If you’re up for a brain-teasing challenge and enjoy a good mind trick, Coup is a must-try board game. Let’s explore what Coup is all about and how beginners can get started with this exciting game.
Related: What is a Board Game? A Comprehensive Guide to Board Games for Multiple Players with Simple Rules
1 Introduction to the Coup Board Game
Coup is a popular new board game among Vietnamese youth. In this game, you assume the role of a gang leader in an Italian city riddled with weak and corrupt ruling powers.
Players must use their wit and cunning to outsmart and eliminate rival gangs, striving to be the last gang standing.
Related: Beginner’s Guide to Coup
Introduction to the Coup Board Game
Related: Beginner’s Guide to Coup
2 Understanding the Rules of Coup in 5 Minutes
Components of Coup
- 15 character cards: including 3 cards each for 5 unique characters – Duke, Assassin, Captain, Ambassador, and Contessa. Each character has distinct features and gameplay mechanics.
- 6 summary cards.
- 50 coins.
Components of Coup
Related: Simple and Detailed Guide to Playing Coup
Initial Game Setup
- The game can be played with 2 to 6 players.
- The bank is represented by all the coins placed in the center of the table. Each player starts with 2 coins.
- Shuffle all the character cards and deal 2 face-down cards to each player, ensuring that players keep their cards secret from one another. Players are allowed to look at their own cards but should avoid revealing them to others.
- The remaining cards form a deck placed in the center of the table.
Initial Game Setup
Characters in the Coup Board Game
Duke – The Boss: Collect taxes and Block aid. This character is often a favorite among players due to Duke’s ability to quickly accumulate wealth. In the game, having more money makes it easier to eliminate other players.
Assassin – The Female Assassin: With her swift and deadly skills, the Assassin can take out any player for a cost of 3 coins.
Captain – The Pirate Captain: Steal 2 coins from another player and prevent theft actions.
Ambassador – The Merchant: Allows you to exchange your character card with one from the draw pile. The Ambassador can block theft actions.
Countess – The Countess: Blocks assassination attempts made by the Assassin.
Detailed Guide to Playing Coup for Beginners
Objective of Coup: Be the last player standing – the sole survivor with a character card while all other players have lost theirs.
Starting the Game: Choose a player to go first. Typically, the person to the left of the dealer goes first, and play proceeds clockwise.
First Turn: Each player must choose one of the permitted actions. Skipping a turn is not allowed.
Detailed Guide to Playing Coup for Beginners
Subsequent Actions
Collect Income: Take 1 coin from the bank.
Request Aid: Take 2 coins from the bank. This action can be blocked by the Duke – The Boss.
Coup – Overthrow: Spend 7 coins to force another player to lose one of their character cards. This action cannot be blocked.
If you start your turn with 10 coins, you must perform an Overthrow.
When you target an opponent, they must choose one of their 2 face-down character cards and reveal it.
Utilize Special Character Abilities: By declaring that you possess a specific character, you can perform the following actions:
Collect Taxes (Duke – The Boss): Take 3 coins from the bank.
Assassinate (Assassin)
Spend 3 coins to force an opponent to discard a character card of your choice. This action can be challenged or blocked by the Countess.
Steal (Captain – The Pirate Captain): Take 2 coins from another player. This action can be challenged or blocked by another Captain or a Merchant.
Exchange Character Cards (Merchant – The Ambassador): Draw 2 character cards from the draw pile and add them to your hand. Then, return 2 cards from your hand to the draw pile. This action can be challenged but cannot be blocked.
After an action is chosen, all other players have the option to challenge or block it. Challenges are declared before any action or counter-action takes place.
Block: If a player performs an action that can be blocked, other players can prevent that action by declaring that they have the appropriate character card in their hand.
Blocking Actions of the Characters are:
- Block Aid (Duke): He will prevent another player from taking 2 coins from the bank.
- Block Theft (Captain): He will stop another player from stealing 2 coins from him or any other player.
- Block Theft (Ambassador): Similar to the Captain, he can prevent another player from stealing 2 coins from him or anyone else.
- Block Assassination (Countess): Instead of preventing theft like the Captain or Ambassador, the Countess can block assassination attempts made by the Assassin.
A player whose action is blocked cannot perform any other action during their turn. If a player wins a challenge, their initial action stands.
3 Tips and Examples for Playing Coup
During your turn, you declare that you have the Duke and say, “I have the Duke, so I’ll take 3 coins.”
1 – If everyone agrees, you’ll receive 3 coins from the bank.
2 – If one of the other players disagrees and challenges your claim, you must reveal your character card.
Case 1: If you were telling the truth (you have the Duke card)
The challenging player loses one of their character cards and discards one of their two cards, revealing it to everyone.
You then randomly exchange your Duke card for another card from the draw pile and place the Duke card into the draw pile, shuffling it afterward.
Case 2: If you were lying (you don’t have the Duke card)
You lose one of your character cards. You must discard one of your two cards, revealing it to everyone.
Subsequent Turns
Players continue taking turns in a clockwise manner. Skipping turns is not allowed in Coup.
End of the Game
Whenever a player loses a character card, they choose one of their remaining cards to reveal and place on the table. The winner is the last player with a character card, while the loser is the player who has lost all their cards.
Tips and Examples for Playing Coup
4 Playing Coup Online
In addition to playing with the physical cards, you can also enjoy Coup online on the following websites:
Playing Coup Online
This comprehensive guide has covered the Coup board game rules for beginners. Coup offers a challenging and thrilling experience, testing your strategic skills against other players. We hope you’ll enjoy the excitement and suspense of playing Coup with your friends!
“Most Popular Board Games for a Group of Four Players”
Are you searching for a fun and engaging way to get your group of four together? Look no further than some classic board games! Pandemic, Catan, and Codenames are all great options if you’re seeking a fun opportunity to bond with your squad.
Exploring Deception and Murder in the Hong Kong Board Game
Do you have what it takes to uncover the truth and apprehend the killer? Put your detective skills to the test in Deception: Murder in Hong Kong, the deduction game of murder mystery and intrigue. Deduce the murderer, the weapon used and the secret evidence from the crime scene. With plenty of plot twists to keep you guessing, can you solve the puzzle and get to the bottom of the case?
Guide to the Resistance Board Game: Basic and Expansion Version Rules
Come join the competition – it’s time for a gripping game of Resistance! Two teams will face off; one as the Resistance, the other as the Spies. Whoever can complete their secret mission first will take the win – the battle is on!
“A Complete Guide to Playing Root Board Game in Vietnamese”
Root, the popular board game, is now available to Vietnamese-speaking players! This unique game features stunning wooden pieces and captivating card designs, giving players the opportunity to construct a fantastical forest kingdom as they compete to gain victory points and win domination cards.
How to Play Jenga – Tips and Tricks to Win Quickly
What is Jenga? This game has gained a lot of popularity among people. When playing Jenga, players need to have calculation and great dexterity. So what are the rules, gameplay, and tips? Let’s explore them through the following article at FPT Shop.
