In the wacky world of Scythe, you’re not just an ordinary farmer – you’re a farmer with a steampunk mech suit, and your chickens have rocket boosters! Welcome to an alternate history 1920s Europe where agriculture meets mechanical mayhem.
Picture this: As you harvest grain and gather resources, your adorable, clucking chickens power up your giant robot, which, incidentally, is also your tractor. You plow fields with the precision of a Swiss watch, and your cows have jet engines for efficient milk production. Meanwhile, your neighbor is trading beets for oil, and the competition for territory is fiercer than a food fight at a tomato festival.
But it’s not all fun and games.
The threat of conflict looms as you and your opponents build armies of mech suits and recruit workers to power your engines.
Will you win through military might or peaceful production? Either way, you’ll be having a blast in this quirky, steampunk, farmyard-meets-warzone board game that’s as zany as it is strategic!
What’s included in Scythe
- Game board representing the world divided into hexagonal spaces.
- Faction boards (one per player).
- Player mats (one per player).
- Mechs, characters, and buildings.
- Resource tokens (wood, oil, metal, and food).
- Star tokens.
- Encounter tokens.
- Action tokens.
- Combat cards.
- Objective cards.
- Factory cards.
- Coins.
- Popularity and power dials.
How to play Scythe
The goal of “Scythe” is to achieve six stars, which can be earned through various accomplishments, such as controlling territories, winning combat, and achieving objectives.
Setup
- Place the game board in the center.
- Each player selects a faction and takes the matching faction board, player mat, starting resources, and power and popularity dials.
- Randomly select the first player.
- Place the starting mechs and characters on the player mat.
- Distribute player tokens, coins, and encounter cards.
- Place the Factory cards and Objective cards face-up on the board.
- Populate the board with resources, encounters, and encounter tokens based on setup instructions.
- Each player starts with a secret objective card.
- Place the action tokens on the top row of the player mats.
Rules for Scythe
Scythe is played in rounds, with each round consisting of the following steps:
- Receive Income: Players gain resources based on the territories they control and any bonuses from their faction and character abilities.
- Choose Action: Players simultaneously select one of the four actions on their player mat by placing an action token on it. Actions include Move, Produce, Bolster, and Trade.
- Perform Top-Row Action: Each player performs the top-row action associated with their chosen action, such as moving units or bolstering power.
- Perform Bottom-Row Action: Each player may optionally perform the bottom-row action, spending resources as indicated. These actions are typically more powerful and can lead to earning stars.
- Check for Star: If a player has achieved a star’s conditions, they take a star token. Stars can be earned through various means, such as completing objectives, winning combat, or reaching specific popularity levels.
- Check for End of Game: If a player has earned their sixth star, the game ends immediately, and the player wins.
Key Concepts:
- Combat: Combat can occur when players move into territories occupied by opponents. Players use combat cards and power values to determine the winner.
- Resources: Resources are used to perform various actions, including producing units and buildings.
- Upgrades: Players can spend resources to upgrade their mechs and character abilities.
- Popularity: Popularity affects tiebreakers and income.
- Factory: Controlling the Factory provides a bonus action and can be crucial for victory.
- Encounters: Encounters offer opportunities for additional resources and choices.
- Objectives: Objectives provide secret goals for players to achieve.
- Meeples: Players can recruit meeples to bolster their forces and gain popularity.
Winning: The first player to achieve six stars, whether through combat, objective completion, or other means, wins the game.
For the official rules, see the link below:
Factions in Scythe
Scythe features a diverse set of factions, each with its own unique abilities, starting resources, and special abilities. These factions contribute to the game’s rich strategy and replayability. Here’s an overview of the base game factions:
- Rusviet Union:
- Starting Resource: 3 wood.
- Faction Ability: Mechs move one additional space.
- Leader Ability: Gain 2 power when bolstering, and your opponent loses 2 popularity.
- Mech Abilities: Speed, Submerge (mechs can move across rivers).
- Crimean Khanate:
- Starting Resource: 3 ore.
- Faction Ability: Gain a popularity when you bolster.
- Leader Ability: Pay 1 less combat card during combat (minimum 0).
- Mech Abilities: Speed, Riverwalk.
- Nordic Kingdom:
- Starting Resource: 3 food.
- Faction Ability: Gain 4 money (coins) instead of 2 popularity when trading.
