Coup Rules

Game Overview

Coup is a popular card game designed by Rikki Tahta, published by LEI, and distributed by Ultra Board Games. This two to six player game is set in a dystopian future where power and influence are the keys to survival. To play, you'll need the Coup game deck, which includes character cards (Duke, Assassin, Captain, Ambassador, and Contessa) and summary cards. Additionally, you'll need 50 coins for the Treasury. You can purchase the game on Amazon.

Objective

The objective of the game is to eliminate the influence of all other players and be the last survivor. Each player starts with two face-down character cards and two coins. The game continues until there is only one player left.

Setup

1. Shuffle all the character cards and deal 2 to each player. Players can always look at their cards but must keep them face down in front of them. Place the remaining cards in the middle of the play area as the Court deck.
2. Give each player 2 coins. Each player's money must be kept visible. Place the remaining coins in the middle of the play area as the Treasury.
3. Give one summary card to each player. This is for reference only. Players should familiarize themselves with all the actions and characters before starting the game.
4. The person who won the last game starts.

How to Play

The game is played in turns in clockwise order. Each turn, a player chooses one action only. A player may not pass. After the action is chosen, other players have an opportunity to challenge or counteract that action. If an action is not challenged or counteracted, the action automatically succeeds.

Example: Player A chooses to use their Captain card to steal 2 coins from Player B. Player B can either let it pass or challenge Player A, claiming they influence the Captain. If Player B challenges, Player A must reveal their Captain card. If Player A has a Captain card, Player B loses the challenge and must give 2 coins to Player A. If Player A does not have a Captain card, they lose the challenge, lose an influence, and give 2 coins to Player B.

Scoring and End of Game

The game ends when there is only one player left. When a player has lost all their influence and both their cards are face up in front of them, they are immediately out of the game. They leave their cards face up and return all their coins to the Treasury.

Common Variants

When playing Coup with two players, the starting player receives only 1 coin at the beginning of the game. As a variant, Coup can be played with two players with these changes to the setup: Divide the cards into a 3 sets of 5 (each set has one of each character). Each player takes one set, secretly chooses one card and discards the rest. Shuffle the third set and deal one card to each player and then put the remaining three cards face down as the court deck.

Beginner Mistakes to Avoid

1. Overconfidence: Always consider the possibility of a challenge before making a move.
2. Not managing resources: Be mindful of your coin count and use it wisely.
3. Reveling too much information: Don't reveal your character cards unless necessary.

FAQ

Q: Can I reveal my character cards during my turn? A: No, you can only reveal your character cards if you are challenged.

Q: Can I negotiate with other players? A: Yes, negotiations are allowed, but none are ever binding. Players are not allowed to reveal any of their cards to other players.

Q: What happens if I lose a challenge and have no more influence? A: If you lose a challenge and have no more influence, you are immediately out of the game. You leave your cards face up and return all your coins to the Treasury.

Q: Can I lend or give coins to other players? A: No, coins can't be given or lent to other players.

Q: Can I play Coup with more than six players? A: The game is designed for 2 to 6 players. However, with the right number of decks, you can extend the player count.

Q: Is there a specific order in which actions should be taken? A: There is no specific order in which actions should be taken. Players take turns in a clockwise direction and can choose any action they want and can afford.

Q: Can I use a character card more than once per turn? A: No, each character card can only be used once per turn.

Q: Can I challenge a player's action if I'm not involved in it? A: Yes, any action or counteraction using character influence can be challenged by any player, regardless of whether they are involved in the action.