How To Play: Pirates!

Pirates! Board Game Summary

After many nights yelling 'Arrr!' at my friends, I can say How To Play pirates! is all about smart treasure hunting, sneaky combat, clever alliances, and ship upgrades. With easy rules and lots of laughs, it's a game that turns everyone into a plotting, backstabbing pirate captain. Grab yer crew and set sail!

Pirates!: Box Cover Front

Overview

Ready to set sail and outsmart your mates? After many rowdy nights playing Pirates! with my friends (and losing treasure to Dave, the sneaky rascal), I put together this guide. You’ll find a quick outline of the rules and my favorite ways to win. Whether you’re in it for treasure, battle, or wild alliances, I’ve got the best tips to make you the boss pirate. Arrr! Here’s How To Play pirates!

What’s in the box

  • 1 Game Board
  • 6 Pirate Ship Miniatures
  • 6 Player Boards
  • 60 Gold Coins
  • 40 Treasure Tokens
  • 36 Event Cards
  • 24 Upgrade Tiles
  • 12 Dice
  • 1 Rulebook

How To Play Pirates!: Rules Summary

Setup
  1. Place the board in the center of the table.
  2. Give each player a ship, a pirate meeple, and a treasure chest card.
  3. Shuffle the treasure and event decks. Place them within reach.
  4. Put treasures on the island spots marked with an “X.”
  5. Decide who goes first (best pirate laugh wins).
Gameplay
  1. On your turn, roll the die to move your ship.
  2. Land on spaces to collect or steal treasure, trigger events, or start a battle.
  3. Draw event cards if you land on an event space.
  4. When you land next to another player, you can challenge them to a duel (winner takes treasure).
  5. Keep playing clockwise until someone triggers a win condition.
Winning
  1. The first player to get three treasures safely back to their home port wins.
  2. If the event deck runs out, the player with the most treasures wins.
  3. Tiebreaker? Whoever can recite a pirate joke makes the call.
Special Rules & Conditions
  1. If your ship is hit by an event or in battle, you drop a treasure on the nearest island. Anyone can snatch it!
  2. Pirate alliances are allowed, but you must break them with a dramatic “Arrr!”
  3. Double sixes on your roll? You get a bonus move and a free event card draw.

After playing many rounds with my friends, I keep finding new ways to win (and lose) in Pirates! If you want to master How To Play pirates!, pay attention to these rules and maybe don’t trust the guy sitting to your left. He always betrays you.

Best Pirates! Strategies

Treasure Hunting Tactics to Rule the High Seas

Map Your Route First

Before you sail, scan the board! I always check where treasures lay. You want the shortest, safest route—unless you enjoy being shark bait.

  1. Plot a direct path to treasure chests.
  2. Avoid areas near rival pirates early on.
  3. Keep an eye on obstacles that might slow your ship.

Grab and Go! Don’t Linger

Once you land on a treasure spot, grab it and leave! I’ve lost gold because I dawdled. Someone will always sneak up.

  1. Take treasure and move away quickly.
  2. Use action cards for quick escapes.

Decoy Mania

Sometimes, tricking your friends works best. I once pretended to head for fake treasure, luring foes far away from my real target.

  1. Pretend to chase less valuable treasure.
  2. Change direction often to confuse others.

Mastering these will boost your odds in How To Play pirates! and help you sail away rich while your friends argue over crumbs.

How To Play pirates!: Outsmart With Combat and Clever Alliances

Picking The Right Fights

Not all battles are worth it. Pick targets wisely to avoid getting wrecked halfway through the game.

  1. Attack ships loaded with treasure but low on cannons.
  2. Avoid players who love revenge.

Forming Temporary Alliances

Your friends are not always your enemies, at least until they are. Forge pacts for short-term gains, but watch your back!

  1. Team with players near a common enemy.
  2. Share fake info to mislead other crews.

Backstabbing Gracefully

Eventually, alliances fall apart. Strike when your partner looks the other way, or when they trust you most!

  1. Wait till the alliance outlives its use.
  2. Hit them a turn before they betray you.

Unleash the Fast and Fearless: Ship Upgrades & Movement Mastery

Pick the Right Upgrades for the Job

  1. Always grab extra sails early. More speed? Yes, please!
  2. Pirate cannons are tempting, but faster ships win more races to treasure.

Plan Every Move (But Stay Sneaky)

  1. Try zig-zagging to dodge enemy routes.
  2. Never sail straight at treasure. Other players spot you and pounce.

Use the Wind for Free Moves

  1. Keep close to wind bonuses. Friends will whine, but you’ll laugh to the bank.

I learned fast in my first game of How To Play pirates! that clever ship upgrades and sneaky moves make all the difference. My slow, cannon-packed ship got munched—next time, I sped past everyone for the win!

Ready to Set Sail and Win?

Alright, shipmates, that’s the chest of secrets for How To Play pirates! My friends and I laughed, argued, and maybe even resorted to pirate voices while testing every trick here. Just remember, a sneaky trade might beat a cannonball, and no treasure is worth your entire crew jumping ship! May your dice be lucky and your friends forgive your betrayals. Now, hoist your sails—and go claim that loot!

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.