Heroes of the Sanctum: Echoes of the Firstborne (2026)

Rise up, champion. Season 3 begins!

Heroes of the Sanctum™ is a dark post-apocalyptic fantasy universe spanning games, books and more, set in a realm on the brink of collapse. After the Sanctum’s ancient prophecy of The Incursion comes to pass, the Primordial Pattern, the very fabric of creation, is torn apart. The Rift emerges, unleashing violent breaches through which corruption and unnatural abominations continue to pour into the realm.

As new Riftways tear into existence and entire regions fall to the horrors that spill forth, the Sanctum has desperately led an alliance of champions drawn from across a fractured and burning realm. Since the earliest days of The Incursion, its Edicts have sealed breaches, defended what remains, and sought to unite those brave enough to stand against extinction. Yet as the days have turned to years, corruption has begun to fester within the very heart of the alliance.

After immense struggle and immeasurable cost, creation clings by a thread. For The Incursion was not the end of prophecy, but its beginning. In the wake of sacrifice, the shadow of The Eschaton, the end of all things, draws ever closer… And yet, the Sanctum endures, clinging to its ancient path and calling upon its champions once more.

“Amidst the ruins of a broken realm, you are called to heal what cannot be mended, preserve what cannot be remade, and halt what cannot be stopped. This is your burden, for you are the prophecy made manifest.

By decree of the Sanctum, the Edict is given.”

Both of the Heroes of the Sanctum™ core sets provide the depth of a large-box game in a compact, portable format, making them ideal for gaming at home or on the move. Thanks to our amazing backers, our original flagship title, Heroes of the Sanctum: The Strategy Card Game™,was incredibly well received after Season 1 in 2024. Two years later, it still maintains an impressive 8.1 out of 10 on BoardGameGeek as of November 2026! :)

Designed to be highly modular and expandable, three Seasons of content extend Heroes of the Sanctum™ with all-new games, expansions, features and more! For true roleplaying enthusiasts, you can even add yourself as a hero in the game with our exclusive limited edition Custom Hero pledge!

Champion, the Sanctum requests your aid! The destiny of all that remains has fallen to you... Will you answer the call?

A Season is a collection of products set within a particular period of Heroes of the Sanctum™ history. Each Season builds upon the core games, moves the canonical history forwards, and reveals more of the universe through new games, books, expansions and other releases. 

You do not need to own complete Seasons to enjoy Heroes of the Sanctum™. Individual expansions simply require their relevant core game, so you can explore as much or as little of the universe as you choose.

A new Season does not replace what came before. It builds upon it, and can make what you already own even better with new features, enhancements and compatible content. Older Seasons are not made obsolete. We endeavour to infuse them with new life! The more of the universe you bring together, the richer everything becomes.

The origin of the Heroes of the Sanctum™ universe. Heroes, Quests, Enemies, Regions, Loot... Heroes Of The Sanctum: The Strategy Card Game™ has it all!

Before undertaking a quest, you must assemble a party of 4 champions to face the dangers of The Rift.

There are 12 standard heroes in the core game, each with unique actions for developing your own strategies and tactics!The Sanctum's Chosen and Scribe bonus heroes from previous Seasons are now included in the core set, bringing the total to 14 heroes before adding a single expansion!

Choose from 11 diverse quests! Objectives in these Standalone Quests include finding a relic, protecting villagers, exploring underground dungeons, cleansing contamination, defending a fort, escaping a region of The Rift, or battling epic threats!

Each quest includes a difficulty rating, estimated duration, setup instructions and unique events for countless hours of replayability. Heroes of the Sanctum™ also offers 3 Difficulty Modes that modify every quest!

Threats employ distinct behaviours and abilities, forcing you to adapt as the battle unfolds.

No matter the cost, you have been called to lead the last of the Sanctum's champions and crush the abominations seeping from The Rift!

Heroes journey through dangerous regions to complete their objectives. Each turn, Region cards flip to advance the narrative, transform the environment and unleash deadly effects!

Certain quests and events allow you to ADVANCE your heroes! Their Hero cards are flipped to reveal improved statistics.

As your heroes crush the threats of The Rift, they discover powerful Loot. Loot cards attach to Hero cards, and each Hero can carry a maximum of 2.

