Harry Potter: Defenders of Hogwarts Guide

What is Defenders of Hogwarts?

Defenders of Hogwarts is a board game for 2 to 5 players from Studio MinaLima, the design house behind the graphic props of the Harry Potter films. Hogwarts has been infiltrated and Voldemort is on his way. One player leads the Dark Forces. The others each represent a house and race to prepare the castle's defences.

It looks cooperative at first glance, but it is not. The students share an enemy and a clock, yet only one of them can win, by being first to collect two Defence Shields. The Dark Arts Player wins by completing the Dark Arts Path and gathering followers on one location. Some news sites call it the new Harry Potter RPG; here is why it is really a board game.

Two sides, two different races

House Players

One to four students, each playing a house. Move three pawns, learn spells, collect a book, a scroll and a key item.

Goal: be the first to hold 2 Defence Shields.

Dark Arts Player

One player leads the Dark Forces. Deploy followers, bump students and push the Dark Arts Path forward.

Goal: take all 3 Progress Tokens, then gather followers on the target location.

Latest updates

News about the game and changes to this guide, newest first.

28 October 2026: Added a main-action helper and worked turn examples; clarified our sources and buying checks.
24 October 2026: New shipping FAQ for backers and an arrival checklist to check every component in your box. Two unboxing videos added to videos and links.
23 October 2026: MinaLima shows the outer packaging of UK, EU and US orders.
22 October 2026: Fulfilment is officially underway. Wave 1 ships in October, late surveys in Wave 2 in late November. Shipping waves explained.
15 October 2026: Games reach the fulfilment centres; the pledge manager locks and refunds end. A typhoon briefly delayed the Kickstarter exclusives.
12 October 2026: The official How to Play video is now embedded on how to play.

Full release and shipping tracker

At the table?

Choose your player count in the setup checklist, check a turn with the main-action helper, or use the shield planner to find your next missing item.

Visual guides

Every rule that people ask about, drawn as a one-glance diagram.

WinningThe Defence Shield recipe

Book + scroll + Detector or coin. Two shields win.

TurnsA House Player's turn

Explore, Learn or Replenish, plus free actions.

Dark sideThe Dark Arts Path

Three zones, three tokens and the 3-2-1 finale.

TrackLoyalty Track and the Room

How the Dark Detector and D.A. Coins appear.

CardsReading a card

Movement values, types, reactive effects and zones.

SetupTable layout and checklist

Pawns by player count, ticked off step by step.

BoardMap of every location

The 7 × 7 grid, shield spaces, token rooms and all 33 Path spaces.

CardsCard lists

Both starter decks, all 11 Library Books, key spells and events.

TermsGlossary A to Z

Every term from Acquire Row to White Zone.

More Harry Potter board games

Waiting for your copy, or want a game you can buy today? Hogwarts Battle has been in shops since 2016.

Co-opHogwarts Battle guide

The seven-game campaign, heroes, rules and expansions.

ShopsWhere to buy Hogwarts Battle

Base game, expansions and card sleeves.

ListThe best Harry Potter board games

What is in shops in 2026 and who each game suits.

CompareDefenders vs Hogwarts Battle

Rivals or a team: which one fits your group.

MysteryClue Harry Potter guide

The Hogwarts die, Dark Mark cards and house points.

Hidden rolesUnmask the Death Eaters guide

Every role, curse and battle, with tips for both sides.

Quick answers

Is Defenders of Hogwarts cooperative?

Partly. All House Players face the same Dark Arts Player, but each student wins alone by collecting two Defence Shields first. Think of it as a race with a shared enemy.

How many players do you need?

Two to five. One player is always the Dark Arts Player, so a two-player game is one student against the Dark Forces.

Is it a video game?

No. It is a tabletop board game with cards, pawns and a map of Hogwarts. Some headlines call it an RPG because each player takes on a role.

Does your Hogwarts house change how you play?

According to the rulebook, every house starts with the same seven starter cards. The house is your colour and identity at the table rather than a different power set.

All questions and answers