Defenders of Hogwarts Price: Where to Buy It in 2026
Quick answer: the official retail price of the base game is £75 (including UK VAT), while late pledges through the backer pledge manager start at £58 and run up to £280 for the Collector tier.
Quick Answer: What Does It Cost?
Base game and Guardian tiers ship October 2026; the Collector's Box ships March 2027.
The Kickstarter Campaign in Numbers
Defenders of Hogwarts was funded on Kickstarter from 30 June to 23 July 2026, run by MinaLima — the design studio behind the graphic props of the Harry Potter films.
| Amount Raised | £1,313,755 |
| Funding Goal | £50,000 |
| Percentage of Goal | 2,628% |
| Backers | 10,959 |
| Average Pledge | £119.88 |
| Campaign Window | 30 Jun – 23 Jul 2026 |
That average pledge figure is worth pausing on: it sits well above the cheapest tier (£58), which tells you most backers chose an upgraded box rather than the base game alone.
Every Way to Buy It, Compared
| Where | Which Version | Price | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| MinaLima Official Shop | Base game | £75 RRP | Ships now; UK VAT included |
| Kickstarter Late Pledge | The Defender | £58 (≈$79) | Base game only; shipping charged later |
| Kickstarter Late Pledge | The Guardian | £115 (≈$157) | Includes Kickstarter-exclusive upgrades |
| Kickstarter Late Pledge | The Collector | £280 (≈$382) | Collector's Box ships March 2027 |
| Online Board Game Retailers | Base game | Varies | Check current stock — pricing fluctuates |
| Secondhand / Resale | Any tier | Often above RRP | Beware inflated resale pricing |
The £58 late-pledge price and the £75 retail price are not directly comparable — the pledge price excludes shipping and any applicable sales tax, which are charged separately in the pledge manager. Once you add shipping to a late pledge, the gap narrows considerably.
What's Actually in Each Box
Three tiers, three very different experiences. Here's exactly what you get.
- Complete base game
- MinaLima illustrated game board
- Gold foil card designs
- All tokens and components needed to play
- Full rulebook
- Everything in The Defender
- Deluxe Box Sleeve (KS Exclusive)
- Wooden Token Upgrade Set (KS Exclusive)
- Protective Card Sleeve Set (KS Exclusive)
- Player Pin Set
- Everything in The Guardian
- Metal Player Pawn Upgrade Set (KS Exclusive)
- Dumbledore's Army Upgrade Set (KS Exclusive)
- Luxury Token Bag (KS Exclusive)
- Signed Artist's Portfolio (KS Exclusive)
The Kickstarter-exclusive art print offered during the live campaign is no longer available to late pledges. If you want it, the secondhand market is your only route.
Which Tier Should You Pick?
Want to play the game?
Take The Defender (£58). All that art and gold foil is in the base box. You're not missing the game — you're skipping the premium packaging.
Want nicer components?
Take The Guardian (£115). The wooden tokens and card sleeves are the upgrades that actually change how the game feels on the table. This is why the average pledge was £119.88 — most backers chose this tier.
Collector, or you want the signature?
Take The Collector (£280) — but only if waiting until March 2027 for the extra box is acceptable. The Collector's Box ships separately, months after the base game.
Retail Price vs Late Pledge: Which Is Cheaper?
On paper, the late pledge looks like a clear win: £58 vs £75 = 23% savings. But the comparison is misleading.
The pledge price of £58 excludes shipping and applicable sales taxes. The retail price of £75 includes UK VAT. Once you add shipping costs to the pledge — which vary by region and are charged separately through the pledge manager — the real gap narrows considerably.
Bottom line: compare your final, delivered-to-door totals before deciding. For UK buyers, the difference may be minimal. For international buyers, add import duties on top of the pledge price.
Shipping, Taxes and Import Duties
The pledge price does not include shipping. Shipping and any applicable sales taxes — UK VAT, GST, or US state taxes — are collected separately through the pledge manager, calculated by your region.
For buyers outside the UK, budget for import duties on top. A £280 Collector tier shipped internationally can attract a meaningful customs charge depending on your country's threshold.
Where Not to Buy
Two things to avoid:
⚠️ Inflated Resale
Kickstarter-exclusive components have driven secondhand listings well above RRP. Check the official shop first — if it's in stock, there is no reason to pay a premium.
⚠️ Unofficial Listings
If a listing doesn't state the publisher as MinaLima, treat it as a reseller at best. There are no authorised third-party manufacturers of this game.
Frequently Asked Questions
Yes. It is sold through MinaLima's own shop, and late pledges remain open through the pledge manager.
The pledge price is £58 versus a £75 RRP, but the pledge price excludes shipping and taxes while the retail price includes UK VAT. Compare final totals, not headline prices.
Base game and Guardian tiers: October 2026. Collector's Box: March 2027.
The upgrade components in the Guardian and Collector tiers are still available via late pledge. The campaign art print is not.
No. The Defender tier contains a complete playable game.