2024 BGG rank #612

Cyclades: Legendary Edition

2–6 players 60–90 min Ages 13+ 2.8/5 complexity 6.9/10 rating

About this game

In the Cyclades archipelago, off the shores of a divided Greece, players develop their cities and compete for supremacy under the watchful gaze of the gods. In Cyclades: Legendary Edition, designers have reworked the Cyclades base game and its many expansions to make gameplay more dynamic and fluid. The game features a strategic bidding system that defines the actions available to each player on their turn. You must balance your finances to optimize the various actions provided by the different gods, with each player gaining the support of only one god each turn. The game features a shorter and more dynamic bidding phase than the original Cyclades thanks to a new exponential bidding scale. Six gods are available instead of the five, increasing the variety of actions available. Players now use landscape tiles to assemble the modular game board during set-up, allowing for ever-changing maps and game strategies. New creatures and heroes are available in the base game, offering new strategic opportunities to build metropolises and gain decisive advantages on the battlefield. Your goal is to be the first to control three metropolises. Cyclades: Legendary Edition features three game configurations: "Classic" mode for 3-5 players in which each player defends their own interests. "Team" mode for 4 or 6 players in which you play in teams of two, co-operating with one another and competing against others. An enhanced and refined two-player mode.

What it feels like

Variable Set-up Modular Board Dice Rolling Area Majority / Influence Set Collection Area Movement Auction / Bidding Constrained Bidding Variable Phase Order Turn Order: Auction Auction: Fixed Placement Nautical City Building Civilization Ancient Mythology Fighting

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Setup

1. Randomly draw a number of Monument cards equal to the number of players. Place them face-up next to the game board — these are the only Monuments available for construction during the game. 2. Take the miniatures corresponding to the drawn Monument cards and return all other Monument miniatures and unused Monument cards to the box. 3. Set up the rest of the board according to the base game rules (territories, starting buildings, etc.). 4. Note: If using the Titans Expansion with 'Free Positioning' rules, players may begin the game with two buildings already in play, making it possible to build a Monument from the very start of the game.

Turn flow

Players take turns resolving actions on their chosen god. Monument construction can occur during a player's turn when resolving their god's actions — specifically, when the second required building is built or when a player takes control of a territory that already contains the second required building. Monument effects are immediately active once placed and transfer to any player who subsequently conquers that territory.

Scoring and victory

The winner is determined according to the base Cyclades game rules (not fully detailed in this excerpt — typically the first player to build a Metropolis or meet the victory condition wins). Scoring sources: Monument effects that generate ongoing advantages (troops, fleets, GP discounts, mythological creatures), Control of territories containing Monuments, Base game scoring/victory conditions

Source: Rulebook

Rules to know

The most useful rules for getting a first game right.

Setup

Randomly select Monument cards equal to player count; only those Monuments are available this game.

Before the game starts, randomly draw a number of Monument cards equal to the number of players. Place them face-up next to the game board. These are the only Monuments that players can build during the course of the game. Take the corresponding miniatures and return all other Monument miniatures and unused Monument cards to the box.

Building

A Monument is built as soon as a player controls both base buildings shown on its card.

Monuments are bonus buildings that a player can obtain when he controls the two associated base buildings shown on a Monument card that was made available during setup. As soon as a player controls both buildings, he builds the corresponding Monument: he places the Monument miniature in one of his territories and takes the corresponding card as a reminder of the Monument's effect. Construction can be triggered either when the second required building is built, or when the player takes control of a territory where that building was already present.

Building

The two base buildings used to construct a Monument remain on the board after construction.

The two necessary buildings used to build a Monument stay on the board after the Monument is constructed. They are not removed or consumed.

Building

If a player misses the opportunity to build a Monument, he may build it later if he still has the required buildings and no one else has built it.

If a player forgets to build a Monument when he first has the opportunity, he may still build it later in the game, provided he still possesses the two required buildings and no one else has built that Monument in the meantime. The player must wait until he is resolving the actions of his god — being on Apollo does not allow Monument construction.

Restriction

Each Monument can only be built once during the entire game.

Each Monument is unique. It can only be built once during the game. Once built, it remains on the board (in the territory where it was placed) until the end of the game. It will not move.

Restriction

A Monument does not occupy a building space in a territory.

A Monument does not occupy a building space. It is simply placed in the territory like a figurine. It will not move until the end of the game.

Restriction

Monuments do not count as buildings for the purpose of constructing a Metropolis.

A Monument does not count as a building that can be used for the construction of a Metropolis.

Special

When a player conquers a territory containing a Monument, he takes the Monument card and gains its effect.

Each Monument provides a special effect to the player who occupies the territory it is located in. When a player takes control of a territory where there is a Monument, he takes the corresponding card from its former owner. From that point on, the new owner benefits from the Monument's effect.

Strategy briefing

Prioritize Monument cards that match your existing building strategy

Since only a number of Monument cards equal to the player count are available each game, identify early which Monuments are in play and plan your building choices around unlocking one. Monuments requiring two of the same building (e.g., Great Citadel of Ares: FORTRESS+FORTRESS, Great University of Athena: UNIVERSITY+UNIVERSITY) demand greater building investment but are harder for opponents to partially deny.

