How To Play: Pirates

Pirates mixes clever crew choice, quick navigation, and sneaky combat for tons of fun. I learned the rules in one night and got hooked. For an edge, upgrade your crew, watch the map, and grab treasure fast. Check out my guide on How To Play pirates for top tips!

Pirates - Box cover - Credit: JohnPurdue

Overview

Ahoy there! If you’ve ever dressed as a pirate for Halloween, you’re already halfway ready for this game. In this quick guide, I’ll break down How To Play pirates, lay out the main rules so you don’t lose friends, and spill the beans on the best ways to win. Grab your hat, hide your snacks, and let’s get started before someone yells, “Walk the plank!”

What’s in the box

  • 1 Game Board
  • 4 Pirate Ships
  • 20 Crew Tokens
  • 40 Gold Coins
  • 30 Treasure Cards
  • 8 Map Tiles
  • 16 Event Cards
  • 4 Player Boards
  • 1 Rulebook
  • 4 Reference Cards

How To Play Pirates: Rules Summary

Setup
  1. Choose a ship, a captain, and a crew. Make sure everyone does their best pirate voice. (This is required. By me. It’s the law.)
  2. Place the game board in the center. Scatter treasure tokens on the marked islands.
  3. Shuffle the event and treasure decks. Hand out starting gold to each player. Hide your gold like a true pirate.
Gameplay
  1. On your turn, roll the dice to move your ship. You can head for treasure, attack other pirates, or just float around looking cool.
  2. Land on an island to pick up treasure. Draw a treasure card and add it to your stash.
  3. If you sail next to another pirate, you may choose to attack. Just remember, grudges last forever at the table.
  4. After your move, draw an event card. You might find a storm, a sea monster, or a free sandwich (okay, maybe not the sandwich).
Winning
  1. The first pirate to collect three treasures and return to their home port wins the game.
  2. If someone runs out of crew, they must sing a sea shanty or beg for mercy (optional, but highly recommended).
Special Rules & Conditions
  1. If two pirates land on the same spot, they must duel. The winner steals a treasure from the loser.
  2. Storms can move your ship backwards. Sea monsters eat your gold. Watch out for those event cards!
  3. If you cheat and someone catches you, you owe them a snack. (House rule, thanks to my buddy Pete.)

Now you know How To Play pirates! Gather your crew, hoist the sails, and may the best pirate win! Arrr!

Best Pirates Strategies

Pick The Best Crew to Rule the Seas

Start With Strong Choices

When beginning How To Play pirates, I always focus on my crew. First, I ignore the fancy hats and go for skills. A cook is nice, but a navigator gets me treasure quicker every time.

  1. Pick crew with unique skills
  2. Balance strength and smarts
Upgrade For Better Plunder

After the first round, I upgrade my crew fast. Swapping weaklings for experts is key. Even my parrot got promoted once.

  1. Upgrade leaders first
  2. Swap for specialists when possible
Watch Out For Sneaky Opponents

Keep an eye on your friends. They love to steal good crew, so block their trades or bribe them with rum. Trust me, it works like a charm.

  1. Defend your best members
  2. Sabotage rival upgrades

Master the Seas: Map Navigation and Timing in Pirates

Chart the Shortest Routes

I once thought the long way around was safer. Big mistake. Always look for the shortest routes across the board. This gets you to the treasure before your slowpoke friends.

  1. Scout ahead on your turn.
  2. Plan your moves, avoiding obvious ambush spots.

Time Your Moves

I’ve seen folks rush and get stuck in storms! Instead, pace yourself and react to the tides (and your rivals).

  1. Wait for rivals to reveal their plans.
  2. Move when the coast is clear.

Use Landmarks Wisely

On my third game, I realized those little island tiles are perfect for sneaky shortcuts. Use them to dodge trouble or ambush others.

  1. Hide behind landmarks if you’re being chased.
  2. Use shortcuts only when you have an escape plan.

With smart navigation and sneaky timing, you’ll leave your mates marooned in your wake. That’s how to play pirates like a true scallywag!

How To Play Pirates: Master Combat and Treasure Tactics

Strike When Opponents Are Weak

Timing is everything. Wait until rivals have spent their action points or lost crew. Then, swoop in with full force for easy wins.

  1. Watch your opponent’s resources.
  2. Attack when they look drained.
  3. Keep your best fighters ready.

Bluff and Misdirect

Sometimes, a sneaky move is better than a bold one. Bluff about your next attack or lure rivals away from treasure.

  1. Pretend you want a different treasure.
  2. Act like your crew is weak when they’re not.
  3. Leave traps near lesser loot.

Claim Treasure Fast

Forget hoarding. Grab treasure and run! This stops opponents from blocking you or stealing your riches.

  1. Snatch isolated loot first.
  2. Secure quick escape routes.
  3. Split your crew to cover more ground.

Set Sail and Outsmart Your Mates!

If there’s one thing I learned playing Pirates with my friends, it’s that no plan survives the first cannonball. But that’s what makes it so much fun! Use these tips to outwit, outmaneuver, and out-swashbuckle your rivals. Whether you’re grabbing treasure or sending someone to Davy Jones, remember: there’s no honor among pirates, only laughs (and maybe a snack break). Now you know How To Play pirates like a true buccaneer—so grab your crew, and may your dice roll faster than your enemies run!

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

Jamie in his proper element: With all of his board games
Jamie Hopkins

With years of dice-rolling, card-flipping, and strategic planning under my belt, I've transformed my passion into expertise. I thrive on dissecting the mechanics and social dynamics of board games, sharing insights from countless game nights with friends. I dive deep into gameplay mechanics, while emphasizing the social joys of gaming. While I appreciate themes and visuals, it's the strategy and camaraderie that truly capture my heart.