Understand CATAN
From beginner guides to complete rulebooks, find everything you need to know about CATAN
How To Play Catan
HOW TO WIN CATAN
Catan Placement Strategies You NEED to Know
How to Play Catan in 4 Minutes - Rules Girl
CATAN Strategy Guide: How to win at Catan / Tips and Tricks / Advanced strategy / Settlers of Catan
The Placement Strategy Catan Pros Use To Beat You
Base Game & Expansions
Base Game & Expansions
Getting Started - Catan Game Rules
Learn how to play Catan with our comprehensive game rules. Includes detailed setup instructions, game components list, and beginner's guide for the classic board game Catan.
View RulesGame Setup - Catan Game Rules
Learn how to set up your Catan game board, including the starting map for beginners, resource production rules, and detailed setup instructions for both new and experienced players.
View RulesTurn Overview - Catan Game Rules
Learn the turn sequence in Catan, including resource production, trading mechanics, and building rules. Detailed explanation of domestic and maritime trade, plus building settlements, roads, and cities.
View RulesBuilding & Development - Catan Game Rules
Detailed rules for building settlements and cities, using development cards, and handling the robber in Catan. Learn about victory points, special cards, and game-ending conditions.
View RulesAlmanac: Building & Cities - Catan Game Rules
Detailed reference for building rules and city development in Catan, including building costs, coastal settlements, and the combined trade/build phase variant.
View RulesAlmanac: Desert to End Game - Catan Game Rules
Reference guide covering desert rules, development cards, distance rules, domestic trade, and game ending conditions in Catan. Includes detailed examples and special cases.
View RulesAlmanac: Game Play to Largest Army - Catan Game Rules
Reference guide for game play sequence, harbors, intersections, knight cards, and the Largest Army special card in Catan. Includes detailed rules and strategic examples.
View RulesAlmanac: Longest Road & Maritime Trade - Catan Game Rules
Detailed rules for the Longest Road special card and Maritime Trade mechanics in Catan, including harbor types, trading ratios, and special cases.
View RulesAlmanac: Number Tokens to Resource Production - Catan Game Rules
Reference guide for number tokens, paths, progress cards, and resource production in Catan. Includes detailed explanations of resource distribution and special development cards.
View RulesAlmanac: Resource Trade to Settlements - Catan Game Rules
Reference guide covering resource trading, roads, robber mechanics, and settlement building rules in Catan. Includes detailed examples and special conditions.
View RulesAlmanac: Set-Up Phase - Catan Game Rules
Detailed guide for game setup in Catan, including standard and variable setup options, initial settlement placement rules, and beginner's map configuration.
View RulesAlmanac: Setup Details to Tactics - Catan Game Rules
Advanced setup instructions, soldier cards explanation, beginner setup guide, and tactical considerations for Catan. Includes detailed placement strategies and resource management tips.
View RulesAlmanac: Trade to Victory Points - Catan Game Rules
Complete reference for trading rules and victory point mechanics in Catan, including trading restrictions, victory point cards, and winning conditions.
View RulesGame Overview - Catan Game Rules
Comprehensive overview of Catan's core gameplay mechanics, including terrain types, resource production, settlement rules, and victory conditions.
View RulesFAQs
Base Game & Expansions
What is Catan?
Catan is a board game about building settlements and cities on a hexagonal island.
Development Cards - General Rules
Key rules for Development Cards: - You may buy multiple Development Cards per turn - You can only play one Development Card per turn - You cannot play a Development Card on the same turn you bought it - Development Cards must be played after rolling dice - Played cards should be placed face up in front of you
Knight Cards - Strategic Usage
Important Knight Card mechanics: - Can be played before rolling dice - Can move robber even if it's not on your hex - Played Knights stay face up for Largest Army - Moving robber and stealing is mandatory when played - Does not trigger discarding for players with >7 cards
Longest Road - Key Concepts
Critical rules about Longest Road: - Roads can form circles - Your settlements don't break your own road - Opponent settlements break your road - Tied length keeps card with current holder - Broken road segments can be reconnected - Must have at least 5 continuous road pieces
Robber Mechanics
Essential robber rules: - Must move to new hex when triggered - Can move to desert - Only blocks resource production, not building - Harbors still function if robber on hex - Can move twice in one turn (7 roll + Knight) - Stealing is mandatory when moving robber
Trading and Resources
Key trading principles: - No secret trades allowed - No credit/future trades - Can trade immediately after building harbor - Can use any harbor regardless of ownership - Can't give away resources - Must trade different resource types
Victory Conditions
Important victory rules: - Must reach exactly 10 points on your turn - Can win during special building phase - Must declare victory (not automatic) - Continue normal turn even if points reached - Victory point cards only revealed when winning
Settlement and City Building
Critical building rules: - Must follow distance rule (2 intersections) - Can build on coast without harbor - Can't relocate settlements - New builds must connect to your roads - Can build city directly (no settlement needed) - Can build at harbors during setup
Special Building Phase (5-6 Players)
Key rules for larger games: - Occurs between each player's turns - Current player cannot participate - Can win during this phase - Can't play Development Cards - Happens even if previous player didn't build - Limited to building/upgrading only