color column. Meet any one condition to win. The Counterfeiters Royals can add alternate thresholds, so follow the condition on the Royal you own. (Game End and Scoring)
Plan toward a route your cards support, while watching whether an opponent is close to a different condition.