Use these top 3 strategies for Settlers of Catan to propel your game play ahead!
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First, let’s take a look at setup: why it is so important, and how to get yourself in the best possible starting place.
If you are new to the game, read about how to play in this post on the Rules for Settlers of Catan.
Strategy #1: Initial Setup Strategies
The first strategy is in your initial setup. Consider numbers, resources, locations, and possible building spots. Let’s take a look at each of these strategies for Settlers of Catan.
You need access to all of the different resources, and the ratio of your resources to one another determines what you are able to do in the game. Plan ahead and make it easy to build. Balancing your wheat and ore, brick and wood, or ore and sheep will help you quickly spend the resources you earn. If you have plenty of ore, wheat, and sheep, then you can do without brick and wood.
Other strategies for Settlers of Catan include having a variety of numbers, good numbers, and access to scarce resources. Having a variety of different numbers is protection against not getting any resources on your roll. It may seem like a good idea to double up so you can build a road on one turn, but it is also a risk that you may not receive any resources on that turn. Some numbers turn up more often than others, and you want to have those good numbers as much as you can. Avoid the outliers. Access to scarce resources is always an advantage, and that depends on the variable layout of the board in each game.
Strategies for initial placements include considering resources and possible building spots. Your first placement should ideally acquire three different resources including the scarcest resource on the board and also wheat. Never put your first or second placement on a desert or a coast with no port.
Your second placement should fill any gaps in your resource balance and generally get you more stuff, new numbers, etc. It is sometimes viable to put your second placement on top of a good port with two useful hexes. When placing your initial roads, point toward a spot you can probably get, ideally a port.
Strategy #2: Plan for the Robber to Visit
Let’s face it: the Robber will visit. Someone will roll a 7, and then what happens? If you are prepared, the visit may not be devestating.
When you have 8+ cards, do whatever you can to build something, even if it deviates from your plans. If you trade with the bank, spend the resource(s) you get, lest they be stolen. Odds are pretty good that someone will roll a seven if they have not recently, and you could lose your resources. Use them while you have them! The Robber pawn is only a danger because you have a lot of resources to lose.
If you happen to get knights, try to hold on to 1 or 2 of them in case someone puts the robber on a key hex for you. When that happens, play the knight before you roll unless you have exactly 7 resource cards.
Strategy #3: Choose Building “Out” or “Up”
There are basically two ways to win CATAN: building “Out” or “Up.” By choosing one strategy early in the game and focusing on it, you use the resources you have to your best advantage. If you split your efforts, then you slow yourself down.
The “Out” strategy uses wood and brick to build out from your first settlements. Wood and brick let you build ‘out’ from where you start faster. And since you are spreading out, you will likely pick up more resources as you go. Using the “Out” strategy lets you win through Settlements and Longest Road.
The “Up” strategy is wheat and ore focused. This approach lets you build “Up” from where you start. This strategy overlaps with Development cards. You will be more vulnerable to the Robber, but that’s what Knights are for. Using the “Up” strategy lets you win through Cities, Largest Army, and Development VP’s.
What’s your favorite CATAN strategy? Use these top 3 strategies for Settlers of Catan and advance your game. Answer your questions about the base game of CATAN on the FAQ page of Catan.com.
Do you love playing other games too? Check out the fun puzzle game Qwirkle!
Thanks for visiting, and happy playing!
