I won’t go into immense detail about all the Scythe expansions and promo items here. I’ll be assuming you have a knowledge of what is contained inside each expansion. My goal is to give you a sense as to which items I think change the game in a positive way, so you can make an educated decision on how to spend your money! I do think everything has something positive to offer, some just offer more than others.
Disclaimer: All links are amazon affiliate links, so I do get a small kickback should you purchase using the link.
Invaders from Afar
The very first expansion to Scythe is a great one! A must-have for any Scythe lover. The quality carries over from the base game in all aspects. The two new factions, Albion and Togawa complete the board and allow for 7 player games. This is good news for board game groups and people with large friend groups. They also add a very different style of play into the mix as they are the only factions that do not have a speed mech. Additionally, both factions have the ability to lay down a token after movement. Togawa lays down traps and Albion flags. More on the mechanics and playstyles in a faction specific post later. Lastly, to accommodate two new factions there are also two new player mats to explore.
The Daily Scythe Score: 10/10
Get it on Amazon here!
The Wind Gambit
Did I zoom around the room with my newly acquired airships the day I received the Wind Gambit? Yes, doesn’t everyone? Unfortunately, that is the most fun I have had with the Wind Gambit expansion, sorry Jamey. Ok so it’s not that bad, but it also doesn’t really add much to the game. The airships themselves are sweet looking and feel intimidating to put on the board. Functionally they fall a little short and are reduced mostly to worker movers. The win contingencies are fun the first several times you play through them, as they do force you to adopt a different strategy than you might normally use. But, I am partial to just good old Scythe.
I have to admit, this one is highly subjective guys. I have friends who really like airships and want to play with them every time. To be clear, I’m glad I bought it and if someone wants to play with them it doesn’t bother me one bit. The Wind Gambit does add a layer of strategy and intrigue to the game which is wonderful to have as an option. Also, I think if you are a big fan of either Togawa or Albion you will find playing with airships fun as those factions do benefit from the extra movement options.
The Daily Scythe Score: 5/10
The Rise of Fenris Scythe Expansion
Wow. Mwah, Mwah. Fantastico! I seriously love The Rise of Fenris expansion, both for its campaign and the options it adds to normal games. I’m not going to say anything more here because much of this expansion is secret. If you haven’t already spoiled it for yourself I suggest you keep it that way and buy this expansion now! My wife and I use aspects of this expansion every time we play now.
The Daily Scythe Score: 10/10
Get it on Amazon here!
Promo Items/Realistic Resources
Since I am a total Scythe nerd I really like this mini-expansion. Each faction owning their own combat dial is a lot of fun. The new encounter, factory and objective cards add some bulk in much-needed areas. If you have been playing the base or even some of the Scythe expansions for a while now without the promos, I recommend getting them as the factory cards alone are worth spicing it up a bit. The tease of the few metal coins you get is the cherry on top of a good purchase.
And on that note, if you haven’t purchased the realistic resources you definitely should consider it! The original coins and resources are a little lackluster. The look and feel of the realistic resources are truly satisfying to play with. Dropping 6 metal cubes in a tiny pyramid is a personal favorite.
The Daily Scythe Score: 10/10
Get them on Amazon here and here!
Board & Encounter Scythe Expansions
The encounter card and modular board Scythe expansions are game-changing! Only Rise of Fenris offers more game-changing elements than these two mini-expansions. The modular board takes an already beautifully asymmetric game and gives it an element of randomness that vastly increases the replayability of Scythe. Going 1v1 with a friend? Shrink the board down by using only two of the mods and fight to the death! Combine this with the customizable options from Rise of Fenris and you have a unique game every single time!
Not to sound like too much of a fanboy, but the encounter card expansion is super rad as well. The first time I read through them with my wife we were constantly saying “Whoa, no way! Check this out!”. New encounters #43-74 retain some of the normal three-tier layout of gain this and that, spend this to gain that, and a more expensive spend this to gain that option. However, the majority of the cards offer totally new options ranging from new ways to earn stars, movement options, and more player interaction.
Lastly, the board extension item that makes the board 33% bigger is not worth it in my opinion. It is good in theory, but not so much in practice. The idea of more elbow room in a seven-player game (the only time it would be moderately worth it) is counteracted by the board itself taking up more table space. Additionally, it makes it harder to reach across the board and takes up more space around the edges of the table leaving less room for the player. Of course, this could be largely due to my table size and is fairly subjective. Also, there is an added crease in the board when used which is annoying…so yea.
The Daily Scythe Score: 7/10 (10/10 without the board extension)
Get the Encounters on Amazon here!
Final Thoughts on Scythe Expansions
Overall, the only product I wouldn’t recommend buying is the board extension. It’s only $15 bucks but I literally never use it, especially since you cant use it with the modular board. Scythe gets more and more fun with every expansion you buy, and I recommend getting all of them eventually. If you are wondering what one to buy next, I’d suggest purchasing the Rise of Fenris as it is the most game-changing and does not require any of the other expansions. Let me know what your favorite expansion is in the comments below!
Don’t have Scythe? Here is a link to my post on the base game https://thedailyscythe.com/scythe-board-game/ Happy gaming!
2 comments on “Expansions and Promo Items”
Andy W
June 10, 2020 at 4:05 pmTwo questions:
Thoughts on metal mechs? I had bought a set of the first printing intended as display models but then regretted now buying a set of four to use in the game (obviously cost played into my decision to only get one set). I didn’t follow through on buying a set from each of the subsequent printings. Was just wondering if you liked using them (my assumption is you do based on the website pictures).
Also, have you tried the neoprene mat? Obviously it doesn’t sold the modular issue you have with the board extension but it is a bit bigger than the normal board.
Thanks for your posts, I just discovered your site and am having a blast going through all your content.
TheDailyScythe
June 13, 2020 at 7:54 pmHey Andy!
The metal mechs are really cool in my opinion. That being said, I also own the metal coins and now also the sculpted resources. I love the game, so any upgrades seem worth it to me as they all add an extra element to the game. Maybe just adds to the immersion.
The neoprene board seems pretty cool. I haven’t used it, but have seen people use it to play Scythe during camping trips and such. I’d be tempted to pick one us just for the ease of use, and because I probably should check it out to have more of an opinion on it.