Potion Explosion

Players: 2-4
Duration: 30-45 min
Difficulty: Medium
Age: 8+

Video by Watch It Played

General Description

Potion Explosion is a resource selection and combo game designed by Stefano Castelli, Andrea Crespi and Lorenzo Silva, published by Horrible Guild in 2015. Players are alchemy students who must complete potions by grabbing ingredients (colored marbles) from a dispenser. The trick is that when you pick a marble and two marbles of the same color collide, an explosion occurs and you get those marbles too!

Game Components

  • 1 Dispenser with 5 tracks
  • 80 Ingredient Marbles (4 colors, 20 of each):
    • Unicorn Tears (blue)
    • Ogre Mucus (black)
    • Dragon Smoke (red)
    • Fairy Dandruff (yellow)
  • 64 Potion Tiles (8 types, 8 of each)
  • 15 Skill Tokens (worth 4 points each)
  • 21 Little Help Tokens (penalty of -2 points)
  • Lab Boards (1 per player)

Game Objective

Score the most points by completing potions and earning skill tokens. The game ends when the last skill tokens are taken.

Setup

  1. Assemble the dispenser and place it in the center of the table
  2. Fill the dispenser with all 80 marbles randomly
  3. Choose 6 potion types to play with (remove 2 types from the 8 available)
  4. Separate the starter potions (marked with ⭐ star) from the 6 chosen types
  5. Deal 2 random starter potions to each player
  6. Shuffle the remaining starter potions with the rest of the tiles from the 6 types and make 6 face-down stacks
  7. Reveal 2 tiles from the top of each stack
  8. Place the skill tokens according to the number of players:
    • 2 players: 4 tokens
    • 3 players: 5 tokens
    • 4 players: 6 tokens
  9. Each player takes a lab board
  10. The youngest player goes first

How to Play

Your Turn

  1. Pick a marble from the dispenser
    • Choose any marble from one of the 5 tracks
    • The marbles above it fall down
  2. Resolve explosions
    • If after falling, two or more marbles of the same color touch, they explode!
    • You take all the marbles from the explosion
    • The marbles above fall again and can cause new chain explosions
    • Continue until there are no more explosions
  3. Place the marbles
    • Put the marbles you obtained in the corresponding holes of your potions
    • Or store up to 3 in the reserve area of your board
  4. Complete potions
    • When all holes of a potion are filled, the potion is complete
    • Return the marbles to the dispenser
    • Flip the tile to show the points
    • Now you can use the potion’s power!
  5. Take a new potion
    • Choose a new potion from those available to replace the completed one

Asking for Help

  • You can take 1 extra marble from the dispenser (without causing an explosion) for each Little Help token you take
  • Each Little Help token is worth -2 points at the end of the game
  • You can ask for help multiple times per turn

The 8 Potion Types

Potions and Their Powers

  1. Abyssal Draft (points: 2)
    • When you drink it: Take 1 ingredient from a rival’s reserve
  2. Sands of Time (points: 3)
    • When you drink it: Convert up to 3 ingredients from one color to another
  3. Filter of Lavamancing (points: 3)
    • When you drink it: Take up to 4 ingredients of one color from the dispenser (no explosions)
  4. Potion of Prismatic Joy (points: 4)
    • When you drink it: Steal 1 ingredient from the dispenser for each ingredient in rivals’ reserves (max. 5)
  5. Elixir of Blind Love (points: 4)
    • When you drink it: Take up to 5 ingredients you see at the top of each track
  6. Balm of Uttermost Stickiness (points: 5)
    • When you drink it: You may pick 1 marble from the dispenser as if it were your turn (causing explosions)
  7. Potion of Magnetic Attraction (points: 5)
    • When you drink it: Return up to 6 ingredients from your board to the dispenser
  8. Sands of Time (points: 5)
    • When you drink it: Use it as a wildcard to complete another potion (counts as any color)

Skill Tokens

  • You earn a skill token when:
    • You complete 3 potions of the same type, OR
    • You complete 5 potions of different types
  • Each token is worth 4 points
  • When you take the last skill token, the end of the game is triggered

End of Game

The game ends when the last skill token is taken. The round is completed so everyone has the same number of turns.

Scoring

Add up:

  • Points from completed potions
  • +4 points for each skill token
  • -2 points for each Little Help token

The player with the most points wins!

Tiebreaker

In case of a tie, the player with the most ingredients in their ongoing potions wins.

Basic Strategies

  • Look for chain explosions: Plan which marble to pick to maximize explosions
  • Manage your reserve: Remember you can only store 3 marbles
  • Use completed potions: Their powers are very useful!

Advanced Strategies

  • Combine powers: Some potions work very well together
  • Watch your rivals: Don’t leave easy explosions for others
  • Skill mastery: Decide early if you want 3 same or 5 different
  • Minimize help: -2 points per token can make a difference

Tips for Beginners

  1. Look before you pick: Study the dispenser and imagine what will happen
  2. Don’t forget the powers: Completed potions have very useful abilities
  3. Balance speed and points: Higher-point potions take longer to complete
  4. Watch the endgame: When few skill tokens remain, speed up!

The Fifth Ingredient (Expansion)

Adds a fifth ingredient (Ghostly Ether) and new more complex potions.

Expert Mode

  • Play with fewer skill tokens for a faster and more competitive game

History and Fun Facts

  • Designed by Stefano Castelli, Andrea Crespi and Lorenzo Silva
  • Published by Horrible Guild in 2015
  • The marble dispenser is a unique mechanic that makes the game very tactile and satisfying
  • Has won several awards for its originality and fun
  • Several expansions exist that add new ingredients and potions