Stoneblade Entertainment Ascension (6th Set): Darkness Unleashed Card Game, Black

My 7 -year-old son and I love the Ascension games. The base game is easier and each expansion makes the game a little bit more difficult. After we both mastered the base game we have been expanding our horizons to the other expansions. This one is very nice and includes a very different mechanic from the base game which we both really like. Note that we really don't like combining the expansion sets with each other as The different mechanics don't mix that well. However this is not a problem just something to note if you're looking at buying this.

Darkness Unleashed continues the Energy Shard mechanics that were introduced in Rise of Vigil with a few interesting tweaks. The introduction of Dark Energy Shards allows all players to banish a card from their discard pile as a fate effect when the cards enter the center row.The general effect is a slight deck thinning effect that helps get rid of the standard cards, and helps you draw your newly gained cards with greater frequency.This set also introduces the Transform mechanic in which cards start out as a rather vanilla version but through game play they are energized by Energy Shards (either the standard ones, dark ones, or any combination) and then they transform into a much better version of the card. Realms Unraveled is the big box expansion that follows Darkness Unleashed and it also has this mechanic, but I prefer the execution here as it works better thematically, and I prefer the individual cards.We have played Darkness Unleashed with Chronicle of a Godslayer, Rise of Vigil, Storm of Souls, and Return of the Fallen. In all cases, Darkness Unleashed enhanced the other sets and provided new combos that we enjoyed. It is also a good standalone 2 player game that my wife and I love to play.

I always love playing this game and I do like the new transform mechanic. When mixed with all of the other sets it obviously feels a bit diluted. We only end up seeing one or two transforms in each game, and sometimes towards the end of the game when you finally have enough energy to do it but at that point it doesn't really matter as much because the game will be over before you get the chance to actually play the card from your hand.I also wish there were other kinds of treasures. I have no idea what I would want them to do but only having Energy and Dark Energy seems kind of lame. I feel like the card type TREASURE has many possibilities to be explored!The Dark Energy IS very nice however, often allowing everyone to start banishing some of those apprentices and militia early on.If you like Ascension and are excited about this, buy it! If you are on the fence, you can probably live without it! If you don't own any of the sets and you just want to buy one, get Storm of Souls!

Great game for teens or adults that like to challenge their minds and have some fun!

Seems I like just about any game Justin has had a hand in designing. Works great as a stand-alone game, and also as an add-on (add-in?) for Ascension base game.

Great stuff in here. Get them while you can, as there are constant rumors that the small box expansions will NOT be reprinted in the near future! Not having these cards would be a tragedy to any true Ascension fan! Get them while they last!

Have yet to play the extension but I enjoy the other extension that I have and it plays like this other. This add a new dynamic to the original Ascension.

This expansion adds Dark Crystals to the game, which is the pinnacle of the energy shard system. The game is very good without them, but great with them. You also get transforming cards which is just plain cool.

Ottima espansione. Se vi piacciono i deckbuilding provate anche Ascension