Game Info
Year
2023
Players
1-4
Age
13+
Playtime
60 min
Complexity
2/5
Collection
Mechanic profile
Not enough video data yet
Vibe profile
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Description
Deck and tableau building game where alchemists mix chemicals into flasks to brew potions
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Images
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All mentions
Browse transcript mentions, sentiments, pros/cons, mechanics, topics, quotes, and references.
Total mentions: 4
This page: 4
Sentiment:
pos 4 ·
mix 0 ·
neu 0 ·
neg 0
Showing 1–4 of 4
Video eh7iZ5Aqfvk
J the Hung Gamer Review at 0:09 sentiment: positive
video_pk 67104 · mention_pk 163082
Click to watch at 0:09 · YouTube ↗
Overall sentiment (raw)
positive
Pros
- Strong variety of potions and presets that change how you build and combo effects
- Clever flask mechanic that adds thematic flavor and deck interaction
- Deluxe components and appealing artwork
- Deck-on-top purchase flow keeps actions fast and tactile
- Endgame tension via toxin track provides strategic planning
Cons
- Still a deck-builder; some players may find it familiar or samey
- Toxin track randomness can bother some players
- Flask-caused busted turns when multiple flasks appear in a hand
Thematic elements
- Becoming the greatest alchemist by brewing potions
- Alchemy era, potion brewing in a fantasy world
- Narrative-driven with potions combos
Comparison games
- Minion
- classic deck builder (general reference)
Mechanics (from transcript analysis)
- Deck building — Draw five cards; buy and add cards to your deck, with some cards staying aside or causing shuffles.
- deck-building — Draw five cards; buy and add cards to your deck, with some cards staying aside or causing shuffles.
- flask/potion storage — Potions must be stored in flasks that you place on a board; flasks impact hand size and potion creation.
- toxin track endgame — A toxin track increases as toxic potions are brewed; reaching the top ends the game; players can influence pace by potion choices.
Video topics + discussion points
No key topics recorded for this video.
Quotes (from this video)
- I'm not a huge classic deck builder fan, I like this one more than most of them.
- I love that you're putting the cards you buy on top of your deck.
- The toxin track is great because you know exactly how many more potions have to be made before that endgame gets triggered.
- it's thematic with the name of the potion and what they do.
- deluxe components are pretty darn nice.
References (from this video)
No references stored for this video.
Video 0HFXJVl6Qkw
Lit Table Review at 0:14 sentiment: positive
video_pk 67079 · mention_pk 163068
Click to watch at 0:14 · YouTube ↗
Overall sentiment (raw)
positive
Pros
- High-quality components (metal coins, plastic point tokens) add tactile appeal
- Engaging deck-building and potion-crafting loop with meaningful choices
- Strong thematic flavor and variability with different potion sets
- Pacing feels balanced; end-game triggers feel timely
Cons
- Toxin/randomness can feel luck-based for some players
- Deck can clog as potions cycle back; thinning may be required
Thematic elements
- Alchemy, potion-making, toxin risk
- Potion crafting in a magical alchemy lab
- alchemist lab simulation with toxin tracking
Comparison games
none
Mechanics (from transcript analysis)
- Action points — Two actions per turn from options like gaining coins, buying flasks, upgrading chemicals, or crafting potions.
- Actions per turn — Two actions per turn from options like gaining coins, buying flasks, upgrading chemicals, or crafting potions.
- Deck building — Start with a 10-card deck; acquire new cards and place on top of the draw deck; draw and cycle through them via actions.
- deck-building — Start with a 10-card deck; acquire new cards and place on top of the draw deck; draw and cycle through them via actions.
- End-game and scoring — Game ends when the toxin track reaches the top; scoring from gems/points on cards and potion effects.
- potion crafting — Spend required chemicals to craft potions; potions have abilities and can be played or tabled; some are placed on the draw deck to cycle.
- Resource management — Earn coins to buy flasks; spend red/blue/green chemicals to upgrade and craft potions.
- toxin track — Toxin-flagged potions increase the toxin marker; certain cards trigger effects based on toxin level; reaching the top ends the game.
Video topics + discussion points
No key topics recorded for this video.
Quotes (from this video)
- it's a deck building game that is perfect for prepping for potions class before you take the owl exams
- I definitely recommend that you check out what each potion card does so that you can figure out a strategy of which potions you might want to get and choose and how to figure out you know how you can manage to get the most points with what's available and What potions are out there
References (from this video)
No references stored for this video.
Video Q0PH7m61UX4
Unknown Channel Discussion at 0:00 sentiment: positive
video_pk 67049 · mention_pk 163006
Click to watch at 0:00 · YouTube ↗
Overall sentiment (raw)
positive
Pros
- Deluxe edition with separate solo rulebook
- Large, satisfying metal first player marker and big coins
- Strong deck-building and tableau-building integration
- Clear central market mechanism
- Dedicated solo cards and separate solo rulebook for solo play
- Included organizer/tray for component organization
- Promising solo playthrough and potential for BGA play
Cons
- Uncertainty about card sleeving: whether to sleeve all cards and how it affects play
- Unclear purpose of extra bags included in the box
- Some setup decisions (organizer placement) may require figuring out
Thematic elements
- Array
- Laboratory / Alchemy
- informational
Comparison games
none
Mechanics (from transcript analysis)
- Deck building — Players acquire and add cards to a personal deck to gain resources and actions.
- Market/Resource Acquisition — A central market where players purchase potions, flasks, and chemicals to build their deck.
- tableau building — Cards are placed on a personal board to optimize combos and effects.
Video topics + discussion points
No key topics recorded for this video.
Quotes (from this video)
- this is a deck building Tableau building game
- I love those two mechanics in the game
- not too hard of a game to pick up
- I am very excited to do a solo playthrough of this
- the solo rule book which is awesome
- I'm glad they came with an organizer like this here
- these are all the flasks
References (from this video)
No references stored for this video.
Video zb_B5qsABsQ
Stella's Board Game Reviews Review at 0:05 sentiment: positive
video_pk 67054 · mention_pk 163046
Click to watch at 0:05 · YouTube ↗
Overall sentiment (raw)
positive
Pros
- Rewarding potion powers
- Strategic upgrade path for chemicals
- Variable potion abilities offer replayability
Cons
- Toxin events can be unpredictable
- Requires patience for flask activation
Thematic elements
- Alchemy and science
- Academy of Alchemy
Comparison games
- Dominion
Mechanics (from transcript analysis)
- action selection — Players can perform two of four available actions per turn: get a coin, purchase a flask, gain a chemical, or create and gain a potion.
- Deck building — The game is primarily a deck-building game where players start with basic cards, draw a hand, play cards for actions, and then discard.
- Resource management — Players manage chemicals and flasks to create potions.
- set collection — Some potions provide set collecting points based on the number of potions owned.
Video topics + discussion points
No key topics recorded for this video.
Quotes (from this video)
- it's Stella short and sweet preview for chemical overload
- we chemists are great for solving problems aren't we because we always have a solution
- if you've played Dominion this feels a bit like that
- sometimes you must make sacrifices for the greater good
- oxidants happen
- I know my experiment exploded
References (from this video)
No references stored for this video.
Transcript Navigation
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