Crystalium Rulebook

Table of Contents

Table of Contents

• Goal of the Game
• Components
• Setup
• Card Types
  • Discard Pile
  • Single-Use Cards
  • Strong Current Cards
  • Crystalium Cards
  • Component Cards
  • Space Station Cards
  • Fish Cards
  • Whirlpool Cards
• Game Overview
  • Current Phase
  • River Phase
  • Discard Phase
  • Drone Phase
• End of the Game
• Crystalium Scoring
• Solo Mode
  • Removal
• Fish Cards
• Whirlpool Cards
• Solo Objectives

Goal of the Game

The player with the most Crystalium at the end of the game wins.

Components

• 5 Spaceships (each with four Components: Reactor, Magnet, Laser, Drone)
• 170 cards, including:
  • 135 Ocean cards
  • 8 Starting Ocean cards
  • 11 Whirlpool cards
  • 16 Solo cards (8 Medium difficulty cards, 8 Advanced difficulty cards)

Setup

1. Each player chooses 1 Spaceship.

2. Set aside the Starting cards. Depending on the number of players, remove all Ocean cards with a number (in the bottom-right corner) strictly higher than the number of players. Example: in a 3-player game, remove all cards showing 4+ or 5+.

   Randomly draw 3 Whirlpool cards and set them aside. Shuffle the remaining deck and divide it into three equal piles (A, B, C). Add 2 Whirlpool cards to pile A and 1 Whirlpool card to pile B face down, without looking at them, then shuffle each of these two piles. Rebuild the deck in this order, from bottom to top: A - B - C.

3. Then place face up in the center of the table a number of Starting Ocean cards equal to the number of players + 1. The last player to have seen the ocean becomes the first player. Starting with the player to the right of the first player and continuing counterclockwise, each player chooses a card from the center and places it under their Spaceship, in the matching column. The remaining card is placed in the Discard pile, next to the deck.

Card Types

Discard Pile

During the game, cards will be discarded. This means they are placed next to the deck to form a face-up pile. This pile is called the Discard pile.

Single-Use Cards

The single-use icon indicates that the card is single-use. This applies to most Fish cards, as well as some Component cards. After being used (for its effect or to contribute to a Component's power), the card is discarded.

Strong Current Cards

Whenever a card with the Strong Current icon is collected, immediately place the first Ocean card from the deck face up in the river. This card is placed to the right of the river.

Crystalium Cards

Crystalium cards are victory points. Crystalium cards have values ranging from 1 to 5. When a player collects a Crystalium card, they place it face down in a personal pile next to their Spaceship.

Component Cards

The Components: Reactor, Magnet, Laser, and Drone allow players to improve their Spaceships, increasing the Reactor, Magnet, Laser and Drone power respectively. When a player collects a Component card, they place it face up under their Spaceship, in the matching column.

Space Station Cards

Space Stations allow players to gain Crystalium. A player can collect a Space Station card during their River phase or Drone phase only if they immediately meet the Space Station's requirement. To do so, they take the Component cards from their Spaceship and place them under the Space Station card. These cards will no longer be available for the rest of the game.

Space Station cards collected by a player are placed face up next to their Spaceship. Space Station cards cannot be collected if the player cannot meet the requirement.

There are 2 types of Space Stations. Some require a certain number of Component cards, while others require a total power value from Component cards. A card acquired during a turn can be used to fulfill a Station requirement during the same turn.

Fish Cards

Fish cards have a specific effect. These cards are activated during the active player's turn and are single-use. When a player collects a Fish card, they place it face up next to their Spaceship. Several Fish cards can be played during the same turn. Fish cards are explained at the end of the rulebook.

Whirlpool Cards

Each Whirlpool card awards Crystalium at the end of the game, during the final scoring.

In 1- or 2-player games, the player who has the most of the indicated feature on the Whirlpool card gains 6 Crystalium.

