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Yggdrasil Play by Play

Yggdrasil is one of our favorite co-op games, and we especially like that it’s based on Norse mythology. Usually we play a 2 player game, but we’ve played with up to 6 people. Maybe it’s just the way we play or our strategy, but we think a 6 player game is much more challenging than a 2-4 player game. I don’t think we’ve managed to win with 6 players. When you play with fewer people, the game can be different every time depending on which gods you play as.

No matter which gods you play as, we’ve found a few strategies that work for us:

  • We work to remove all the Fire Giants from the white bag and continually fill it with Vikings. This way when the Valkyries are sent back to the beginning, we don’t have to travel down the whole line of islands to find a bag with Vikings.
  • No matter how many people we play with we get weapons for more than just 1 enemy. In a 3 player game I’ll have two +3 weapons and one +1 or +2 weapon. That way we can help each other, especially when the shuffle puts 3 Surt cards in a row, for example.
  • We always try to have what we call “Elf Insurance.” We like to have an Elf we can use just in case we need it.

So it’s no surprise that we mostly visit Midgard, World of the Elves, Dwarven Forge, World of the Dead, and Asgard. We only go to the Ice Fortress when a Frost Giant really needs to be taken out, and I don’t think we’ve ever visited the World of Darkness because we never trade anything.

This time we played a 3 player game.

  • Space Cat: Odin – draw the top 2 cards of enemy deck and chooses which to encounter then places the other card either on the top or bottom of deck
  • Chubby Unicorn: Freyja – can perform two actions in the same world
  • Professor: Frey – can perform a total of 4 actions

Chubby Unicorn – drew Nidhogg who pulled Hel along with

  1. Dwarven Forge – Gungnir +1
  2. Midgard – tried for Vikings from white bag but drew 3 Fire Giants
  3. Kingdom of Fire – removed 3 Fire Giants from white bag

Professor – drew Nidhogg who pulled Jormungand forward

  1. Kingdom of Fire – removed 2 Fire Giants from white bag
  2. Dwarven Forge – Draupnir +1
  3. World of the Elves – took 1 Elf
  4. Sacred Land – moved the Vanir 1 square forward

Space Cat – drew 2 Surt and put one on bottom then added 1 Fire Giant to black bag

  1. Dwarven Forge – Mimming +1
  2. World of the Elves – took 1 Elf
  3. Kingdom of Fire – removed 3 Fire Giants from white bag

Chubby Unicorn – drew Fenrir

  1. Calmed Fenrir
  2.  & 3. Dwarven Forge – Gungnir +3

Professor –  drew Surt and added 1 Fire Giant to black bag

  1. Kingdom of Fire – removed 3 Fire Giants from white bag
  2. World of the Dead – added 5 Vikings to white bag
  3. Dwarven Forge – Draupnir +2
  4. Midgard – drew 3 Vikings from white bag

Space Cat – drew Nidhogg and Fenrir, put Fenrir on bottom, and moved Nidhogg and Loki forward

  1. Dwarven Forge – Mimming +2
  2. Midgard – drew 3 Vikings from white bag
  3. Asgard – fought Surt: rolled 1 hammer and spent 2 Vikings to knock Surt back 1 (Mimming +2)

Chubby Unicorn – drew Jormungand and moved Submerged Island counter to blue island

  1. Midgard – drew 3 Vikings from white bag
  2. World of the Elves – took 1 Elf
  3. Asgard –  fought Nidhogg: rolled 2 hammers and spent 1 Viking to knock Nidhogg back 1 (Gungnir +3)

Professor – drew Fenrir

  1. Calmed Fenrir
  2. Kingdom of Fire – removed 1 Fire Giant from white bag
  3. World of the Dead – added 5 Vikings to white bag
  4. Asgard – fought Hel: rolled 0 hammers and spent 2 Vikings and an Elf to knock Hel back 1 (Draupnir +2)

Space Cat – drew Jormungand and Nidhogg, put Nidhogg on top of deck, and moved Submerged Island counter to green island

  1. Dwarven Forge – Mjollnir +1
  2. Midgard – drew 3 Vikings from white bag
  3. Asgard – fought Jormungand: rolled 0 hammers and spent 3 Vikings and an Elf to knock Jormungand back 1 (Mjollnir +1)

