How To Play: Byzantium

Overview

If you ever wanted to outsmart your friends and rule the ancient world (without leaving your living room), Byzantium is your ticket. In this guide, I’ll give you a quick outline of the game rules and spill my best secrets for winning. After way too many late-night games, filled with betrayal and laughter, I finally cracked some strategies. Here’s everything you need to know, including How To Play byzantium for real glory.

What’s in the box

• 1 game board
• 4 player mats
• 1 rulebook
• 75 wooden cubes
• 50 wooden disks
• 20 wooden cylinders
• 60 cardboard coins
• 15 city markers
• 3 scoring markers
• 4 faction cards
• 1 start player marker

How To Play Byzantium: Rules Summary

Setup

1. Place the game board in the middle of the table, ignoring any cats that jump onto it.
2. Hand out faction tokens and player pieces to everyone (unless your friend Gary insists on being purple again—let him have it, it’s easier).
3. Shuffle and deal all cards according to player count. Then, place armies, cities, and trade markers in their starting spots.
4. Sort resources and gold into neat piles. No, Tim, you can’t hide coins under the board.
5. Pick starting players and you’re ready for action!

Gameplay

1. Play moves clockwise. Each turn, a player chooses an action: move armies, fight, collect resources, or trade.
2. Every action affects one or more empires (Byzantine, Arab, or Persian). You can help or hinder any of them. This is where it gets sneaky.
3. Use your cards and coins wisely. I burned through mine in ten minutes once, and it did not go well.
4. Make alliances, break them, then deny it ever happened. It’s all part of the game.
5. Keep track of which empire you’re backing, as this matters for winning.

Winning

1. The game ends when all cities are controlled, or the card deck runs out (or someone flips the table).
2. Add up influence points from the empires you’ve supported.
3. The highest score wins. If there’s a tie, the one with the most leftover coins takes the crown.

Special Rules & Conditions

1. If a player controls too many cities, rebellions may trigger (cue dramatic groans).
2. Alliances can change each round, but double-crossing too often will make everyone hate you. I learned the hard way!
3. Certain cards allow rule-bending powers—remember to yell “Plot twist!” when playing one. Not mandatory, but highly recommended.

If you follow these steps, you’ll have a good grasp of How To Play Byzantium. Just try not to trust Steve—he always stabs people in the back.

Best Byzantium Strategies

How To Play Byzantium: Mastering City Control Like a Pro

Snag the Right Cities First

City selection matters! Always go for cities with high income or strategic placement. Early in the game, I rush my troops to spots that let me collect resources while also blocking opponents.

1. Pick cities near trade routes
2. Choose ones close to your starting army
3. Block rivals by grabbing easy-access spots

Defend, Don’t Just Occupy

It’s tempting to spread thin, but that’s risky. Instead, focus on defending key cities.

1. Strengthen city defenses
2. Station backup troops nearby
3. Use walls or fortifications if possible

Flip Cities with Clever Timing

My secret trick: wait until opponents are weak, then take cities when it will hurt them most. This turns the tide fast!

1. Watch enemy troop movements closely
2. Strike when rivals are busy elsewhere
3. Plan your resource use for big attacks

Mastering the Art of Balancing Empires and Alliances

If you want to win Byzantium, you can’t just charge at everyone. You need to balance power and choose your friends (and enemies) wisely. I’ve lost count of how many times my buddy Greg stabbed me in the back—and every time I thought I had him figured out! So here’s how to NOT be me.

Know When to Switch Sides

1. Always track which empire gains power and which starts to crumble.
2. Change your support when it helps your position the most.

Build Trust, Then Betray (a Little)

1. Help your allies, but never let them get too far ahead.
2. Keep deals flexible for sudden betrayals (Greg will never see it coming).

Share Just Enough Information

1. Tell allies what they need, but never your full plans.
2. Use half-truths to guide the group to your benefit.

I learned the hard way: balancing empires and alliances is tricky, but it’s how you win—unless Greg pulls another sneaky one.

Mastering the Art of Resource Management in Byzantium

Always Keep an Eye on Supply

Resource shortages can break your plans faster than my friend Terry flipping the board. Constantly track gold and armies. You don’t want to beg for coins later.

1. Plan every purchase.
2. Spend only on priorities.
3. Set some gold aside for emergencies.

Trade Smart, Not Hard

Trading with your so-called ‘allies’ gets tricky. Instead of giving away the farm, leverage your resources for real advantages.

1. Offer trades that benefit you first.
2. Always ask for more than you expect to get.

Adapt When the Game Throws Curveballs

Don’t stick to one plan. Instead, shift your resource use as armies and cities change hands. When I played, my gold pile vanished quick until I adjusted my goals.

1. Watch your rivals’ moves.
2. Change spending to match the board state.

Follow these tips and you’ll soon be teaching your group How To Play Byzantium—and maybe even how to win!

Final Thoughts: Conquer Like a Legend

Look, after more plays of Byzantium than is healthy for anyone with a social life, my advice is simple: keep your armies unpredictable, your cities well-stocked, and your alliances just the right amount of sneaky. My friend Greg once tried to win by ignoring the Byzantines entirely—he ended up with fewer points than a Roman helmet. So remember, if you ever forget how to optimize your moves, just shout, “How To Play Byzantium!” at the table. It won’t help, but it’ll scare your friends. Now go claim your empire!

Want to know what we think of Byzantium? Read our detailed review of Byzantium here