Objective of the Game

Welcome, future martial arts masters! In Onitama, your goal is simple yet profound: outmaneuver your opponent and achieve victory through strategic movement. You'll be guiding your Master and Students across the board, aiming for one of two glorious paths to triumph:

• The Way of the Stone: Capture your opponent's Master.
• The Way of the Stream: Move your Master onto your opponent's starting Temple Arch.

Prepare for a dance of wits where every move matters!

Preparation (Setup)

Let's get you ready for battle! While the core Onitama game is needed, we're diving into some exciting setup options, including a "Draft" system for a fresh start every time.

1. Gather Your Components: You'll need the original Onitama game. This guide mentions 14 Move Cards, some of which (like Whale and Owl) require the Way of the Wind expansion. There are also Dual Cards (Mejika, Okija, Sasori, Kumo, and new ones like Koala and Koi) that offer different moves for Masters and Students.
2. Drafting Your Moves (Optional, but highly recommended!):
   • Draw 5 Move Cards.
   • Randomly select the first player (or use the stamp on the last drawn card – a neat little touch!).
   • The second player starts by picking one card from the 5 drawn cards.
   • Players then take turns picking a card until only one is left.
   • The last card remaining is placed in the middle of the play area as the extra card.
   • Note: If playing with Spirit Cards (from an expansion), players might start with a different number of Spirit Cards.
3. Place Your Pawns: Set up your Master and Student pawns on the board according to the core Onitama rules.
4. Ready the Cards: The two cards each player picked during the draft are their starting hand. The extra card in the middle will be a shared resource.

With your board set and moves chosen, you're ready to begin your journey!

The Turn of Play

On your turn, you'll make one powerful move, using one of your available Move Cards. Here's how it works:

1. Choose a Move Card: Select one of the two Move Cards in your hand.
2. Move a Pawn: Pick one of your pawns (either your Master or one of your Students) and move it according to the pattern shown on the chosen Move Card.
   • New Move Types: Be aware of special conditions on some cards:
     • A white cross on a black square means the move is only possible when moving to an empty square.
     • A black cross on a white square means the move is only possible when moving onto an opponent's pawn (either a Student or their Master), capturing it.
   • Example: If you have the Wolf Card and your pawn is in the middle, it might be able to move to its left (if empty) or capture an opponent's pawn to its right. No other moves are possible for that card and pawn in that specific scenario.
   • Dual Cards: If you're using Dual Cards (like Mejika or Koala), remember they move the Master and Students differently. Master moves are only for Masters, while Student moves are for Students. If a Dual Card is used on a Wind Spirit (from the Way of the Wind expansion), the Wind Spirit will follow the student moves of that card.
3. Swap Cards: After making your move, place the Move Card you just used in the middle of the play area, replacing the card that was previously there. Take the card from the middle and add it to your hand. This dynamic card exchange keeps the game fresh and forces constant adaptation!

Players alternate turns, performing these three steps until a victory condition is met.

End of Game and Scoring

The game of Onitama ends immediately when one of the following conditions is met:

• Way of the Stone: A player captures their opponent's Master. The player who performed the capture wins!
• Way of the Stream: A player moves their Master onto their opponent's starting Temple Arch. The player whose Master reached the arch wins!

There's no complex scoring in Onitama; it's a direct contest of skill and strategy. The first to achieve either victory condition claims the title of Grandmaster!

Tips for Winning

Ready to dominate the dojo? Here are a couple of strategic insights to get you started:

• Master Your Move Cards: Pay close attention to the conditions on your Move Cards. Knowing when a move requires an empty square versus an opponent's pawn is crucial for both offense and defense. Don't just see the pattern; understand its limitations and opportunities!
• Think Ahead with Card Exchange: The card you use on your turn goes to the middle, and you take the other card. This means your opponent might gain access to a powerful move you just used, or you might gain a move they just discarded. Always consider not just your current move, but also how it impacts the available moves for both players in the next turns.
• Utilize Special Moves Wisely: If you're playing with cards that have conditional moves (like the white or black crosses), look for opportunities to exploit them. Can you set up a capture with a "black cross" move, or clear a path with a "white cross" move? These specialized movements can be game-changers when used at the right moment.

May your moves be swift and your mind be sharp! Go forth and conquer the Onitama board!