Official Bandits Rules
How To Play Bandits
2 - 6
Players
10+
Ages
30 MIN
Play Time
$8
Price
Bandits is a light-hearted Wild West card game where players have truly exciting attacks and defenses trying to protect their gold-laden Hideouts. Booby Trap and Backfire cards add an element of unpredictability, so the action is fast-moving and may catch players out. Every decision counts, whether it's stashing gold for later or launching a full-out attack to steal from others, making strategy a key element of the game.
Bandits received the 2008 Creative Child Seal of Excellence Award, and for a reason-it's fun for everyone from children to adults. The object is simple: steal your opponent's most Gold Bars or Money Bags while keeping your stash untouchable. With each round offering new opportunities to grab even more loot, the game has players in eager anticipation over and over for control of the gold.
Bandits is the most addictive gaming stuff ever designed for both adults and children alike. The gameplay will bring lots of time-killing experience amongst families at gamenights. Indeed, at every end evening, after dark, and generally amongst buddies or close associates: now you got the best gold rush bandits out there-get playing Bandit now!
Bandits received the 2008 Creative Child Seal of Excellence Award, and for a reason-it's fun for everyone from children to adults. The object is simple: steal your opponent's most Gold Bars or Money Bags while keeping your stash untouchable. With each round offering new opportunities to grab even more loot, the game has players in eager anticipation over and over for control of the gold.
Bandits is the most addictive gaming stuff ever designed for both adults and children alike. The gameplay will bring lots of time-killing experience amongst families at gamenights. Indeed, at every end evening, after dark, and generally amongst buddies or close associates: now you got the best gold rush bandits out there-get playing Bandit now!
- 2008 Creative Child Seal of Excellence Award
- 47 Loot Cards
- 38 Outlaws And Lawmen
- 10 Two-Faced Cards
- 5 Special Action Cards
- 6 Hideouts
- 1 Turn Card
- Official Bandits Game Rules And Instructions
The goal of the card game Bandits is to steal as many Gold Bars or Money Bags from other players as possible, protecting your loot at the same time. With each round, you will be able to take more loot!
Perparation: First, take the Hideout Cards, Turn Card, and Quick Reference Card out of the deck. Each player selects their favorite Hideout in which to keep their Loot. Then, shuffle the rest of the cards and deal 6 to each player. Place the rest in the middle to make the Draw Pile. The youngest goes first!
Game Play: Basically, you have 3 choices to make on each of your turns. Choose only one of the following:
A player must always have at least 6 cards in their hand. If, at the end of an attack, a defense, or after stashing Loot, they have fewer than 6 cards, they must draw from the Draw Pile to bring their hand back up to 6. First the attacker replenishes, then the defender. Replenishing does not count as the defender's turn.
Attacking:
To steal another player's hand or Loot, play any number of Outlaw or Two-Faced Cards from your hand and declare your target.
Your total number of guns on the played cards will say how strong the attack is. Thus, for example, playing one card with 3 guns and another with 2 means a player attacks with 5 guns. This can only be stopped with the use of Lawmen/Two-Faced Cards that add up to an amount of star symbols equal to or greater than guns by the attacked player.
If the defender cannot match, in any combination, the attack, he loses the shootout and the attacker takes all the remaining cards in the defender's hand. All cards involved in the fight are then discarded into the Boneyard (see The Boneyard) and any player with less than 6 cards draws back up to 6.
Defending:
To defend, play any of your hand cards that are either Lawmen or Two-Faced Cards. The total star value of your played cards must equal or exceed the total number of guns in the attack for you to block the attack and save your cards. All cards used in defense are discarded, with players refilling their hands when necessary.
Tip: Oftentimes, it is a good idea to play your Lawmen Cards, even when you can't completely defend yourself. That way, your opponent can't steal all of your Lawmen.
The Boneyard is the discard pile. Cards used in attacks or defenses go here. These cards can't be picked up again.
The round ends when the last card from the Draw Pile is drawn. Players keep their cards and count their score for the total value of Gold Bars and Money Bags in their Hideouts. Only Loot under your Hideout counts—cards in your hand don't count.
