Arkham Horror Strategy
Without the proper Arkham Horror strategy, you’re unlikely to win at this horror board game based on the world of H.P. Lovecraft. As monsters roam the streets and new gates open, even experienced parties will be challenged to find the right mixture of exploration and combat. That’s why planning ahead is so important, and the Arkham Horror tips provided in this article are meant to get you off to a good start.
Arkham Horror Strategy Guide
There are many ways to win at Arkham Horror, but each one demands a certain level of teamwork. Keep in mind that this is a cooperative boardgame, so be sure to develop your strategies accordingly. While veteran players have likely developed ways to succeed at the game, Arkham Horror rookies will benefit from the following information:
Elder Sign tokens are the most valuable commodity in the game, as
they allow you to permanently seal a gate and remove a doom token from the
doom track (6 sealed gates result in victory). Acquire as many of these as
possible.
Clue tokens are the next most valuable resource, as five of them can be used to seal a gate. If two or more clue tokens are present at a location, an investigator with a high movement should be dispatched to collect them.
Manage your time carefully. Some novice players get bogged down killing monsters at the beginning of the game, while your focus should be on sealing gates. Players should begin sealing with gates within the first three turns.
Some locations have a greater chance of gates appearing, and players should concentrate on closing these first. These locations include Witch House, Independence Square, Woods, and Unvisited Isle. Locations with a lower chance of gates can be closed instead of sealed.
Before you enter a gate, always make sure you have sufficient clues to seal it--if that’s your intention.
If it becomes obvious that the waking of an Ancient One is inevitable, begin preparing for the final battle by accumulating weapons, clue tokens, and anything else that’s necessary. Look carefully at the card for the Ancient One, as this will give you an idea of what you’ll need.
Choosing Your Arkham Horror Investigator
Some players like to draw their Arkham Horror investigator at random, while others prefer to search through the cards. For a suitable compromise, try drawing two investigator cards and selecting your favorite. This still introduces a random element to the process, but it also assures you of not being stuck with a character you hate.
A well-balanced group is key to winning at Arkham Horror, but new players are often unclear about which investigator is the best Arkham Horror investigator. To make your life easier, I’ve listed a few tips below. Just keep in mind that most characters fall into one of two camps: those who fight monsters, and those who close gates.
Harvey Walters - His 3 movement is a minus, but it’s balanced out by his 7 sanity and 6 lore. Harvey can be potent with the right spells, and his high sneak allows him to bypass creatures that would present a bad match-up.
Sister Mary - Her high sanity number makes her perfect for sending against sanity-reducing creatures, especially if she’s armed with the proper assortment of spells. The 6 luck can also come in handy, and starting the game with a blessing allows her to do some damage early on.
Mandy Thompson - She starts the game with four clues, which allows her to start closing gates as early as the second turn. This is especially valuable if the Old One happens to have a short doom track. Her special power allows Mandy or any other investigator to re-roll a skill check once per turn. Considered the best Arkham Horror character in the basic set by many Arkham Horror players.
Michael McGlen - If you’re looking for the best Arkham Horror character with which to kill monsters, give this gangster a try. His stamina is a robust 7, plus he begins the game with both dynamite and a Tommy gun. His ability to reduce all stamina losses by 1 also comes in handy.
Joe Diamond - His 3 willpower is low, but he more than makes up for it with a focus of 3 and a speed of 6. A well-rounded investigator, Joe can also add a bonus die to a roll on any phase when he spends a clue token.
Monterey Jack - If you need someone to specialize in shutting down gates, then Jack is a likely candidate. A willpower and sanity of 3 prevent him from taking on the tougher monsters, so utilize his 5 luck and commence the portal hopping. And make sure he’s supplied with plenty of money, as his special power allows him to draw an extra card from the unique item deck and discard the one he doesn’t want (a great way to get Elder Signs).
The basic Arkham Horror set includes a number of other investigators to try, but the above list should get you started. And don’t forget about all the Arkham Horror expansions, including Innsmouth Horror and Miskatonic Horror.
Arkham Horror Strategy Tips
If you need some more tips for beating Arkham Horror, be sure to give these a try during your next gaming session:
When it comes to investigator skills and abilities, always pay close attention to the movement rating. No matter how powerful a character may be, they’re not as useful if they can’t reach a destination in time.
