Stats:
No. of players: 2
Amount of time to play: 30-45 min
Age requirements: 12+
Set-up time: minimal

Mage Wars Academy features a more streamlined ruleset and is quicker to play than its big brother Mage Wars Arena. But that doesn’t translate to this version being less fun.

Mage Wars Academy Rules Description:

Mage Wars Academy uses a lot of the same basic rules as Mage Wars Arena. But there are some notable differences. If you have not played Arena read my overview here. I am going to highlight the changes in Academy in this post. It is a stand-alone game and does not require you to own or have played Mage Wars Arena.

The biggest change is there is no board. You are always considered to be in the same zone as your opponent and have no need to worry about positioning and spell ranges.

The spells included are generally of a lower level since you are a young mage and they are easier to understand. Cards from Academy can be used in Arena but not vice-versa. Some are too powerful. Fewer keywords and status effects keep things in Academy moving too.

Quick Review of Mage Wars Academy:

Mage Wars Academy is a great way to introduce new players to Mage Wars. The streamlined rules make the game much quicker and easier to teach and learn. And though you lack the depth of spells and mages available for Arena, you can still construct spellbooks and tweak the Wizard and Beastmaster.

The components for this game are excellent. The cards, art, and tokens are inline with the rest of the series. The rules are well written and easy to follow.

Academy is a different game than Arena. Though not extremely different it has a different pace, and takes less time to play. I am still on the fence as to which I like better, but since it is shorter and easier to teach Academy has a better chance to hit the table.

And don’t be fooled. Even though there is less to keep track of and no need for positioning in Academy, it still has a good bit of depth and strategy.

I like the suggested spellbooks. They can get you started in minutes and are balanced too. They give you the opportunity to try a few games with a solid spellbook that exposes you to all the different types of spells in the game. Then after you are comfortable you can tweak them to your liking.

There are rules for more players but until there are more mages this seems to feel better as a two-player affair. I hope that changes soon and more mages are added into the mix.

If you are thinking of trying out Mage Wars I highly recommend Academy. It will help you jump in the shallow end before you give Arena a try. If you currently play Mage Wars Arena you might still want to pick up Academy. You can use the cards in Arena games and have Academy to teach new players or play if time is short.

Score and synopsis: (Click here for an explanation of these review categories.)
Strategy 4 out of 6
Luck 4 out of 6
Player Interaction 6 out of 6
Replay Value 4 out of 6
Complexity 3 out of 6
Fun 5 out of 6
Overall 5 out of 6