1. Create the dice pool. Set the 17 unit dice in the dice pool.

2. Choose a boss. Select a boss to face and return the rest to the box.

3. Choose your hero. Select a hero and set your three stat dice to match its stats. Take the hero combat card associated with your hero and set it aside. Return the rest of the heroes and their hero combat cards to the box, as well as the hero combat card for universal heroes.

4. Prepare the cards. Shuffle the nine basic combat cards along with your hero’s combat card into a face-down combat deck. Then, separate the enemy cards by color and shuffle them into four enemy decks. Place these face-up as shown in the setup diagram on the play reference. Set aside the upgraded combat cards. Some of them may be added to the Combat Deck throughout play.

5. Prepare to fight. Set the dial on your chip to yellow . Then, draw a number of cards from the Combat Deck equal to your Strategy to form your starting hand.