Rulebook
LEGATUS rules: the chess card game
LEGATUS is chess where each commander also holds a small deck of Command Orders. Every chess rule you know still applies — the cards decide how well you adapt when the plan breaks. This page explains the deployment phase, the turn sequence, every board token and all 32 order types in the deck.
Phase one: deployment
LEGATUS does not start from the classical chess setup. You build your own formation before the first move.
- 01
Both commanders start with an empty board and 16 pieces in reserve.
- 02
The King is placed first, on your own home rank.
- 03
Players then alternate placing one piece at a time.
- 04
Every new piece must touch — orthogonally or diagonally — a piece you have already placed, so your army forms one connected formation.
- 05
Once all 32 pieces are on the board, White takes the first turn and the battle begins.
Phase two: the turn sequence
- 01
Move — mandatory
Make one legal chess move. Standard chess movement, capture, check and checkmate rules apply throughout the game.
- 02
Order — optional
Play one Command Order from your hand. Some powerful orders cost pawns, which are sacrificed from your own army when the card resolves.
- 03
Draw
Draw one card back into your hand from your deck, up to your hand limit.
- 04
End turn
Timed effects tick down — shields, ceasefires and disarmed pieces expire at the end of the round they were set to last.
Board tokens
Some orders leave a marker on the board. Tokens stay in play until they trigger or expire.
Block token
Sits on one of your pieces. The next capture attempt against that piece fails, the attacker's move is spent, and the token is removed. It cannot be placed on the King.
Ambush token
Hidden on an empty square. The next enemy piece to land there is destroyed. A King springs the trap but survives.
Barricade token
Blocks a square entirely. No piece may enter or pass through it while it stands.
Disarm marker
A disarmed piece may still move, but it cannot capture until the end of its owner's next turn.
Every Command Order explained
64 cards per commander. Cards marked with a cost sacrifice your own pawns when played.
Tactical orders
33 cardsBattlefield manoeuvres: shields, ambushes, extra moves and strikes that bend how pieces move and capture.
Espionage orders
13 cardsInformation and disruption: look at the enemy hand, steal or burn their orders, and sow confusion.
Command orders
11 cardsArmy-wide decrees that change the rules of the turn itself for both commanders.
Recruitment orders
7 cardsBring fallen soldiers back to the board or promote the ones still standing.
Frequently asked questions
- Is LEGATUS still chess?
- Yes. All standard chess movement, check, checkmate and stalemate rules apply. The card deck adds a second layer of decisions on top of the chess game.
- How many cards are in the deck?
- Each commander has a deck of 64 Command Orders split across tactical, espionage, command and recruitment orders.
- How do you win?
- Checkmate wins, exactly as in chess. Cards can buy tempo, protect a piece or remove a threat, but they never replace the checkmate condition.
- Do I have to play a card every turn?
- No. Moving is mandatory, playing an order is optional. Holding a card back for the right moment is often stronger than spending it early.
- What does sacrificing a pawn mean?
- The strongest orders have a cost. When you play them, you permanently remove one or two of your own pawns from the board before the order resolves.
- Can I play LEGATUS on a physical chess board?
- Yes. A printable print-and-play card sheet is available so you can play with any chess set.