How To Play: Mexica

You know that feeling when you think you’ve nailed a board game, but then your cousin Kevin swoops in and wins by a mile? Yep, that was me and Mexica last weekend. In this guide, I’ll give you a quick outline of the rules plus my hard-earned tips for winning. No more Kevin victories!

Overview

What’s in the box

• 1 Game Board
• 47 Canal Tiles
• 12 Bridge Pieces
• 4 Player Pawns
• 28 Temples (in 4 colors)
• 44 District Tokens
• 4 Player Screens
• 4 Player Boards
• 1 Scoring Track
• 4 Scoring Markers
• 1 Rulebook

How To Play Mexica: Rules Summary

Setup

1. Place the game board on the table. Make sure everyone can reach.
2. Each player picks a color and takes all matching canals, bridges, and the Mexica pawn.
3. Shuffle the district tiles and put them face down near the board.
4. Put the temple tokens and scoring markers close by.
5. Randomly choose the starting player. Get ready for greatness (or total disaster, in my case).

Gameplay

1. On your turn, spend your 6 action points however you want. Move your pawn, dig canals, build bridges, or place temples.
2. Move your Mexica pawn to explore. Each space costs 1 point, unless you cross a canal with a bridge.
3. Dig canal tiles to outline new districts. You can only dig next to your pawn!
4. Spend points to build bridges so you can cross canals (and block your friends—always satisfying!).
5. When you seal off a district, count the spaces and take the matching district marker.
6. Place temples in finished districts, but only if there’s room!
7. At the end of your turn, refill your hand of canal tiles up to your limit.
8. Play goes clockwise. Never let your guard down, especially if your friends are sneaky.

Winning

1. After both rounds, check who controls the most temples in each district.
2. Score points for 1st and 2nd place in each district. Use the handy score track to rub it in.
3. The player with the most points wins. If you tie, the one with more districts wins. If you tie again, argue about it forever (just kidding, share the victory!).

Special Rules & Conditions

1. You can’t build canals through existing bridges or under bridges—physics still matters, even in board games.
2. A district must be a closed area with a matching value to claim the tile.
3. Don’t run out of action points! Plan ahead, or you’ll have a sad, stranded pawn.
4. Temples can only be placed in districts with space and only when you complete a district.
5. If everyone runs out of canal tiles, finish the round and move on. No tile hoarding!

If you want to know How To Play Mexica, this summary should have you ready to beat your friends (or at least blame your loss on bad canal placement!).

Best Mexica Strategies

Canal Placement Mastery: Drown The Competition!

Think Ahead With Your Canals

Canal placement in Mexica is like setting traps for your friends—except, you know, more watery. Plan your canals early, as this shapes the whole board.

1. Block off big areas before anyone else.
2. Leave opponents with awkward, tiny spots.
3. Create spaces that you alone can fill later.

Controlling the Big Zones

Area control wins you the big points. Don’t just build canals, control what’s inside them!

1. Secure zones with key canal placements.
2. Be sneaky: let others build canals for you, then swoop in.

How To Play mexica Like a Pro

Notice where people focus. Respond by splitting up their zones with your own canals. Surprise works wonders!

Bridge Tactics That Win You Mexica

Surprise Your Friends With Clever Bridge Use

I once watched my buddy Pete get stuck on an island for two turns. That’s when I learned bridges are a lifesaver. Using bridges at the right time gives you huge movement options. Place them where people least expect it, and you can zip around the board while others crawl.

1. Build bridges early, but not too early. Save a few to catch opponents off guard.
2. Drop a bridge to create shortcuts to high-point temples. You’ll move in fast and grab control ahead of everyone.
3. Block routes with bridges to lock out rivals. They’ll have to spend huge movement to get around you!

Max Out Bridge Efficiency

You want to use every bridge to its maximum. Never waste them just for a tiny shortcut. Instead, combine bridges with smart canal moves for a killer combo. This way, moving your Mexica feels like cheating, but it’s totally fair. Trust me, after learning How To Play mexica well, bridges turn into your best weapon.

Score Big: Temple Tricks To Win Mexica

Pick Your Temple Spots Wisely

You can’t build temples everywhere, so pick spots that will score the most. Claim districts in the center and near busy crossings early. That way, you get in before someone else steals the points.

1. Claim middle districts for bonus scoring chances.
2. Snag spaces near bridges or canals to block others.

Boost Your Temples At The Right Time

Placing a temple too soon can make you a target. Instead, wait until a district is almost complete. That way, you swoop in and swing the score your way.

1. Watch for districts about to finish.
2. Jump in with a big temple to grab first place scoring.

How To Play mexica To Outfox Friends

Mix all your temple tricks. Block your rivals and time your moves. Each temple is a chance to snatch points and leave your pals grumbling.

1. Distract with canals, strike with temples.
2. Save your best moves for when it matters most.

Final Thoughts: Outwit, Outbuild, Outscore!

If you’ve made it this far, congrats—you haven’t lost your mind to the mighty lake gods of Tenochtitlan! Mexica is one of those games where my friends usually go from polite city-planning to full-on vengeful architects by the fifth turn (I’m looking at you, Dave). Remember, plan your canals, block bridges when you can, and claim those juicy temple spots before anyone else. That’s how to play Mexica and, more importantly, how to win bragging rights at your next game night. Good luck, and may your canals always flow in your favor!

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