Step-by-Step CATAN Board Setup
Follow these six steps in order. Each one includes a generator shortcut so you can decide instantly whether to do it manually or automate it.
1
Step
Place the Terrain Hexes
Build the standard 3-4-5-4-3 island shape and randomize the 19 terrain hexes: 4 forest, 4 pasture, 4 fields, 3 hills, 3 mountains, and 1 desert.
The desert produces no resources and never receives a number token.
Generator handles this: Generator automatically arranges terrain hexes to reduce same-type clustering while preserving official counts.
2
Step
Add the Harbor Tiles
Place 9 harbors around the coast: 5 generic 3:1 harbors and 4 specialized 2:1 harbors.
If your group uses official random harbor setup, shuffle harbor pieces before placement.
Generator handles this: Generator places harbors and surfaces their expected value from nearby production.
3
Step
Place the Number Tokens
Place tokens using the official spiral sequence, skipping the desert hex.
Pay extra attention to red numbers (6 and 8). They roll most often, so adjacent placement can create a highly uneven board.
Generator handles this: Generator scores token placement and avoids adjacent red-number hotspots automatically.
4
Step
Apply the Distance Rule
Settlements cannot be built on adjacent intersections. Every settlement must be at least one intersection apart from every other settlement.
This rule applies during opening placement and throughout the full game.
Generator handles this: Generator pre-validates starting options so illegal adjacent placements never appear as recommended starts.
5
Step
Place Starting Settlements and Roads
Players place two settlements and two roads in snake order: 1-2-3-4 then 4-3-2-1.
The second placement is usually the most important because it determines your opening resources.
Generator handles this: Use strategy highlights to inspect top opening vertices before your group places pieces.
6
Step
Collect Starting Resources
Each player takes one resource card for each terrain touching their second settlement. Desert gives nothing.
After resources are taken, the game starts.
Generator handles this: Best Starts mode reveals opening spots with stronger resource variety for your initial hand.
Not sure where to place your second settlement?See the Strategy Guide for opening-position evaluation.
The Distance Rule Explained
The distance rule is the most common setup mistake. Settlements cannot be placed on adjacent intersections. Select an intersection in the interactive map below to see blocked and legal positions.
Blue
Selected settlement intersection
Red
Blocked by distance rule (adjacent)
Green
Legal settlement candidates
• Applies during initial setup and all later turns.
• Applies to your own and opponents' settlements.
• Upgrading to a city is allowed because it does not create a new settlement.
Setting Up for 5-6 Players
The 5-6 player extension increases map size and component counts. Use this comparison to avoid missing pieces during setup.
| Component | Standard (3-4) | Extension (5-6) |
|---|---|---|
| Terrain hexes | 19 | 30 |
| Number tokens | 18 | 28 |
| Harbors | 9 | 11 |
| Resource cards per type | 19 | 24 |
Expansion Pack Setup
Expansion setup can differ significantly from base CATAN. Use this section as a quick routing guide.
Seafarers
Adds sea hexes, islands, ships, and custom map scripts. Token placement and coast access rules differ from base maps.
Seafarers Board GeneratorCities & Knights
Introduces knight pieces, city improvements, and progress cards. Setup includes additional card decks and token markers.
Setup Guide Coming Soon
5-6 Player Extension
Expands board geometry and component totals. Use generator presets to avoid manual miscounts.
Generate 5-6 Player Board