Conan: Savage Legends - Momentum

Today we’re going to take a look at Momentum in Conan: Savage Legends.

Momentum is gained when you play Tactics cards. We already talked about Tactics cards in our Round of Play Breakdown, but here is a quick reminder of how they work. At the start of a Round, each player plays a Tactics card face down, then all Tactics cards are revealed simultaneously. The order in which players get to go during the Round is determined by the Initiative (lightning bolt symbol) of the Tactics card they played. Tactics cards also generate Coins and have unique abilities that will affect the Round.

At the end of the Round, the Tactics card you played goes into your Momentum Pool. Only Legends may benefit from Momentum, and they gain the combined bonuses of all the cards in your Momentum Pool. The symbol in the upper left shows you what kind of Momentum bonus the Tactics card provides. For example, Mighty Blow has an Axe icon, so it gives your Legends a bonus of +1 Axe icon during every Clash in which they are involved. Momentum may also add Shield or Rune icons during Clashes, or an additional hex of movement during movement actions. In this way, your Legends become more powerful as the game progresses, until they are whirlwinds of destruction barreling through your enemies!

Momentum cards only go back to your hand when you are out of Tactics cards to play, or when you spend them for other game effects. For example, Pallantides has an ability that allows you to return a Momentum card to your hand in order to roll additional dice. These abilities force you to choose between a long-term bonus and a powerful one-time effect which creates interesting tactical choices and allows the strongest commander to plot their way to victory.

Here is an example of a Tactics card:

---

As you can see, choosing the right Tactics card is a pivotal decision. Do you go for the highest Initiative, the most Coins, the strongest effect, or the Momentum that you know you will need in later turns? Not only does Momentum allow your Legend to dominate the battlefield with the might of a proper hero of the Hyborean age, it also creates interesting strategic decisions that will make Conan: Savage Legends a game that hits your table again and again.