OVERVIEW GAME CONTENTS

At the beginning of the game, each player is secretly 17 ………………………………………………. Proclamation Tiles
assigned to one of three roles: Order of the Phoenix, Death 16 ………………………………………………… Secret Role Cards
Eater, or Voldemort. The Order of the Phoenix have a 10 ………………………………………………….. Allegiance Cards
majority, but they don’t know for sure who anyone is; 10 ……………………………………………………………. Envelopes
Death Eaters must resort to secrecy and sabotage to 10 ……………………………………………….. Lumos Vote Cards
accomplish their goals. Voldemort plays for the Death Eater 10 ……………………………………………………. Nox Vote Cards
4 ………………………………………. Election Tracker Marker
team, and the Death Eaters know Voldemort’s identity from
1 …………………………………………………….. Draw Pile Card
the outset, but Voldemort doesn’t know the Death Eaters
1 …………………………………………………. Discard Pile Card
and must work to figure them out. 1 ………………………………… Order of The Phoenix Track
The Order of the Phoenix win by enacting five Order of the 3 ……………………………………………….. Death Eater Track
1 ……………………………………………. Headmaster Placard
Phoenix Proclamations or killing Voldemort. The Death
1 …………………………………… Minister of Magic Placard
Eaters win by enacting six Death Eater Proclamations, or if
Voldemort is elected Headmaster after three Death Eater
Proclamations have been enacted. SET UP
Whenever a Death Eater Proclamation is enacted, the
government becomes more powerful, and the Minster of Select the Death Eater track that corresponds to the
Magic is granted a single‐use power which must be used number of players and place it next to any Order of the
before the next round can begin. It doesn’t matter what Phoenix track. Shuffle the 11 Death Eater Proclamation tiles
team the Minster of Magic is on; in fact, even Order of the and the 6 Order of the Phoenix Proclamation tiles into a
Phoenix players might be tempted to enact a Death Eater single Proclamation deck and place that deck face down on
Proclamation to gain new powers. the Draw pile card.

You’ll need an envelope for each player, and each envelope

should contain a Secret Role card, a corresponding
OBJECT Allegiance card, one Lumos Vote card, and one Nox Vote
card.
Every player has a secret identity as a member of either the
Use the table below to determine the correct distribution
Order of the Phoenix team or the Death Eater team.
of roles.
Players on the Order of the Phoenix team win if either:
Order of the Phoenix Secret Role cards must always be
 Five Order of the Phoenix Proclamations are enacted. packed together with an Order of the Phoenix Allegiance
OR card, and Death Eater and Voldemort Secret Role cards
 Voldemort is assassinated. must always be packed together with a Death Eater
Allegiance card.

# Players 5 6 7 8 9 10
Players on the Death Eater team win if either: Phoenix 3 4 4 5 5 6
Death Eater 1+V 1+V 2+V 2+V 3+V 3+V
 Six Death Eater Proclamations are enacted.
OR
 Voldemort is elected Headmaster any time after the Make sure you have the correct number of ordinary Death
third Death Eater Proclamation has been enacted. Eaters in addition to Voldemort!

