Munchkin (card game)

Munchkin

Old box cover
Players	3-6
Age range	10+
Setup time	30 minutes
Playing time	1-2 hours
Random chance	High
Skill(s) required	Strategy

Munchkin is a dedicated deck card game by Steve Jackson Games, written by Steve Jackson and illustrated by John Kovalic, that has a humorous take on role-playing games, based on the concept of munchkins (immature role-players, playing only to "win" by having the most powerful character possible). Munchkin won the 2001 Origins Award for Best Traditional Card Game,^[1] and is itself a spin-off from The Munchkin's Guide to Powergaming, a gaming humor book that also won an Origins Award in 2000.^[2]

After the success of the original Munchkin game several expansion packs and sequels were published.^[3] Now available in 15 different languages, Munchkin accounted for more than 70% of the 2007 sales for Steve Jackson Games.^[4]

Goal

The goal of Munchkin is to reach level 10 (or level 20 in an "Epic" Level game). Every player starts as a "level 1 human with no class (Heh, heh)" and has to earn levels by killing monsters or other means. Other means include selling a thousand gold pieces worth of items, or playing "go up a level" cards. A typical game runs for around an hour.

Gameplay

Each person's turn begins with the player "Opening a Door" (often referred to as kicking down the door) by drawing a Door card face-up. If there is a monster in the room, the player fights the monster. If the player's level plus bonuses from the player's equipment (such as Really Impressive Title) is higher than the monster's level plus any bonuses the monster might have (such as Enraged, Humongous, or Buffed), then the player wins the fight and moves up one level (though some monsters grant two levels), and takes the monster's stuff. If the drawn card is a curse card, it takes effect immediately.

If the player did not find a monster in the room, then the player can choose to either draw another Door card face down (looting the room) or fight a monster from his hand (looking for trouble).

To prevent opponents from achieving the winning level (9, 10, 11, 20, or 22 depending on pre-game selections and card play), players can give enhancing cards (such as the Big Honkin' Sword of Character Whupping) to whatever monsters are fighting the other player so that the monsters will win and cause the player to have to try to Run Away from the monsters and maybe have to suffer "Bad Stuff" from the monsters, or throw curses on each other (or have them happen randomly), such as New Edition Rules (causing all players to lose a level). Players can also use items against each other such as Itching Powder (making the player throw away any clothing or armor). Every card played resolves instantly, with few exceptions (which include the use of the card Wishing Ring to cancel curses).

Players can help each other defeat monsters, adding together their level and bonuses to beat the monsters. The player who helps the other player can negotiate a deal to receive some of the Treasure cards earned by defeating the monster, or some other advantageous trade, but the helper never gets a Level for helping without playing a card or using an ability that allows it (e.g., the Elf Race, mentioned below). Players can gain extra abilities or advantages by getting "Class" or "Race" cards; as an example, players using the Warrior class win a battle in the event of a tie between their and the monster's level and pluses, while a player using the Elf race gains a Level per monster whenever they assist another player in killing a monster. Certain monsters, such as Squidzilla, gain an advantage against certain races or classes.

Players can Sell one or more of their items to gain a level. Each item card has a value saying how much gold the item is worth. If the combined value is greater than or equal to 1000 gold pieces, then the items can be sold to gain a level. Since the game has no other way to represent money, players cannot get "change." However, a player can buy more than one level, at a cost of 1000 gold pieces per level. Players cannot achieve the winning level by selling items, however, nor can they sell Items and not take a level if the next level is one that has to be earned by killing a monster (usually the winning level).

Winning the game requires getting to Level 10 (or 20). Players can get levels by killing Monsters, selling Items (as described above) or playing cards that let a player go up a level (such as Bribe the DM or Switch Character Sheets). With few exceptions, the only way to get the winning level is to kill a Monster. Exceptions to that rule usually come in the form of cards which specifically state they break the rule (e.g., Divine Intervention).

Munchkin is not a very serious game;^[5] the rules make this clear with phrases like "Decide who goes first by rolling the dice and arguing about the results and the meaning of this sentence and whether the fact that a word seems to be missing any effect," and "Any disputes in the rules should be settled by loud arguments with the owner of the game having the last word." There are many cards which interact with or are affected by a single other card, despite the rarity of the two cards entering play together (such as the interaction between Fowl Fiend and Chicken on Your Head or Sword of Slaying Everything Except Squid and Squidzilla).

