How To Play: Polarity

Overview

Let me tell you, Polarity is not your average board game. If you’ve ever wanted to fling magnets across a cloth mat and call it strategy, this is your chance. In this guide, I’ll give you a quick outline of the game rules (so you can pretend you read the manual), and then I’ll spill my best strategies for winning Polarity. Spoiler: Don’t play near your fridge.

What’s in the box

• 26 white magnets
• 26 black magnets
• 1 linen game cloth
• 1 canvas storage bag
• 1 rulebook

How To Play Polarity: Rules Summary

Setup

1. First, find the big circular mat and lay it flat on your table. Make sure you’ve got enough space—cats not included.
2. Each player grabs 10 white discs and a magnetic stacker. Try not to stick them up your nose. Don’t ask.
3. Now, put the discs and stacker within easy reach. You’ll need nimble fingers for this one!

Gameplay

1. On your turn, use the stacker to balance a disc at an angle on the mat—no lying flat allowed! Trust me, this feels like performing minor surgery.
2. If the disc stays up, you score. If it falls and triggers a magnetic mess, you give your opponent a free disc. (You’ll hear groans. And maybe see a table flip.)
3. Keep alternating turns. The tension builds faster than my anxiety before a dentist appointment.

Winning

1. The first player to place all their discs without causing a disaster wins. Glory and bragging rights are yours.
2. If you knock over discs and can’t fix your blunder, your rival may end up with more discs. Then the shame is real.

Special Rules & Conditions

1. If your disc makes others topple, you must take the fallen ones. Yes, karma is real in Polarity.
2. Discs must always balance on an edge. No sneaky flat placements—someone will call you out.
3. If magnets stick together by mistake, the affected discs go to your opponent. Get ready for some gloating.

Honestly, How To Play Polarity isn’t tricky, but it sure is nerve-wracking! Once you manage the basics, you’ll want to try advanced moves. But if you knock over half the board like I did the first time, don’t worry. We’ve all been there. Good luck and keep your magnets steady!

Best Polarity Strategies

Master the Invisible: Magnetic Field Awareness in Polarity

Spot the Sweet Spots

First, learn to spot unstable areas on the board. It helps you keep your pieces standing and avoid disasters.

1. Observe how pieces wobble before placing yours.
2. Test with a light touch to find shaky zones.

Stay Out of Trouble

Next, always remember: trouble lurks where magnets push each other. Avoid placing near clusters unless you crave chaos.

1. Mark high-risk fields in your mind.
2. Steer clear of edges packed with opponents’ discs.

How To Play Polarity: Predict Chain Reactions

Finally, guess what happens when fields interact. A wild guess here can cost you the game.

1. Predict where magnets might topple.
2. Prepare to rescue your stack if needed.

Stacking Like a Polarity Pro: Build Towers, Score Points

1. Start Strong With a Solid Foundation

First, always look for a flat surface. Your base disc needs stability. If it wobbles, you’re already in trouble. My friend once tried to stack on a crooked disc and, well, let’s say his tower lasted shorter than my New Year’s resolutions.

1. Pick a safe spot with little magnetic disturbance.
2. Make sure the foundation disc is flat and balanced.

2. Use Magnetism to Your Advantage

Next, tilt the disc just enough so it hangs in mid-air, but not enough to trigger collapse. This takes some guts and a steady hand. Sometimes, just breathing wrong can send your pieces flying—but that’s what makes Polarity so fun!

1. Hover your disc over the stack and feel for that sweet magnetic pull.
2. Release the disc slowly for a steady stack.

3. Watch Your Opponent’s Moves

Finally, keep an eye on your rival’s stacking area. If they get too cocky, nudge the table (just kidding). Seriously though, plan your stacks in zones where it’s hard for them to disrupt your progress.

1. Build stacks a bit away from the opponent’s discs.
2. Adjust your plan if they’re targeting your towers.

Mess With Their Magnets: Disrupting Your Opponent in Polarity

Spot Their Weakness

First, pay attention to your opponent’s zones. Notice where their stacks look wobbly. You can make these even more risky for them.

1. Place your disc near their unstable stack.
2. Force them to react instead of build.

Control The Field

Next, try to block their open spots for easy polarity flips. Always find a spot that reduces their options!

1. Slide your disc in tricky spots.
2. Limit their moves each turn.

Surprise Attacks

Finally, make surprise moves. If you catch your friend off guard, they’ll panic and make mistakes.

1. Pretend you’re playing safe, then sneak a risky move.
2. Keep mixing up your tactics so no one gets comfy.

Ready to Flip the Table? (But Don’t!)

If you made it this far, congrats! You’re now armed with some serious Polarity skills. My friends still grumble every time I pull off that sneaky magnetic stack. Remember, a little practice turns chaos into victory. Keep an eye on those magnetic fields, plan your stacks, and never underestimate your opponent’s shaky hands. Now go show off! And if you win, don’t forget to brag. How To Play polarity just got a whole lot clearer—and a lot more fun.

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