Saboteur: The Duel

Overview

Saboteur: The Duel is a 2-player competitive card game in the Saboteur series, published by Amigo. Each player controls a team of dwarfs racing through tunnels to reach hidden gold deposits. Players build a shared tunnel network from a central start card toward goal cards at the edges, using path cards, action cards, and dwarf placement to claim gold before their opponent. The game is played over 3 rounds, and the player with the most gold at the end wins.

Components

• 1 Start card
• Goal cards (with gold values hidden until reached)
• Path cards (tunnel segments)
• Action cards (trolls, doors, rock falls, maps, etc.)
• Dwarf cards (colored for each player)
• Gold tokens of various values

Setup

Place the start card in the center. Arrange goal cards face-down at designated distances from the start. Each player receives their dwarf cards and a hand of path/action cards dealt from the shuffled deck. Place the gold token supply nearby.

Turn Structure

Players alternate turns. On each turn, a player must perform exactly one of the following actions:

1. Play a path card: Extend the tunnel network by placing a card adjacent to existing cards, following connection rules.
2. Play an action card: Use a special action (place a troll, use a map to peek at a goal card, cause a rockfall, etc.).
3. Play a dwarf card: Place one of your dwarf meeples on the path network.
4. Discard a card: Pass by discarding one card from hand.

After playing, draw back to hand limit from the deck.

Actions

Path Building

• Place path cards to extend tunnels toward goal cards.
• All connections must match (open passages connect to open passages, walls to walls).
• Both players build on the same shared network.

Dwarf Movement

• Dwarfs placed on the network move along connected paths.
• When a dwarf reaches a goal card, the goal is revealed and gold is claimed by the dwarf’s owner.
• Strategic dwarf placement determines who benefits from newly built tunnels.

Action Cards

• Troll: Blocks a path, preventing opponent’s dwarf from passing.
• Map: Peek at a face-down goal card to determine its gold value.
• Rockfall: Destroy a path card already on the table, breaking connections.
• Door: Blocks a specific passage on a path card.
• Key: Removes a door or troll blocking.

Gold Collection

• When a path reaches a goal card, the player whose dwarf reaches it first claims the gold.
• Goal cards have varying gold values (some are worthless traps).

Scoring / Victory Conditions

The game is played over 3 rounds:

1. At the end of each round (when the draw deck is exhausted and players cannot play), gold is distributed based on goal cards reached.
2. After 3 rounds, total all gold collected.
3. The player with the most gold wins.

Special Rules & Edge Cases

• Dead Ends: Path cards may include dead ends. Placing them strategically can block the opponent.
• Shared Network: Both players contribute to the same tunnel system, creating tension between building useful paths and avoiding helping the opponent.
• Troll Blocking: Trolls prevent passage but can be removed by keys. Planning around trolls is essential.
• Goal Card Variety: Some goal cards contain significant gold while others are worthless. Using map cards to scout ahead is valuable.
• Solo Variant: The game includes rules for solo play against an automated opponent.
• Round Reset: Between rounds, clear the tunnel network and re-deal cards while keeping accumulated gold.

Player Reference

Card Type	Effect
Path card	Extend tunnel network
Dwarf card	Place dwarf meeple on network
Troll	Block a path
Map	Peek at goal card
Rockfall	Destroy a placed path card
Door	Block a passage
Key	Remove troll or door

Victory: Most gold after 3 rounds wins.