Rules of Play
Box of Terra Mystica

Board game · 2012

Terra Mystica

In the land of Terra Mystica dwell 14 different peoples in seven landscapes, and each group is bound to its own home environment, so to develop and grow, they must terraform neighboring landscapes into their home environments i…

Players
2 to 5
Duration
60 min
Age
12 and up
Complexity
Expert

Jens Drögemüller · Helge Ostertag · Z-Man Games · White Goblin Games · HomoLudicus · Devir · MINDOK · Zvezda · Cranio Creations · Feuerland Spiele

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Chaining End Game Bonuses Hexagon Grid Income Increase Value of Unchosen Resources Network and Route Building Tech Trees / Tech Tracks Turn Order: Pass Order Variable Player Powers Variable Set-up Victory Points as a Resource Civilization Economic Fantasy Territory Building

Start here

Recommended videoTerra Mystica, de l'explicationFull rules · 30 min 36Tric Trac

Your first game

The three moments to know before you start. Each step opens the video at the right spot.

  1. Set up Matériel et Mise en Place 00:31
  2. Play a turn Déroulement 11:33
  3. End the game Décompte d'Agglomération 49:43

Videos to learn

Quick summary1

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In brief

In the land of Terra Mystica dwell 14 different peoples in seven landscapes, and each group is bound to its own home environment, so to develop and grow, they must terraform neighboring landscapes into their home environments in competition with the other groups.

Terra Mystica is a full information game, without any luck, that rewards strategic planning. Each player governs one of the 14 groups. With subtlety and craft, the player must attempt to rule as great an area as possible and to develop that group's skills. There are also four religious cults in which you can progress. To do all that, each group has special skills and abilities.

Taking turns, the players execute their actions on the resources they have at their disposal. Different buildings allow players to develop different resources. Dwellings allow for more workers. Trading houses allow players to make money. Strongholds unlock a group's special ability, and temples allow you to develop religion and your terraforming and seafaring skills. Buildings can be upgraded: Dwellings can be developed into trading houses; trading houses can be developed into strongholds or temples; one temple can be upgraded to become a sanctuary. Each group must also develop its terraforming skill and its skill with boats to use the rivers. The groups in question, along with their home landscape, are:

Desert (Fakirs, Nomads) Plains (Halflings, Cultists) Swamp (Alchemists, Darklings) Lake (Mermaids, Swarmlings) Forest (Witches, Auren) Mountain (Dwarves, Engineers) Wasteland (Giants, Chaos Magicians)

Proximity to other groups is a double-edged sword in Terra Mystica. Being close to other groups gives you extra power, but it also means that expanding is more difficult...

Terra Mystica FAQ

This summary is only available in English for now.

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