Unmatched: Slings & Arrows – Shakespearean Tactical Fighting Game

Unmatched: Slings & Arrows brings William Shakespeare and three of his most famous creations to the Unmatched battlefield. Take control of Shakespeare, Hamlet, Titania or the Wayward Sisters and battle for supremacy in the Globe Theatre.

Each fighter has a completely different play style, from Shakespeare's carefully constructed dramatic prose to Hamlet's "To Be or Not To Be" decisions and the Wayward Sisters' potion-fuelled spellcasting.

Designed for 2–4 players, with games taking around 30 minutes, Slings & Arrows is a highly asymmetric miniature fighting game that combines tactical movement, hand management and card-driven combat.

What Is Unmatched: Slings & Arrows?

Unmatched is a competitive miniature fighting game where legendary characters face off using unique decks designed around their personalities, abilities and fighting styles.

Slings & Arrows takes the action into Shakespeare's world, with four playable heroes:

• William Shakespeare – Build lines of dramatic prose by playing cards with matching titles to unlock powerful effects.

• Hamlet – Make the crucial choice between "To Be" and "Not To Be" to influence your attacks and card draw.

• Titania – Harness faerie magic alongside her lover Oberon.

• The Wayward Sisters – A unique three-fold hero who uses ingredients and spells to manipulate the battlefield.

The set features the Globe Theatre as its battlefield, with combat taking place across different areas of the theatre from backstage to the balcony.

Like other Unmatched sets, the characters can also be mixed with compatible fighters from other boxes, allowing you to create your own unusual match-ups.

How to Play

Choose your hero and use their unique deck to defeat your opponent.

On your turn, you generally have two actions to spend on moving, attacking or playing scheme cards. Combat is resolved by secretly choosing attack and defence cards, then comparing their values and effects.

The result is a fast-moving battle where positioning, timing and hand management are just as important as the cards themselves.

Every hero changes the way you approach the game:

• Shakespeare wants to construct lines of iambic pentameter from card titles.

• Hamlet must decide whether to embrace "To Be" or "Not To Be", changing the rewards available to him.

• Titania and Oberon use faerie magic to create unexpected tactical situations.

• The Wayward Sisters work together as a three-fold hero, using ingredients to cast powerful spells.

The aim is simple: reduce your opponent's hero to zero health before they defeat you.

Why You'll Love It

🎭 Shakespeare Comes to the Battlefield

Instead of simply retelling Shakespeare's stories, Slings & Arrows turns the Bard and his characters into fully playable Unmatched fighters.

📜 Shakespeare's Iambic Pentameter Mechanic

Shakespeare's cards feature titles that can be combined to create dramatic lines. Construct them correctly and you can trigger powerful effects.

🧙 The Wayward Sisters

The Wayward Sisters are particularly unusual within Unmatched, functioning as a three-fold hero. Their deck revolves around ingredients, potions and spells.

🤔 To Be or Not To Be

Hamlet's signature mechanic gives him meaningful choices throughout the game, with different rewards depending on which path he follows.

🧚 Titania & Oberon

Titania brings faerie magic to Unmatched, supported by Oberon and a specialised deck that plays very differently from the other fighters.

⚔️ Deep Tactical Combat

Unmatched uses card-driven combat rather than dice rolls. You need to manage your hand, anticipate your opponent and make the most of your character's abilities.

🔀 Mix and Match

Slings & Arrows isn't limited to Shakespearean battles. Its heroes can be combined with fighters from other Unmatched sets, creating countless new match-ups.

Who Is Unmatched: Slings & Arrows For?

This is a great choice for:

• Fans of Shakespeare and classic literature

• Existing Unmatched players

• Players who enjoy asymmetric games

• Fans of tactical card games

• Two-player or four-player gaming groups

• Players who enjoy miniature combat

• Gamers who like games with distinctive character powers

• Anyone looking for a highly replayable competitive game

It's also an excellent addition to an existing Unmatched collection, particularly if you enjoy experimenting with different fighter combinations.

Meet the Fighters

William Shakespeare

The Bard himself enters the arena. Shakespeare's unique deck rewards players for arranging card titles into lines of iambic pentameter, turning dramatic prose into powerful gameplay effects.

His deck was one of the winning designs from the Unmatched deck design contest.