Card types

Munchkin has two basic card types--doors and treasures--and three supplemental types.

• Door: These are the basic cards turned over every turn and include
  • Monster: Monsters in Munchkin range in level from 1 (e.g. Potted Plant, Lame Goblin, or Goldfish) to 20 (e.g. Plutonium Dragon, Kali, or Great Cthulhu). When a player defeats a monster they go up one or more levels and draw a certain number of treasures, both depending on the particular monster and bonus effects.
  • Curse/Trap/Disaster: Curse cards take effect immediately if drawn when a player kicks down the Door, or can be used to curse other players if drawn at other times. Their effects range from Squidgilator`s "Lose one level," to Dwarven Ale`s "-4 to your next combat due to uncontrollable drunken singing."
  • Monster Enhancer: These cards affect combat by either enhancing or subtracting from the combat strength of a monster, and adding to or subtracting from the number of Treasures that monster is worth.
  • Class: Each player may have one class card in play at a time, unless using the Super Munchkin or Ultra Munchkin card when he may have two, the Ultra Munchkin from Munchkin Blender and Munchkin Reloaded! that allows three, or the Super Duper Munchkin which allows an unlimited number of classes. Each class gives the player special abilities. If a player draws a class card face up, the player may become that class. If they already have one in play, the player may choose to replace their current class and discard it, or choose to place the new class in their hand for later.
  • Race: Each player may also have one race card in play at a time, again increased to two with Half-Breed and three with 1/3-Breed from Blender and Reloaded!, or unlimited with Chimera. Each race gives the player special abilities.
  • Helpers: There are various types of helpers like the Hirelings in base Munchkin, Sidekicks found in Star Munchkin and Super Munchkin, Minions in Munchkin Bites, Mooks in Munchkin Fu, Allies in Munchkin Axe Cop & Munchkin Adventure Time, and Comrades in Munchkin Conan. These Helpers allow players who have them to sacrifice them to escape from any combat. Some also allow players to carry and use additional items, as well as bestowing additional combat bonuses and other abilities.
  • Steeds, Ships and Vehicles: Depending on the version, these are additional conveyances that can aid a player with further combat bonuses. Steeds are common to base Munchkin, Ships to Star Munchkin and Munchkin Booty, and Vehicles in Munchkin Impossible.
  • Portals: Portal cards allow the player to enter and exit Dungeons (see below). Some portals will help the player enter dungeons; other portals will harm others.
  • Other: The game includes many other cards; some affect combat, some give players in-game bonuses, and many just have weird effects.
• Treasure: These cards are drawn when a player defeats a monster or uses certain door and treasure cards (like Arms Locker). Treasure cards include the following.
  • Item: Item cards typically give permanent benefits to the player who equips with them. They can give abilities or bonuses. Many items go to a specific "slot" (Hand, Armor, Footgear and Headgear) indicated on the card, while some do not. Items also come in two sizes, Big and Small. Each player can carry (i.e., have in play) any number of Small items, even if they cannot use them, but only one Big Item. "One shot" items also exist; these can be played from a player's hand or from the table. They have various effects, including giving a combat bonus to the player or the monsters in a combat, canceling or removing a curse, removing a monster from combat, or modifying a die roll.
  • Item Enhancers: These cards are played on a given Item to increase its combat bonus. specialized Item Enhancers can be used only for certain Items; Example: Ship Enhancers can be used only for Ships.
  • GUAL: GUAL (or Go Up A Level) cards allow the player to place them in the Treasure discard pile in order to gain a level (they cannot be used to gain the winning level unless the card's text allows this). Most of these cards can be used at any time (such as Bribe the GM or Shiny Dice... Spinning... Spinning...), but some have special requirements and/or effects.
  • Other: There are many Treasure cards which have a huge range of effects that do not fit into any other category.
• Dungeon: Dungeon cards are double-sized cards introduced in the sixth Munchkin deck, Demented Dungeons. These cards affect game play both positively and negatively. Certain dungeons can increase treasure, make the player an epic munchkin, make it harder to run away, or add death to the "Bad Stuff" of monsters. To date, three expansions add Dungeons to the game: the above mentioned Demented Dungeons, Crazed Caverns for Munchkin Cthulhu and Hideous Hideouts for Munchkin Zombies.
• Spell: Introduced and found only in the Munchkinomicon mini-expansion, Spell cards function and have effects similar to most regular curse or door cards. By equipping the Munchkinomicon as an item, the player is allowed to draw one card, face down, from a separate card deck labelled "Spells".
• Fairy Dust: Introduced in Munchkin Fairy Dust, these cards can be acquired only by helping someone in combat, curing a curse on someone else, or killing the Sparkly Good Fairy. These cards are always beneficial and can often be used more than once.

