Scenarios — Overview & Index
Spirit Island has 14 scenarios across expansions. A scenario adds a pre-game modifier — extra rules, win conditions, or restrictions — that transforms how the game plays. Scenarios are additive to adversaries (not replacements); you can run a scenario + adversary combination for extra challenge.
Chapter status
All 14 scenarios at a glance
| Scenario | Expansion | Difficulty Mod | Pressure Shape |
|---|---|---|---|
| Blitz | Base | 0 | Time compression |
| Guard the Isle’s Heart | Base | 0 | Inland objective |
| Rituals of Terror | Base | 3 | Fear race |
| Dahan Insurrection | Base | 4 | Dahan scoring |
| Second Wave | Branch & Claw | 1 | Invader return |
| Powers Long Forgotten | Branch & Claw | 1 | Card restriction |
| Ward the Shores | Branch & Claw | 2 | Coastal defense |
| Rituals of the Destroying Flame | Branch & Claw | 3 | Blight race |
| Despicable Theft | Jagged Earth | 2 | Artifact rescue |
| Elemental Invocation | Jagged Earth | 1 | Element gating |
| A Diversity of Spirits | Promo Pack 2 | 0 | Varied spirits |
| The Great River | Jagged Earth | 1 | River presence |
| Varied Terrains | Promo Pack 2 | 0 | Terrain variance |
| Destiny Unfolds | Nature Incarnate | 2 | Scaling narrative |
When to use a scenario
- Spice up a known adversary: you’ve beaten England L3 five times; add Blitz for a fresh puzzle.
- Practice a specific mechanic: Ward the Shores drills coastal defense; Rituals of Terror drills fear-rush.
- Increase difficulty without raising adversary level: Rituals of Terror adds +3 difficulty but teaches different skills than bumping to L5+.
- Teach a concept: Dahan Insurrection literally teaches dahan’s strategic value.
When NOT to use a scenario
- Teaching a new player: scenarios add cognitive load; save for game 3+.
- Against adversaries that already punish the scenario’s dimension: Rituals of Terror + Sweden = double-fear-penalty punishment.
- When you want a short game: scenarios typically extend game length.
Scenario + adversary compatibility
Some combinations are brutal:
- Blitz + Brandenburg-Prussia: time compression + City explosion.
- Rituals of Terror + Sweden: fear race + fear suppression.
- Dahan Insurrection + France: dahan scoring + dahan capture.
Others are fair:
- Blitz + England: tight but winnable.
- Rituals of Terror + Brandenburg-Prussia: fear race suits BP’s fear-density.
- Dahan Insurrection + Habsburg Livestock: dahan-friendly adversary.
Each scenario chapter has a matchup table.
How to read a scenario chapter
Every scenario chapter has:
- At a Glance — expansion, difficulty mod, pressure shape, length modifier.
- Setup Changes — exact deltas from a standard setup.
- Win/Loss Condition Shift.
- Time Pressure Profile.
- Spirits That Shine / Struggle.
- Adversary Combinations.
- Opening Rounds (spirit-agnostic goal-oriented T1–T3 plan).
- Common Mistakes + Sources.
Cross-references
- Archetype Index — which archetypes suit which scenarios.
- Adversary Index — scenario compatibility per adversary.
Last revised: 2026-04-19