To best serve your tactics and objectives, heroes can move Loot between them to maximise the party’s effectiveness!

Learn how to play Heroes of the Sanctum: The Strategy Card Game™ with these official videos!

This section only demonstrates content from the Core Set of Heroes of the Sanctum: The Strategy Card Game™.

These videos were created using an earlier 2024 prototype. The core rules remain unchanged, although the final game features refined artwork and content, plus optional features such as Difficulty Modes.

📖 TUTORIAL 1/2: Game Setup & Basic Concepts

📖 TUTORIAL 2/2: How To Play

🗡️ PLAYTHROUGH: Contamination Quest

Watch a FULL solo playthrough of Contamination, one of the 11 Standalone Quests in the Core Game! We recommend watching the tutorials first! :)

Heroes of The Sanctum: The Strategy Card Game™ utilises synergistic gameplay and a strong visual sense of location!

Heroes are paired around banners that must be defended alongside their Battle Lines. These Sanctum Banners use arcane energies to pool the health of nearby heroes. Be warned, adjacent heroes share not only health, but damage and even death!

Heroes often stand near special objects and places. The Nearest Hero can interact with Proximities to gain perks or prevent negative effects.

The core game includes many double-sided Proximity cards, including treasure chests, characters, crypts, traps, buildings, places and even infernos!

All heroes have double-sided Hero Tokens matching their Hero card icon. Each turn, these tokens are used with Stratagem cards to perform actions.

Stratagem cards provide tactical narrative, the turn’s Action Points and Available Actions. Plan carefully and make every point count!

There are 8 core Hero Actions available depending on the current Stratagem: Attack, Heal, Defend, Scout, Use, Taunt, Assist and Move! Which heroes you utilise, which actions you perform and in what order depends on your leadership and strategy!

All heroes have a PASSIVE Effect and UNIQUE Action. PASSIVE Effects typically improve core Hero Actions, while UNIQUE Actions unlock powerful behaviours at key moments!

Make no mistake, this has the depth of a huge game packed into a portable box! Heroes of the Sanctum: TSCG is absolutely loaded with content!

NOTE: The graphic above shows the original 12 Hero Cards and matching Hero Tokens. Current Kickstarter copies also include Sanctum’s Chosen and Scribe, bringing the total to 14 heroes. Expansion components are shown in their own sections!

These are the original Season One expansions from 2024! Revisit the Kickstarter video below:

SEASON ONE - The Story So Far...

“Sacred tomes speak of a rift between our realm and the darkness. A time where ancient manifestations of the dark will force us all to the edge of extinction. It is foretold that the last of the Sanctum’s champions will stand between the coming terrors and oblivion. That time has finally come to pass…”

As the realm burns, heroes emerge as architects of their own destinies, forging paths of valour through perilous quests!

Ascend to greatness in the Multiplayer Expansion of Heroes of the Sanctum™! Up to 4 players control their own Heroes, working together against the demonic hordes. Discover Skillsets, Skill Sheets, Action Trackers, Action Grids and an all-new Multiplayer Hero Phase!

NOTE: In the core game’s Collaboration Mode, players share control of the party using the solo rules rather than controlling individual Heroes. We recommend the Multiplayer Expansion for a true multiplayer experience!

In the Multiplayer Expansion, each of the 4 Heroes has their own Skillset containing a Skill Sheet, Action Tracker and Hero Token, giving players direct control over individual Heroes while working towards shared objectives.

NOTE: A Compact Multiplayer Layout is also included for smaller tables!

Skill Sheets display each Hero’s abilities and include space for equipping and managing Loot.

The Multiplayer Stratagem deck replaces standard Available Action slots with the new Action Grid. Each Hero’s Battle Line determines which actions are available: red, blue, or both. Players must coordinate movement to reach optimal positions and execute their strategy.

Each Hero also has an Action Tracker. By default, players cannot reassign the same action used in the previous round, with Hero Tokens tracking their choices. A green X slot tracks each Hero’s UNIQUE Action.

Each round, a Standard Bearer leads the Threat, Region and Quest phases, proposes strategy and sets the order of player actions. Players remain free to dissent, forcing the Standard Bearer to adapt or push forward at the cost of unity.