Base Games & Expansions

A number of base games, expansions and sequels to the original Munchkin game have been made. They're listed here in chronological release of the base sets.

Original "Fantasy" Munchkin

• Munchkin, (containing 94 door cards and 74 treasure cards). It has been released in both regular and Deluxe editions; the latter includes a level-tracking gameboard and plastic player pawns with matching double-sided cards to mark the player's gender.
  • Munchkin 2: Unnatural Axe, the first expansion (containing 64 door cards, 44 treasure cards, 2 blank door cards and 2 blank treasure cards), won the 2002 Origins Award for Best Card Game Expansion or Supplement.^[6] The Orc Race is introduced in this expansion.
    • Munchkin Unnatural Axe is a package sold exclusively at Barnes & Noble stores. It is an enhanced and re-packaged version of Munchkin 2: Unnatural Axe. It contains everything that the original expansion contained (64 door cards, 44 treasure cards, 2 blank door cards and 2 blank treasure cards). It also includes six Unnatural Axe female pawns.
  • Munchkin 3: Clerical Errors, the second Munchkin expansion (containing 66 door cards and 46 treasure cards), brought the total number of cards for Munchkin up to 392. This expansion introduces the Gnome Race and the Bard Class.
    • Munchkin 3.5: Clerical Errata is a misprint of Clerical Errors, containing cards printed with the wrong card back (e.g. door rather than treasure, or vice versa). By popular demand, a limited public release was made, with rules for using the misprints in a regular game. Enough units were sold to make back the printing costs.
  • Munchkin 4: The Need for Steed, the third expansion to Munchkin (containing 78 door cards and 34 treasure cards) was released in 2006. This included a new type of card, Steeds, such as a dragon, an eagle and a turtle. Furthermore, many new kinds of Hirelings were added. Rules for these new cards are also included in this expansion.
  • Munchkin 5: De-Ranged, the fourth expansion (containing 60 door cards and 52 treasure cards), adds the Ranger Class as well as some of the monsters from the European version of the game.
  • Munchkin 6: Demented Dungeons, the fifth expansion, added 20 double-sized Dungeon cards and 16 Portal cards for movement among them.
  • Munchkin 7: More Good Cards, the original sixth expansion (containing 30 door cards and 26 treasure cards), consists of reprints from Munchkin Blender with new art and a number of extra cards chosen by polling Munchkin fans. The set contains no new monsters, races, classes or rules.
  • Munchkin 7: Cheat With Both Hands is the alternate sixth expansion (containing 112 cards) that replaces More Good Cards and Munchkin Blender. This is meant to be used between two or more games, because of the variety of cards (Ultra Munchkin, 1/3-Breed, Cheat With Both Hands, etc.).
  • Munchkin 8: Half Horse, Will Travel is the seventh 112-card expansion (containing 77 door cards and 35 treasure cards) with two new Races (Centaur and Lizard Guy) and three new Race and Class Enhancers (Elite, Legendary, and Elder). Released in March 2012.
    • Munchkin—Fairy Dust is the first in a series of "booster packs", featuring 15 cards that benefit players who help each other. The cards are full color (unlike the other base Munchkin cards) with pink and silver glitter ("Fairy Dust") worked into the printing. Munchkin Fairy Dust was recalled because of an issue with the pink foil on the back causing the cards to bend. The publisher released a new, foil-less version in 2010. Fairy Dust, which is now out of print, was also included in the compilation Munchkin Game Changers.
    • Munchkin—Waiting For Santa is the second 15-card booster, with a Christmas theme. Cards are in full color, like Fairy Dust above, but with red and green "shiny ornament" enhancements. It features Santa Claus and various "Santa" monsters (a new monster type for the game), as well as new Christmas-themed treasures (such as Missile Toe, Fruitcake, and a Santa Hat that gives the player an extra hand). Munchkin Santa was recalled because of an issue with the green foil on the back causing the cards to bend. The publisher released a new, foil-less version in 2010. Waiting for Santa is out of print but was reprinted as part of the compilation Munchkin Holiday Surprise.
