Last Updated on March 31, 2025 by The Official Game Rules Team

Grandpa Beck’s is known for taking classic card games and adding a unique theme with fresh gameplay elements. Reign of Dragoness is a hand-shedding and climbing game related to the classic Big Two. Players aim to be the first to empty their hand by playing different patterns in ascending rank to a pile. If a player cannot (or chooses not to) play, they may pass, which can help save powerful cards for later rounds.

---

This post contains affiliate links. For more information, see our disclosures here.

How to Play Reign of Dragoness

---

Objective

The player with the highest score at the end of the fifth round wins.

Number of Players

3 – 8 players

What’s in the Box

The game includes:

• 100-card deck featuring eight suits, each with twelve dragon cards (numbered 1–12). Suits are ranked low to high: Lochen, Frond, Cyklone, Aetherie, Safyre, Ridge, Merc, and Gylden. The number of jewels below a card’s number indicates its suit rank.
• 9 special cards with unique abilities to assist players.
• 5 reference cards for easy gameplay guidance.
• 1 thematic recipe card, a signature feature of Grandpa Beck’s games.

---

Setup

The deck composition depends on the number of players:

• 2–4 players: Use five suits plus one Dragoness, Page, Squire, Dragon Knight, and Revive.
• 5 players: Add one more suit and one Revive.
• 6 players: Include seven suits, two Pages, and two Revives.
• 7–8 players: Use all suits and special cards.

Dealing

1. Shuffle the deck.
2. Deal 13 cards to each player.
3. Place any undealt cards aside.
4. Ensure all players have access to the reference cards.

---

Gameplay

Determining the First Player

Whoever holds the lowest-ranking card in their hand goes first. The dealer asks for the Lochen 1, then the Frond 1, and so on until the lowest card is found. That player plays the first pattern, including the identified card.

Playing Patterns

There are three pattern types:

1. Single – One card.
2. Set – Two to five cards of the same number.
3. Run – Three to five cards in numerical sequence.

Each player must play a stronger pattern of the same type or pass. A stronger pattern is determined by:

• Higher numbers
• Higher-ranked suits (if numbers are the same)

Players who pass cannot rejoin until the pile is cleared or a Revive card is played.

Winning a Challenge

When all players pass, the last person to play a pattern wins the challenge and starts a new pile with a pattern of their choice.

---

Special Cards

Dragoness

• The most powerful card (rank 13).
• Can be played as a single or part of a run, but not in a set.
• A Revive card cannot reset a pile containing a Dragoness.

Dragon Knight

• Wild card representing any number in the Gylden suit.
• Always counts as 12 when played as a single.

Page & Squire

• Page: Wild card for 1–8 in the Lochen suit (counts as 8 if played alone).
• Squire: Wild card for 9–12 in the Lochen suit (counts as 9 if played alone).

Revive

• Allows a player to reset the pile.
• The same player must immediately play a new lower pattern.
• Cannot be played on Dragoness, a 12, or a Dragon Knight (as a 12).

---

Scoring & Winning

End of a Round

A round ends when a player empties their hand. If a player has only Revive cards left, their hand is considered empty.

Points

• 3 points – First player to empty their hand.
• 2 points – Player with the second fewest cards.
• 1 point – Player with the third fewest cards.
• Ties:
  • If two players tie for second place, both get 2 points (no third-place points awarded).
  • If multiple players tie for third, all get 1 point.

Winning the Game

The player with the most points after five rounds wins the game.

Similar Shedding Card Games:

• Big Two – A classic climbing card game that inspired Reign of Dragoness.
• Tichu – A team-based climbing game with special cards and strategic play.
• President – Players aim to get rid of their cards first to claim the highest rank.
• Haggis – A climbing game similar to Tichu but designed for fewer players.