Welcome to Malifaux Fourth Edition, a new era of deception, dice, and destiny
Malifaux is a skirmish miniatures game where cunning, dice, and deck-building collide in a dark, gothic world. Those who have walked its crooked streets know the game’s mix of strategic depth, narrative flair, and unpredictable card flips is second to none. In this new edition, however, Wyrd chose to reshape the rules to make ever gruelling duels sharper, schemes clearer, and the games ultimately faster. In this blog, we’ll unpack what’s new with the Fourth Edition and why you may want to upgrade!
Key Gameplay Changes
Fixed Damage, Raised Stakes
The days of random damage flips are no more. Each attack now has a fixed Damage value with “Raises”, adding =1 for every 5 points you beat your opponent by. Ties reduce damage by 1. This way, damage is cleaner and more predictable, but still brutal.
One Engagement to Rule Them All
You can no longer measure varying engagement ranges. It’s approximately 1 inch for everyone, all the time. Disengaging is now smoother, there are no friendly-fire penalties, and walking away costs half of your movement.
Tokens, Not Chaos
Status effects (e.g., Stunned, Poisoned, Burning, etc) are now represented as tokens. There is one of each type per model in your arsenal, clearly defined and colour-coded by allegiance.
Crew Cards!
Masters for your team now come with a crew card that details abilities, soulstone uses, tokens, and markers. It’s like having a tactical cheat sheet built into your faction identity.
Powered Up Soulstones
These are no longer generic. Each faction uses them for unique, thematic abilities. Plus, if one of your crew members dies, you can gain soulstones to keep fighting. The new “Empower” rule gives low-value cards a new purpose: discard a 5 or lower to add a positive flip and gain the suit!
Schemes & Strategies
The new Evolving Encounters system lessens complexity. Each player can pick one of three schemes at setup; these are kept secret. You can score points for completing it, and even gain bonus points for overachieving. Strategies are now scored each turn for dynamic tension.
New Streamlined Rules for Faster Play
Fourth Edition brings two core rule sets:
Core Rules: Slim, beginner-friendly, narrative-focused.
Comprehensive Rules: Accessible digitally and designed for dedicated veterans who want to dive into the fine print.
Games should now wrap up in around two hours, without lacking tactical depth.
New Starters & Collecting
Faction boxes are also now keyword-based, so collecting is easier! The new two-player starter set includes models, fate decks, tokens, and quick-start rules, perfect for new players or teaching an interested friend! The 3rd Edition starter sets are now known as “Versatile Packs” to keep them relevant to the latest edition.
Terrain & Vertical Play
Movement is now smoother, with climbing and jumping being free if you have the right setup. Shadow rules are gone, and verticality is actively encouraged in some schemes. Imagine the potential for rooftop chases!
Malifaux Fourth Edition feels like a confident regiment, not some kind of reboot. With trimmed complexity and a leaning theme, gameplay becomes more exciting with each turn! Whether you’re a veteran or fresh through the Breach, now’s a good time to step into the gothic world of Malifaux.
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