The Multiplayer Expansion also includes 2 new Quests playable in Multiplayer or Solo, plus 2 Epic Threats: the Riftwalker and Doombringer!

Hybrid Mode gives Solo players a larger layout that integrates Multiplayer Skill Sheets for clearer visualisation of Hero actions, stats and Loot!

NOTE: The graphic above shows the original 12 Hero Skill Sheets. Current Kickstarter copies also include Sanctum’s Chosen and Scribe, bringing the total to 14!

As the Incursion ravages the land, only your leadership can turn the tide of war. The Sanctum’s reinforcements have arrived!

Delve deeper with the Epic Expansion! Discover 6 new Heroes, triple the Loot, plus new Quests, Regions and Proximities! Hero Skill Sheets are included for the optional Multiplayer Expansion, while the all-new Companion feature lets Heroes recruit characters, pets and more!

This optional add-on adds 6 all-new Heroes, each with a Skill Sheet for Multiplayer and Hybrid modes!

Deploy the melee mastery of the Vanguard, scout harder with the Pathfinder, manipulate Proximities and Regions with the Geomancer, target 2 Threats with the Hunter, banish Threats and mimic other Heroes with the Enchantress, or unleash the rage of the Berserker. Mix and match their abilities to create new tactics and strategies!

6 Skill Sheets for the new Heroes are included for use in Multiplayer and Hybrid Solo Mode!

This expansion includes 33 all-new Loot cards, more than tripling the deck’s variety. Among them is the new Companion subtype, allowing pets, spirits and allies to follow Heroes and grant unique abilities. 

In Protect The Child, your Heroes must escape a daemon-infested dungeon by disarming Proximities and navigating the Unholy Labyrinth. One Hero protects the child, gaining bonus health and defence but losing the ability to attack, while custom Proximities and Quest Tokens create escalating dangers.

In Defend the Kul’dan Citadel, hold the line against the Dreadfiend as serpent-like Dreadspawns breach the castle walls. Each Dreadspawn brings unique penalties, while the Dreadfiend grows stronger for every one in play. This is a battle of endurance, and failure is not an option!

The Incursion grows darker, but you shall carry the light of the Sanctum's justice!

The Incursion looms as the ultimate campaign of survival unfolds. Heroes rise and fall, and the existence of all things hangs in the balance!

Introducing the Comic Campaign, a unique fusion of Graphic Novel and GameBook! Survive the opening events of The Incursion through a seamless narrative of Quests, all-new mechanisms and multiple endings!

In the opening pages, witness ancient manifestations of darkness tear through existence as the Sanctum rallies emissaries and unites the living against a demonic scourge bent on purging all life from the realm!

Assemble 12 Champions and choose from multiple Difficulty Modes, including the brutal Legend setting. Fallen Heroes are lost forever. Push towards a climactic showdown and one of 4 gripping endings. Will you emerge as the Heroes foretold by the ancients?

Completing a Quest is only the beginning. Victory or defeat grants Traits, Loot and consequences that shape the campaign. Survive, and your party descends deeper into the narrative, where every choice pushes you closer to the brink.

Traits are party-wide effects lasting the entire campaign. Win a Quest to gain a positive Trait and bonus Loot. Fail, and those Heroes are lost while the party gains a negative Trait. Save a burning village and gain PYROSHIELD. Fail, and you become PYROPHOBIC.

As the Season One campaign reaches its conclusion, 4 dramatic endings await. Your decisions determine the fate of the realm as creation teeters on the brink. In failure, only oblivion awaits.

Embrace your destiny as a true Hero of the Sanctum, for the time to rise is now!

These are the products from Season Two in 2025! Revisit the story so far with the trailer below:

SEASON TWO - The Story So Far...

The Temple of the Third Eye stands on the brink of destruction. Once a sanctuary of forbidden knowledge, it is now a stronghold of darkness where corrupted Warlocks construct Riftways to the realm of the demon. But not all have fallen. The Remnant, Warlocks who resisted the Rift’s dark energies, struggle to reclaim their homeland. With the Sanctum at their side, they must strike before the corruption spreads beyond control. The redemption of the Remnant is at hand. Rise, Champion, and take your place among the Heroes of the Sanctum, for these are the Legends of the Damned!

