The Leader

Your goal

Stay alive until every Assassin and Traitor is out of the game. You start face up, you take the first turn, and your identity gives you an ongoing ability from turn one.

Strategy

• Read your identity before you keep a hand. Some Leaders reward attacking, some reward sitting back. Plan your first three turns around it.
• Don’t over-commit early. You are the only known target, and a board wipe from an Assassin hurts you more than anyone.
• You don’t know who your Guardians are either. Watch who blocks for you, who answers threats aimed at you, and who never quite gets around to it.
• Spend removal on whoever is actually threatening you this turn, not on whoever talks the loudest.
• Remember the Traitor needs you alive until the Assassins are gone. A Traitor can be your best friend for most of the game. Just don’t let them stay strong at the end.
• Keep mana open on other players’ turns when you can. Many Leader abilities and your instant-speed answers are your only defence against an unveil you can’t see coming.

How to bluff

• You can’t hide your role, but you can hide your plan. Be vague about which players you trust.
• Ask people to prove themselves: “If you’re my Guardian, kill that creature.” Their answer tells you plenty either way.
• Promise rewards to helpers. Even an empty promise can turn a wavering Traitor your way for a turn or two.

What to watch for

• Players holding up mana with no obvious instant to cast. That is often an unveil waiting to happen.
• Someone who always attacks a different player than you, but never helps you either. Classic Traitor.
• Commander damage. A 60-life Leader still dies to 21 from a single commander.
• Alliances forming around you. Two hidden Assassins don’t know each other at the start, but they figure it out fast.