Messyna
the battle for the middle ground
β¦
Local Draft
Draft 7 monsters and 16 spells, then battle. Default board is 8Γ8. Default is π« No Spells β a pure-tactics match; pick β¨ With Spells to draft a 16-card spell deck too.
In local vs Player the board rotates each turn and a Ready screen hides your cards while the device is passed over.
Multiplayer Draft Β· ranked
Create a match and share a unique link. When your opponent joins, both of you draft your armies β the game starts when both mark Ready. Ranked matches run a 30-second turn clock by default β or pick π Async: no clock, and your device gets a notification when it's your turn. Sign in first and the result counts on the ELO ladder.
β‘ Quick Match Lobby Β· ranked
No link needed β post an open challenge or accept one below. The game starts the moment someone accepts.
joins the newest open challenge β or posts yours for anyone to accept
Loading open challengesβ¦
Sign in before playing and the result counts on the ELO ladder.
𧩠Puzzles
Positions from real engine games with one clearly best move β find it. A new Puzzle of the Day every day, plus banks for every level.
π Learn to play
A guided 2-minute battle: move each archetype, win your first fight, garrison a castle β the board teaches you as you click.
π Start the interactive tutorialπ Leaderboard (ranked online games only)
No ranked games yet β sign in, create an online match, and claim the top spot. Everyone starts at 7,777 ELO.
π How to Play
The game
- Draft 7 monsters and 16 spells, then battle on the board.
- One action per turn: move/attack, cast a spell, or place a castle.
- The HP ceremony rolls each monster's lasting HP with 3D dice β one die (4β7) per DEF, once, for the whole game. The dice season a monster's health; they no longer decide its fate.
Ways to play
- π€ vs AI β four difficulties; INSANE runs the self-play-trained evaluation. A π‘ Hint button teaches you the engine's best move.
- π₯ Local 2-player β one device; the board rotates each turn and a Ready screen hides hands during the handoff.
- π Online β share an invite link, draft simultaneously, chat in-game, ask for breaks. Ranked matches run a 30-second turn clock β expire and your turn passes.
Victory modes
- βοΈ Classic β destroy every enemy monster (always also ends the game in other modes).
- β Middle β hold more of the 4 gold center tiles than your opponent for 6 consecutive half-turns.
- π King β one random monster per side is crowned; if a king dies, its side loses instantly.
Terrain & drafts
- π Plains β a clean battlefield. π² Forest β random woods each game; a defender standing in forest gets +1 DEF.
- π΄ Classic draft β both sides pick privately from their own pools, then Ready.
- π Snake draft β one shared pool, alternating visible picks (P1 P2 P2 P1β¦): counter-pick your opponent.
Fight mechanics
- Moving onto an enemy starts a dice duel. Hit chance =
100% β ATKΓ4% β DEFΓ1.5%(clamped 55β95%); the attacker strikes first with +6%. - Each hit rolls ATK Γ d7 damage against lasting HP; rounds alternate until someone falls. Dead monsters cannot counter.
- Winners keep their wounds β no monster is immortal.
- Castles: garrisoned monsters fight at +1/+1 (shown on their badges) β including on contested castles, for either side. You can attack an enemy inside its castle; empty enemy castles still wall off ground units (Dragons fly over).
- Contested castles: place a castle on an enemy castle β it becomes half-half (both may use it); place again to claim it outright.
- Adjacent allies still lend the defender +1 DEF each.
Movement β the Messyna way
Warrior β steps 1 any direction, or advances 2 straight forward on a clear path
Fortress β steps 1 orthogonally, or garrisons: jumps onto a friendly castle within 2
Charger β charges 2β3 tiles in any straight line β cannot move just 1
Dragon β flies to any tile within 2, over everything
Skirmisher β slides 3 along its rank, steps 1 fwd/back, or disengages 2 backward over anything
Shade β steps 1 diagonally, or phases exactly 2 tiles straight, through pieces
forward = up Β· highlighted squares are legal moves
π Bestiary β all 32 monsters (image Β· stats Β· movement)
golemβ2 π‘4
Fortress Β· Grinding Advance β Fortress β steps 1 orthogonally, or garrisons: jumps onto a friendly castle within 2 tiles. Signature: Grinding Advance.
