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The Ultimate Guide to Playing the Exploding Kittens Board Game: Basic Rules and Strategies for Beginners

Exploding Kittens is a highly engaging and unpredictable board game that will keep players on the edge of their seats. Each player is dealt four random cards and a defuse card, adding an element of surprise and strategy to the game. The objective is to be the last surviving player by skillfully avoiding the exploding kittens and using the cards to your advantage. With tension building and twists around every corner, only the most cunning and quick-thinking players will emerge victorious in this exciting game of chance and strategy.

Administrator

6 August, 2024

Exploding Kittens is a highly popular card game that’s perfect for adding some excitement and fun to any gathering with friends. In this guide, we’ll be teaching you the basic rules of the game, as well as some expanded rules for beginners.

1. What is Exploding Kittens?

Exploding Kittens – One of the Most Popular Board Games Today

Exploding Kittens is a card game created by Elan Lee and Matthew Inman of the webcomic The Oatmeal, along with Shane Small. The game was initially a Kickstarter project aiming to raise $10,000 through crowdfunding. In July 2015, it was officially published by The Oatmeal.

2. Learn the Rules of Exploding Kittens in 5 Minutes

Basic Rules of Exploding Kittens

In just 5 minutes, you’ll have a grasp of the basic rules of Exploding Kittens:

Each player is dealt 4 random cards and 1 Defuse card.
Players take turns drawing a card from the deck and playing a card of their choice, following the instructions on the card.
If a player draws an Exploding Kitten card without a Defuse card, they immediately lose the game.
The last player standing is the winner.

3. How to Play the Basic Version of Exploding Kittens

Preparation

Items Needed to Play Exploding Kittens

To start playing the basic version of Exploding Kittens, you’ll need the 56-card original deck, which comes in black and features instructions in either English or Vietnamese. You can easily find this deck at bookstores, stationery stores, or trusted online retailers like Tiki, Shopee, and Lazada.

Players

Minimum and Maximum Number of Players for Exploding Kittens

The minimum number of players for the basic version of Exploding Kittens is 2, but for a more thrilling experience, you can have up to 5 players.

Cards

Types of Cards in the Basic Exploding Kittens Deck

The basic Exploding Kittens deck includes the following types of cards:

Exploding Kittens (4 cards) – Unless you have a Defuse card, you must immediately show this card to the other players and end your turn, discarding all your cards, including the Exploding Kitten.

Defuse (6 cards) – If you play this card after drawing an Exploding Kitten, you avoid elimination. You can then place the Exploding Kitten card anywhere in the deck without looking at or taking any other cards.

Skip (4 cards) – This card allows you to end your turn without drawing a card. If used against an Attack card, it only ends one turn, and you must still play the second turn. However, if you play two Skip cards, you can end both turns.

Attack (4 cards) – This card lets you end your turn without drawing a card and forces the next player to draw two cards on their turn. However, if the next player plays an Attack card, their turn ends, and the two draws are passed to the following player.

Shuffle (4 cards) – When you play this card, you can reshuffle the deck as many times as you like, but you cannot look at the cards.

Favor (4 cards) – This card allows you to choose another player and take one of their cards at random. However, the chosen player decides which card to give you.

Nope (5 cards) – This card cancels the action of any other card, except for Exploding Kitten and Defuse. You can also use it to cancel another player’s Nope card, even when it’s not your turn.

See the Future (5 cards) – This card lets you peek at the top three cards of the deck, after which you must return them to their original positions without showing them to the other players.

The following cards do not have instructions and need to be collected to form pairs:

If you have two of the same card, you can choose another player and take one of their cards at random.
If you have three of the same card, you can name a card, and the chosen player must give it to you if they have it. If they don’t have it, you gain nothing.
If you have five different cards, you can take back one card of your choice from the discard pile.

Detailed Rules

Winning Condition

Survive the Explosion to Be the Last Player Standing

The winning condition for this board game is simple: if you draw an Exploding Kitten, you lose. So, to win, you need to be the last player standing.

Setting Up the Deck

Setting Up the Deck for Exploding Kittens

To set up the deck, first, remove the four Exploding Kitten cards and six Defuse cards. Shuffle the remaining cards and deal four cards to each player, along with one Defuse card. Players must keep their cards hidden from the other players.

Then, randomly place the remaining Exploding Kitten and Defuse cards back into the deck. The number of Exploding Kitten cards added should be equal to the number of players minus one. If there are only two players, only use two Defuse cards, and set aside any extras. Shuffle the deck again and choose a player to go first.

Starting the Game

Starting a Game of Exploding Kittens

At the beginning of each turn, players can play as many cards as they like to skip their turn, attack other players, peek at cards, or secretly place an Exploding Kitten card. However, at the end of their turn, players must draw a card to end their turn, unless they play an Attack or Skip card.

