How To Play: Pandorum

Overview

Are you ready to rule the galaxy, or at least your living room? After a wild night shouting at my friends over resources, I came up with this guide. Here you’ll find a quick outline of the rules, plus the best winning tips I learned (the hard way). If you ask, ‘How To Play pandorum and actually win?’—I’ve got you covered!

What’s in the box

• 1 Game Board
• 4 Player Boards
• 36 Resource Tokens
• 12 Action Markers
• 60 Energy Cubes
• 48 Territory Discs
• 24 Ship Miniatures
• 1 Round Tracker
• 40 Objective Cards
• 16 Event Cards
• 1 Rulebook

How To Play Pandorum: Rules Summary

Setup

1. Lay out the main board in the center of the table. Make sure everyone can reach it, unless you want some awkward arm stretches.
2. Shuffle the planet and resource cards. Deal each player 3 planet cards and 4 resource cards. Try not to drop them on the floor like I did—retrieving under the table is a workout.
3. Each player picks a color and takes the matching tokens and ships. Set the rest aside, unless your cat claims them.
4. Place the supply of cubes, credits, and anomaly tokens next to the board as the bank. No, you can’t take a loan.

Gameplay

1. On your turn, draw a resource card. If you pull a sabotage card, prepare for groans from the table.
2. Choose one of the following actions: build a base, colonize a planet, mine for resources, or attack a rival. Just don’t try all at once, trust me—chaos ensues.
3. Pay the cost for your action using your resource cards or tokens. If you forget, expect your friends to shout, “Rules lawyer!”
4. Resolve any effects, like moving your ship or gaining bonuses. Sometimes it helps to make dramatic sound effects, but it’s not in the rulebook.
5. Pass to the next player. If they are texting, glare until they notice.

Winning

1. The game ends when a player places their last base or the resource cards run out. This is when people start counting points loudly.
2. Add up points from colonized planets, resources, and secret objectives. If you lose, blame bad luck or your cousin’s sneaky alliances.
3. The player with the most points wins! Award them the best snack you have left.

Special Rules & Conditions

1. If you draw an Anomaly card, follow the chaos it brings. These twist the game, usually just as you think you’re winning.
2. Ships can’t move through opponents’ bases unless you pay a bribe—usually in snacks or credits.
3. Sneaky alliances are encouraged, but not required. Betrayal is optional, but honestly, it’s half the fun.

Now that you know the rules, you’ll look like a pro when someone asks you How To Play pandorum. If anyone disagrees with the rules, just show them this post and say Jamie says so!

Best Pandorum Strategies

Mastering Resource Management to Crush Pandorum

1. Collect Early, Win Later

Forget hoarding! Start by grabbing as many resources as you can. This jump-starts your engine. Here’s how:

1. Choose spots near resource tiles.
2. Build storage as soon as possible.
3. Swap or trade if you get stuck.

2. Spend Smart, Not Fast

Resist the urge to splurge. Watch your resources and time your spending right:

1. Prioritize big value actions.
2. Upgrade factories only when you can gain more than you lose.
3. Hold a little back for emergencies.

3. Sabotage Your Friends

Remember, it’s not just about you. Block your friends from key resources whenever you can:

1. Spot their weaknesses and deny them those juicy tiles.
2. Share fake tips to throw them off. (Just kidding. Or am I?)

Once you learn How To Play pandorum, you’ll see that smart resource moves often win the whole game!

Lock Down the Galaxy: Territory Control in Pandorum

How To Play pandorum and actually win? Well, you need to boss those hexes like you’re space royalty. I’ve played plenty, and territory control can really swing the game in your favor. Here’s how I usually grab the lead (and annoy my friends at the same time):

Early Aggression Pays Off

1. Rush the central planets for quick access to resources.
2. Block key opponent paths to slow them down.

Choose Your Expansion Wisely

1. Expand toward high-value areas instead of spreading thin.
2. Defend choke points once you take them.

Keep Your Rivals Guessing

1. Switch your focus if others gang up on you.
2. Use ships to fake out opponents, making them worry about your next move.

Master the Magic of Card Timing in Pandorum!

Read Your Opponents First

Knowing your friends’ habits helps you plan when to play your best cards. Are they saving up for a big move? Strike first.

1. Watch their stacks like a hawk.
2. Predict their next action based on past plays.

Wait for the Perfect Moment

Don’t rush. Play your high-impact cards when you spot weakness or chaos on the board. Timing often trumps brute force.

1. Hold back until your power cards really shine.
2. Interrupt a rival’s combo for extra satisfaction.

Stack Combos for Extra Punch

Chain your cards for wild effects. When you combo, you often flip the table—sometimes literally, if you’ve got competitive friends.

1. Plan 2-3 turns ahead.
2. Layer effects for maximum chaos.

How To Play pandorum well? Nail your card timing. Outwit your pals and enjoy their stunned faces!

Winning Pandorum, One Bold Move at a Time

Look, if you’ve made it this far, you’ve probably already outlasted at least two of my friends who rage-quit halfway through our last Pandorum game. The real secret? Don’t overthink, but don’t play like you’re sorting your sock drawer either. Use those resources, grab territory, and always—ALWAYS—keep an eye on when to play that sneaky card. Oh, and remember to laugh when you sabotage your buddy’s moon base. That’s half the fun! So, now that you know How To Play pandorum (and play it well), go show your group who’s the real space boss—just don’t blame me if you get banned from game night. Happy conquering!

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