wyvernβ3 π‘2
Charger Β· Sky Charge β Charger β charges 2β3 tiles in any straight line; cannot move just 1 (must commit). Signature: Sky Charge.
reaperβ4 π‘2
Shade Β· Harvest β Shade β steps 1 diagonally, or phases exactly 2 tiles straight, passing through pieces. Signature: Harvest.
sentinelβ2 π‘3
Fortress Β· Bulwark Shift β Fortress β steps 1 orthogonally, or garrisons: jumps onto a friendly castle within 2 tiles. Signature: Bulwark Shift.
dryadβ2 π‘2
Warrior Β· Vine Reach β Warrior β steps 1 any direction, or advances up to 2 straight forward on a clear path. Signature: Vine Reach.
minotaurβ3 π‘3
Charger Β· Gore β Charger β charges 2β3 tiles in any straight line; cannot move just 1 (must commit). Signature: Gore.
phantomβ3 π‘1
Charger Β· Ghost Charge β Charger β charges 2β3 tiles in any straight line; cannot move just 1 (must commit). Signature: Ghost Charge.
titanβ5 π‘4
Fortress Β· Seismic Reach β Fortress β steps 1 orthogonally, or garrisons: jumps onto a friendly castle within 2 tiles. Signature: Seismic Reach.
assassinβ4 π‘1
Charger Β· Slip β Charger β charges 2β3 tiles in any straight line; cannot move just 1 (must commit). Signature: Slip.
paladinβ3 π‘4
Fortress Β· Crusade β Fortress β steps 1 orthogonally, or garrisons: jumps onto a friendly castle within 2 tiles. Signature: Crusade.
lichβ3 π‘2
Skirmisher Β· Death Coil β Skirmisher β slides up to 3 along its rank, steps 1 forward/back, or disengages 2 backward over anything. Signature: Death Coil.
behemothβ4 π‘5
Fortress Β· Rampage β Fortress β steps 1 orthogonally, or garrisons: jumps onto a friendly castle within 2 tiles. Signature: Rampage.
archerβ3 π‘2
Skirmisher Β· Longstride β Skirmisher β slides up to 3 along its rank, steps 1 forward/back, or disengages 2 backward over anything. Signature: Longstride.
warlockβ2 π‘2
Skirmisher Β· Hex Step β Skirmisher β slides up to 3 along its rank, steps 1 forward/back, or disengages 2 backward over anything. Signature: Hex Step.
juggernautβ4 π‘4
Fortress Β· Unstoppable β Fortress β steps 1 orthogonally, or garrisons: jumps onto a friendly castle within 2 tiles. Signature: Unstoppable.
sirenβ2 π‘3
Warrior Β· Alluring Step β Warrior β steps 1 any direction, or advances up to 2 straight forward on a clear path. Signature: Alluring Step.
hydraβ4 π‘3
Fortress Β· Many Heads β Fortress β steps 1 orthogonally, or garrisons: jumps onto a friendly castle within 2 tiles. Signature: Many Heads.
vanguardβ3 π‘3
Fortress Β· Spearhead β Fortress β steps 1 orthogonally, or garrisons: jumps onto a friendly castle within 2 tiles. Signature: Spearhead.
wargβ3 π‘2
Charger Β· Lope β Charger β charges 2β3 tiles in any straight line; cannot move just 1 (must commit). Signature: Lope.
harpyβ2 π‘2
Charger Β· Wing Snap β Charger β charges 2β3 tiles in any straight line; cannot move just 1 (must commit). Signature: Wing Snap.
inquisitorβ3 π‘3
Warrior Β· Zealot March β Warrior β steps 1 any direction, or advances up to 2 straight forward on a clear path. Signature: Zealot March.
basiliskβ5 π‘1
Charger Β· Slither β Charger β charges 2β3 tiles in any straight line; cannot move just 1 (must commit). Signature: Slither.