In games with 3 or more players, the player with the most gains 6 Crystalium and the second player gains 3 Crystalium. In case of a tie for first place, all tied players gain 6 Crystalium and no player gains 3 Crystalium. In case of a tie for second place, all tied players gain 3 Crystalium.

Whirlpool cards are explained at the end of the rulebook.

Game Overview

In Crystalium, you play a series of turns until the end-of-game condition is met. The first player starts as the active player. At the start of each new turn, this role passes to the player on their left.

A turn is divided into 4 phases:

1. Current Phase
2. River Phase
3. Discard Phase
4. Drone Phase

Current Phase

The active player places cards one by one from the deck, leaving them face down next to the deck. This forms the River Current. The player cannot place more cards than their Reactor power.

A player's Reactor power is determined by the sum of the values on their Reactor cards and their base power. At the beginning of the game, each player has a Reactor power of 2.

Example: Martin has a Reactor power of 3, so he chooses to place 3 cards to form the River Current. He could have placed only one or two cards.

River Phase

The active player calculates the total Current power. The back of each Ocean card shows a certain number of waves, which represents its contribution to the Current. The card on top of the deck does not count when calculating the Current.

The active player reveals a number of cards from the deck equal to the Current power. They can then collect a number of face-up cards equal to their Magnet power from the revealed cards.

A player's Magnet power is determined by the sum of the values on their Magnet cards and their base power. At the beginning of the game, each player has a Magnet power of 1.

Note: A Magnet card collected during the current turn cannot increase the Magnet power of that same turn.

Ancient explorers quickly discovered that where the currents are strongest, the ocean's treasures are never far away. Cards showing more waves are often the most sought after.

Discard Phase

The player then reveals all Ocean cards that are still face down and may discard a number of cards from the River equal to their Laser power. The goal is to prevent their opponents from using them during the Drone phase.

A player's Laser power is determined by the sum of the values on their Laser cards and their base power. At the beginning of the game, each player has a Laser power of 1.

Drone Phase

The players directly to the right and left of the active player can collect, one after the other, Ocean cards from those remaining in the River. They collect a number of cards equal to their Drone power. The player with the lowest Drone power collects cards first. In case of a tie, the active player chooses who goes first. If cards remain after the players have taken their cards, place them in the Discard pile.

It is possible that no Ocean cards remain in the center of the table when a player has to collect cards. In this case, nothing happens and the game immediately moves to the next turn.

A player's Drone power is determined by the sum of the values on their Drone cards and their base power. At the beginning of the game, each player has a Drone power of 1.

Note: A Drone card collected during the Drone phase cannot increase the Drone power of the current turn.

In a 2-player game, the active player also takes part in the Drone phase, after their opponent, and may collect a number of cards equal to their Drone power again.

Example of a 2-player turn:

It is the beginning of Martin's turn against Julie. On his Spaceship, he has a total Reactor power of 3. He decides to draw 3 Ocean cards, which remain face down. The total number of waves on these 3 cards is 6. He then draws 6 new cards and places them face up in the River.

Martin has a Magnet power of 3, including a single-use Magnet card with a power of 1. He decides to take 3 cards and therefore discards his single-use Magnet card into the Discard pile. He then reveals the 3 cards that remained face down and discards 1 card because he has a Laser power of 1. Julie, who has a Drone power of 3, takes 3 cards.

Martin, who has a Drone power of 3, including a single-use Drone card with a power of 2, may take up to 2 cards from the River again. Indeed, his single-use Drone card allows him to take up to 3 cards, but only 2 cards remain in the River. He decides to take only 1 card and therefore keeps his single-use Drone card. The last card in the River is discarded.

Example of a 5-player Drone Phase:

After completing the first three phases, 3 cards remain in the River. Arthur is the active player, so the players directly to his right and left can collect cards. Martin has a Drone power of 1 and Julie has a Drone power of 2. Since Martin has the lower power, he goes first and collects 1 card. Although Julie has a Drone power of 2, she only collects 1 card because only one card remains in the River.