The vast majority of skill checks in the game are at -1. If you need to lower a skill, you’re better off reducing it to zero than keeping it at 1 (since the penalty will result in a zero in either case).
The skill you’ll use the most in the basic set is luck. When selecting your investigator, don’t neglect this ability.
If your investigator specializes in casting spells, it’s important to maintain a 5 in the lore ability.
When your character needs money, try heading to the newspaper. You can earn as much as $5 for selling a story, and you’ll also have the chance to gain a retainer (which grants $2 on each upkeep phase).
If your party is made up of characters with low speed, try to boost your abilities by getting maps or motorcycles. The map of Arkham allows you to exhaust the card and gain an additional movement point, while the motorcycle will increase your movement by 2.
Notes on the Ancient Ones
The Arkham Horror game refers to them as Ancient Ones, but anyone who’s read H.P. Lovecraft will know them as the Old Ones. These are the unspeakable beings waiting for their opportunity to lay waste to humanity, and they’ll surely succeed unless the investigators can stop them. In the basic Arkham Horror set, the key to defeating the Ancient Ones is to seal six locations or close all open gates. If these options fail, the players will get one last chance to save the day by engaging the Old One in combat.
The Arkham Horror rules state that players should randomly select one Ancient One prior to the start of the game. Many players, however, prefer to sort through the cards and select the monstrosity that best suits their style of play or level of experience. No matter which option you choose, the following notes should come in handy.
Hastur - With tough cultists at his disposal and the special requirement that forces players to gather 8 clues to seal a location, Hastur can make life difficult for investigators. His combat penalty is zero, however, so his greatest weakness comes during the final battle.
Azathoth - There is no final battle with this baddie, as his mere appearance causes the players to lose. He’s still the easiest in the game thanks to his doom track of 14 and his less-than-impressive power that grants maniacs and increased toughness. If you’re playing Arkham Horror for the first time, this is one to strongly consider.
Ithaqua - His cultists have their toughness increased by 2, and his control over icy winds take away one stamina from any investigator unlucky enough to be caught in the streets at the end of a Mythos phase. Still, Ithaqua can be defeated by a relatively competent group of investigators. Consider him an easy to medium-level menace.
Nyarlathotep - His cultists have the endless ability, meaning that they cannot be collected as a monster trophy. He also has a -4 combat rating and magical resistance, plus the ability to take away clue token during the final battle (any investigator reduced to zero is devoured). But despite these abilities, he’s still one of the easier Ancient Ones to defeat. Along with Azathoth, he’s one that new players should consider.
Shub-Niggurath - The Black Goat of the Woods has a -5 combat rating, as well as the physical immunity ability. This makes her hard enough, but she also grants all monsters an additional point of toughness. During the final battle, any investigator with no monster trophies is devoured, and Shub-Niggurath can reduce this number as the battle rages on if a +1 sneak check is failed. Second in difficulty to Yog-Sothoth.
Yig - Each time his cultists are defeated or an investigator is lost in time and space, Yig’s power requires a token to be added to the doom track. He also curses all players at the beginning of the final showdown, and anyone who’s already cursed is devoured. On the positive side, his doom track only goes to 10, allowing investigators to finish him off without a massive effort.
Yog-Sothoth - The toughest of the Ancient Ones in the basic set of Arkham Horror, Yog-Sothoth comes with magical immunity, a -5 combat rating, and cultists with magical immunity and a combat rating of -1. Even worse, gates are more difficult to seal or close, and investigators lost in time and space are devoured. Players should avoid the final battle at all costs.
Cthulhu - If investigators are able to avoid the final battle, Cthulhu can be defeated with a medium level of difficulty. His doom track goes to 13, and all cultists have a horror rating of -2 and do horror damage of 2 sanity. His combat rating is -6, and investigators taking part in the final battle must lower their maximum sanity or stamina by 1 each time Cthulhu attacks (in addition to placing one doom token back on the track).
While Arkham Horror can provide a rich gaming experience, it can also be frustrating for new players. The best way to maximize your enjoyment and chances of winning is to come up with a solid Arkham Horror strategy before the game begins. Once this becomes part of your regular routine, you’ll find the level of difficulty decreasing with each game. Luckily, there are plenty of Arkham Horror expansions to further challenge your group.