Once the envelopes have been filled, be sure to shuffle

them so each player’s role is a secret! Each player should
get one envelope selected at random.
WHY ARE THERE SECRET ROLE AND ALLEGIANCE CARDS? 2. Nominate a Headmaster
The Minster of Magic Candidate chooses a Headmaster
Secret Voldemort features an investigation mechanic that
Candidate by passing the Headmaster placard to any other
allows some players to find out what team other players
eligible player. The Minster of Magic Candidate is free to
are on, and this mechanic only works if Voldemort’s special
discuss Headmaster options with the table to build
role is not revealed. To prevent that from happening, every
consensus and make it more likely the Government gets
player has both a Secret Role card and an Allegiance card.
elected.
Voldemort’s Allegiance card shows a Death Eater party
loyalty, but gives no hint about a special role. Order of the
Eligibility:
Phoenix members who uncover Death Eaters must work
The last elected Minster of Magic and Headmaster are
out for themselves whether they’ve found an ordinary
“term‐limited,” and ineligible to be nominated as
Death Eater or their leader.
Headmaster Candidate.
Once each player has been dealt an envelope, all players
should examine their Secret Role cards in secret. Randomly
select the first Minster of Magic Candidate and pass that ON ELIGIBILITY
player both the Minster of Magic and Headmaster placards. Term limits apply to the Minster of Magic and Headmaster
who were last elected, not to the last pair nominated.
For games of 5‐6 players, give the following directions to all
 Term limits only affect nominations to the
players:
Headmastership; anyone can be Minster of Magic,
 Everybody close your eyes. even someone who was just Headmaster.
 Death Eater and Voldemort, open your eyes and  If there are only five players left in the game, only the
acknowledge each other. last elected Headmaster is ineligible to be Headmaster
Candidate; the last Minster of Magic may be
[Take a long pause] nominated.
 There are some other rules that affect eligibility in
 Everyone close your eyes.
specific ways: the Expelliarmus Power and the Election
 Everyone can open your eyes. If anyone is confused or
Tracker. You don’t need to worry about those yet, and
something went wrong, please tell the group now.
we’ll talk about each one in its relevant section.
For games of 7‐10 players, give the following directions to
all players:

 Everybody close your eyes and extend your hand into a 3. Vote on the government
fist in front of you. Once the Minster of Magic Candidate has chosen an eligible
 All Death Eaters who are NOT Voldemort should open Headmaster Candidate, players may discuss the proposed
their eyes and acknowledge each other. government until everyone is ready to vote. Every player,
 Voldemort ‐ keep your eyes closed but put your thumb including the Candidates, votes on the proposed
out into a thumbs‐up gesture. government. Once everyone is ready to vote, reveal your
 Death Eaters, take note of who has an extended thumb Vote cards simultaneously so that everyone’s vote is public.
‐ that player is Voldemort.
If the vote is a tie, or if a majority of players votes no:
[Take a long pause]
The vote fails. The Minster of Magic Candidate misses this
 Everyone close your eyes and put your hands down. chance to be elected, and the Minster of Magic placard
 Everyone can open your eyes. If anyone is confused or moves clockwise to the next player. The Election Tracker is
something went wrong, please tell the group now. advanced by one Election.

GAMEPLAY Election Tracker: If the group rejects three governments in

a row, the Ministry and Hogwarts are thrown into chaos.
Secret Voldemort is played in rounds. Each round has an Immediately reveal the Proclamation on top of the
Election to form a government, a Legislative Session to Proclamation deck and enact it. Any power granted by this
enact a new Proclamation, and an Executive Action to Proclamation is ignored, but the Election Tracker resets,
exercise governmental power. and existing term‐limits are forgotten. All players become
eligible to hold the office of Headmaster for the next
ELECTION Election. If there are fewer than three tiles remaining in the
Proclamation deck at this point, shuffle them with the
1. Pass the Minster of Magic Candidacy Discard pile to create a new Proclamation deck.
At the beginning of a new round, the Minster of Magic
placard moves clockwise to the next player, who is the new
Minster of Magic Candidate.
Any time a new Proclamation tile is played face‐up, the elected Headmaster after three Death Eater Proclamations
Election Tracker is reset, whether it was enacted by an have been enacted.
elected government or enacted by the frustrated populace.

If a majority of players votes yes: If there are fewer than three tiles remaining in the
Proclamation deck at the end of a Legislative Session,
The Minster of Magic Candidate and Headmaster Candidate
shuffle them with the Discard pile to create a new
become the new Minster of Magic and Headmaster,
Proclamation deck. Unused Proclamation tiles should never
respectively.
be revealed, and they should not be simply placed on top of
 If three or more Death Eater Proclamations have been the new Proclamation deck.
enacted already: If the government enacted a Death Eater Proclamation
Ask if the new Headmaster is Voldemort. If so, the that covered up a Minster of Magic Power, the sitting
game is over and the Death Eaters win. Otherwise, Minster of Magic gets to use that power. Proceed to the
other players know for sure the Headmaster is not Executive Action.
Voldemort. If the government enacted an Order of the Phoenix
Proceed as usual to the Legislative Session. Proclamation or a Death Eater Proclamation that grants
no Minster of Magic Power, begin a new round with a new
Election.
LEGISLATIVE SESSION