This last card is a Strong Current card. By collecting it, Julie must reveal a new card in the River. Unfortunately, it is a Space Station card whose requirement she cannot meet. She therefore cannot collect the card, and it is discarded.

End of the Game

When a Whirlpool card is revealed during a turn, set it aside. Do not reveal a new card to replace the Whirlpool card. When the third Whirlpool card is revealed, complete the following steps:

• First, finish the current player's turn.
• Shuffle the Discard pile with any remaining cards in the deck and divide them into three equal piles (A, B, C). Put the 3 Whirlpool cards you previously set aside back into play by adding 2 Whirlpool cards to pile A and 1 Whirlpool card to pile B, shuffle these two piles, then rebuild the deck from bottom to top: A - B - C.

The game continues normally until all Whirlpool cards are revealed a second and final time. Then finish the current active player's turn and proceed to Crystalium scoring.

Crystalium Scoring

For each Whirlpool, check who has the majority in the indicated category. This player gains 6 Crystalium.

In games with 3 or more players, the second player gains 3 Crystalium.

Add your Crystalium cards, Space Station cards, and any Mushroom Fish cards to your total. The player with the most Crystalium wins.

In case of a tie, the player with the most Crystalium cards wins. In case of another tie, the tied players share the victory.

Example: At the end of a 2-player game, Martin has completed the most Space Station cards, so he gains 6 Crystalium. He has a total of 29 Crystalium from his Crystalium cards. He has completed 2 Space Station cards for a total of 8 Crystalium. Finally, his 2 Mushroom Fish cards grant him 3 Crystalium. Martin therefore has a total of 6 + 29 + 8 + 3 = 46 Crystalium.

Solo Mode

In addition to the standard setup, also create a Solo deck of 10 Solo cards based on the chosen difficulty. There are 8 Medium difficulty cards and 8 Advanced difficulty cards.

For your first solo game, we recommend using 8 Medium difficulty cards and 2 Advanced difficulty cards. For a medium-complexity game, you can, for example, use 5 Medium difficulty cards and 5 Advanced difficulty cards.

Then shuffle this deck and place it face down in the center of the table.

In solo mode, you always play with the same 3 Whirlpool cards. At the end of the game, you must outscore Tornado in the criteria for each Whirlpool card to win the 6 Crystalium.

Your opponent, Tornado, has a Spaceship board, but does not use it like you do: they simply collect Component cards underneath it, without gaining any power from them. They only act according to the revealed Solo cards. You are the first active player, so Tornado chooses their Starting card first. Reveal a Solo card: they take the first Starting card following the direction of the arrow.

During your Drone phase, reveal a new Solo card. The top section indicates how many cards Tornado collects. They prioritize the highest-value Crystalium cards, then the Space Station cards they can complete, then follow the direction of the arrow.

As in a 2-player game, you then collect cards according to your Drone power.

During Tornado's turn, read the lower section of the revealed Solo card: it indicates how many cards they reveal directly face up and how many cards they collect according to the same priority order. If face-up cards remain after their turn, you may collect cards according to your Drone power. If any remain after your turn, Tornado can take another card.

Remember to reveal a card face up each time a Strong Current card is collected, whether by Tornado or by you.

Removal

As soon as Tornado collects a second card of the same Component, their 2 cards are removed, and they also remove your most recently acquired card of that Component.

Example: Tornado collects a second Magnet card. They immediately remove both of their Magnet cards to remove your latest Magnet card under your Spaceship, which is also removed.

If you do not have any card of that Component, their 2 cards are still removed, with no effect on you. A removed card is permanently removed from the game and is not placed in the Discard pile.

As soon as Tornado collects a second Fish card, their 2 Fish cards are removed, and they remove the last Crystalium card from your pile whose back shows the most waves.

