<p>Yes, they also serve to mark that <strong>location</strong> as tainted. This is important for the action Heal the Land, or for Inns (which cannot be tainted).</p>
<p>From the Rules:</p>
<blockquote>
<p>Heal the Land: If the hero is on a tainted location, discard a Hero Card that matches the location color and roll 2 dice. If a 5 or more is rolled on either die, the hero removes 1 Tainted Crystal from that location. Only 1 Tainted Crystal may be removed per action.</p>
<p>Inns may not be overrun or tainted.</p>
</blockquote>

CC BY-SA 3.0
2012-02-16T18:17:02.927Z
Thanks... but for further clarification, is the only reason to "Heal the Land" to avoid game losing conditions (as if that weren't enough!)?
seanicus
CC BY-SA 3.0
2012-02-16T20:38:55.950Z
That is a different question. No Taint tokens don't effectively do anything other than track how close you are to losing the game. It is important where those taint tokens are on the board is important (they affect what color card can be discarded to Heal the Land).
user1873
CC BY-SA 3.0
2012-02-16T16:09:33.660Z
2012-02-16T16:16:54.990Z
2020-06-17T09:01:24.697Z
user1873
<p>In Defenders of the Realm, do taint tokens have any effect beyond ending the game if you get too many?</p>

<defenders-of-the-realm>
What are the effects of "Taint" tokens in Defenders of the Realm?
seanicus
# What are the effects of "Taint" tokens in Defenders of the Realm?

(Asked by: username_0 on 2012-02-15)

In Defenders of the Realm, do taint tokens have any effect beyond ending the game if you get too many?

**Tags:** defenders-of-the-realm


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## 1 answers

### Answer by username_1 on 2012-02-16. Score: 1 | Accepted answer

Yes, they also serve to mark that **location** as tainted. This is important for the action Heal the Land, or for Inns (which cannot be tainted).

From the Rules:

> Heal the Land: If the hero is on a tainted location, discard a Hero Card that matches the location color and roll 2 dice. If a 5 or more is rolled on either die, the hero removes 1 Tainted Crystal from that location. Only 1 Tainted Crystal may be removed per action.
>
> Inns may not be overrun or tainted.

> **Comments:**
> **username_0**: Thanks... but for further clarification, is the only reason to "Heal the Land" to avoid game losing conditions (as if that weren't enough!)?  
> **username_1**: That is a different question. No Taint tokens don't effectively do anything other than track how close you are to losing the game. It is important where those taint tokens are on the board is important (they affect what color card can be discarded to Heal the Land).  

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