    • Munchkin—Marked For Death is a 19-card booster with 17 all-new and 2 corrected cards^[7] cards. The 17 new cards can be used as a demo for the full game or can be added to any Munchkin set. The two corrected cards replace two misprinted cards from More Good Cards. Released in June 2010.
    • Munchkin—Santa's Revenge is a 15-card booster. It adds Santa monsters like Harold Angel (as in, HARK!) and the Anti-Clause. It goes especially well with Waiting for Santa, but you do not need WFS to enjoy Santa's Revenge. Released in October 2010, Santa's Revenge is out of print but was reprinted as part of the compilation Munchkin Holiday Surprise.
    • Munchkinomicon is a 15-card booster. It's the ultimate book of spells, the Munchkinomicon. But beware! If you are not munchkinly enough, the Munchkinomicon will slip away and find a more suitable host. This set includes the Munchkinomicon and 14 of its deviously cheesy spells, like United I Stand, Eldritch Cleaver, and Unnatural Compulsion. The Munchkinomicon will trade owners to someone who dies, discards three cards, successfully curses someone or sacrifices a level. Munchinomicon is currently out of print, but was included in the compilation Munchkin Game Changers.
    • Munchkin Reloaded! All your favorite cards have returned: the Race modifiers Dark and High, the class modifier Master, and of course the Reloaded Die (and we threw in an extra one, too!). This set also features the classic card Rocks Fall, Everyone Dies, from the virtual pages of Randy Milholland's hit webcomic Something*Positive. Reloaded! is currently out of print, but was included in the compilation Munchkin Game Changers.
    • Munchkin—Monster Enhancers. This booster gives you 15 new monster enhancer cards. With 13 favorites from More Good Cards, now in full color, plus two brand-new cards, Hollywood and Ultimate, this set is a monster's dream and a player's nightmare. Monster Enhancers is currently out of print, but was included in the compilation Munchkin Game Changers.
    • Munchkin—Reindeer Games is a Christmas-themed booster released in November 2011. Reindeer Games is also available as part of the compilation Munchkin Holiday Surprise.
    • Munchkin—Naughty & Nice is yet another Christmas-themed booster, released November 2012. Naughty & Nice is also available as part of the compilation Munchkin Holiday Surprise.
    • Munchkin—Conan the Barbarian is a 15-card booster (containing 6 door cards and 9 treasure cards) based on the new Conan the Barbarian (2011 film) movie. Released in September 2011.
    • Munchkin—The Guild is a 15-card booster (containing 8 door cards and 7 treasure cards) based on The Guild, a web series about a group of online gamers. Released in May 2012.
    • Munchkin—Penny Arcade is a 15-card booster based on Jerry Holkins' and Mike Krahulik's webcomic Penny Arcade.
    • Munchkin—Dragons is a 15-card booster focused on dragon Monster cards.
    • Munchkin—Easter Eggs is a 15-card booster with an Easter theme. Released in March 2013.
    • Munchkin—Tricky Treats is a 15-card booster with a Halloween theme. It was released in October 2013.
    • Munchkin—Skullkickers is a 15-card booster based on the Image Comics title Skullkickers. Released in 2012.
    • Munchkin Gets Promoted! is a 15-card booster consisting of 12 previously released Munchkin Promo Cards and three new cards: "Billiard Ball of Nonexistence", "Get A Head" and "Get Promoted!". Released in December 2013.
    • Munchkin Princesses is a 15-card booster released August 2014.
    • Munchkin Holidazed is a Christmas-themed booster released in November 2014. It includes reprints of the four bonus cards included in the Munchkin Holiday Surprise set, plus 11 new cards (15 cards total), a candy-cane-themed Level counter and a set of six Munchkin dice--three red and three green.
    • Munchkin Love Shark Baby is a Valentine's Day-themed booster illustrated by Katie Cook and released January 2015.
    • Munchkin--Kobolds Ate My Baby! is a 15-card booster themed on the Kobolds Ate My Baby! roleplaying game, under license from 9th Level Games. Its development and release were predicated on successfully reaching a "stretch goal" of $55,000 on their Kickstarter fundraiser to reprint the KAMB RPG. The goal was reached and surpassed (a total of $65,817 was raised).^[8] The booster pack was released February 2015.

