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Warp's Edge – Expansion: Viren Invasion

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Warp's Edge – Expansion: Virus Invasion

The viruses are back – and this time they bring new threats. The Virus Invasion expansion introduces two new motherships, two new starfighters, new enemy types with unique rules, and new skill cards. Special feature: Virus enemies react fundamentally differently to lasers and maneuvers than known opponents.

Prerequisite:
The Virus Invasion expansion cannot be played alone. You need the Warp's Edge base game.

What's new? – Overview

  • 9 Pilot Markers (Pilot Marker)
  • 6 new Enemy Cards (Enemy Cards)
  • 3 new Skill Cards (Skill Cards)
  • 3 Energy Markers
  • 2 Phase Markers
  • 3 Level Markers
  • 6 Power Markers (2 new types: Advantage and Explosion)
  • 1 double-sided Starfighter Dashboard → 2 new Starfighters: ACHILLES and TITAN
  • 1 double-sided Mothership Dashboard → 2 new Motherships: THE ENDLESS and THE HIVE

Setup – Changes compared to the base game

Follow the normal base game setup with these additions:

New Power Markers

  • Advantage: This marker counts as 2 Lasers.

  • Explosion: This marker counts as 4 Lasers, but you immediately take 1 damage. If the assigned target is destroyed, it counts as 1 Laser against all other targets until the end of the turn.
Important – new Power Marker types:
The new Advantage and Explosion Power Markers can only be used in combination with the new ACHILLES and TITAN starfighters. Only these two starfighters have them in their loadout.
  • Integrate Skill Cards: Shuffle all 3 new Skill Cards into the existing Skill Deck.

  • New Power Markers: The new starfighters ACHILLES and TITAN each require their own new Power Marker type from this expansion. Load the Power Marker inlay according to the chosen starfighter.

  • Phase Markers: Only needed for The Hive Mothership – setup details are on the tableau.

New Enemy Types and their Special Rules

Virus enemies are fundamentally different from all previous opponents:

Larva / Pupa / Adult – Lasers and Maneuvers don't work:
These enemies cannot be destroyed or stunned by Lasers and cannot be evaded or stunned by Maneuvers.
Instead: They can only be defeated and stunned by Energy. However, normal Maneuver evades still work.

Worker / Drone / Queen – Swarm Rule:
When these enemies enter the enemy row, additional enemy cards must be drawn from the enemy deck and placed to their right. First fill the normal slots, then draw as many additional cards as indicated. This can temporarily result in the enemy row having more than 4 cards.

New Skill Cards

  • Bug Spray (offensive): Specifically designed against virus enemies.
  • Exoskeleton (defensive): Protection mechanism for difficult rounds.
  • Energy Reserves (Upgrade): Resource management improvement.

These cards appear as new options in the Skill Card selection – even if you use the story options from the Storybook.

New Starfighters

  • ACHILLES: More possibilities – thanks to an additional marker drawn each turn. However, its fragile hull makes it a sort of glass cannon, capable of dishing out a lot of damage but promising an exciting battle until the very last minute.

  • TITAN: Slightly less bulky than other representatives of its class. Allows you to take new markers when you take damage – damage thus becomes a resource. A little damage improves your options, as long as you can channel enough energy to your shields.

New Motherships

  • THE ENDLESS ★★★★★ – Unprotected: Highest difficulty in the entire game. Instead of destroying sections with lasers or evading them with maneuvers, all sections must be defeated exclusively by Energy. In addition, Level 2 and Level 3 enemies appear every turn – without pause. This opponent is intended for very experienced pilots.

    • THE HIVE ★★★★ – Protected: This mothership is accompanied by a swarm – the enemy row has up to 5 cards. If you let enemies deal damage to you, the swarm continues to grow. You must fight your way through the swarm to attack the mothership – all under constantly growing pressure. Strategy: Consistently eliminate enemies, control the swarm, never take too much damage.

Combination Recommendations

First game with Virus Invasion:
ACHILLES vs. THE HIVE – Protected structure provides clear phase logic. The swarm mechanic is new but understandable. Build Energy Markers in your bag early to be prepared against Larva/Pupa/Adult enemies.

Advanced:
TITAN vs. THE HIVE – the TITAN can convert damage taken into new markers. This makes it particularly effective against THE HIVE's growing swarm when damage is unavoidable.

Expert:
ACHILLES  or TITAN vs. THE ENDLESS – pure energy focus. Consistently build your bag for high Energy Markers. Lasers and maneuvers are useless against its sections – invest accordingly.

Common Mistakes with Virus Invasion

  • Using lasers against Larva/Pupa/Adult: These enemies cannot be destroyed or stunned by lasers. Lasers have no effect on them – only energy.
  • Underestimating swarm growth: Any damage caused by Worker/Drone/Queen enemies makes the swarm grow. This can quickly make the enemy row uncontrollable.
  • Approaching THE ENDLESS with the wrong bag: Players who have optimized their bag for lasers will lose against THE ENDLESS. Energy markers are the only currency against its sections.
  • Forgetting phase markers for THE HIVE: THE HIVE has specific phase rules on the tableau – read them completely before starting the game.

Back to the Quick Play Guide or to the Anomaly Expansion Info.

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