Hamlet

Hamlet's fighting style revolves around his famous existential dilemma. His To Be / Not To Be mechanic gives him different ways to gain advantages during the battle.

Titania

Titania is a powerful faerie queen accompanied by Oberon. Her deck focuses on faerie magic and unpredictable effects, giving her a distinctive play style.

The Wayward Sisters

The three witches form a single hero, making them one of the most unusual fighters in the Unmatched system. Their cards feature gruesome ingredients that can be combined to create powerful spells.

Main Mechanics

Asymmetric Player Powers – Every hero has a completely different deck and strategy.

Card-Driven Combat – Battles are resolved by comparing attack and defence cards.

Hand Management – Choosing when to spend your strongest cards is critical.

Tactical Movement – Positioning your fighters correctly can determine whether attacks succeed.

Line of Sight – Ranged attacks and certain effects depend on battlefield positioning.

Variable Player Powers – Each character offers a distinct experience.

Action Points – Players normally have two actions per turn, allowing movement, attacks and schemes.

Team Play – With four players, Unmatched supports team-based battles, adding another layer to the tactical decisions.

Games Like Unmatched: Slings & Arrows

If you enjoy Slings & Arrows, you may also like:

• Unmatched: Battle of Legends Volume 1 – Four legendary fighters using the core Unmatched system.

• Unmatched: Battle of Legends Volume 2 – More asymmetric heroes with distinctive abilities.

• Unmatched: Little Red Riding Hood vs Beowulf – A compact two-player battle with unique card mechanics.

• Unmatched: Robin Hood vs Bigfoot – Ranged attacks versus a powerful melee fighter.

• Unmatched: Bruce Lee vs Muhammad Ali – A fast two-player duel between two iconic fighters.

• Dice Throne – Character-based competitive combat with asymmetric abilities.

Game Information

Feature	Details
Game	Unmatched: Slings & Arrows
Players	2–4
Playing Time	Approx. 30 minutes
Age	9+
Game Type	Tactical Fighting / Card Game
Series	Unmatched
Heroes	William Shakespeare, Hamlet, Titania & The Wayward Sisters
Battlefield	Globe Theatre
Publisher	IELLO / Restoration Games
Designer	Rob Daviau
Artist	Zoë Van Dijk
Release	Summer 2024
UK RRP	£37.99

IELLO currently lists Slings & Arrows for 2–4 players, ages 9+ and approximately 30 minutes, with a Summer 2024 release. Asmodee UK currently lists the product at £37.99 RRP.

What's Included?

The set contains:

• 1 double-sided? No — 1 Globe Theatre game board

• 6 miniature figures

• 120 action cards – 30 per hero

• 8 health dials

• 4 character cards

• 5 sidekick tokens

• 2 hero ability tokens

• Rulebook

The official Restoration Games component list confirms the six miniatures, 120 action cards, eight health dials, four character cards, five sidekick tokens, two hero ability tokens and game board.

FAQ

Is Unmatched: Slings & Arrows a standalone game?

Yes. Everything required to play the four included heroes is in the box.

How many players can play?

Slings & Arrows supports 2–4 players.

How long does it take to play?

A typical game takes around 30 minutes, although the exact playing time depends on the number of players and fighters involved.

What age is it suitable for?

IELLO recommends ages 9 and up.

Who are the characters in Slings & Arrows?

The four playable heroes are William Shakespeare, Hamlet, Titania and the Wayward Sisters.

Can these characters fight heroes from other Unmatched sets?

Yes. Slings & Arrows follows the standard Unmatched system, allowing its heroes to battle compatible fighters from other sets.

Does Unmatched use dice?

No. Combat is primarily resolved using attack and defence cards, making tactical decisions, positioning and hand management central to the game.

What makes the Wayward Sisters different?

The Wayward Sisters are a three-fold hero, meaning you control three witches as a single hero rather than playing a conventional hero-and-sidekick combination.

Buy Unmatched: Slings & Arrows

Take Shakespeare's greatest creations from the stage to the battlefield in Unmatched: Slings & Arrows.

Whether you're constructing dramatic prose as Shakespeare, wrestling with Hamlet's eternal question, commanding Titania's faerie magic or combining spells as the Wayward Sisters, every fighter offers a completely different tactical experience.

Order Unmatched: Slings & Arrows from Roll The Dice Cornwall and add the Shakespearean set to your Unmatched collection.