Dark Warlocks construct Riftways to the realm of the demon. Uncover the source of corruption before the realm falls to ruin!

Legends of the Damned is a massive campaign expansion for Heroes of the Sanctum: The Strategy Card Game™, introducing the Quest Deck system where every choice shapes the story. Face new Threats, master Proximity Lines, claim enhanced Sanctum Banners and wield Advanced Loot. Battle through 3 epic chapters with 7 possible endings, recruit 4 Remnant Companions and unlock powerful Traits. Many features can also be used in your existing Standalone Quests!

This mega expansion includes more content than all three Season One expansions combined!

A New Layer of Strategy: Proximity Lines add new tactical depth! Multiple Proximities can now exist near the same Hero, stacked horizontally like Battle Lines. The Nearest Hero can interact with, or suffer the effects of, every Proximity in their line.

Your Choices Shape the Story: The new Quest Deck System drives an evolving adventure across multiple chapters, establishing objectives, presenting choices and determining your path forward. With 46 Quest Deck cards, every decision can lead to new outcomes and challenges!

Forge Your Path: Quest Introduction and Narrative cards present diverging paths, each leading to a unique Choice Outcome. Some decisions also grant powerful Trait cards that leave a lasting mark on the campaign.

Defy Defeat: Quest Battle cards may offer multiple paths to victory or defeat without ending the campaign. Quest Outcome cards carry the consequences forward, with triumph bringing rewards and failure leaving lasting scars.

Shape Your Legacy: Trait cards grant party-wide bonuses that persist throughout the campaign. Trait - Narrative cards reflect your decisions, while Trait - Tactics cards unlock abilities through aggression, resilience or control.

Evolve Your Strategy: Tactical Ascension cards bring Traits into your existing Standalone Quests. When drawn from the Loot Deck, they’re replaced with a random Trait - Tactics card, granting new abilities mid-battle.

Rally Your Strength: Enhanced Sanctum Banners appear in the Loot Deck, offering strategic buffs that can be swapped between Heroes using ASSIST actions.

Power for the Worthy: Advanced Loot introduces powerful treasures with the ADVANCED keyword, usable only by Heroes who have mastered their path.

Allies or Sacrifices: Recruit powerful Remnant Companions that grant potent abilities when attached to a Hero, but may ultimately be sacrificed in the struggle!

The Realm Trembles: Face 14 new Threat cards, including 7 unique enemies and powerful Level 4 Threats. Add them to your Standalone Quests for fresh dangers!

Struggle Through Three Epic Chapters: The second half of the booklet contains the complete campaign, presented in the narrative-driven style of the Comic Campaign!

Your Choices Shape Fate: Forge your legend through 7 dramatic endings. Every decision carves a path towards salvation or doom. Will you rise as a Hero of the Sanctum, or will darkness claim all?

Descend alone into the dark fantasy universe of Heroes of the Sanctum™ in a portable solo card-and-dice dungeon crawler!

"The Incursion has plunged our realm into chaos, leaving only ash and despair in its wake. With extinction drawing ever closer, the Sanctum turns to you—alone—to descend into the abyss of ancient, underground ruins, where the spawn of the Rift fester in the vile corruption of dark energies. Their ranks grow stronger, their reach darker, and if left unchallenged, they will devour all that remains..."

"Few possess the courage to step willingly into the grasp of death, but the time for hesitation has long passed. Enter the lair of demons, confront the horrors that writhe within, and strike against the darkness! Go forth, champion. Step boldly into near-certain doom and carve salvation from the brink of annihilation. Should you ascend from the darkness, your sacrifice will be etched into eternity, immortalised by the Sanctum’s highest honour: the Seal of the Doomcrawler.

By decree of the Sanctum, the edict is given."

Heroes of the Sanctum: Doomcrawler™ is a fully self-contained, action-packed game portable enough to take anywhere! It also includes 4 secret Reward Packs that unlock bonus content for both Doomcrawler™ and The Strategy Card Game™!

Choose your Champion: the precision of The Sanctum’s Chosen, devastating power of the Pyromage, arcane armour of the Thunderhammer, or restorative abilities of the Lightbringer. Perhaps more Heroes can be found along the way?