crusaderβ3 π‘4
Fortress Β· Holy Charge β Fortress β steps 1 orthogonally, or garrisons: jumps onto a friendly castle within 2 tiles. Signature: Holy Charge.
rangerβ3 π‘2
Skirmisher Β· Pathfinder β Skirmisher β slides up to 3 along its rank, steps 1 forward/back, or disengages 2 backward over anything. Signature: Pathfinder.
elementalβ2 π‘3
Warrior Β· Flux Phase β Warrior β steps 1 any direction, or advances up to 2 straight forward on a clear path. Signature: Flux Phase.
marauderβ4 π‘2
Charger Β· Raid β Charger β charges 2β3 tiles in any straight line; cannot move just 1 (must commit). Signature: Raid.
templarβ2 π‘4
Fortress Β· Sanctum Vault β Fortress β steps 1 orthogonally, or garrisons: jumps onto a friendly castle within 2 tiles. Signature: Sanctum Vault.
dreadknightβ4 π‘3
Fortress Β· Dread March β Fortress β steps 1 orthogonally, or garrisons: jumps onto a friendly castle within 2 tiles. Signature: Dread March.
wyrmβ4 π‘2
Dragon Β· High Soar β Dragon β flies to any tile within 2, over everything; ignores enemy castles. Signature: High Soar.
oracleβ2 π‘2
Skirmisher Β· Foresight β Skirmisher β slides up to 3 along its rank, steps 1 forward/back, or disengages 2 backward over anything. Signature: Foresight.
watcherβ2 π‘3
Warrior Β· Overwatch β Warrior β steps 1 any direction, or advances up to 2 straight forward on a clear path. Signature: Overwatch.
monkβ3 π‘2
Warrior Β· Flying Kick β Warrior β steps 1 any direction, or advances up to 2 straight forward on a clear path. Signature: Flying Kick.
β¨ Grimoire β all 32 spells (image Β· effect Β· targeting)
Summon Castle Β· empty tile
Place a new friendly castle on an empty tile.
Siege Fireball Β· target a tile
Destroy an enemy castle on target tile.
Empower Beast Β· target a unit
+2 ATK to a friendly monster this turn.
Mystic Shield Β· target a unit
+3 DEF to a friendly monster this turn.
Teleport Rift Β· varies
Teleport a friendly monster up to 4 tiles, ignoring castles.
Chain Lightning Β· target two units
-1 DEF to two adjacent enemy monsters.
Fog of War Β· target an area
Select 4x4 area; no captures occur there until your next turn.
Pushback Β· unit + direction
Push an adjacent enemy 1 tile away.
Chain Pull Β· target two units
Pull an enemy 1 tile toward a chosen friendly.
Quake Line Β· pick two tiles for a line
Destroy all castles along a straight line between two points.
Wall of Thorns Β· start tile + direction
Place a 3-tile impassable wall (temporary, expires after 2 turns).
Freeze Β· target a unit
Target monster cannot move until end of next enemy turn.
Mirror Shield Β· target a unit
First debuff against target this turn is ignored.
Rally Β· target a unit
+1 DEF to allies adjacently around target this turn.
Berserk Β· target a unit
+3 ATK, -1 DEF to a friendly this turn.
Tunnel Β· unit + direction
Move a grounded friendly through one adjacent enemy castle.
Cleanse Β· target a unit
Remove Freeze/Corrupt from one friendly.
Sandstorm Β· target a tile
A 3x3 area slows movement to 1 until your next turn.
Time Stop Β· instant
Skip enemy capture resolution this turn.
Hallowed Ground Β· target a unit
+1/+1 to friendly in your castle this turn.
Shadowstep Β· target two units
Move a friendly to any adjacent tile of an enemy (no capture).
Snipe Β· target a unit
-2 DEF to target enemy within 3 tiles in a straight line of one of your units.
Poison Cloud Β· target a tile
2x2 area poisons occupants (-1 DEF after they move).
Revive Β· instant / board
Return your most recently defeated monster at your back rank.
Fortress Shift Β· your castle + tile
Move one of your castles by 1 tile.
Banish Β· unit + direction
Send an adjacent enemy back 2 tiles.
