How To Play: Pirates!

Overview

If you have ever wanted to shout, “Avast!” while stealing your friends’ gold, Pirates! is the game for you. After wrangling my way through several rounds with my rowdy crew, I’m ready to help you out. This guide covers the rules, plus my best How To Play pirates! strategies for winning. So grab your hat, and maybe a parrot, and let’s get started!

What’s in the box

• 1 game board
• 5 pirate ship miniatures
• 5 player boards
• 50 gold coin tokens
• 20 treasure chest tokens
• 40 cannonball tokens
• 1 wind direction spinner
• 30 event cards
• 5 reference cards
• 1 rulebook

How To Play Pirates!: Rules Summary

Setup

1. Give each player a pirate ship, a matching flag, and a player board.
2. Shuffle the treasure tokens and place them face down on marked islands.
3. Put storm and monster tokens on the sea spaces as shown in the rulebook.
4. Each player draws a secret mission card. Try not to pick the one I always get—”Deliver three parrots.”
5. Choose a starting player. The one with the best pirate laugh wins (or just roll a die).

Gameplay

1. On your turn, roll the two movement dice. Move your ship up to that many spaces in any direction.
2. If your ship lands on an island with treasure, pick up a token. Try not to look too smug about it.
3. If another ship is in your space, challenge them to combat! Both roll the battle die. High roller wins and swipes treasure.
4. You can form and break alliances at any time. Pirate code says betrayal is optional but entertaining.
5. Resolve any monster or storm events you run into. Watch out for the Kraken—it ruined my last birthday party.

Winning

1. The game ends when every treasure has been claimed, or the mission deck runs out.
2. Reveal your secret missions and count up your loot. Points come from treasure, missions, and, in my case, fancy hats.
3. The player with the most points wins. They get bragging rights and, if you play with me, a very loud victory song.

Special Rules & Conditions

1. If two players land on the same space as a storm, toss a coin. Winner dodges the storm, loser drifts for a turn.
2. Monsters attack ships that pass through their space. Lose a treasure if you roll lower than the monster. Yes, my luck is THAT bad.
3. Allegiances last until broken. Breaking an alliance must be done in your best pirate voice for maximum drama.
4. If you run out of movement, you can always use your turn to repair or trade. Or sulk in the corner. Your call.

If you keep these rules handy, you’ll be ready for battle, bluffs, and betrayal. If anyone needs a refresher on how to play pirates!, just send them this post. Now go out there and steal some treasure—preferably with style.

Best Pirates! Strategies

Treasure Placement and Movement: Your Ticket to Victory

Let me tell you, treasure in Pirates! is like snacks at my game night—you never have enough, and everyone’s hunting for them. If you want to know How To Play pirates! and win, treasure movement matters a heap.

Pick Smart Starting Spots

1. Aim for islands close to your ship but not right by a rival. You avoid early fights and look smarter than you are.
2. Stagger treasures so you don’t draw a crowd—spread them out!

Mid-Game Maneuvers

1. Move treasures with the wind, not against. You’ll get home quicker and might dodge pirates lurking for easy loot.
2. Shift less-guarded treasures if you spot someone plotting a sneak attack (trust me, it will happen).

Decoy Plays

1. Bluff by moving empty chests now and then—your friends will fall for it and waste their time!

Swashbuckling Your Way to Victory: Combat and Alliances in Pirates!

Choosing Your Battles

Not every fight is worth picking. If you see a ship with more cannons, keep your distance. On the other hand, a wounded rival makes easy loot. Remember to check if attacking will leave you open to another sneaky pirate.

1. Target weaker ships.
2. Always check nearby enemies before fighting.
3. Retreat when outgunned.

The Art of the Alliance

Temporary truces can mean treasure for all. Whisper to someone, “Let’s share the gold, then backstab Steve later.” This gets results! However, don’t trust deals for too long. You’re pirates!

1. Make short-term deals.
2. Break alliances if you’re ahead.
3. Never trust Steve. (He’s way too sneaky.)

How To Play pirates! Like A Master

Use alliances as shields and combat as tools. If you time it right, you’ll leave opponents fighting each other, while your ship sails away with the gold.

Play It Safe, Win Big: Risk Management in Pirates!

I’ve seen many pirates lose it all because they let greed rule instead of brains. Here’s how I keep my ship afloat without looking like a total coward. These risk management tactics help you stay alive and ahead in Pirates!

Know When To Retreat

1. If a fight looks bad, bail quickly.
2. Use obstacles to block stronger foes.
3. Skip risky treasure if enemies circle.

Protect Your Booty

1. Hide behind islands after grabbing treasure.
2. Split loot between ships, don’t put all in one.

Keep Options Open

1. Always have an escape route planned.
2. Save some movement cards for emergencies.

If you want to know How To Play pirates!, remember: smart pirates live to loot again.

Set Sail for Glory!

And that’s all the booty, mateys! If you remember these tricks, you’ll have a bigger pile of treasure than Old Captain Jamie (that’s me, with my trusted mug of grog and plastic parrot). Just keep your wits sharp, don’t trust anyone with a fake moustache, and always read those How To Play pirates! tip cards. Even if you end up in shark-infested waters, you’ll have a blast—at least until someone flips the table. Happy pirating!

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