How To Play: Mexica

Overview

If you’ve ever wanted to control an island, but without all the sand in your shoes, Mexica is your game! My friends and I got totally hooked trying to outwit each other (sometimes with snacks flying). This guide has a quick outline of the game rules and, more important, the best strategies for actually winning. If you’re looking for How To Play mexica and win, you’re in the right spot.

What’s in the box

• 1 Game board
• 4 Player boards
• 32 Mexica figures (8 per player)
• 48 Canal tiles
• 47 Bridge tokens
• 88 Building tiles
• 21 District tiles
• 36 Temple markers
• 1 First player marker
• 1 Scoring pad
• 4 Scoring markers
• 1 Rulebook

How To Play Mexica: Rules Summary

Game Setup

1. Lay out the board in the center of the table. Yes, right in the middle. Don’t let Steve hog all the space again.
2. Give each player their colored pieces: bridges, temples, canal tiles, and a Mexica pawn.
3. Put all the temples within reach. It’s not a negotiation—everyone’s grabbing for the big ones anyway.
4. Shuffle the district tokens and stack them facedown.
5. Each player puts their pawn on the starting space. No, you can’t sit on your neighbor’s lap. (Well, you can, but it’s not in the rules.)

Gameplay

1. Players take turns in clockwise order.
2. On your turn, you have 6 action points. Spend these to:
   1. Move your Mexica pawn. Each space costs a point.
   2. Place canal tiles to create boundaries between districts.
   3. Build bridges across canals. Don’t build a bridge to nowhere, it’s not a government contract.
   4. Found new districts, if the space fits the required size.
   5. Place temples in districts where you’ve got the most presence.
3. Once you’re out of action points, pass play to the next person. No takebacks.

Winning

1. The game ends after the second district founding phase is finished.
2. Count your temple points in each district. Yes, even the ones where you barely squeaked by.
3. The player with the most total points is crowned the grand Mexica ruler. And yes, bragging rights are included.

Special Rules & Conditions

1. No district can be founded unless it matches a district token size—don’t cheat, Karen.
2. If you tie for majority in a district, both of you get points for your temples.
3. Canals must always connect logically—no teleporting your water, please.
4. If you forget to move your pawn, tough luck. Board state is sacred!

If you ever felt lost trying to figure out How To Play mexica, I hope these rules help. If you’re still confused, blame my friend Dave, because he teaches rules like he’s reading from a pirate map.

Best Mexica Strategies

The Secret Sauce: Mastering Canal Placement and Movement in Mexica

Why Canals Matter

Canal placement is the backbone of How To Play mexica and winning big. Smart canals shape the board, make shortcuts, and block your pals from easy points. Place them early or regret it later!

Top Tips for Placing Canals

1. Use canals to split big areas into smaller groups. This way, you control more neighborhoods.
2. Trap rivals by blocking off key spaces. Nothing scares friends more than a canal in the right place.
3. Save actions: place canals close to where you need to go. Less walking, more building!

Moving Like a Pro

1. Plan your routes with canals, so you get to temples and plazas fast.
2. Hop in a canoe when needed—faster than walking, and way cooler.

Take Charge of District Area Control in Mexica

Claim Prime Real Estate

Always grab spots near the center, as these often score big. Opponents will struggle to challenge your position later in the game.

1. Secure central districts early
2. Focus on high-scoring zones

Expand Your Influence

Next, spread out so you threaten many districts. This forces rivals to split their attention. That gives you more control over the board.

1. Occupy border areas between districts
2. Place buildings to block rivals’ expansions

Time Your Final Moves

Finally, save some actions to swoop in and steal control in the final round. Smart timing here can win you the game!

1. Hold back for late-game moves
2. Snatch control from distracted opponents

If you want to master this, just remember: How To Play Mexica is about district control as much as clever canal work!

Mastering Temple Scoring in Mexica

Build Temples at the Right Moment

1. Time your temple placement to surprise opponents. Drop a big temple just before scoring for maximum points.

2. Watch your rivals and block their prime spots before they can build.

Choose Temple Locations Wisely

1. Place temples in districts where you hold or can grab the majority. This gets you the most points fast.

2. Target districts with fewer opponents to avoid wasting actions on costly battles.

Balance Size and Speed

1. Go for larger temples early when you have space, but later, smaller temples can still tip the balance.

2. Always check your action points, so you don’t run out before making that crucial temple move.

Victory Awaits: Channel Your Inner Mexica Mastermind

Well, there you have it—my friends are still mad at me for blocking their canals in our last game. With these strategy tips, you’ve got a real shot at ruling the island, building temples, and maybe even making your own friends rage-quit (just kidding, sort of).

Remember, “How To Play mexica” is not just about moving pieces around—it’s about clever timing, sneaky canal placement, and grabbing the best districts before anyone else. So grab some snacks, round up your rivals, and see who can outwit everyone to become the ultimate Mexica champion. Just don’t blame me if someone flips the board!

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