Star Munchkin

• Star Munchkin^[9] was released in 2002. It was the first non-"Fantasy" base version of Munchkin. It parodies science-fiction in general, with an emphasis on the Star Trek and Star Wars franchises. It won the 2002 Origins Award for Best Traditional Card Game.^[6] Sidekicks are introduced in this game.
  • Star Munchkin 2: The Clown Wars is an expansion for Star Munchkin. It introduces Rooms and the Bug Race and the Space Ranger Class. 20th level Epic Munchkin rules are also provided.
  • Star Munchkin 3: Diplomatic Impunity is an expansion for Star Munchkin currently in production. It includes additional Ships, the Ambassador Class and the Veggie Race.^[10] It was announced Nov. 24, 2014 with an anticipated release for summer 2015.^[11]
    • Space Ships is a booster for Star Munchkin. It introduced Ships (similar to Steeds) to the world of Star Munchkin. Contains 15 cards.

Munchkin Fu

• Munchkin Fu, another standalone version, was released in 2003 and parodies Asian martial arts movies. It introduces a new concept, Styles, which represent different fighting styles the player can use. Munchkin Fu won the 2003 Gamers' Choice Card Game Award.^[12] Munchkin Fu was illustrated by Greg Hyland, (creator of Lethargic Lad) in a style inspired by John Kovalic, not by John Kovalic himself.^[13] This core set is out of print, although a reprint was recently made available.^[14]
  • Munchkin Fu 2: Monky Business, an expansion to Munchkin Fu, was released early in 2005. It was also illustrated by Greg Hyland in the same Kovalic-inspired style.^[15] This set is out of print.

Munchkin Bites

• Munchkin Bites! (containing 106 door cards and 52 treasure cards) is the fourth standalone version, released in 2004. It parodies horror role-playing games, such as the games set in the World of Darkness universe, and horror fiction and movies in general.
  • Munchkin Bites! 2: Pants Macabre is an expansion for Munchkin Bites, and was released in late 2005. This set added the Mummy Race.

Super Munchkin

• Super Munchkin (containing 106 door cards and 62 treasure cards) is the fifth standalone version, released in the summer of 2005 and is a parody on Superhero comics.
  • Super Munchkin 2: The Narrow S Cape is an expansion for Super Munchkin, released in the summer of 2006. The Brain Class was added, and Capes were added as a new type of Treasure.

Munchkin Impossible

• Munchkin Impossible, the sixth standalone version, was released in late 2006 and parodies secret agent stories such as those of Mission: Impossible and James Bond. Besides the usual Classes, each character can have one or more Loyalties during the game. To date, this is the oldest variant of Munchkin to not have expansions made for it.

Munchkin Cthulhu

• Munchkin Cthulhu, the seventh standalone version, released in March 2007, lampoons Lovecraft's Mythos and the horror gaming that surrounds it, summoning classic monsters from outside reality.
  • Munchkin Cthulhu 2: Call of Cowthulhu is an expansion for Munchkin Cthulhu. Released in September 2007, this 56-card set introduces Madness cards (a variation on Curses).
  • Munchkin Cthulhu 3: The Unspeakable Vault is the second 56 card expansion for Munchkin Cthulhu, released in January 2008.
  • Munchkin Cthulhu 4: Crazed Caverns is the third expansion for Munchkin Cthulhu, bringing 20 double-sized dungeon cards that act the same as in Demented Dungeons and 16 standard-sized portal cards.

The Good, The Bad, And The Munchkin

• The Good, The Bad, And The Munchkin is the eighth standalone version, was released in November 2007, and is meant to make fun of Western and cowboy-themed movies such as The Good, the Bad and the Ugly.
  • The Good, The Bad, And The Munchkin 2: Beating a Dead Horse is a 56-card expansion for The Good, The Bad, and The Munchkin. Released April 2012.

