# Coatl ## General Info - **Year Published**: 2004 - **BGG Rating**: 5.0 - **BGG Rank**: — - **Players**: 2-8 - **Duration**: 30 min - **Weight**: — - **Designers**: Daniel Solis - **Publishers**: Luchacabra - **Categories**: Abstract Strategy, Dice, Racing - **Mechanics**: Roll / Spin and Move ## Verdict Perfect for those looking for a fast, competitive game with the right amount of luck and mischief.Dynamic and fast-paced gamesClever merging mechanicDirect and competitive interactionVery simple rules to learnConsiderable reliance on luckCan be frustrating for childrenRECOMMENDED ## Description Imagine a frantic race where the goal is simple: reach the center of a spiral before everyone else. Sounds easy, right? But in Coatl, the luck of the dice is just the beginning of the story. The game blends the tension of a race with twists that can change the course of the match in the blink of an eye. If you land on an opponent's space, you 'capture' them, sending the poor soul straight back to the starting line. It's that classic 'I'm almost there' moment that turns into 'where did I go wrong?'. However, the real strategic depth happens when you land on one of your own pieces. Instead of just moving forward, you can merge your pawns, creating combined units that gain special powers. Choosing which bonus to adopt is what separates casual players from the masters of the spiral. Do you prefer speed, protection, or some tactical advantage to block others' paths? Beyond the positioning battle, the theme transports us to Aztec culture, where the quest for the title of High Priest drives the players. To earn this prestige, it's not just about running; it's about managing risk and knowing the right moment to merge your pieces to dominate the board. With fast-paced games and accessible rules, Coatl is the kind of game you can explain in five minutes, but that generates discussions and laughter throughout the session. It's ideal for those who enjoy light board games that still require quick thinking to avoid being sent backward. If you like racing games with a pinch of mischief and strategy, this title is the right choice for your table. ## How to Play Goal of the Game In Coatl, you take on the role of an Aztec High Priest candidate. To prove your merit and impress the gods, you must participate in a prestigious tournament by building the most elegant and spectacular Cóatl (feathered serpent) sculptures. The objective is to accumulate the highest number of prestige points by satisfying the requirements of different cards, crowning yourself the winner at the end of the game. Setup Follow the steps below to set up the game board: Place the Stock Board in the center of the table. Each player receives their Player Board and their corresponding color Sacrifice Tokens (note: for the first game, it is recommended not to use the Sacrifice Tokens). Fill the spaces on the Stock Board by drawing random pieces from the corresponding Stock Bags. Choose a player to start and give them the First Player Marker. Shuffle the Temple Cards. Deal 1 Temple Card to each player (keeping it hidden) and place the rest in two face-up piles near the Stock Board. Shuffle the Prophecy Cards and reveal 6 of them to form the Prophecy supply. Deal the initial Prophecy Cards: the 1st player receives 3, the 2nd receives 4, the 3rd receives 5, and the 4th receives 6. Each player chooses up to 3 cards to keep in their hand and discards the rest (also keeping the chosen ones hidden). Gameplay The game is played in turns, clockwise, starting with the player indicated by the First Player Marker. On each turn, the player must choose one of the three main actions below: Take Cóatl pieces Choose Prophecy cards Assemble your Cóatl At the end of each turn, if the player chose the Choose Prophecy cards action, they must reveal new cards from the deck until the Prophecy supply has 6 face-up cards. Stock Refill: The Stock Board must be refilled whenever all body part spaces are empty OR when all head and tail spaces are empty. Refilling is done with pieces drawn from the Stock Bags. Actions and How to Play Take Cóatl pieces Choose a space on the Stock Board (1 head, 1 tail, or 2 body parts) and add it to your Player Board. If you choose a body parts space, you must take both pieces. Attention: your Player Board has a limit of 8 pieces. Choose Prophecy cards Take one or more Prophecy Cards from the Prophecy supply or the top of the deck. You can have a maximum of 5 cards in hand. Assemble your Cóatl You can use the pieces from your Player Board to create a new Coameh (plural of Cóatl) or add pieces to an existing one. During this action, you can perform the following sub-actions: Start a new Cóatl: Place one piece from your board onto the table. This is not possible if you already have 2 incomplete Coameh. Add pieces to an existing Cóatl: Connect a piece from your board to an incomplete Coameh. A Cóatl can have as many body parts as you wish, but only 1 head and 1 tail. Fulfill a Prophecy card: Place a Prophecy Card from your hand next to an incomplete Coameh that satisfies the requirements. You can add more pieces later to increase the score, but the card is only scored at the end of the game. Assembly Rules: You can only have up to 2 incomplete Coameh at a time. To complete a Cóatl, it needs 1 head, 1 tail, and at least 1 body part. A Cóatl must fulfill 1 to 4 Prophecy Cards to be considered complete. Once placed, pieces cannot be moved or removed. Completing a Cóatl: When finishing a Coameh, you must: Fulfill as many Prophecy Cards as you wish (maximum of 4). If you have none, you must fulfill at least one. Fulfill a Temple Card (from hand or the table) if possible. Place the fulfilled cards face down. Special Actions (Sacrifice Tokens) You can discard a Sacrifice Token to perform a special action instead of a normal action: Perfect Choice: Take 1 head, 1 tail, or 2 body parts of your choice from the bag and refill the Stock Board. Vision of the Future: Discard the open Prophecy Cards, refill the supply with new cards, and discard cards from your hand to use the Choose Prophecy cards action. Priest's Promise: Take an open Temple Card and add it to your hand. End of Game and Scoring The game ends when: A player completes their 3rd Cóatl. The body parts supply runs out (on the table or in the bags). Final Turns: If the end was caused by completing the 3rd Cóatl: Players following the player who completed the Cóatl perform 2 actions on the last turn; players before them perform only 1 action. If the end was caused by lack of pieces: Everyone plays until they have the same number of turns, and then each player has one final turn. Scoring: Each player sums the points of their complete Coameh based on the requirements of the fulfilled Prophecy Cards and Temple Cards. The player with the most prestige points wins. In case of a tie, the tie-breaker follows this order: Highest number of Prophecy Cards and Temple Cards next to the Coameh. The most valuable Cóatl (highest sum of points from its cards). Tips for Winning Consult the manual for details regarding this section. ## FAQ ### Is the game very complex? Not at all! The rules are super simple, and anyone can learn how to play in a few minutes. ### How long does a game last? Games are very fast, lasting about 30 minutes, making it great for playing multiple rounds. ### How many people can play? The game supports 2 to 8 players, making it excellent for larger groups wanting something dynamic. ### Is it suitable for children? Yes, but be careful: since you can send opponents back to the start, it might cause some tears if the child is very competitive! ### What makes the game strategic? The main strategy lies in the decision to merge your pieces to gain special powers instead of just racing.