During the Legislative Session, the Minster of Magic and EXECUTIVE ACTION
Headmaster work together to enact a new Proclamation in
secret. The Minster of Magic draws the top three tiles from If the newly‐enacted Death Eater Proclamation grants a
the Proclamation deck, looks at them in secret, and Minster of Magic Power, the Minster of Magic must use it
discards one tile face down into the Discard pile. The before the next round can begin. Before using a power, the
remaining two tiles go to the Headmaster, who looks in Minster of Magic is free to discuss the issue with other
secret, discards one Proclamation tile face down, and players, but ultimately the Minster of Magic gets to decide
enacts the remaining Proclamation by placing the tile face how and when the power is used. Gameplay cannot
up on the corresponding track. continue until the Minster of Magic uses the power.
Minster of Magic Powers are used only once; they don’t
Verbal and nonverbal communication between the Minster stack or roll over to future turns.
of Magic and Headmaster is forbidden. The Minster of
Magic and Headmaster MAY NOT pick Proclamations to
play at random, shuffle the tiles before discarding one, or MINISTER OF MAGIC POWERS
do anything else clever to avoid secretly and intentionally
selecting a Proclamation. Additionally, the Minster of Magic Crucio
should hand both Proclamations over at the same time, The Minster of Magic chooses a
rather than one at a time to gauge the Headmaster’s player to investigate. Investigated
reaction. Attempting to telegraph the contents of your players should hand their Allegiance
hand using randomness or any other unusual selection card (not Secret Role card!) to the
procedure violates the spirit of the game. Don’t do it. Minster of Magic, who checks the
Discarded Proclamation tiles should never be revealed to player’s loyalty in secret and then returns the card to the
the group. Players must rely on the word of the Minster of player. The Minster of Magic may share (or lie about!) the
Magic and Headmaster, who are free to lie. results of their investigation at their discretion. No player
may be investigated twice in the same game.

ABOUT LYING Imperio

Often, some players learn things that the rest of the players The Minster of Magic chooses any
don’t know, like when the Minster of Magic and other player at the table to be the
Headmaster get to see Proclamation tiles, or when a next Minster of Magic Candidate by
Minster of Magic uses the Crucio power to see someone’s passing that player the Minster of
Allegiance card. You can always lie about hidden knowledge Magic placard. Any player can become Minster of Magic—
in Secret Voldemort. The only time players MUST tell the even players that are term‐limited. The new Minster of
truth is in game‐ending, Voldemort‐related scenarios: a Magic nominates an eligible player as Headmaster
player who is Voldemort must say so if assassinated or if Candidate and the Election proceeds as usual.
An “Imperio” does not skip any players. After an Imperius STRATEGY NOTES
Curse is cast, the Minster of Magic placard returns to the
left of the Minster of Magic who enacted the Special  Everyone should claim to be a member of the Order
Election. of the Phoenix. Since the Order of the Phoenix team
If the Minster of Magic passes the presidency to the next has a voting majority, it can easily shut out any player
player in the rotation, that player would get to run for claiming to be a Death Eater. As a Death Eater, there is
Minster of Magic twice in a row: once for the Special no advantage to outing yourself to the majority.
Election and once for their normal shift in the Minster of Additionally, the Order of the Phoenix should usually
Magic rotation. tell the truth. The Order of the Phoenix are trying to
figure out the game like a puzzle, so lying can put their
team at a significant disadvantage.
Diwination
The Minster of Magic secretly looks at  If this is your first time playing Voldemort, just
the top three tiles in the Proclamation remember: be as much like the Order of the Phoenix
deck and then returns them to the top as possible. Enact Order of the Phoenix Proclamations.
of the deck without changing the order. Vote for Order of the Phoenix governments. Do your
homework. Trust your fellow Death Eaters to create
Avada Kedawra opportunities for you to enact Order of the Phoenix
The Minster of Magic executes one Proclamations and to advance Death Eater goals on
player at the table by shouting their turns. The Death Eaters win by subtly
“Avada Kedavra!” and pointing at the manipulating the table and waiting for the right cover
player. If that player is Voldemort, the to enact Death Eater Proclamations, not by overtly
game ends in an Order of the Phoenix victory. If the playing as evil.
executed player is not Voldemort, the table should not
learn whether a Death Eater or an Order of the Phoenix has  Order of the Phoenix frequently benefit from slowing
been killed; players must try to work out for themselves the play down and discussing the available information.
new table balance. Executed players are removed from the Death Eaters frequently benefit from rushing votes and
game and may not speak, vote, or run for office. creating confusion.