Munchkin Booty

• Munchkin Booty, the ninth standalone game, focuses on pirates and was released in September 2008.^[16]
  • Munchkin Booty 2: Jump the Shark is an expansion for Munchkin Booty and was released in March 2009.^[17]
    • Munchkin Booty—Fish & Ships is a booster for Munchkin Booty and was released in September 2010. It contains 15 cards.^[17]

Munchkin Zombies

• Munchkin Zombies is the tenth standalone set, and is played as the munchkin being a zombie, the monsters as regular people, and a few rogue zombies thrown in. In place of Races or Classes, Munchkin Zombies have Mojos (Atomic, Plague or Voodoo Zombie) and Powers (Smart, Strong, Fast, etc.). Powers are similar to those used in "Super Munchkin". It has been released in both regular and Deluxe editions; the latter includes a level-tracking gameboard and plastic player pawns with matching double-sided cards to mark the player's gender.
  • Munchkin Zombies 2: Armed & Dangerous is an expansion for Munchkin Zombies and was released in mid-2011. It adds a new Patchwork Zombie Mojo to the game.^[18]
  • Munchkin Zombies 3: Hideous Hideouts includes Portals and Dungeon cards similar to those in "Munchkin 6: Demented Dungeons" and "Munchkin Cthulhu: Crazed Caverns".
  • Munchkin Zombies 4: Spare Parts was released April 2014 and is a 56-card expansion and introduces a new power: Solo.

Munchkin Axe Cop

• Munchkin Axe Cop, the eleventh standalone set, was released in October 2011. Unlike the other genre expansions, it is a licenced spin-off of the Axe Cop webcomic.^[19]

Munchkin Conan

• Munchkin Conan, the twelfth standalone set. It is a licenced spin-off of the Conan the Barbarian franchise. The 101 door cards and 67 treasure cards in this 168-card set have the same door and treasure card backs as the original fantasy-themed Munchkin set. It introduces the new Birthright card type (Barbarian and Noble) and four new Races (Cimmerian, Stygian, Kushite, and Zamoran). Released in June 2012.^[20]

Munchkin Apocalypse

• Munchkin Apocalypse, the thirteenth standalone set, was released in November 2012. This version is a send-up of apocalyptic scenarios, especially the 2012 phenomenon.^[21] This set introduced an alternate game-end scenario, "Seals of the Apocalypse". When seven Seals are opened (by cards requiring the players to do so), the game immediately ends, and the player with the highest total amount of combat bonuses from their in-play items wins.
  • Munchkin Apocalypse 2: Sheep Impact is a 106-card expansion and introduces a new class: Daredevil. Released May 2014.
    • Munchkin Apocalypse—Mars Attacks!, a licensed spin-off of the 1962 Topps trading card set of the same name, is a 15-card booster for Munchkin Apocalypse, featuring additional Doors, Treasures and Seals. Released January 2014.

Munchkin Legends

• Munchkin Legends is the fourteenth stand-alone set with a similar theme to the original, based on myths and legends. It was released as an exclusive for Target stores following the chain's agreement to carry Munchkin products, but has since been made available for sale at other outlets.
  • Munchkin Legends 2: Faun & Games is a 56-card expansion that adds a new race, Faun. Released August 2014.
  • Munchkin Legends 3: Myth Prints is a 56-card expansion that adds a new class, Gladiator. Released October 2014.

Munchkin Pathfinder

• Munchkin Pathfinder is the fifteenth stand-alone set, released in full in late October 2013. It was soft-released at GenCon 2013. This is a licensed spin-off of the Pathfinder Roleplaying Game.^[22] It has been released in both regular and Deluxe editions; the latter includes a level-tracking gameboard and player standees.
  • Munchkin Pathfinder: Gobsmacked! is a 15-card booster for Munchkin Pathfinder, consisting mostly of additional Goblin-based cards.

Munchkin Adventure Time

• Munchkin Adventure Time is based on the Adventure Time series from Cartoon Network. It was announced at GenCon 2013 for a 2014 release ^[23] and will be distributed in conjunction with USAopoly, who hold the current overall game license for the show. ^[24] The set adds double-sided Character Cards for each of the eight AT Main Characters and their "fan fiction" counterparts (depending on if the player using it is male or female), each of which bestows an additional unique rule for the player using it. The set was released August 2014.
  • Munchkin Adventure Time 2: It's a Dungeon Crawl! is an expansion planned for release in Spring 2015. The expansion was announced at Gen Con 2014, and will also be a co-release with USAopoly. No details on the size of the expansion or any additional card types was released.^[25]

