Gloomhaven · Board game rules
How does monster spawning work?
Quick answer
Monsters are spawned at their designated location or the nearest empty hex. If spawned during a round, they act immediately if their initiative is lower than the current player; if spawned at the end of a round, they activate in the next round. Spawned monsters do not drop money tokens when killed.
Details
Spawning Location and Timing
- When a monster is spawned, it is placed on its specified spawning location. If that hex is occupied, it is placed in the nearest empty hex [p.34 — Spawning].
- Activation timing:
- If spawned during a round, they act immediately as if newly revealed (similar to opening a door). Monster ability cards are drawn for any without one, and those with lower initiative than the current player resolve their turn right away [p.19 — Revealing a Room].
- If spawned at the end of a round, they activate starting in the next round [p.34 — Spawning].
Standee Placement
- Spawned monsters use standees with randomized numbers to determine activation order. If insufficient standees are available, players place as many as possible, prioritizing those closest to the spawning location or revealing character [p.19 — Revealing a Room].
Money Tokens
- Spawned monsters do not drop money tokens when killed, unlike normally placed monsters [p.20 — Monster Attacks].
Edge Cases
Watch out: If a spawning location is blocked or no empty hexes are nearby, ensure the monster is placed as close as possible to the intended location. Also, remember that spawned monsters follow all standard monster rules (e.g., focus, movement, attacks) once active.