At the end of the game, count Crystalium normally. The player with the most Crystalium wins. In case of a tie, the player with the highest number of Crystalium cards wins. In case of another tie, you share the victory with Tornado.

If you win the game, check the end of the rulebook to see if you completed any end-of-game objectives.

Fish Cards

Fish species naturally accumulate pieces of Crystalium on their shells or scales. Thanks to your Magnets, you attract both drifting Components and these amazing creatures.

(The rulebook identifies each Fish card by its picture rather than a printed name; they are listed here in the printed order, and only the Mushroom Fish is named in the text.)

• When you collect this card, place it in any column under your Spaceship. This card provides a power of 1 to the corresponding Component.
• Mushroom Fish: Place the card next to your Spaceship. At the end of the game, if you only have one "Mushroom Fish" card, you lose 3 Crystalium. If you have two, you gain 3 Crystalium, and if you have at least three, you gain 9 Crystalium.
• Place the card next to your Spaceship. Discard this card at any time to complete any Space Station card in the River without having to place Component cards underneath it. You then have to give one Crystalium card from your supply to each of your direct neighbors (the players on your left and right). If you cannot, you cannot use this card.
• Place the card next to your Spaceship. Discard this card to add any Whirlpool card from the game box to the Crystalium Scoring. This Whirlpool card remains visible until the end of the game.
• Place the card next to your Spaceship. Discard this card to exchange one of your Component cards with a Crystalium card from an opponent. The opponent presents their Crystalium cards face down, and you choose one based on their backs. A card showing more waves is more likely to grant you more Crystalium.
• Place the card next to your Spaceship. Discard this card to force all your opponents to give you a 1-value Crystalium card. If an opponent does not have one, they give you nothing.
• Place the card next to your Spaceship. Discard this card to force all your opponents to discard one of their cards.
• Place the card next to your Spaceship. Discard this card to gain 1 power in each of your Components this turn.
• Place the card next to your Spaceship. Discard this card to take the top 3 cards from the deck. Keep 1 and discard the other 2.
• Place the card next to your Spaceship. Discard this card to take the top 3 cards from the Discard pile. Keep 1 and discard the other 2.
• Place the card next to your Spaceship. Discard this card to collect any card from the Discard pile. You also give one card from this same pile to each of your opponents. You cannot give a Space Station card to an opponent with this card.
• Place the card next to your Spaceship. Discard this card to ignore your opponents' Drone phase this turn.

Whirlpool Cards

Each Whirlpool card is won by:

• The player with the highest Reactor power under their Spaceship.
• The player with the highest Magnet power under their Spaceship.
• The player with the highest Laser power under their Spaceship.
• The player with the highest Drone power under their Spaceship.
• The player with the highest total power, calculated by adding the powers of all Components under their Spaceship.
• The player with the highest power in a single Component under their Spaceship. Example: Victor's highest Component power is his Reactors, with a total of 4, while Julie has 5 Drones under her Spaceship. Julie wins the rewards from this Whirlpool.
• The player with the most visible Component cards under their Spaceship.
• The player with the most visible single-use cards under their Spaceship.
• The player with the most 1-value Crystalium cards.
• The player with the most Space Station cards.
• The player with the most Strong Current cards under their Spaceship.

Solo Objectives

At the end of each Solo game, check whether you have completed one or more of the conditions below. If so, mark the corresponding boxes. Try to complete all Objectives and prove that you are the best Crystalium explorer in the galaxy!

• Win a game.
• Win the game by taking first place in all 3 Whirlpools.
• Win the game with at least: 45 Crystalium / 50 Crystalium / 55 Crystalium.
• Win the game without completing any Space Station cards.
• Win the game with at least: 5 Advanced difficulty cards / 8 Advanced difficulty cards.
• Win the game without any cards of the following Components under your Spaceship: Reactor, Magnet, Laser, Drone (one objective per Component).