All battles use a numeric enemy pool (EP) to set the levels of the enemy chips that are drawn and deployed to the battle map, unless otherwise specified. The EP is first calculated, and the level value of each enemy drawn (1, 5, 10, or 20) is subtracted from the EP’s points. When no EP remains, no more enemies are drawn. To calculate the EP value, multiply the party’s total XP as shown on the XP Dial by the number of adventurers. The EP must be spent as efficiently as possible— regardless of battle mode—so that each enemy drawn has the highest possible level. It is not necessary to fill all possible enemy hexes.

For example, the party has 2 adventurers and its XP Dial is set to 4, so the party’s current calculated EP is 8. In a clash battle, the party would draw and deploy a level 5 enemy, followed by 3 level 1 enemies.

• Any points remaining in the EP after all enemy hexes are occupied are not used.

• Enemies must be drawn one at a time from the bag that matches their level, then deployed with their correct level side faceup.

• Enemies are deployed differently in each mode of battle. Follow the rules for that mode.

• Some battles specify that a certain type of enemy or a specific, named enemy must be drawn. If a drawn chip does not meet the requirement, set it aside and redraw until the required chips are drawn. After all enemies are deployed, return the set-aside enemies to the bag. If not enough units of the specified type are available to draw, return the set-aside chips to their bag and continue drawing random enemies as normal until all required enemies are deployed.

• Some encounters name specific enemies that are added to the enemy pool and deployed. These enemies’ levels are not subtracted from the EP value, and they must be deployed even if their level exceeds the remaining EP value. If the specified enemy is not available, draw a random enemy of the matching level instead (if this is a quest unit, draw a level 20 enemy in its place).

Important: If the battle is part of the session’s final quest step, instead of calculating EP normally, the quest step specifies that you use the end of session difficulty EP.