Munchkin Steampunk

• Munchkin Steampunk is based on the genre of steampunk adventure. The artwork for the set will be done by Phil Foglio. The set is scheduled for release in 2015. ^[26] The set will release in July in a retailer kit with 3 copies and 72 promo cards. It will be available through Warehouse 23 and other online retailers in September. ^[27]

Additional Munchkin Expansions

• Munchkin Blender was a special set released in response to players combining the different versions of Munchkin. It was an expansion sized set of cards designed to enhance this type of game, in which a player could be an elven/mutant bounty hunter/ninja or a dwarven samurai. Also provided are rules for playing to the 20th level, also known as Epic Munchkin. The Blender pack of cards was not required in order to mix two or more different standalone versions together. It has since been replaced by Cheat With Both Hands and is out of print.
• Munchkin Boxes of Holding. Cardboard boxes to store cards in, but came with one unique Door and one unique Treasure card. A new "Boxes of Holding 2" set, which adds a third box for Dungeons and three new cards (one each Door, Treasure and Dungeon), was released in September 2013. ^[28] Similar box sets have been made available for Munchkin Zombies ("Meat Lockers") and Munchkin Cthulhu ("Crypts of Concealment").
• Munchkin—Go Up A Level includes cards across the existing sets that were revised for the May 2010 "19th printing", meant to clarify rules and make play easier. The 132 cards included in the set are intended to replace cards from the original Munchkin set and its expansions that had errors, inconsistencies or that required clarification. The full list of updated cards and the sets they were originally published in can be found at the World of Munchkin site on this page.
• Munchkin Dice is a supplement which contains six oversized 10-sided dice. The dice are designed for use as level counters. Also included are 14 cards for the original Munchkin (Race/Class modifiers, most notably) and rules for rolling a Munchkin die for random game benefits. This item is now out of print, but the cards were reissued in the Reloaded! booster. In 2013, six new Munchkin Dice were released for individual sale through Warehouse 23.
• Epic Munchkin is a set of rules for playing up to level 20 for all the Munchkin games. Players that reach the higher levels [10-19] gain 'Epic Powers' for each race and class (these powers are lost if the player is reduced to level 9 or lower). It is free, and can be downloaded as a PDF from the Munchkin website.
• Exclusive Warehouse 23 Munchkin Boosters are, as their name proclaims, exclusive sets of cards covering most of the Munchkin versions; available only from SJGames' "Warehouse 23" online store or from Steve Jackson representatives at shows and conventions. The original pack was released in 2010 (10 cards, 9 new and a color reprint of the promo 'Pegasus Steed'), with four more packs being released in 2011 (17 cards), 2012 (19 cards), 2013 (15 cards), and 2014 (22 cards).
• Munchkin Game Changers is a package exclusive to Barnes & Noble stores. It contains all of the cards from the Fairy Dust, Munchkinomicon, Monster Enhancers and Reloaded! booster packs. As a bonus, they've included the cards from Munchkin Fairy Dust Dice and two big sparkly pink dice to go with them, plus four cards formerly only available directly from Steve Jackson Games. This set also introduces new Fairy Dust and Munchkinomicon-themed level counters.
• Munchkin Holiday Surprise is a compilation box containing the cards from all four Christmas-themed boosters (Waiting for Santa, Santa's Revenge, Reindeer Games, and Naughty & Nice), two Christmas-themed cards from the Warehouse 23 boosters, two Christmas-themed promotional cards, and a Christmas-themed level counter. It was originally a Barnes & Noble exclusive release, but was then released for general sales.
• Munchkin Level Playing Field is a miniaturized version of the gameboard included in the Munchkin Deluxe base game, sized to fit in the standard size regular release Munchkin box. It includes 12 cardboard markers--six for the players to use on the board an six matching "+1 bonuses" for each player--and four additional cards (one Door and three Trasures). The board also has a flipside graphic allowing for Epic Munchkin play to Level 20. A similar mini-board called Munchkin Board of Health has been produced. It is a double-sided board for use with either Munchkin Cthulhu or Munchkin Zombies, and includes 24 cardboard markers (2 sets of 12 for each game, in similar fashion to the Level Playing Field markers) and eight extra cards (four for each game).

