Unmatched - Sun's Origin
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Two legends of feudal Japan clash in Azuchi Castle. You choose who fights. History decides who endures.
What it's about
Oda Nobunaga versus Tomoe Gozen. In battle, there are no equals.
Unmatched: Sun's Origin brings two legendary figures from Japanese history to the Unmatched system. On one side, Oda Nobunaga, the 16th-century daimyo who unified Japan — a tactical master who fights alongside his honor guard. On the other, Tomoe Gozen, the Minamoto clan's onna-musha — a legendary warrior who strikes fast and pursues relentlessly.
Each hero has their own deck of 30 unique cards, their special ability, and their fighting style. Play on the Azuchi Castle map — one of the most intriguing ever released for the system — but you can mix these heroes with any other Unmatched set. Pirate vs. samurai. Samurai vs. Medusa. You decide the story.
Designed by Rob Daviau, Justin D. Jacobson, and Zack Mader, cinematic illustrations by Yuta Onoda with cultural consultation by Saigo. Italian edition distributed by MS Edizioni / Mancalamaro.
What they're saying abroad
"It's much better to think of Unmatched as an action movie. It's silly and dramatic."
Unmatched is better thought of as an action movie. It's silly and dramatic at the same time.
— Meeple Mountain
"At its best, a game of Unmatched is full of reversals, big swings, and final desperate plays."
At its best, a game of Unmatched is full of reversals, big swings, and final desperate plays.
— Meeple Mountain
Unmatched: Sun's Origin
FrogScore · FroGames editorial rating · based on rules, international reviews and play sessionsInside the box
What you get when you open the set
2 hero miniatures
Oda Nobunaga and Tomoe Gozen in detailed plastic. Iconic sculptures that stand on the map like true duelists.
62 unique cards
30 for each hero + 2 character cards. Each deck is a different character: no broken balance, just contrasting styles.
Azuchi Castle Map
Three levels connected by stairs. One of the most intriguing layouts ever released for Unmatched — sightlines that change with every step.
2 honor guards + 4 dials
Oda's two sidekicks have individual life dials — a first for the Unmatched system. The duel becomes a 3 versus 1.
Thirty minutes, two heroes, one map. And a different story every time.
🎴Components9 types · complete contents
🃏Recommended Sleeves1 size · 62 cards
📖RulebookEnglish · Official PDF
A game in five moments
What happens at the table
Not the rules. The experience.
Choose your heroes, open your decks
You take Tomoe, she takes Oda. Or vice versa. As soon as the decks open, you realize they are two different games: she has single cards with very high values, he moves in a pack with his honor guard. Setup takes two minutes. The tension is already there.
The first face-down exchange
You attack. The opponent might have a strong defense card. They might not. You play your attack face-down, they play their defense face-down, then they reveal. A hit for 4, a block for 2: two damage dealt. The first wound changes everything. Hands are read.
The map becomes a labyrinth
Azuchi Castle has three levels connected by stairs. Tomoe climbs high to shoot from a distance, Oda looks for the corner to flank with his Honor Guard. Every movement is a compromise: gain line of sight, lose position. The board thinks with you.
The move that decides everything
There's always a moment. Oda enters the zone of two of your Honor Guards — you're flanked. He plays "Demon King of the Sixth Heaven" and all your flanked pieces take 2 damage. Or Tomoe pulls out her "Flash of Steel" and cancels all your effects. A well-played card is worth the entire game.
A dial hits zero. End.
The defeated hero falls. Thirty minutes have flown by. You look at the board and rethink the turn when that reserve card should have been played instead of the scheme. You reshuffle the decks. "Let's do another one — this time I'll change heroes."
How to play
The flow of each turn
Two actions per turn, chosen from three options. You learn in ten minutes, you master it over multiple games with different heroes.
Each turn you take two actions from: Maneuver (move and draw), Scheme (play a scheme card), or Attack (challenge an adjacent opponent or one in line of sight).
Attacker and defender each play a face-down card. Both are revealed simultaneously: attack value vs. defense value, effects resolved in order.
If the attack exceeds the defense, the difference is damage. The life dial goes down. Bonus effects of cards activate before, during, or after the damage.
If the enemy hero reaches zero life, you win. Sidekicks do not count for victory — the objective is always the hero. Otherwise, it's the next player's turn.
Why Sun's Origin is different from other sets
Six things that make this duel unique
Azuchi Castle on three levels
One of the most intriguing maps ever released for Unmatched. Three floors connected by stairs that break line of sight in a way that's only predictable until the next turn.
