Which Expansion

Arcs expansions

Base game: 2–4 players60–120 minLeder Games / Buried Giant Studios5 expansions checked
  1. #1 overall

    Arcs: The Blighted Reach

    Depends on your group

    BGG 8.85 from 2,352 ratings. Players call it sprawling with a big rules overhead, and report two rulebooks and C Fate disputes. Best for a fixed group doing three sessions.

    Needs: Just the base game

    Adds: A three-game campaign trilogy with 24 Fates, each with its own cards and pieces; the box holds the base game and has removable trays to save campaign progress.

    Expansion2–4 playersAdds more rulesBest for experienced groupsPrice: $60–$100
    DetailsReference:View on BoardGameGeekBuy:Buried Giant Shop
  2. #2 overall

    Arcs: Leaders & Lore Pack

    Most groups can skip

    BGG 8.54 from 1,669 ratings. A forum reply says it suits players who have used up the base game's Leaders and Lores, which takes many plays.

    Needs: Just the base game

    Adds: 8 new Leader cards for the base game and 14 new Lore cards that work in both the base and campaign games.

    Mini expansion2–4 playersAbout the same rules loadBest for experienced groupsPrice: Under $20
    DetailsReference:View on BoardGameGeekBuy:Buried Giant Shop

Need the base game?

Reference:View on BoardGameGeekBuy:Buried Giant Shop

Stuck between two?

Not yet ranked · 3

We don’t have enough solid reviews to rank these, so we aren’t recommending them yet. Here is what we know.

  • Arcs: Lost Vaults & Fated Leaders — New leaders including fated leaders with rule-altering pieces, a new court deck, a randomized map setup with Lost Vaults, and a fifth-player option with a new action card type.Expansion · 2–5 players · $40–$60
  • Arcs: Beyond the Reach — New Fates including the Invader and Scavenger, and a new secret agenda mechanism; a BackerKit update says twelve new Fates (six A, four B, two C).Expansion · 2–4 players · $40–$60
  • Arcs: Halls of Power — New political options: the Socialite and Reformer Fates and new negotiation tools and points of leverage.Expansion · 2–4 players · $20–$40

Arcs expansions: quick answers

Which Arcs expansion should I buy first?

Arcs: The Blighted Reach. BGG 8.85 from 2,352 ratings (base game 7.98 from 19,005), weight 4.54 vs 3.45. Forum players call the campaign sprawling with a big rules overhead, and report two rulebooks and disputes over C Fate balance. Worth it for a fixed group that will commit to three long sessions at about $100.

Is Arcs: The Blighted Reach worth it?

Our verdict: depends on your group. It adds: A three-game campaign trilogy with 24 Fates, each with its own cards and pieces; the box holds the base game and has removable trays to save campaign progress.

Arcs: The Blighted Reach or Arcs: Leaders & Lore Pack: which first?

We’d buy Arcs: The Blighted Reach first. See the side-by-side comparison for what each adds and needs.

Other games’ expansion guides

Rankings are our editorial picks, built from the reviews linked on each expansion page. Last checked 2026-10-15.