Pocket Samurai is a two player mix of drafting and then card reveal. There are two phases the Dojo phase where you choose your cards and the Bushido Phase where you play them.

Pocket Samurai is a small and fast game which uses that as it’s strength. The game comes in a durable small card deck box that fits sleeved cards and is perfect to take on the go. This is the type of game you can easily pull out in an airport or at a restaurant. The game is quick and in most cases you will want to play best out of three. However, just because it’s quick it doesn’t mean there isn’t anything to it. You are really trying to understand what your opponent is drafting to build your strategy to defeat them.

The most important part is the draft, those are the cards you will use for the game so you need to choose wisely. Also your draft picks are face up so you will be able to plan based on what you opponent chooses.

When you get to the Bushido Phase, you will get to play the deck you built. Again you need to keep in mind what your opponent has and try to stay ahead. You need to plan out if you have enough defence to survive or enough strikes to win.

If you are looking for a small game on the go or a filler game in between some bulkier picks, this could be for you.

Pocket Samurai is a 2 player game published by Questing Gentlemen. It is for ages 14 and up and takes about 5 minutes to play.

Contents

27 Draft Cards

2 Strike Cards

Set Up

Deal a strike card to each player

Shuffle the deck and place it on the table.

Reveal 10 cards from the deck face up in two rows on the table.

How to Play

Dojo Phase

Players take turns picking up the cards one at a time. Place them face up near you so the other player can see what you chose. When there are two cards left, discard them and reveal 10 new cards. Taking turns in reverse order. Once there are two cards left discard them and go to the next phase.

When picking cards there are 5 symbols to think about.

Swords – this will help defeat opponents defences

Helms – protection to help defend against opponent strikes

Aggression – represents force of your action

Wisdom – represents your battlefield awareness

Agility – represents your battle reflexes

Bushido Phase

Take the cards into your hand.

Both players play a card from their hand by placing it face down in front of them. Both players flip their cards over at the same time and resolve the effects. If your card is not a strike it will stay in play unless a card says otherwise. If you played a strike card and it wasnt stronger then their defence, you take the strike card back in your hand.

Some cards have abilities and you flip them horizontally when triggered. Some cards are rotated to show a symbol you’ve chosen or to use it’s effect.

If both players succeed with a strike in the same turn both players lose. Also if both players play a strike card without winning three times in a row, both players lose. If you only have a strike card in your hand you must play it.

If you play a strike card and its stronger than a players defence you win the game.

Skillfulmeeple received a copy of Pocket Samurai from Questing Gentlemen to provide this review.