Each game round in Heroes Of The Sanctum: Doomcrawler™ loops over the Hero Phase and Dungeon Phase. Escape every Dungeon in the Dungeon Stack to claim victory.

The game begins with the Hero Phase!

Players UPDATE their hero’s Dice Track by moving the yellow die to the next position, unlocking bonus abilities or free actions for the round.

Players then perform 2 ACTIVE Hero Skill cards, resolving their Action Lists from top to bottom. Each Hero has a Unique Skill alongside 4 shared Core Skills: ATTACK, ESCAPE, QUEST and REST. Most Skill cards are then DEACTIVATED, limiting future options and adding strategic tension.

ATTACK SKILL: Strike down enemies infesting the underground! Roll higher than the Threat’s Difficulty Level to hit. The game includes 26 unique Threats, each with distinct stats and abilities. Epic Threats use purple Dice Tracks, higher difficulty and PASSIVE effects. Only the bravest survive!

ESCAPE SKILL: Flee the current Dungeon by rolling higher than its Difficulty Level. To win, survive the entire Dungeon Stack and emerge alive. Will you escape the darkness, or be consumed by it?

QUEST SKILL: Target 1 of 3 active Side Quests and roll higher than its Difficulty Level to progress. Side Quests bring both rewards and risks. Choose wisely, as your actions may shape the journey.

REST SKILL: Wounded Heroes can REST to recover. Roll higher than your current health to heal. Afterwards, used Skill cards are ACTIVATED and flipped face up.

In addition to the 4 core Hero Skills, each hero has their own Unique Hero Skill! 

Charge Your Skills: Roll the white die and place it on a Skill’s CHARGE slot to power it up, boosting future actions when it matters most.

Push Threats Into The Darkness: PUSH non-Epic Threats into the Darkness, silencing their Dice Tracks and making them untouchable. But beware, they still linger and may return...

Unique Threats: No duplicate Threat cards. Every enemy brings its own tactics!

Defend Yourself: At the end of the Hero Phase, roll the black die onto your Hero’s Defence Slot. During the Dungeon Phase, damage is reduced by your defence before affecting health.

Upgrade Your Hero: Defeat an Epic Threat and flip your Hero card to its Advanced side, gaining increased health and an upgraded Dice Track. Now face even greater horrors!

Confront Epic Threats: Clearing a Dungeon automatically spawns an Epic Threat in the next! They are deadlier and utilise PASSIVE effects just like Heroes.

Discover Powerful Loot: Loot grants unique abilities and effects. With 30+ cards to discover, every Loot Roll could change your strategy!

Random Encounters: When attempting Side Quests or escaping a Dungeon, draw an Encounter card! These narrative events bring fortune or danger. They are resolved immediately then discarded.

Handle Critical Hits: Critical Hit cards can override Core Skills, disabling key actions until resolved. Suffer more than 3 and your Hero is immediately defeated!

The darkness strikes back: During the Dungeon Phase, Threats advance their Dice Tracks and trigger effects. Side Quests, the Dungeon and unresolved Critical Hits are then updated before Threats in the Darkness return to battle. The Hero Phase begins anew. Survive the entire descent, or fall to the horrors of the Rift...

Gameplay Preview: Watch our original prototype video to see Doomcrawler in action!

QUICK TIP: Only want Doomcrawler? Select the WALL OF THE ETERNAL: Build Your Own Pledge tier (£1), then add Doomcrawler (CORE GAME) from the Add-Ons menu. A 5% discount is already included!

These are the latest products from Season Three in 2026! Revisit the story so far with the trailer below:

SEASON THREE - The Story So Far...

Six years have passed since The Incursion, yet the wounds inflicted upon creation have yet to heal. As the Primordial Pattern grows ever more fragile, old certainties are called into question, and the shadows of an ancient past stir once more. Now, a secret Edict has made its way into your hands. Its target is unprecedented, and its consequences shall forever change the fate of the Sanctum. You are called to fulfil a decree whose true significance may only be understood in the fullness of time. Rise, Champion, and heed the call. By decree, the Edict commands. By deed, the Chronomikon remembers. When this chapter of Sacred History is written, what shall be your legacy? For these are the Echoes of the Firstborne...