Banner Spear guide

Official line

Natural leader and protector with powerful attacks that require proper positioning.

Complexity on the rulebook scale: Low. That is a learning label, not a power rank.

Formation and banner build plan

Editorial recommendation: plan a formation and an alternative action before initiative selection. You may discuss destination hexes, conditions and intended targets, but not exact initiative numbers or card names. This coordination is expressly encouraged by the FAQ.

Banners are allies: they can satisfy formation positions and grant their bonuses to you. Grant Move X to reposition a banner; Move +X cannot improve a banner with no inherent movement. You control how a granted move is performed.

At two characters there are fewer allied figures to form around, so preserve a fallback when positioning fails. In larger parties, agree on routes so your formation does not obstruct an ally. This is planning advice, not a measured strength score.

• Formation patterns can rotate and mirror; the blue-hex ally still requires line of sight.
• Crude Spear does not modify a red-hex AoE, even one showing a single red hex. Check that restriction before equipping a single-target item.
• Boldening Blow (level 4, top) attacks and disarms only one enemy in its red hexes, not every enemy there.
• Set for the Charge can trigger from forced movement as well as normal movement.

Related guides

Sources

• Official Frosthaven FAQ — Board game, section 8.3 (#page_83): formations, banners, Crude Spear, Boldening Blow and communication.