How to Combine Valeria Card Kingdoms Expansions

Quick answer

You can combine any Valeria Card Kingdoms expansion packs, but you need to adjust monster stacks and domain decks to keep the game balanced. Start with one expansion per game session, then layer in others after testing. Always check that new cards don't duplicate existing effects.

Step-by-Step Guide to Combining Expansions

1. Step 1: Choose Your Primary Expansion: Pick one expansion to be the core addition for your game session. For example, start with the Agents expansion. Remove any duplicate or conflicting cards from the base deck. Agents adds a separate deck of agent cards, so you don't need to shuffle them into the main domain deck. Common mistake: Adding multiple expansions at once without testing each one first. Stick to one new pack per session until you know how it plays.
2. Step 2: Adjust Monster Stacks: If you're adding Monster Reinforcements, replace one monster card from each base game stack with a new monster from the expansion. This increases difficulty without overwhelming the game. For the Agents expansion, no monster changes are needed, but you may want to introduce agents that interact with monster types. Checkpoint: After replacing monsters, verify that each stack still has a balanced mix of easy and hard foes. Don't replace all monsters at once.
3. Step 3: Integrate Domain and Citizen Cards: Shuffle domain and citizen cards from the expansion into the main domain deck. For Agents, the agent cards remain separate and are revealed one at a time. For Monster Reinforcements, the new monster cards go directly into the monster stacks. Do not mix agent cards into the domain deck. Common mistake: Accidentally shuffling agent cards into the domain deck. Keep the agent deck separate and only draw from it when an agent ability is triggered.
4. Step 4: Set Up the Agent Deck (if using Agents): Take the agent cards from the Agents expansion and shuffle them into a face-down deck. Place it next to the monster stacks. At the start of each round, reveal the top agent card. Players can activate its ability by paying the listed cost. After use, place the agent at the bottom of the deck and reveal a new one. Checkpoint: Make sure all players understand that agent abilities cost resources. None are free, so players need to plan ahead to afford them.
5. Step 5: Play a Test Round: Play one full round with the combined expansions. Pay attention to how the new mechanics interact. For example, an agent ability that attacks citizens may be more powerful if Monster Reinforcements has made monsters harder to defeat, forcing players to focus on domain development instead. If the game feels too easy or too hard, adjust by removing one expansion or swapping out specific cards. Balance is more important than using every pack at once.

Expansion Packs Referenced in This Guide

• Valeria: Card Kingdoms Expansion Pack #03: Agents: Agents is an expansion where players must seize the opportunity to capitalize on the special abilities that the Agents provide. Once an agent is used, they go to the bottom of the deck and a new agent is revealed. Their abilities range from personally beneficial to direct attacks on other players’ citizens and domains. None are free to activate. So, you must prepare ahead of time and hedge your bets in order to take advantage. When combining Agents with other expansions, you need to track which agent abilities target monsters or domains from other packs, since some may become more powerful or less useful depending on the mix.
• Valeria: Card Kingdoms Expansion Pack #05: Monster Reinforcements: This expansion adds 13 new monsters (One new monster for every monster stack from the base game and Flames & Frost expansion) to add a new level of difficulty to Valeria: Card Kingdoms! Face new challenges and new fallout as you battle these new foes! Monster Reinforcements replaces base game monsters, so when combining with Agents, you'll face tougher foes while also having access to agent abilities that can mitigate or exploit their strengths.