Accessories

Many accessories have been released over the years by Steve Jackson Games to be used in conjunction with the card games, each with special rules included with the item as well as being listed on their website. These include

• T-shirts, polo shirts, sweat shirts and other apparel,
• Water bottles,
• Wristbands,
• Special promotional cards and bookmarks given away at gaming conventions and with orders from the "Warehouse 23" Online Store,
• "Silver Coins" with special rules listed on the webpage which change from month to month,
• Dice in various colors, some oversized with special artwork by John Kovalic,
• Plastic pawns in the form of male and female munchkins of various colors. (These have special rules for use in other games beside Munchkin and Munchkin Quest.)

Comic Book

Steve Jackson Games announced in July 2014 that Boom! Studios was publishing a Munchkin comic book.^[29] Each issue (beginning in January 2015) ships with an exclusive card.^[30]

Spinoffs

Munchkin has also spawned several games related to, but not part of, the Munchkin card game.

• There are two role-playing games, both of which use the d20 System based on the Munchkin and Star Munchkin card games.
  • The Munchkin RPG is an extended parody of Dungeons & Dragons: the latter has "cantrip" spells, the former has, among others, "can trip" (foils pursuers with preserved foodstuffs), "can't rip" (reinforces fabrics) and "Kant trip" (induces hallucinatory deontology). It consists of the Munchkin Player's Handbook, the Munchkin Master's Guide, the Munchkin Monster Manual, and the Munchkin Monster Manual 2.5 (a joke on Dungeons & Dragons 3.5).
  • The Star Munchkin Role Playing Game is one book, and includes rules for spaceship design and a new class not seen in the card game, the Farce K'nigit.
• Munchkin Quest is a board game/RPG for four players based on the original Munchkin card game which contains several different items, monsters, and references to it. It was released in November 2008.^[31]
  • Munchkin Quest 2: Looking for Trouble expands the game with new rooms, cards, monsters and equipment to allow gameplay for two more players (six total).
  • Munchkin Quest: Portal Kombat adds 10 new cards and 24 new "Portal" links, allowing for movement between disparate parts of the game area.
  • Several "Promo" items were also released, including:
    • a Coaster allowing the player using it exclusive use of either a Tavern giving three one-point Health boosts, or a Lab allowing a single-use full regain of all Health points;
    • a Promo Set with a new Room tile, a new Monster (Troll) with matching card, and three new "Junky Passageway" links;
    • Promo Cards and Bookmarks, each with additional benefits for game players.
• Munchkin Treasure Hunt is a simplified board game version of Munchkin aimed primarily at young players (age 6 and up) and published by Steve Jackson Games. Between 2 and 6 players move around a game board filled with Munchkin monsters that when landed on, must be defeated to earn their gold. Monsters are strengthened by drawing cards and/or adding dice rolls to the monster's base strength. The player with the most gold at the end of the game wins. The game is exclusively available at Toys "R" Us stores.
• Munchkin Loot Letter is a Munchkin-themed version of the popular card game Love Letter published by Alderac Entertainment Group. It was released in late 2014 in both boxed and "velvet bag" editions. Both versions are essentially the same except for their packaging. The set includes an exclusive card for play with Munchkin.^[32][33]
• Munchkin Panic is a Munchkin-themed edition of the board game Castle Panic published by Fireside Games. It was released in late 2014.^[34]
• Munchkin Gloom is a Munchkin-themed version of the card game Gloom published by Atlas Games. It is planned for release in Summer 2015.^[35]

In popular culture

The game Munchkin is referenced and seen in the 2008 movie The Gamers: Dorkness Rising. It was also referenced in season 5 episode 1 of The Guild, when character Zaboo expresses his delight over the potential for "midnight Munchkin madness."

References

External links

• The World of Munchkin (official website)
• Steve Jackson Games
• Munchkin and the many Munchkin game variations at BoardGameGeek
• 2010 Audio Interview with Andrew Hackard of Steve Jackson Games (interview starts at the 38:45 mark)
• Steve Jackson et al playing a game of Munchkin.

Munchkin Game Aids

• Munchkineer(Free Android App)
• Munchkin Level Counter

Free PDF Downloads

• Epic Munchkin
• Munchkin Mask
• Munchkin Rigged Demo
• Munchkin Tournament Rules
• Munchkin Thingies

Video Instructions and Demo

• Video Playlist of Rules and Rigged Demo