Assault of the Giants vs Dungeon of the Mad Mage: Which to Buy
By WizKids Store | Published: 2026-11-04
Category: أدلة الشراء
Compare Assault of the Giants and Waterdeep: Dungeon of the Mad Mage to pick the right D&D board game for your group size, play style, and table.
Quick answer
Choose Assault of the Giants if you routinely have 3–6 players and want a competitive giant-vs-giant clash. Choose Waterdeep: Dungeon of the Mad Mage if you prefer a cooperative dungeon crawl for a smaller, consistent group. If your group size swings between both, Assault of the Giants covers more player counts out of the box.
Player count is the first filter
Assault of the Giants is designed for 3–6 players, so it handles a full table without needing a second game. Waterdeep: Dungeon of the Mad Mage is built for a smaller group, which makes it a better fit for a dedicated 2–4 player crew. If your game night regularly has five or six people, the giant game keeps everyone involved; if you usually play with two or three, the dungeon crawl keeps the table from feeling empty.
Competitive clash vs cooperative crawl
The two games ask different things of your group. Assault of the Giants is a competitive game where each player commands a type of giant and races to claim rule over giantkind by assaulting settlements and securing resources. That suits players who enjoy direct conflict and negotiating temporary alliances. Waterdeep: Dungeon of the Mad Mage is an adventure system board game: you explore Undermountain, Halaster Blackcloak’s labyrinth beneath the Yawning Portal, searching for monsters, traps, and mysteries. That suits groups who prefer to solve the board together rather than compete for points.
What the boxes tell you — and what they don’t
The catalog facts for these games list player count and contents (12 giants in Assault of the Giants), but they do not give playtime, age rating, or complexity. Treat those as open questions: check the back of the box or the publisher’s page if playtime is a dealbreaker for your group. For a first purchase, the player count and the competitive/cooperative split are the two most reliable signals you have.
Decision rules for your table
- If you usually have 5–6 players: Buy Assault of the Giants. Its 3–6 player range means no one sits out, and the competitive structure keeps a large table engaged.
- If you usually have 2–4 players who prefer to cooperate: Buy Waterdeep: Dungeon of the Mad Mage. The adventure system format is built around exploring Undermountain together rather than competing for points.
- If your group hates direct conflict: Skip Assault of the Giants. Its core loop is assaulting settlements and racing other players to resources, which can feel confrontational.
- If you need a known playtime before buying: Check the box or publisher listing first. The supplied catalog facts do not include playtime for either game, so do not assume one is shorter.
Product facts
- Dungeons & Dragons: Waterdeep: Dungeon of The Mad Mage Adventure System Board Game - Standard Edition: Waterdeep: Dungeon of the Mad Mage is an adventure system board game set in Undermountain, the labyrinth beneath the Yawning Portal tavern. If your group likes exploring a persistent dungeon with monsters, traps, and mysteries, this is the one built around that experience.
Dungeons & Dragons: Waterdeep: Dungeon of The Mad Mage Adventure System Board Game - Standard Edition - Dungeons & Dragons: Assault of the Giants Board Game - Standard Edition: Assault of the Giants is designed for 3–6 players, with each player commanding one of six types of giants to claim rule over all giantkind. It is the safer pick when your table regularly includes five or six players and you want a competitive, conflict-driven game.
Dungeons & Dragons: Assault of the Giants Board Game - Standard Edition
Who should buy which
Best for
- Groups of 3–6 players who enjoy competitive, conflict-driven board games (Assault of the Giants)
- Players who want a cooperative dungeon crawl through Undermountain with a consistent small group (Waterdeep: Dungeon of the Mad Mage)
Not for
- Groups that prefer cooperative play should not choose Assault of the Giants
- Tables that regularly seat five or six players should not choose Waterdeep: Dungeon of the Mad Mage without checking its player count
