The Battle of Five Armies

Tolkien's legendary battle at Erebor as an epic two-player war game where every card play writes the story.

👥 2 playersapprox. 240 min🪄 Takes some learning12+
6.8 · BGG #787

Who it's for

Tolkien fans and two-player wargame enthusiasts who want a dramatic, narrative-driven battle experience.

Not for you if…

You prefer shorter games or want something lighter than a 4-hour dedicated two-player wargame.

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Vibe's take

epic narrative tension, desperate last stand, card-driven drama, Tolkien immersion

See how it plays

About this game

The climax of The Hobbit comes to life as Elves, Dwarves, and Men face a horde of Goblins, Wolves, and Bats before the gates of Erebor. This two-player war game from the creators of War of the Ring uses card-driven combat and dice allocation to recreate Tolkien's legendary battle. The Free Peoples must hold until the Eagles arrive; the Shadow player must crush them before hope arrives. Every card play is a dramatic narrative moment.

War of the Ring systemEpic Tolkien battleDesperate hold-the-line tension

By the numbers

Players

Best at 2 playersWorks with 2

Duration

90–240 min

Ages 12+

Complexity

3.6 / 5 — Heavy

BGG Rating

6.8/10

Rank #787

3.2k ratings

Published

2014

Language

Heavy text

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