Game Objective

In Reef & Ruins, your goal is to play all your ruin cards before your opponents. To do this, you must play sets of matching ruins and try to go out first to maximize your victory points (VP). Additionally, you must add improvements to your ruins to make them stronger and try to claim the best ones!

Preparation (Setup)

Follow the steps below to set up the table:

1. Insert all 50 ruin cards into the sleeves face up.
2. Shuffle all discovery cards and place the deck face down in the center of the table.
3. Place the 4 market markers to the right of the deck. Deal 1 discovery face up below each marker.
4. Flip the scoring board to the side corresponding to the number of players and place it nearby.
5. Place the round marker on round 1.
6. Deal starting cards:
   • Each player receives a player aid.
   • Each player receives 2 claim cards.
   • Each player receives 3 torches with the lit side up.
   • Deal a hand of 9 ruins to each player.
7. Place the player's scoring marker on 0.
8. Component adjustment by number of players:
   • 2 Players: Remove 20 ruins (2 of each rank) and 30 discoveries (2 of each rank).
   • 3 Players: Remove 40 ruins (1 of each rank) and 40 discoveries (1 of each rank).
   • 4 Players: Remove 30 ruins (3 of each rank) and 39 discoveries (13 of each type).
   • 5 Players: Remove 20 ruins (5 of each rank) and 39 discoveries (13 of each type).
9. Whoever last lit a flame is the first player.

Game Flow

The game is divided into rounds. Each round follows this structure:

Start of Round

At the beginning of each round, each player can secretly choose 1 ruin in their hand to permanently flip from the day side to the night side. This changes the card's rank and can add a new discovery effect. The ruin retains all previously added improvements.

Player Turn

The first player starts the 1st turn of the round by playing any ruin card or any set of 2 or more ruin cards of the same value from their hand. The next player clockwise must decide whether to follow or pass:

• Follow: Must play exactly the same number of ruin cards of an equal or higher value.
• Pass: If unable or unwilling to follow.

Players continue taking turns until all but one pass consecutively. When this occurs, collect all played ruins and place them in a face-up discard pile. The last player to play a ruin starts any new ruin or set.

End of Round

When only 1 player remains with cards, the round ends. The remaining player scores victory points for last place. For the next round:

1. Advance the round marker.
2. All players flip all unlit torches to the lit side.
3. Shuffle all ruin cards and deal a new hand of 9 ruins to each player.
4. If a player receives a ruin with an opponent's claim, they must yield it to them (no hand replacement).
5. Whoever has the fewest VP is the new first player. In case of a tie, the player furthest clockwise from the previous 1st player goes first.

Actions and How to Play

Playing Ruins and Sets

You can play a ruin alone or in sets. If you play a wildcard rank ruin with other ruins, ignore its additional ranks. If you play it alone, use the printed rank plus the additional ranks. Ruins you play as a set must have the same rank after you add discoveries to them.

Improving Ruins

Whenever you play one or more ruins, you can improve them with claims and/or discoveries. You can only improve ruins you have just played.
Note: Each ruin can have a maximum of 1 claim and 3 discoveries (one in each position). Once added, the improvement cannot be removed.

Adding Claims

You can claim up to 2 ruins during the game by adding your claim cards to them.

Adding Discoveries

You can spend lit torches to take 1 or more discovery cards from the market. Flip the torches to the unlit side and immediately add the discoveries to the played ruins. After that, slide the discoveries in the market to the right and fill the space with up to 4 cards from the deck.

Skipping an Opponent's Turn

If you play a ruin or set of exactly the same value as was last played, the next player must pass obligatorily.

End of Game and Scoring

The game ends when someone wins. There are two ways to win:

1. Instant Victory: If you start a round with 9 or 10 VP and are the 1st to go out, you win immediately! The other players do not finish the round.
2. End of Round 4: If no one has won by the end of round 4, the players with the most VP and the player who went out first in round 4 play one more round together. Whoever goes out first in round 5 wins (regardless of score).

Point Counting

When you play the last card from your hand, you are out! Score the victory points shown at the top of the scoring board, depending on your exit position (1st, 2nd, etc.). If at least two players are still in the round, they continue playing.

Tips for Winning

• Hand Management: Play sets of the same level to empty your hand faster and secure a better exit position.
• Strengthening: Add discoveries to make your ruins stronger and try to claim the best ones.
• Exit Strategy: Remember that the earlier you finish, the more victory points (VP) you score.