Frosthaven beginner guide and setup
Updated
The first session fails when sealed envelopes get opened early. The official FAQ section 2 says what to shuffle in and what to leave alone.
First session, in order
The board game supports 1–4 players in the product copy I used. Digital online co-op is 2–4. I found no official 5-player mode, so I am not writing house rules for a fifth seat.
- Leave sealed anything you have not been told to open.
- Shuffle event cards 1–20 into each of the four event decks.
- Do not add challenge cards yet.
- Ignore Town Guard perks until they are unlocked.
- Pick a low-complexity starter if this is the table's first campaign: Banner Spear or Drifter, both marked Low in the rulebook class blurbs.
Starter complexity from the rulebook blurbs
Banner Spear: leader and protector, Low. Drifter: flexible, Low. Boneshaper: summons, Medium. Deathwalker: Medium. Blinkblade: High. Geminate: High. Those six lines are the only official one-sentence roles I have.
Questions
Can five people play Frosthaven?
I have no official 5-player mode. Board copy I used is 1–4. Digital online co-op is 2–4.
Which starter should a new table pick?
Banner Spear or Drifter are the two Low-complexity starters in the rulebook blurbs.
Related guides
Sources
- Official Frosthaven FAQ — Section 2 and 3.2, checked 2026-10-18.