Frequently Asked Questions
War of the Dragon, answered
Player count, solo play, play time, the 2027 release, standees vs minis, and which pledge tier to back — the questions players ask most.
How many players is War of the Dragon?
It's built for 2 players — one commands the Light, the other the Shadow. There's also a dedicated Solo Mode for 1 player, where you take the Light against an automated Forsaken opponent. See all three modes →
Can you play it solo?
Yes. A much-requested Solo Mode was added during the Kickstarter (around mid-June 2026). You always play the Light and use the Hero Mode rules; your opponent is one of 13 Forsaken cards, each with a unique starting effect and a special ability. On the Shadow's turn you flip a card from a special automa deck — a structure familiar to solo players of Dune: Imperium. Note: the community sometimes calls this "Hero Mode," but Dire Wolf's official name is Solo Mode.
How long does a game take?
Hero Mode — the standard two-player game — runs about 60–90 minutes. Solo Mode is comparable since it uses the same baseline. Epic Mode, the full campaign with armies and the Last Battle, takes considerably longer.
What are the different game modes?
Three: Hero Mode (the approachable 2-player baseline, one evening), Epic Mode (the full campaign — a Prologue battle, four Chapters, hero leveling, the Forsaken, armies, and The Last Battle), and Solo Mode (1 player vs an automated Forsaken). Epic builds on Hero's rules; Solo reuses them. Compare the modes →
When is the release date?
The Dragon Reborn Edition reaches retail in 2027. The Kickstarter campaign ran May 25 – June 23, 2026; backers receive their copies via the campaign, and retail follows afterward.
Standees or miniatures — what's the difference?
The $90 Dragon Reborn Edition uses cardboard standees for characters and armies. The $123 One Power Edition and $289 Last Battle Bundle replace those with 40 highly detailed sculpted miniatures. The gameplay is identical — it's purely a presentation upgrade. Full edition comparison →
Which edition should I buy, and what do they cost?
Three pledge tiers: Dragon Reborn Edition ($90) with standees and a 2027 retail release; One Power Edition ($123) with 40 miniatures, campaign-exclusive; and Last Battle Bundle ($289), which adds a neoprene playmat, card sleeves, metal coins, acrylic tokens, and a Map of the Westlands art print. Only the Dragon Reborn Edition is sold at retail.
Is the miniatures version available at retail?
No. The One Power Edition is campaign-exclusive — limited copies may be sold post-campaign direct from Dire Wolf, but it will not be in retail stores. The Last Battle Bundle is Kickstarter-only. Only the standee-based Dragon Reborn Edition reaches retail (2027).
How do you play / win?
Each turn you play a card and take one of five shared actions (Ally, Mobilize, Reinforce, Consolidate, Weave). The game runs three Chapters with growing hands (4 / 5 / 6 cards). At the end you total victory points across five categories — Banner tracks, the Wheel track, Patterns, Leaders, and map control. Highest total wins; the Shadow takes ties. Full rules →
Who makes it, and who designed it?
It's published by Dire Wolf (Dire Wolf Digital), designed by Mike Mihealsick and Ryan Schoon, with Andy Clautice leading additional design and development. Mihealsick and Schoon had been collaborating on the concept since 2018.
What is it like — is it similar to Dune: Imperium?
It's an asymmetric area-control game most often compared to War of the Ring rather than Dune: Imperium. That said, its Solo Mode uses a card-driven automa structure familiar to Dune: Imperium solo players. See the head-to-head →
What's the setting and source material?
It's set in the Westlands of Robert Jordan's Wheel of Time, with the Light (led by the Dragon Reborn, Rand al'Thor) against the Shadow (the Forsaken). The art draws characters from all fourteen books — over 200 original illustrations by 30+ artists — with a cover by original WoT cover artist Darrell K. Sweet. Read the lore primer →