How To Play: Mexica

Overview

If you’re like me, you picked up Mexica because someone at your game night said, “Hey, who wants to flood an island and boss everyone around?” This guide breaks down the basics, has a quick outline of the rules, and covers the best ways to win. I’ve lost, won, and maybe cried once, so trust me—these Mexica tips aren’t just guesses!

What’s in the box

• 1 Game board
• 2 Player screens
• 100 Canal tiles
• 12 Bridge tokens
• 47 Building pieces
• 15 Pyramid caps
• 21 District tiles
• 2 Score markers
• 1 Starting player token
• 1 Rulebook

How To Play Mexica: Rules Summary

Setup

1. Lay out the double-sided game board and place all canals in the supply.
2. Give each player their own color of bridges and pieces. Give everyone 1 handy reference card. Trust me, you’ll use it.
3. Shuffle the district tiles and keep them close. Prepare scoring tokens and pyramids nearby. Don’t knock them over yet.
4. Put your Mexica pawn on the starting spot. Grab some popcorn. Get ready to play.

Gameplay

1. On your turn, spend 6 action points. Use them to build canals, move your pawn, place bridges, and found districts. Use them wisely, or you’ll regret it!
2. Canal building lets you block other players and create district borders. Watch out for sneaky moves!
3. Your pawn walks around the board, but needs bridges to cross canals. I once forgot a bridge and got stuck, so don’t be like past me.
4. To found a district, enclose an area with canals, then shout, “I am the Mexica!” (Okay, shouting is optional.) Grab a district tile and claim your points.
5. After each turn, refill your bridges and count your action points. Double-check! We all mess up occasionally.

Winning

1. When both rounds end, total your points from districts and pyramids.
2. If you have the most points, you win! Feel free to celebrate and maybe gloat a bit. If it’s a tie, share the glory — or arm wrestle, your call.

Special Rules & Conditions

1. You can’t build canals through bridges. Trust me, I tried — it’s chaos.
2. Founding districts too early can cost you. Wait for big scores, but don’t wait too long or sneaky friends will snipe those sweet districts.
3. If someone messes up the district size, fix it right away. No shame in using the manual as a lifeline.

How To Play Mexica isn’t hard, but it can get tense if you’re a competitive bunch like my group. Once you know these rules, you’ll be ready to scheme, canal, and build your way to the top of Tenochtitlan!

Best Mexica Strategies

Canal Placement: Your Secret Weapon in Mexica

Choose Strategic Canal Spots

1. Block opponents from easy connections by dropping canals where they least want them.

2. Link your own areas to create perfect district shapes.

Control the Center, Control the Game

1. Place canals near the center early; this gives you more options later and closes off big spaces fast.

Force Tough Choices

1. Deliberately split big areas so that your rivals can’t claim large districts for easy points.

Mastering these tips is vital for anyone searching for How To Play Mexica and win consistently.

Master District Claim Timing in Mexica for Victory

Wait for the Right Moment

Jumping the gun never helps. Often, players rush to claim districts too soon. Instead, watch the board closely and wait for rivals to show their plans. This way, you grab the juiciest ones.

React to Opponents’ Actions

When another player claims a district, it can open surprising gaps. Use this to your advantage. Change your plans and surprise everyone.

1. Hold back claiming until the best scoring chance appears.
2. Check which areas are unclaimed after each turn.
3. Never let someone else get an easy high-point district unchallenged.

Use Your Resources Wisely

When you wait, you also save your action points. Then, you claim more districts in one round if needed. My friends hate when I do this, and that’s how I win more often than not!

Mastering Movement and Bridges in Mexica

Keep Your Mexica Flexible

Smart movement wins games. I once got stuck behind a canal, watching my friends grab juicy districts. Since then, I never stand still! Always keep your Mexica pawns ready to react. Don’t waste turns walking—plan ahead.

1. Never end a turn in a dead corner.
2. Use action points to leap toward scoring zones.
3. Move to block rivals from easy claims.

Bridge Like a Boss

Bridges save lives—ask my Mexica, who avoided watery doom thanks to a well-placed stick! Use bridges when you must, but guard them, too. Nothing’s worse than an opponent strolling over your hard work.

1. Build bridges to cross wide canals for cheap.
2. Place bridges where only you benefit.
3. Break up big areas to trap rivals.

If you’re wondering How To Play Mexica, keep your feet (and bridges) moving smart. Trust me, it makes all the difference.

Winning Mexica: More Than Just a Bunch of Canals

So there you have it, folks—my hard-earned wisdom after way too many snacks and not enough victories. The key to Mexica is picking your battles (and your districts). Canal placement, bridge hopping, and clever district claims all matter. Mix them up like salsa at a taco party, and you might just surprise everyone (even yourself) with a win.

I hope this guide helps you crush your friends—politely, of course. Remember: losing is just winning in disguise… well, that’s what I tell myself. Now you know the basics of How To Play mexica and a few sneaky tricks. Go build those islands, claim your glory, and try not to flip the table, okay?

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