Lure Β· enemy + tile
Enemy must move toward tile on next move if possible.
Earth Bind Β· target a unit
Target loses flying/swift until end of next turn.
Meteor Β· target a tile
-2 DEF to all units in 3x3; destroy castles there.
Sanctify Β· instant / board
+1 DEF to friendlies on your half this turn.
Corrupt Β· target a unit
Enemy suffers -1 ATK/-1 DEF (persists).
Tearing Gale Β· pick a row/column
Slide all pieces in a row by 1 if space empty.
Ranked play (ELO)
Signed-in players are rated on online matches only. Everyone starts at 7,777. After a game: new = old + 32 Γ (result β 1 / (1 + 10^((opponent β you) / 400))) where result is 1 for a win and 0 for a loss β beating a stronger player earns more.
The armies β every monster has a real 3D model (toggle π§ 3D in game)
π§ Intelligence Engine
Ruleset v2.7.1 Β· 32 monsters Β· 32 spells Β· 6 archetypesLike a chess engine's lab: the same code that runs your games plays full AI-vs-AI matches against the latest ruleset β every monster pattern, every spell, every fight roll. The results accumulate below and feed balance tuning, so the rules stay structured and honest.
Self-play results β 3267 games
- First player wins 48% Β· second player 50% Β· draws 60
- Average game length: 60.5 turns Β· 12816 fights simulated
- Strongest recruits: behemoth (63%) crusader (59%) paladin (58%) titan (58%) juggernaut (57%)
Rules changelog
v2.7.1 Β· 2026-08-28 β Informed attacks, lighter attacker's edge, deeper INSANE
- Combat: Pre-attack odds: attackable tiles show the attack's real win chance (β NN%), computed with the exact fight rules β garrison, forest, support, wounds and the attacker bonus included.
- Balance: Attacker hit bonus trimmed to +5% (was +6%) β engine-validated.
- Engine: INSANE retrained on the v2.7 dice and searching deeper β positioning matters more than ever.
v2.7.0 Β· 2026-08-28 β Tamer HP dice β strategy over lottery
- HP: Each lasting-HP die now rolls 4β7 instead of 1β7 (same 5.5 average, half the spread). No monster is born crippled or near-immortal; combat dice are unchanged. Engine-validated: fortress dominance drops while the rules stay exactly as simple.
v2.6.0 Β· 2026-08-24 β Quick Match lobby, puzzles, tutorial, async matches
- Lobby: Quick Match lobby: post an open challenge or accept one β no invite link needed. β‘ Quick Match auto-joins the newest challenge or posts yours.
- Puzzles: Tactical puzzles mined from engine self-play, with one clearly best move β Easy/Medium/Hard banks plus a Puzzle of the Day with streaks.
- Tutorial: Interactive tutorial: a guided 2-minute battle that teaches the movement families, fights, and castles on a real board.
- Clock: Online matches choose their clock: β± 30s turns (default) or π Async β no clock, and your device gets a push notification when it's your turn.
- Navigation: Site header with a menu reaching every module from anywhere.
v2.5.0 Β· 2026-08-23 β No-Spells mode, full game history, the engine's eye
- Modes: Every mode (vs AI, local 2P, online) can now be played WITH SPELLS (default) or NO SPELLS β a pure-tactics duel of monsters and castles; the draft skips the spell step entirely.
- History: Every game is recorded move by move. The Intelligence Engine's Game History lets you replay any match position by position.
- Analysis: Intelligent Vision re-runs the engine on the exact position a player faced and shows the move it would have played, next to what was actually played.
- Ceremony: After the HP dice, a quick reveal animation deals out the random opening β castles rise first, then each monster takes its post.
- Reach: Reach icons flash on legal destination squares only (2D and 3D); the opponent's previous play is highlighted in 3D with an amber ring and gold arrow.
v2.4.0 Β· 2026-08-22 β Castle warfare, turn clock, the full experience
- Castles: Garrisoned enemies are attackable (they fight at +1/+1, shown on their badges); empty enemy castles still wall off ground units. Building on an enemy castle makes it CONTESTED (both sides may use it, Β½ badge); building again claims it.