Defend your Monument territories aggressively

Monuments transfer to any player who conquers the territory they occupy. Losing a territory with a Monument hands both its special effect and any board advantage to your opponent. Prioritize garrisoning Monument territories, especially since the Great Citadel of Ares requires at least 1 troop to maintain its full protection.

Use Great Citadel of Ares as an anchor territory

The Great Citadel of Ares (FORTRESS+FORTRESS) renders a territory uninvasible by sea, land, or air as long as even 1 troop remains there. This makes it an extremely powerful defensive stronghold — use it to anchor your position and focus military resources elsewhere, but never let it run out of troops.

Leverage engine-building Monuments for military snowballing

The Military Academy (free troop each revenue cycle) and Academy of Naval Warfare (free fleet each revenue cycle) are powerful engine-building Monuments. Securing either early creates a compounding advantage in military strength, as free units accumulate every cycle without spending Gold Pieces.

City of Warriors synergizes with naval map positions

The City of Warriors (PORT+FORTRESS) counts all adjacent fleets as troops when defending. Positioning this Monument on a territory surrounded by multiple sea spaces maximizes the number of adjacent fleet spaces, turning your naval presence into a massive defensive bonus without spending extra resources.

Don't delay Monument construction

Although a player may build a Monument later if they forget, an opponent can build it first if they meet the requirements. The window of opportunity is competitive — as soon as you control both required buildings, build the Monument to prevent rivals from racing ahead and denying it.

Temple Monuments enable flexible Mythological Creature access

The Temple of Poseidon and Temple of Ares each provide once-per-cycle access to Mythological Creatures at the cost of a fleet or troop respectively. In situations where the bidding track for Mythological Creatures is contested, these Monuments offer an alternative path to powerful creature effects. Temple of Ares is particularly notable for drawing from the discard pile, giving access to known, powerful cards.

Titans Expansion: race to Monuments immediately

With Free Positioning in the Titans Expansion, players can begin with two buildings already in play, making it possible to construct a Monument on Turn 1. This dramatically accelerates the Monument race — players should plan their Free Positioning choices around Monument requirements to gain an immediate advantage.

Common questions and edge cases

Does the Great Citadel of Ares protect a territory even if it has only 1 troop left?

Yes. The protection applies as long as 1 OR MORE troops are stationed on the territory. The territory only becomes invadable if all troops are removed.

Can the Harpy or other non-combat effects still target a territory protected by the Great Citadel of Ares?

Yes. The Great Citadel only prevents invasion (by sea, land, or air). The territory remains affected by other effects such as the Harpy.

Can a player use the Giant mythological creature to destroy an opponent's Monument?

No. The Giant cannot be used to destroy a Monument.

In the Hades Expansion, if the Great Lighthouse of Poseidon saves a fleet, is 1 GP still added to the Necropolis?

No. Saving a fleet via the Great Lighthouse of Poseidon means the fleet is not 'destroyed,' so 1 GP is NOT added to the Necropolis.

In the Hades Expansion, if a player uses the Temple of Poseidon to remove a fleet, is 1 GP added to the Necropolis?

Yes. Removing a fleet via the Temple of Poseidon leads to 1 GP being added to the Necropolis.

In the Hades Expansion, if a player uses the Temple of Ares to remove a troop, is 1 GP added to the Necropolis?

Yes. Removing a troop via the Temple of Ares leads to 1 GP being added to the Necropolis.

In the Hades Expansion, can a player use the Theater building to substitute for a required building when constructing a Monument?

No. The Theater cannot be used to construct Monuments. Players must have the actual required buildings shown on the Monument card.

If a player conquers a territory containing a Monument, who benefits from the Monument's effect?

The conquering player immediately takes the Monument card from its former owner and begins benefiting from the Monument's effect. The former owner loses the effect.

Does a Monument count as a building toward constructing a Metropolis?

No. A Monument does not count as a building that can be used for the construction of a Metropolis.

Can a player build a Monument while on Apollo?

No. Being on Apollo does not allow Monument construction. A player must wait until he is resolving the actions of his own god.

When defending the City of Warriors, do adjacent fleets add to the die roll even if those fleets are not in the same territory?

Yes. When defending the City of Warriors territory, all of the owner's adjacent fleets count as troops and are added to the die roll, even though they are on sea spaces adjacent to the territory rather than in the territory itself.

What happens if the Great Lighthouse of Poseidon cannot save a fleet because all adjacent sea spaces are occupied by enemy fleets or Polyphemus is present?

If it is not possible to place the saved fleet on any adjacent sea space (all spaces occupied by enemies, or Polyphemus is on the territory), the fleets are removed from the board as normal — the Monument provides no benefit in that situation.

In the Titans Expansion, can a player build a Monument on the very first turn?

Yes. Because the Titans Expansion's 'Free Positioning' rules allow players to start with two buildings already in play, it is possible to build a Monument right from the start of the game if those two buildings match a Monument card's requirements.