- Leader Ability: Gain 4 popularity when reaching the factory for the first time.
- Mech Abilities: Speed, Submerge.
- Saxony Empire:
- Starting Resource: 2 metal.
- Faction Ability: Gain 2 power when you upgrade.
- Leader Ability: Gain 1 popularity when you gain power.
- Mech Abilities: Speed, Riverwalk.
- Polania Republic:
- Starting Resource: 2 food, 2 wood.
- Faction Ability: Gain 2 popularity when you produce.
- Leader Ability: Pay 1 less oil (metal) when upgrading (minimum 0).
- Mech Abilities: Speed, Riverwalk.
- Clan Albion:
- Starting Resource: 2 food, 1 wood, 1 ore.
- Faction Ability: Gain 2 power and draw 1 combat card when you deploy your first mech.
- Leader Ability: Spend 1 popularity to gain any 2 resources once per turn.
- Mech Abilities: Speed, Submerge.
- Togawa Shogunate (Expansion Faction):
- Starting Resource: 3 food.
- Faction Ability: Gain 2 money (coins) when you upgrade.
- Leader Ability: Spend 1 money (coin) to ignore both the encounter card and the space’s action when moving to a tunnel.
- Mech Abilities: Speed, Riverwalk.
- Rusviet:
- Starting Resource: 4 wood.
- Faction Ability: Gain 1 popularity when you bolster.
- Leader Ability: Once per turn, you may pay 3 popularity to take any bottom-row action (even if it is covered).
- Mech Abilities: Speed, Submerge.
- Fenris (Promo Faction):
- Starting Resource: Varies based on the chosen configuration.
- Faction Ability: Fenris does not start with any mechs, but instead, they deploy one additional mech during the game. They can choose from various configurations of mechs and workers.
- Leader Ability: Variable, based on the chosen configuration.
How to win Scythe
- Plan Your Faction: Each faction in Scythe has unique abilities and starting positions. Choose a faction that aligns with your preferred playstyle and strategy. For example, if you want to focus on combat, select a faction with combat advantages.
- Set Clear Objectives: Have a plan for earning stars. Objectives provide a clear path to victory. Try to complete objectives that match your faction’s strengths and your current position on the board.
- Balanced Resource Management: Ensure a steady income of resources to fund your actions. Don’t neglect any resource type, as each is crucial for different aspects of the game. Upgrade your resource production when possible.
- Use Mechs Wisely: Mechs are powerful assets. Use them for both offense and defense. Upgrading your mechs’ abilities can significantly impact your gameplay. Consider the speed mech for mobility or the riverwalk mech for access to lakes.
- Control the Factory: The Factory provides a bonus action and can be a game-changer. It’s a valuable objective, so try to control it, but be prepared for potential combat to maintain control.
- Combat Strategy: Combat in Scythe is often about bluffing and positioning. Consider your opponent’s combat cards and power level. If you can predict your chances of winning, engage in combat when it’s advantageous. Don’t shy away from combat, but choose your battles wisely.
- Popularity and Power: Balance your popularity and power tracks. Popularity can be a tiebreaker and provides income. Power, on the other hand, affects your combat ability. Adjust your popularity based on your objectives and overall strategy.
- Upgrade Your Mechs and Abilities: Upgrading your mechs and character abilities can give you a significant advantage. Prioritize upgrades that align with your chosen strategy and objectives.
- Maintain Mobility: Roads and mechs with the Speed ability increase your mobility and flexibility. They allow you to respond to changing situations and control territory more effectively.
- Watch Your Opponents: Pay attention to your opponents’ actions, objectives, and resources. Anticipate their moves and try to disrupt their plans when it benefits you.
- Manage Encounters: Encounters can provide valuable resources, popularity, and options. Plan your movement to maximize encounters and choose the outcomes that suit your strategy.
- Timing Is Key: Timing can be critical in Scythe. Consider when to make your moves, reveal objectives, and engage in combat. Sometimes waiting for the right moment can be more beneficial than rushing.
- Stay Adaptable: Be flexible in your strategy. The game can change rapidly, and adapting to new circumstances is essential. Don’t stick too rigidly to a single plan.
- Economy Is King: Ultimately, a strong economy, efficient resource management, and smart upgrades will set you on the path to victory. Maintain a balance between expanding your territory and developing your infrastructure.