- Combat: Flanking removed. The full combat theater is back β forecast odds, battle intro, precise analysis, per-strike damage dice and a combat log β all driven by the server's real fight.
- Clock: Online matches run a 30-second turn clock; an expired clock passes the turn (server-verified).
- Ceremony: Lasting HP is rolled at the table: a 3D dice ceremony shows every monster's roll, one by one.
- Clarity: Unique icon and color per monster, threat-lines overlay showing every monster's reach, spell targeting highlights only the legal choices, HP badges refined, sound effects throughout, and an in-rules Bestiary and Grimoire.
- Attacks: Attack highlights derive from each monster's true movement pattern β if it's red, it's legal.
v2.3.0 Β· 2026-08-22 β Unique monsters, snake draft, forests, true 3D
- Movement: Every one of the 32 monsters now has a unique signature move on top of its class pattern (pink cells in the draft diagrams) β no two monsters play identically.
- Draft: Snake draft option: a shared pool with alternating, fully visible picks (H A A H H A A Hβ¦) in every mode; the AI counter-picks greedily.
- Terrain: Forest option: clustered woods give the defender +1 DEF; forests are visible on the board (π²).
- 3D: 3D mode is now a real WebGL board β actual models standing on tiles with cinematic lighting, walking/flying/phasing animations per archetype when they move.
- Summary: Post-game summary in every mode: fights won, damage dealt, survivors, and the ELO change for ranked games.
v2.2.0 Β· 2026-08-22 β Victory modes
- Victory: Three win conditions selectable at match creation: βοΈ Classic (annihilation), β Middle (hold more of the 4 center tiles than the opponent for 6 consecutive half-turns), π King (a random monster per side is crowned β if it dies, its side loses instantly). Annihilation always also ends the game.
v2.1.0 Β· 2026-08-22 β Original Messyna movement
- Movement: Chess-borrowed patterns replaced with six original archetypes, each with a signature move: Warrior's forward advance, Fortress's castle garrison jump, Charger's committed 2β3 tile charge (never 1), Dragon's radius-2 free flight, Skirmisher's backward disengage leap, Shade's 2-tile phase through pieces.
v2.0.0 Β· 2026-08-22 β Living Rules v2 β lasting HP, chess movement, ranked play
- HP: Lasting HP: one d7 per DEF rolled once after the draft; fight damage is permanent β winners keep their wounds.
- Combat: Server-rolled dice duels; attacker strikes first with +6% hit; right-angle flanking grants +10% hit and +1 damage die.
- Movement: Chess archetypes: Warrior, Fortress, Charger, Dragon (2+1 leaps), Skirmisher, Shade β one per trait family.
- Boards: Selectable board size: 8Γ8 default, 12Γ12, 16Γ16, 32Γ32; spawn tiles are always distinct.
- Modes: Local hotseat with rotation + privacy gate; online multiplayer with invite links, chat, breaks, and surrender.
- Ranked: ELO ladder for online games between signed-in players; everyone starts at 7,777, K = 32.
- AI: The AI uses the full movement patterns (it attacks with every option a player has) and a Hint button shares its analysis.
v1.0.0 Β· 2026-08 β Original rules
- Core: 16Γ16 board, draft 7 of 14 monsters and 16 of 32 spells, one action per turn, all-or-nothing stat-compare combat.
- Castles: Castles block enemy ground movement and grant +1 ATK/DEF to garrisoned units; 10 reserve castles per side.
π Full game history
Browse all games βEvery game is recorded move by move. Open a replay, step through each position, and switch on Intelligent Vision to see the move the engine would have played at every step.
Why βMessynaβ?
From the Greek mΓ©sos (ΞΌΞΟΞΏΟ) β βmiddleβ. The name echoes ancient MessΔnΔ and the region of Messenia in the Peloponnese, whose exiles gave their name to Messana β today's Messina β when Anaxilas of Rhegium seized the sickle-harbour city of Zancle in the early 5th century BC and renamed it after his homeland. A city on a strait, fought over for its middle ground between two shores β exactly what this game is about: whoever commands the middle of the board commands the war.