Roles & Cards Guide

The Five Roles of Court of Shadows

In this social deduction game, your hidden role cards determine your true powers — but you can claim any role's action whether you have it or not. Understanding each role is essential for both playing honestly and bluffing effectively.

Regent

Commands authority and claims wealth without question.

Action: Tax

Take 3 coins from the treasury.

Block: Blocks Royal Grant

Prevent any player from taking Royal Grant.

Strategy

The Regent is an economic powerhouse. Use Tax to build wealth quickly, then threaten usurpations. Blocking Royal Grant also slows down opponents who try to catch up financially.

Pro Tips

• •Claim Regent early to establish wealth dominance
• •Block Royal Grant when opponents are desperate for coins
• •Having 2 Regents means incredible coin income — but you're predictable

Blade

Strikes from the shadows, eliminating rivals for a price.

Action: Assassinate

Pay 3 coins to force a player to lose one influence.

Strategy

The Blade is the most aggressive role. Assassination costs less than usurpation (3 vs 7 coins) but can be blocked by the Widow. Use it to eliminate threats before they grow too powerful.

Pro Tips

• •Assassinate players who are accumulating coins
• •Bluffing Blade is risky — the Widow can block and challenge
• •Target players with only 1 influence for quick eliminations

Diplomat

Negotiates exchanges and forces the hand of others.

Action: Exchange

Draw 2 cards from the deck, then return 2 cards to the deck.

Block: Blocks Stealing

Prevent the Corsair from stealing from you.

Strategy

The Diplomat offers flexibility. Exchange lets you cycle through the deck looking for better roles or replacing a revealed card. Blocking steals also protects your economy.

Pro Tips

• •Exchange when your current roles don't match your strategy
• •After losing one influence, Exchange can get you a fresh role
• •Claiming Diplomat to block steals is a safe, common bluff

Corsair

Plunders gold from those who cannot defend it.

Action: Steal

Take 2 coins from another player.

Block: Blocks Stealing

Prevent another Corsair from stealing from you.

Strategy

The Corsair disrupts opponent economies while building your own. Stealing is doubly effective: you gain 2 and they lose 2, creating a 4-coin swing.

Pro Tips

• •Steal from players saving for a usurpation
• •Target rich players to slow their progress
• •Be careful — both Diplomat and Corsair can block steals

Widow

Survives assassination with quiet, deadly grace.

Block: Blocks Assassination

Prevent the Blade from assassinating you.

Action: None

The Widow has no active ability — only a block.

Strategy

The Widow is purely defensive but incredibly valuable. Blocking assassination saves your influence AND wastes the Blade's 3 coins. Simply having the Widow (or claiming it) deters aggression.

Pro Tips

• •Always block assassination attempts — it's free protection
• •Bluffing Widow is common and effective as a deterrent
• •The Widow has no action, so pair it with an active role