How to Play Pandemic

Introduction

Pandemic is a cooperative board game for 2-4 players. Players work together to prevent the spread of four deadly diseases across the world. They must cooperate and strategize to cure the diseases before time runs out.

The game board represents a world map divided into sections, each with its own color and disease cubes. Players take turns moving their characters around the board, treating diseases, building research stations, and sharing knowledge. To win, players must cure all four diseases before the infection level reaches a critical point or the game runs out of time.

How to Play Pandemic Step by Step

To begin playing Pandemic, you need the following components:

• Game board
• 4 player pawns
• 4 character cards
• 48 infection cards
• 60 player cards
• 96 disease cubes (24 of each color - blue, yellow, black, or red)
• 5 research stations
• 4 cure markers
• 3 infection rate markers
• 1 outbreak marker
• 6 reference cards

Step-by-Step Gameplay

1. Setup

1. Place the game board in the center of the playing area.
2. Shuffle the infection deck and place it facedown next to the board.
3. Each player selects a character card and places their pawn on the starting location indicated by their character card.
4. Deal 4 player cards to each player.
5. Place the infection rate markers, outbreak marker, and cure markers on their starting spaces.
6. Place the disease cubes of each color in their respective supply areas.

2. Player Turn

On your turn, you can take up to four actions:

• Move: You can move your pawn to an adjacent city or by using a direct flight action to a city connected by a direct line.
• Treat Disease: Use actions to treat a disease cube in the city you are currently in.
• Build Research Station: You can build a research station in the city you are currently in.
• Share Knowledge: You can give one of your player cards to another player in the same city as you.

3. Infection Phase

At the end of each player’s turn, the infection phase occurs:

1. Draw infection cards and place disease cubes on the corresponding cities.
2. If an infection deck runs out, shuffle the discard pile and use it as a new infection deck.
3. If a city has more than three disease cubes of the same color, an outbreak occurs.
4. Move the infection rate marker one space up.

4. Winning and Losing the Game

Players win the game if they cure all four diseases before the infection rate reaches the critical point or the game runs out of time. Players lose the game if any of these conditions occur:

• The infection rate marker reaches the critical point.
• The game runs out of time (all six infection decks are exhausted).
• All four disease cubes of the same color are placed on a single city.

Tips for Beginners and Kids

• Work Together: Pandemic is a cooperative game, so players must work together and communicate effectively to succeed.
• Prioritize Curing Diseases: The main goal of Pandemic is to cure the four diseases, so players should focus on this whenever possible.
• Be Strategic About Movement: Players should plan their moves carefully to maximize their effectiveness.
• Use Player Cards Wisely: Player cards can be used to perform various actions, so players should carefully consider how to use them.
• Don’t Ignore Outbreaks: Outbreaks can spread diseases quickly, so players should try to prevent them whenever possible.

Pandemic is a challenging but rewarding game that can be enjoyed by players of all ages. By following these tips, beginners and kids can learn to play Pandemic and have a great time doing it!