From the Toysit archive
Star Wars Epic Duels
Painted figures, character cards and four battle settings turn Star Wars encounters into choices about position, timing and the next card.
The play at a glance
A Star Wars scene arranged on the tabletop
The Epic Duels photograph spreads a whole cast around two rectangular boards: small painted figures, character charts and clusters of colored cards. Each board is double-sided, offering four settings for an encounter.
Imagine arranging a confrontation, then looking down at a hand of cards before deciding the next move. A figure’s position gives the scene its shape; the cards give a player choices about how that scene unfolds.
Choose a character group
The set contains 31 figures and 12 character charts. A player controls a main character with one or two associated minor characters, using a deck that includes cards for that group. In the basic two-player game, the aim is to defeat the opposing main character.
For a first game, the booklet suggests Obi-Wan Kenobi against Count Dooku in the Geonosis Arena. That gives a new pair of players a specific starting scene before exploring other matchups.
Position, then two actions
A turn begins with the movement die, followed by two actions. Drawing a card, playing a card and the guide’s conditional healing action offer different ways to use those actions. Combat cards compare attack and defense values; damage is tracked on the character chart. Power Combat and Special cards introduce further choices.
Movement follows the board’s straight grid directions; attack position has its own adjacency and ranged-line rules. A player might pause to compare a useful position with the cards currently available. Keep the full booklet nearby for obstacles, card effects and the separate team and free-for-all variations.
Try it: scene director notebook
Give a match an original Toysit story frame. Before play, write a one-sentence opening for the chosen setting: “Two rivals arrive just as a message changes hands.” Let the printed rules determine the action.
- After a pivotal turn, draw three small panels showing the position before it, the choice made and the resulting scene.
- Add a short caption to each panel, using your own dialogue or narration.
- Describe one different choice you might explore in a later match.
The notebook supplies the movie-making imagination. It leaves cards, movement and scoring as written. A paper sketch of an invented encounter can also stand on its own as a storytelling activity.
The historical record
Original Toysit coverage
The original product account and commentary are preserved below as historical coverage.
Greatest Star Wars board game ever made.
The object of the game is to battle and defeat your opponent. This game allows players to play out classic scenarios that all Star Wars fans dream about: Who is the greatest warrior of all time. This game allows this to manifest itself. As a player, you can pit almost any Star Wars character from any/all episodes versus almost any other (Darth Vader vs. Annikan). Two two-sided game boards allow for even more diversity (4 battle venues). 31 plastic deco'd pawns to choose your battles from. The Star Wars Epic Duels game allows fans to pit almost any Star Wars character against another. Gameplay takes place on one of four battle venues and players choose their character from one of 30-plus painted figures. Each character comes with its own card deck and strategy.
The success of Star Wars merchandise franchising is nothing short of astronomical, setting the gold standard for how a cultural phenomenon can extend its reach far beyond the big screen. Since the release of the original Star Wars film in 1977, the franchise has spawned a vast array of products including action figures, lightsabers, clothing, video games, and even high-end collectibles. This merchandising empire is a testament to the franchise's multi-generational appeal and its adeptness at creating iconic, memorable characters and settings. Moreover, the strategic timing of merchandise releases often coincides with new film launches or anniversaries, keeping the brand continually relevant. The licensing of the brand to reputable manufacturers and the high quality of the merchandise also contribute to its enduring success. Overall, Star Wars merchandising has not only created an additional revenue stream for the franchise but has also deepened fan engagement, making it a masterclass in brand extension.
Sources and editorial notes
Hasbro’s complete five-page PDF (eight numbered booklet pages plus cover), product 40406, matches the photographed Epic Duels box and components. The guide documents 31 figures and a defined cast of main/minor character groups; the historical “almost any” character claim should be read within that set. The original superlative headline and merchandising commentary remain historical material. The scene notebook is an original editorial activity; no physical testing was performed.
- Original Toysit image — Existing same-site photograph reviewed and retained unchanged.
- Hasbro Star Wars Epic Duels rules (PDF) — All five PDF pages visually reviewed: components, character groups, movement, actions, combat and variants.
- Original Toysit coverage — Complete original product account and historical commentary preserved.
Images and descriptions are retained as historical material. How Toysit covers toys.
Created for Toysit by Tabbloza — the artwork in our header.