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About Gloomhaven: Jaws of the Lion
Jaws of the Lion is Isaac Childres's standalone prequel to Gloomhaven, published by Cephalofair Games. It keeps the card-driven tactical combat of the original but cuts the box down to four characters and a 25-scenario campaign, and replaces the map tiles with a scenario book you play directly on. The first five scenarios teach the rules one layer at a time. It is the version of Gloomhaven most people should start with.
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Is Gloomhaven: Jaws of the Lion Right for You?
Best for
Jaws of the Lion is for anyone who wants to try Gloomhaven without the enormous box, the long setup or the steep learning curve. The tutorial scenarios teach the rules gradually and the scenario book removes most of the setup. Two or three players in a regular campaign group is the ideal, and it plays well solo with two characters.
Maybe skip it if…
It is still a heavy tactical game, and a campaign needs a committed group over many evenings. Players who dislike hand management and card counting will find the combat system fiddly, and the upkeep between scenarios adds time to every session.
How to Play Gloomhaven: Jaws of the Lion
Setup
Each player takes one of the four characters and their ability cards. Open the scenario book to the current scenario, which is the map, and place the monsters it lists.
On Your Turn
- Each round, every player secretly chooses two ability cards; the leading card sets your initiative.
- In initiative order, players and monster groups act. On your turn you use the top action of one card and the bottom action of the other.
- Played cards go to your discard or are lost. Resting recovers your discard but permanently loses one card.
How to Win
Complete the scenario's objective before every character is exhausted. Between scenarios, spend gold, level up and advance the campaign.
💡 Strategy Tips
Your hand is your clock. Count how many turns your cards can buy before you commit a powerful lost card.
Common Mistakes to Avoid
- Burning lost cards early. The powerful lost actions are limited, and spending them in the first room leaves you exhausted by the last.
- Ignoring initiative. Choosing a leading card only for its action, without looking at its initiative number, gets you hit before you act.
- Resting too late. Rest while you still have options, not when your hand is empty.
- Treating the tutorial as optional. The first five scenarios introduce rules one at a time and are the smoothest way into the game.
Advanced Strategy
- Plan your round as two cards, not one. The top of one and the bottom of the other need to work together.
- Coordinate initiative with your allies. A slow tank who moves after the monsters is protecting nobody.
- Use the long rest to choose which card you lose. The short rest picks at random, and randomness is expensive.
- Buy items that save cards. Anything that prevents damage or refreshes an action extends your turn count.
Variants & House Rules
Solo with two characters
Play two characters yourself for a satisfying solo campaign. It is a popular way to play and keeps the tactics intact.
Moving on to Gloomhaven
The rules are close enough to the original's that players who finish Jaws can move to Gloomhaven or Frosthaven with little relearning.
Video Guides
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Our Verdict
Jaws of the Lion is the best way into Gloomhaven and a very good game in its own right. The scenario book and the tutorial solve the original's biggest problems without watering down the tactics. If you are curious about Gloomhaven, start here, and move to the big box only if the campaign leaves you wanting more.
Frequently Asked Questions
Do I need Gloomhaven to play it?
No. It is completely standalone, with its own four characters and 25-scenario campaign.
Which characters are included?
The Red Guard, the Hatchet, the Voidwarden and the Demolitionist, none of which appear in the original Gloomhaven box.
How long is the campaign?
Twenty-five scenarios, each taking one to two hours once you know the rules.