Splendor Duel

Two rival merchant guilds compete to win favor by collecting gems, pearls, cards, bonuses, and royal favors. Players take gem and pearl tokens from a shared board, use them to purchase development cards that provide discounts and special powers, and claim Privileges and royal favors for prestige. The game is designed for two players and emphasizes direct interaction through contested resources and card effects, featuring three different victory conditions that reward varied strategies and escalating tactical tension.

Players: 2
Playing time: 30 min
Age: 10+
Complexity: 2 / 5

7.8 on LudoyaEconomicRenaissanceRaceOpen DraftingContracts

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About the game

Design: Marc André
Bruno Cathala
Art: Davide Tosello
Publisher: Space Cowboys

Expansions

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Splendor Duel: The Counterfeiters2026

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Full stats in Ludoya

1,853
Plays logged: 676
Players: 37m 2s
Average play: 379
In collections: 37
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7.8/10

from 134 Ludoya reviews

Mestremuten7.0
Rating: 3/5 Production value: 3/4 Is the game in my collection/Love to have?: 1/1
First impressions · 1 play
Guillermo Rodríguez8.0
2 Players 30 Min Playing Time Age: 10+ Weight: 1.97 / 5
No plays logged
Juli9.0
- Small box - Quick game: under 30 mins - 2-player only - Solo mode (fan made) - Own Physical version - Digital version (BGA)
No plays logged

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Rules questions

Answered from the rulebook by Ludoya's rules assistant.

Can I take three gems that aren't next to each other?

No — when taking up to three gems or pearls they must be adjacent to each other; you cannot take Gold this way. (p.5)

If I take three of the same color, do I get a Privilege?

Yes — taking three identical gems grants you a Privilege; taking two Pearls also grants a Privilege. (p.5)

When I reserve a card, do I always take a Gold token and does it count toward my token limit?

Yes — reserving a card gives you 1 Gold token (Gold is wild) and you may have up to three reserved cards; if you exceed the token limit you must discard down to 10 tokens at the end of your turn. (p.6, p.9)

Do the jewel bonuses on cards reduce the cost of Pearls?

No — card jewel bonuses never reduce the cost of Pearls. (p.7)

When do I claim a Royal?

You claim a Royal when you reach the required number of crowns on your cards — a Royal is claimed at 3 crowns and again at 6 crowns (see the Royal example). (p.8–9)

How does the game end and how do I win?

The game ends immediately when a player reaches 20 Prestige, or collects 10 Crowns, or has 10 Prestige in a single color; the player with the most Prestige wins. (p.9)