4. How to Play the Expanded Version of Exploding Kittens

Expansion 1: Defending Kittens

True to its name, this expansion pack helps players defend against explosions and increases their chances of survival with 14 new function cards:

Draw from Bottom (1 card) – Draw a card from the bottom of the draw pile instead of the top.
Annoy (1 card) – Cancel the effect of one card of your choice from another player’s hand, except for Defuse and Exploding Kitten.
Reverse (2 cards) – End your current turn without drawing a card and reverse the direction of play.
See the Future (4 cards) – Unlike the original version, you can peek at 1, 3, or 5 cards, depending on the number on the left side of the card.
Alter the Future (2 cards) – Similar to See the Future, you can peek at the specified number of cards from the draw pile, but then you must reshuffle the deck.
Anti-Shuffle (2 cards) – Includes Anti-Shuffle (The Curse of Crystal Corn), which counters the Shuffle card, and Anti-Shuffle (Kitten Roll Call), which lets you find all remaining Exploding Kitten cards and place them on top of the draw pile. The next player must then use a Skip or Attack card to end their turn instead of drawing.
Shuffle (2 cards) – Shuffle the draw pile.

Expansion 2: Attacking Kittens

In contrast to the previous expansion, this one includes 14 function cards that are perfect for groups who enjoy a more aggressive style of play. In addition to familiar cards, this expansion introduces new function cards:

Annoy (1 card)
Alter the Future (1 card)
Exploding Kittens (2 cards)
Defuse (2 cards)
Slap (4 cards) – End your turn without drawing a card and force the next player to draw a number of cards as indicated on the card. However, the next player can use an Attack card to end their turn and pass the draws to the player after them, or they can use another Slap card to add to the number of draws. Self-Clap allows you to draw two additional cards yourself.
Steal a Card (4 cards) – Take one card of your choice at random from another player’s hand.

Expansion 3: Imploding Kittens

In addition to the traditional cards, this expansion introduces 20 new function cards and a special explosion card:

Draw from Bottom (4 cards)
Reverse (4 cards)
Alter the Future (4 cards)
Feral Cat (4 cards) – Can only be played with regular cat cards (without instructions). This card can be used as any regular cat card to form a combo.
Targeted Attack (3 cards) – End your turn without drawing a card and force the next player to play two turns. The new round then starts from the position of the targeted player. However, if they use an Attack or Targeted Attack card, the next player must also play two turns as usual.
Imploding Kitten (1 card) – If you draw this card face down, turn it face up and place it anywhere in the draw pile without using a Defuse card. If another player draws this card face up, they immediately lose, and a Defuse card cannot save them.

Expansion 4: Timebomb Kittens

This expansion introduces 15 brand-new function cards, adding suspense to the game as players anxiously await the explosion:

Timebomb (2 cards) – When you draw this card, place it in front of you. You must defuse it with a Defuse Timebomb card within the next three turns, or you will lose. Each time you draw a card and end your turn counts as one turn. If you draw a Defuse Timebomb card during the third turn, you can use it to defuse the Timebomb.
Defuse Timebomb (3 cards) – Can be used to defuse a Timebomb in front of you or a regular bomb.
Blind (1 card) – Choose a player at random, and they cannot play any cards on their next turn.
Search (3 cards) – Look at the top five cards of the draw pile, then choose one and place the rest on the bottom of the pile, reshuffling the deck.
Discard (3 cards) – Choose another player and discard two of their cards at random.
Copycat (3 cards) – Copy the function of the last card played by the previous player, except for Nope, Defuse, and combos of regular cat cards.

Note: For the Timebomb card, once defused, you must discard it and replace it with a regular bomb card to match the number of players. However, if another player is eliminated by this card, you do not need to replace it with another bomb card. Additionally, a regular Defuse card cannot defuse a Timebomb.

Expansion 5: Streaking Kittens

Frequently asked questions

Exploding Kittens is a highly-strategic, kitty-powered version of Russian Roulette. Players draw cards until someone draws an Exploding Kitten and loses the game. To avoid losing, players must play Defuse cards like Laser Pointer, Belly Rub and Catnip Sandwich. The deck is made up of cards that allow players to avoid exploding by using cards that skip their turn, mitigate the effects of the Exploding Kitten, or even redirect the threat of the Exploding Kitten to other players.

The basic rules are simple and easy to learn. Each player starts with a hand of cards, and on their turn, they must draw a card from the deck. If they draw an Exploding Kitten card, they are out of the game unless they have a Defuse card to play. Players can also play various action cards to help them avoid drawing an Exploding Kitten or to get rid of one they already have. The last player standing wins the game.

Beginners should focus on understanding the cards and their effects. It’s important to pay attention to what cards other players are using and try to anticipate their moves. Holding onto certain cards like the ‘See the Future’ card can help you plan your next moves and avoid drawing an Exploding Kitten. Additionally, using the ‘Favor’ card strategically can help you gain an advantage over other players.

The game can be played with 2-5 players, but it is also possible to play with up to 10 players with an additional deck.

Yes, there are a few expansions available for Exploding Kittens, such as the Imploding Kittens expansion which adds new cards and mechanics to the game. There is also a ‘NSFW Edition’ for adult players, featuring risqué artwork and mature humor.