Chubby Unicorn – drew Nidhogg who pulled Hel forward

  1. Dwarven Forge – Hofund +1
  2. Midgard – drew 3 Vikings from white bag
  3. Asgard – fought Nidhogg: rolled 2 hammers and spent 2 Vikings to move Nidhogg back 1 (Gungnir +3)

Professor – drew Nidhogg who pulled Hel forward

  1. World of the Dead – added 5 Vikings to white bag
  2. Dwarven Forge – Gleipnir +1
  3. Midgard – drew 3 Vikings from white bag
  4. Asgard – fought Fenrir: rolled 2 hammers and spent 3 Vikings to knock Fenrir back 1 (Gleipnir +1)

Space Cat – drew Jormungand and Fenrir, put Fenrir on bottom, and moved Submerged Island counter to blue island

  1. Dwarven Forge – Mjollnir +2
  2. World of the Elves – took 1 Elf
  3. Asgard – fought Jormungand: rolled 3 hammers and spent 1 Viking to knock Jormungand back 1 (Mjollnir +2)

Chubby Unicorn – drew Jormungand and moved Submerged Island counter to white island

  1. Asgard – fought Nidhogg: rolled 1 hammer and spent 2 Vikings to knock Nidhogg back 1 (Gungnir +3)
  2. World of the Dead – added 5 Vikings to white bag
  3. World of the Elves – took 1 Elf

Professor – drew Jormungand and moved Submerged Island counter to white island

  1. Dwarven Forge – Draupnir +3
  2. Midgard – drew 3 Vikings from white bag
  3. World of the Elves – took 1 Elf
  4. Asgard – fought Hel: rolled 3 hammers and spent 1 Viking to knock Hel back 1 (Draupnir +3)

Space Cat – drew Surt and Fenrir, put Fenrir on the bottom, and added 1 Fire Giant to blue bag

  1. Dwarven Forge – Mjollnir +3
  2. Midgard – drew 3 Vikings from white bag
  3. Asgard – fought Jormungand: rolled 3 hammers and spent 2 Viking to knock Jormungand back 1 (Mjollnir +3)

Chubby Unicorn – drew Loki and flipped over Frost Giant: can no longer access World of the Elves

  1. Dwarven Forge – Hofund +2
  2. Asgard – fought Nidhogg: rolled 0 hammers and spent 2 Elves to move Nidhogg back 1 (Gungnir +3)
  3. World of the Dead – added 5 Vikings to white bag

Professor – drew Surt and added 1 Fire Giant to blue bag

  1. Dwarven Forge – Gleipnir +2
  2. Midgard – drew 3 Vikings from white bag
  3. Asgard – fought Hel: rolled 0 hammers and spent 1 Viking and 1 Elf to knock Hel back 1 (Draupnir +3)
  4. World of the Dead – added 5 Vikings to white bag

Space Cat – drew Loki and Jormungand, put Loki on the bottom, and moved Submerged Island counter to white island

  1. Midgard – drew 3 Vikings from white bag
  2.  Ice Fortress – spent 2 Vikings and 1 Elf to defeat Frost Giant: World of the Elves is accessible again
  3. Asgard – fought Jormungand: rolled 0 hammers and spent 2 Vikings but was unable to knock Jormungand back (Mjollnir +3)

Chubby Unicorn – drew Nidhogg who pulled Fenrir forward

  1. Midgard – drew 3 Vikings from white bag
  2. World of the Elves – took 1 Elf
  3. Asgard – fought Loki: rolled 1 hammer and spent 2 Vikings to knock Loki back 1 (Hofund +2)

Professor – drew Hel took 1 Viking out of the green bag

  1. Dwarven Forge – Gleipnir +3
  2. World of the Dead – added 5 Vikings to white bag
  3. World of the Elves – took 1 Elf
  4. Asgard – fought Fenrir: rolled 1 hammer and spent 1 Viking to knock Fenrir back 1 (Gleipnir +3)

Space Cat – drew Surt and Loki, put Loki on bottom, and added 2 Fire Giants to white bag

  1. World of the Elves – took 1 Elf
  2. Midgard – drew 1 Viking from white bag and returned 2 Fire Giants
  3. Dwarven Forge – Mimming +3