EWPELLIARMUS  Death Eaters most often win by electing Voldemort,

The Expelliarmus Power is a special rule that comes into not by enacting six Proclamations! Electing Voldemort
effect after five Death Eater Proclamations have been isn’t an optional or secondary win condition, it’s the
enacted. For all Legislative Sessions after the fifth Death core of a successful Death Eater strategy. Voldemort
Eater Proclamation is enacted, the Executive branch gains a should always play as a member of the Order of the
permanent new ability to discard all three Proclamation Phoenix, and should generally avoid lying or getting
tiles if both the Headmaster and Minster of Magic agree. into fights and disagreements with other players.
When the time comes, Voldemort needs the Order of
The Minster of Magic draws three Proclamation tiles, the Phoenix’ trust to get elected. Even if Voldemort
discards one, and passes the remaining two to the isn’t ultimately elected, the distrust sown among the
Headmaster as usual. Then Headmaster may, instead of Order of the Phoenix is key to getting Death Eaters
enacting either Proclamation, say “Expelliarmus?” If the elected late in the game.
Minster of Magic consents by saying, “Expelliarmus!” both
Proclamations are discarded and the Minster of Magic  Ask other players to explain why they took an action.
placard passes to the left as usual. If the Minster of Magic This is especially important with Minster of Magic
does not consent, the Headmaster must enact a Powers—in fact, ask ahead of time whom a candidate
Proclamation as normal. is thinking of investigating/appointing/assassinating.
Each use of the Expelliarmus Power represents an inactive
 If a Death Eater Proclamation comes up, there are
government and advances the Election Tracker by one.
only three possible culprits: The Minster of Magic, the
Headmaster, or the Proclamation Deck. Try to figure
out who (or what!) put you in this position.
CREDITS & LICENCE LIST OF CHANGES

Secret Voldemort is a reskin of the game Secret Hitler. This ORIGINAL CHANGED TO
reskin was created by Emmet Byrne as a gift to his Harry Hitler Voldemort
Potter obsessed partner. For more please visit Liberal Order of the Phoenix
http://thecraftyplayers.com Fascist Death Eater
Party Membership Allegiance
Secret Hitler was created by Mike Boxleiter, Tommy Policy Proclamation
Maranges, Max Temkin, and Mac Schubert. Yes/Ja Lumos
No/Nein Nox
Check out the official Secret Hitler website here: President Minister of Magic
http://www.secrethitler.com/ Chancellor Headmaster
Investigate Loyalty Crucio
Secret Hitler is licensed under a Creative Commons Call Special Election Imperio
Attribution‐NonCommercial‐ShareAlike 4.0 International Policy Peek Divination
License. Execution Avada Kedavra
Veto Power Expelliarmus

YOU ARE FREE TO:

 Share – copy and redistribute the game in any

medium or format
 Adapt – remix, transform, and build upon the
game

UNDER THE FOLLOWING TERMS:

 Attribution – If you make something using this

game, you need to give credit to the original
creators and link back to them, and you need to
explain what you changed.
 Non‐Commercial – You can’t use the Secret Hitler
game and rules to make money.
 Share Alike – If you remix, transform, or build
upon Secret Hitler, you have to release your work
under the same Creative Commons Licence that
Secret Hitler uses (BY‐NC‐SA 4.0).
 No Additional Restrictions – You can’t apply legal
terms or technological measures to your work that
legally restrict others from doing anything the
licence allows. That means you can’t submit
anything using the Secret Hitler game to any app
store without the creator’s approval.

You can learn more about Creative Commons at

CreativeCommons.org. (Our license is available at
CreativeCommons.org/licenses/by‐nc‐sa/4.0/legalcode).