Buttons & Bugs: Pub Crawlers Solo Rules Guide

By Cephalofair - Epic Strategy Awaits | Published: 2026-10-18

Category: How-to Guides

Learn how to play Buttons & Bugs: Pub Crawlers solo with clear step-by-step rules, setup tips, and common mistakes to avoid.

Quick answer

To play Buttons & Bugs: Pub Crawlers solo, use the standard Gloomhaven solo variant rules: control two mercenaries, follow scenario setup, and manage enemy AI with the solo deck.

What you need to start

Buttons & Bugs: Pub Crawlers includes two new micro mercenaries with their own character cards and ability decks. For solo play, you control both mercenaries, each with its own hand of ability cards. The expansion is cross-compatible with previous Buttons & Bugs content, so you can mix mercenaries from other sets if you own them.

Setup differences from multiplayer

Solo setup is nearly identical to multiplayer. Place the scenario tiles, enemies, and objectives as described in the scenario book. The main difference: you manage two hands of cards and two sets of hit points. Keep each mercenary's cards separate to avoid confusion during combat.

How to play Buttons & Bugs: Pub Crawlers solo

Choose your two mercenaries: Select two mercenaries from the Pub Crawlers set or combine with other Buttons & Bugs mercenaries. Each gets its own character card, hit point dial, and a deck of 10 double-sided ability cards. Do not mix ability cards between mercenaries—each deck is unique.
Set up the scenario as written: Place tiles, enemies, obstacles, and objectives exactly as the scenario book shows. The solo rules do not change enemy placement or scenario goals. Skipping a setup step can make the scenario impossible to complete; double-check the scenario layout before starting.
Use the Gloomhaven solo enemy AI system: Enemy actions are determined by a solo deck or the standard AI rules from the Gloomhaven rulebook. Draw an ability card for each enemy type to decide their turn. Enemies target the nearest mercenary unless the card specifies otherwise. If you do not own a solo deck, you can use the basic AI: enemies move toward the closest mercenary and attack if in range.
Take turns for each mercenary: Play one mercenary's turn fully—move, attack, use abilities—then play the other. You may choose the order each round. Each mercenary has its own hand of cards to play, so manage them separately. A common mistake is playing both mercenaries at the same time. Keep turns sequential to track enemy reactions and card usage.
Complete the scenario objective: Win by fulfilling the scenario's victory condition (e.g., kill all enemies, reach an exit, or collect an item). If all mercenaries exhaust their hit points or fail the objective, you lose. Remember that losing one mercenary ends the game—no reinforcements arrive. Play carefully with hit point management.

Product facts

Buttons & Bugs: Pub Crawlers: Includes 2 all-new mercenaries with micro miniatures, character cards, and 10 double-sided ability cards each. Each mercenary brings unique abilities, so solo players get a more varied tactical experience without needing extra expansions.
Buttons & Bugs: Pub Crawlers