Chubby Unicorn – drew Hel took 1 Viking out of the white bag

  1. Dwarven Forge – Hofund +3
  2. Dwarven Forge – Gleipnir +1
  3. Midgard – drew 2 Vikings from white bag and returned 1 Fire Giant

Professor – drew Jormungand and moved Submerged Island counter to white island

  1. Kingdom of Fire – removed 1 Fire Giant from white bag
  2.  Asgard – fought Hel: rolled 1 hammers and spent 1 Viking to knock Hel back 1 (Draupnir +3)
  3. World of the Elves – took 1 Elf
  4. Dwarven Forge – Mjollnir +1

Space Cat – drew Hel and Loki, put Hel on top, and flipped over Frost Giant: Jormungand +1

  1. World of the Dead – added 5 Vikings to white bag
  2. Midgard – drew 3 Vikings from white bag
  3. Asgard – fought Jormungand: rolled 0 hammers and spent 3 Vikings and 1 Elf to knock Jormungand back 1 (Mjollnir +3)

Chubby Unicorn – drew Hel and removed 1 Viking from white bag

  1. Asgard – fought Loki: rolled 0 hammers and spent 1 Viking and 1 Elf to knock Loki back 1 (Hofund +3)
  2. World of the Elves – took 1 Elf
  3. Asgard – fought Nidhogg: rolled 2 hammers and spent 1 Viking to move Nidhogg back 1 (Gungnir +3)

Professor – drew Fenrir

  1. Calmed Fenrir
  2. Kingdom of Fire – removed 1 Fire Giant from white bag
  3. Ice Fortress – rolled 2 hammers and spent 1 Viking to defeat Frost Giant: Jormungand no longer +1
  4. World of the Dead – added 5 Vikings to white bag
  5. (Oops!) Dwarven Forge – Mjollnir +2

Space Cat – drew Hel and Loki, put Loki on top, and removed 1 Viking from blue bag

  1. World of the Elves – took 1 Elf
  2. Midgard – drew 3 Vikings from white bag
  3. Asgard – fought Jormungand: rolled 0 hammers and spent 2 Vikings and 1 Elf to knock Jormungand back 1 (Mjollnir +3)

Chubby Unicorn – drew Loki and flipped over Frost Giant: Fenrir +1

  1. Midgard – drew 3 Vikings from white bag
  2.  Asgard – fought Loki: rolled 2 hammers and spent 1 Viking to knock Loki back 1 (Hofund +3)
  3. Asgard – fought Loki: rolled 0 hammers and spent 1 Viking and 1 Elf to knock Loki back 1 (Hofund +3)

Professor – drew Fenrir

  1. Failed to calm Fenrir
  2. Calmed Fenrir
  3. Asgard – fought Fenrir: rolled 2 hammers and spent 1 Viking to knock Fenrir back 1 (Gleipnir +3)
  4. World of the Dead – added 5 Vikings to white bag

Space Cat – drew Loki and Surt, put Surt on bottom, and flipped over Frost Giant: World of the Dead not accessible

  1. World of the Elves – took 1 Elf
  2. Asgard – fought Surt: rolled 0 hammers and spent 2 Vikings and 1 Elf to knock Surt back 1 (Mimming +3)
  3. Midgard – drew 3 Vikings from white bag

Chubby Unicorn – drew Hel and removed 2 Vikings from white bag

  1. World of the Elves – took 1 Elf
  2. Ice Fortress – rolled 2 hammers and spent 2 Vikings  to defeat Frost Giant: World of the Dead is accessible again
  3. World of the Dead – added 5 Vikings to white bag

Professor – drew Nidhogg who pulled Fenrir forward

  1. Midgard – drew 3 Vikings from white bag
  2. Asgard – fought Fenrir: rolled 2 hammers and spent 1 Viking to knock Fenrir back 1 (Gleipnir +3)
  3. Sacred Land – Moved Vanir forward 1
  4. World of the Dead – added 5 Vikings to white bag

Space Cat – drew 2 Hel, put 1 on bottom, and removed 2 Vikings from blue bag

  1. World of the Elves – took 1 Elf
  2. Asgard – fought Surt: rolled 2 hammers and spent 1 Viking to knock Surt back 1 (Mimming +3)
  3. Sacred Land – Moved Vanir forward 1

