The Assassin

Your goal

Bring down the Leader while at least one Assassin is still standing. Your teammates are hidden from you too, so part of the job is finding each other.

Strategy

• Count the table. You know how many Assassins there are. Once you can tell who else is attacking the Leader, you know your team.
• Don’t race in alone. One Assassin attacking the Leader on turn three just gets exposed and picked off by Guardians and the Traitor.
• Many Assassin unveils only work on your own turn. Plan the turn you flip: mana for the unveil, plus the attack or spell that finishes the job.
• Make the Leader spend their answers before your big turn. Every counterspell or fog they use on someone else is one fewer for you.
• Watch the Traitor. They need the Leader alive until you are all gone, so a player who keeps saving the Leader at the last moment may not be a Guardian.
• Staying alive matters. If the Leader falls after every Assassin is gone, you all lose.

How to bluff

• Look like a Guardian. Block for the Leader once early on; it buys a lot of trust.
• Point fingers at the real threats to you, the hidden Guardians, so the Leader removes them.
• Hold off on unveiling. A hidden Assassin with mana open makes the Leader nervous, which is exactly what you want.

What to watch for

• Guardians with mana open on your turn. That is often an instant-speed answer waiting for your big play.
• The Leader’s ongoing ability. Some Leaders punish attackers or counter spells, so plan around them.
• Other players who seem to be on your side. Make sure they really are before committing to a joint attack.