Honor Guard with individual lives
Oda's two sidekicks have their own life dials — a first for the Unmatched system. The duel becomes a 3 vs 1 with unprecedented dynamics.
Flanking changes the game
Oda introduces flanking: when two of his fighters are adjacent to an enemy, attack bonuses, boosted cards, and automatic damage are triggered. It's a team game on a tight map.
Tomoe punishes those who flee
"Attack of Opportunity" damages any hero who leaves her zone. A lone archer with very high-value cards — one of the most intense ranged fighters in the system.
Mixes with all Unmatched sets
Oda and Tomoe can face Robin Hood, Medusa, Buffy, Bruce Lee, and any other fighter in the system. If you have multiple sets, the possible matchups become hundreds.
Illustrations by Yuta Onoda
Japanese artist who designed every card with Japanese print aesthetics. Color saturation reflects the card type: blue for defense, red for attack. Curated down to the last detail.
How it ends
One hero stands. The other falls.
In Unmatched, victory is simple: the first to defeat the opponent's hero wins. Sidekicks don't count — the objective is always the leader.
Victory
- Reduce the opponent's hero's life to zero (14 points for Tomoe, 17 for Oda)
- Sidekicks can be eliminated, but the game continues as long as the hero resists
- Well-played offensive and defensive cards are as important as positioning
Defeat
- Your hero reaches zero life — what happens to sidekicks doesn't matter
- There are no draws or time limits: someone will fall
- Games last 20-40 minutes, so a rematch is immediate
Unmatched: Sun's Origin works as a standalone but is best when mixed with other sets. Two historical heroes enter your shelf — and become opponents of hundreds of other fighters.
Frequently asked questions
FAQ about Unmatched: Sun's Origin
Do I need to already know Unmatched to play Sun's Origin?
No. The set is standalone: it contains the basic rules of the Unmatched system plus specific ones for Oda and Tomoe. It's a more than reasonable entry into the series — Oda with his flanking is slightly more articulated, while Tomoe is linear and immediate. Everything is explained in about 10 minutes, and the first game flows quickly.
Is it only for 2 players or can more people play?
This specific set is designed for 2 players. The Unmatched system as a whole supports 2 vs 2 and free-for-all games for up to 4 players, but additional sets with other heroes are needed to play with more than two. With only Sun's Origin, you always play Oda vs Tomoe (or a crossover with another set).
Can I mix Oda and Tomoe with other Unmatched sets?
Yes, absolutely — it's the heart of the system. You can have Tomoe Gozen fight Medusa, Oda Nobunaga against Sherlock Holmes, or any other combination. Every map from every set is compatible with every hero. If you own multiple Unmatched boxes, Sun's Origin expands the combinations exponentially.
How long does a game last?
Between 20 and 40 minutes depending on how familiar you are with the decks. The first games tend towards 40 minutes because you're reading cards and planning. After three or four games, it's around 25 minutes — enough to play two in a row without getting tired.
What are the differences between Oda and Tomoe in terms of playstyle?
Oda is a team melee fighter: he fights as three (him + two Honor Guards) and uses flanking to maximize damage. He wants to be close to the enemy, trapping them between his pieces. Tomoe is a lone ranged fighter: 14 health, no sidekicks, very high-value cards. She wants distance and punishes those who try to flee. Two opposing philosophies in one box.
Is there an Italian edition?
Yes, Unmatched: Sun's Origin has been localized into Italian by Mancalamaro (MS Edizioni). The card texts, character boards, and rulebook are in Italian — making the game accessible even to those who don't speak English. Please check the language of the chosen variant at the time of purchase.
Unmatched: Sun's Origin is an asymmetrical tactical dueling board game for 2 players (ages 9+, duration 20-40 min). Designed by Rob Daviau, Justin D. Jacobson, and Zack Mader, with illustrations by Yuta Onoda and published by Restoration Games. Main mechanic: hand management with face-down combat on a tactical grid. Each player controls a historical Japanese hero — Oda Nobunaga, the 16th-century daimyo with his two Honor Guards equipped with individual life dials, or Tomoe Gozen, the onna-musha of the Minamoto clan with punitive ranged abilities. Battles take place on the three-level Azuchi Castle map. The system is fully compatible with all other Unmatched sets (Robin Hood vs Bigfoot, Battle of Legends, Buffy, Marvel, Jurassic Park, Cobble & Fog, Bruce Lee, Houdini vs Genie and many others) for infinite crossovers. Italian edition localized by Mancalamaro / MS Edizioni. Available on FroGames.it.
Unmatched - Sun's Origin
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