Chubby Unicorn – drew Loki and flipped over Frost Giant: Frost Giants +1

  1. Midgard – drew 3 Vikings from white bag
  2. Asgard – fought Loki: rolled 2 hammers and spent 1 Viking to knock Loki back 1 (Hofund +3)
  3. Dwarven Forge – Gleipnir +2

Professor – drew Surt and added 1 Fire Giant to blue bag

  1. World of the Elves – took 1 Elf
  2. Midgard – drew 3 Vikings from white bag
  3. Asgard – fought Hel: rolled 2 hammers and spent 2 Vikings to knock Hel back 1 (Draupnir +3)
  4. World of the Dead – added 5 Vikings to white bag

Space Cat – drew 2 Fenrir and put 1 on bottom

  1. Calmed Fenrir
  2. Asgard – fought Surt: rolled 1 hammers and spent 1 Viking to knock Surt back 1 (Mimming +3)
  3. Dwarven Forge – Gleipnir +1

Chubby Unicorn – drew Fenrir

  1. Failed to calm Fenrir
  2. Calmed Fenrir
  3. Ice Fortress – rolled 0 hammers and spent 2 Vikings but could not defeat Frost Giant

Professor – drew Loki and flipped over Frost Giant: cannot use weapons when fighting

  1. Midgard – drew 3 Vikings from white bag
  2. Ice Fortress – spent 4 Vikings to defeat Frost Giant: weapons useable again
  3. Asgard – fought Fenrir: rolled 2 hammers and spent 2 Viking to knock Fenrir back 1 (Gleipnir +3)
  4. World of the Dead – added 5 Vikings to white bag

Space Cat – drew Loki and Surt, put Loki on top, and added 1 Fire Giant to white bag

  1. Midgard – drew 2 Vikings from white bag and returned 1 Fire Giant
  2. Ice Fortress – rolled 3 hammers and spent 3 Vikings to defeat Frost Giant: Fenrir no longer +1
  3. Sacred Land – Moved Vanir forward 1

Chubby Unicorn – drew Loki and flipped over 2 Frost Giants: World of Darkness no longer accessible and Hel +1

  1. Midgard – drew 3 Vikings from white bag
  2. Asgard – fought Fenrir: rolled 3 hammers and spent 2 Viking to knock Fenrir back 1 (Gleipnir +2)
  3. Sacred Land – moved Vanir back to starting space and moved Fenrir back 1

Professor – drew Hel and removed 3 Vikings from blue bag

  1. Midgard – drew 2 Vikings from white bag and returned 1 Fire Giant
  2. Asgard – fought Hel: rolled 2 hammers and spent 2 Vikings and 1 Elf to knock Hel back 1 (Draupnir +3)
  3. Kingdom of Fire – removed 1 Fire Giant from white bag
  4. World of the Dead – added 5 Vikings to white bag

Space Cat – drew Fenrir

  1. Calmed Fenrir
  2. Midgard – drew 3 Vikings from white bag
  3. Asgard – fought Surt: rolled 1 hammer and spent 2 Vikings to knock Surt back 1 (Mimming +3)

We win!

Having Odin was definitely a huge help. Basically whenever we could put Fenrir on the bottom, we did. We hate it when Fenrir comes up because you have to use at least your first action to calm him. By putting him on the bottom whenever Space Cat drew him, we were able to be better prepared to keep him back (Professor had the +3 weapon, I had +2, and Space Cat had +1). It also made it easy to plan which enemy to take out when we got towards the end. We knew we had a bunch of Fenrir at the bottom, so we got to the point when we didn’t need to worry about drawing certain enemies. Frey’s ability to take 4 actions was also helpful, especially for keeping the white bag Fire Giant-free and full of Vikings.

At first we thought getting Vanir to the last space would be the most useful (being able to search the Frost Giant deck for a rune piece), but near the end we realized that we still wouldn’t be able to complete a rune. Plus the only rune we were closest on wouldn’t be that helpful (distributing 15 Vikings if they’re available in the World of the Dead – rarely did we allow more than 5 vikings to pile up in the World of the Dead). So instead we decided we’d use Vanir to knock Fenrir back 1.

I guess I never realized how quick the game is despite the decisions each player has to make. The box says 90 minutes, but we finished in just over an hour! Probably another reason we like this game.

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