Shuffle the Boneyard and the players' Hideouts to create a new Draw Pile for the next round. Players who have less than 6 cards in their hand draw cards to bring their hand back up to 6 cards. Then play continues with the player who ended the previous round.
Winning:
At the end of a round, check to see if any player has accumulated enough Loot to win:
The Cards
Loot - Gold Bars & Money Bags Cards: Collect these cards to win. Gold Bars come in 5 values, and Money Bags come in 4. Loot can only be stashed under your Hideout in sets of 3 or more of the same type (either all Gold Bars or all Money Bags).
Outlaw Cards: These are your attack cards. The strength of an outlaw is determined by the number of guns on the card. Wild Bill (6 guns) is the most powerful outlaw, so use him wisely.
Lawmen Cards: These are your defense cards. The strength of a lawman is determined by the number of stars on the card. Sheriff McCoy is the most powerful—hold onto him!
Two-Way Cards: These cards can be used either for attacking or defending.
Tracker Card: This card is played against another player's Hideout to attack it and steal the loot inside. The attacked player has to hand over 6 random cards from his Hideout to you if he does not intercept the attacker. If the opponent has less than 6, all of them are delivered. No Lawmen or other cards are yielded in this attack.
Backfire Card: If you are under attack, this card is played against the attacker! If he cannot defend himself, you win the shootout and take his hand. You can also use this card to counterattack a Tracker; if he cannot defend himself, you win 6 cards from the attacker's Hideout.
Booby Trap Card: Ambush at your Hideout by hiding this card in your lair with at least two other Loot cards of the same type. If the Hideout is attacked, the card is played-exhausting the attack without the use of additional Lawmen. This Booby Trap card is then discarded.
Please keep in mind that the official Bandits PDF rules listed below could be different depending on the version you have. They should be an exact copy of what came in your original packaging. Download them to view now or print them for later use.
Game Play: Basically, you have 3 choices to make on each of your turns. Choose only one of the following:
- Draw 1 card from the Draw Pile to add to your hand.
- Attack an opponent's hand using Outlaw/Two-Faced Cards.
- Stash 3 or more cards of the same Loot type (either all Gold Bars or all Money Bags) face down under your Hideout. Only Gold Bars, Money Bags, and the Booby Trap Card can be hidden under your Hideouts.
A player must always have at least 6 cards in their hand. If, at the end of an attack, a defense, or after stashing Loot, they have fewer than 6 cards, they must draw from the Draw Pile to bring their hand back up to 6. First the attacker replenishes, then the defender. Replenishing does not count as the defender's turn.
Attacking:
To steal another player's hand or Loot, play any number of Outlaw or Two-Faced Cards from your hand and declare your target.
Your total number of guns on the played cards will say how strong the attack is. Thus, for example, playing one card with 3 guns and another with 2 means a player attacks with 5 guns. This can only be stopped with the use of Lawmen/Two-Faced Cards that add up to an amount of star symbols equal to or greater than guns by the attacked player.
If the defender cannot match, in any combination, the attack, he loses the shootout and the attacker takes all the remaining cards in the defender's hand. All cards involved in the fight are then discarded into the Boneyard (see The Boneyard) and any player with less than 6 cards draws back up to 6.
Defending:
To defend, play any of your hand cards that are either Lawmen or Two-Faced Cards. The total star value of your played cards must equal or exceed the total number of guns in the attack for you to block the attack and save your cards. All cards used in defense are discarded, with players refilling their hands when necessary.
Tip: Oftentimes, it is a good idea to play your Lawmen Cards, even when you can't completely defend yourself. That way, your opponent can't steal all of your Lawmen.
The Boneyard is the discard pile. Cards used in attacks or defenses go here. These cards can't be picked up again.
The round ends when the last card from the Draw Pile is drawn. Players keep their cards and count their score for the total value of Gold Bars and Money Bags in their Hideouts. Only Loot under your Hideout counts—cards in your hand don't count.
Shuffle the Boneyard and the players' Hideouts to create a new Draw Pile for the next round. Players who have less than 6 cards in their hand draw cards to bring their hand back up to 6 cards. Then play continues with the player who ended the previous round.
Winning:
At the end of a round, check to see if any player has accumulated enough Loot to win:
- 2 players: 150 Loot wins.
- 3-4 players: 90 Loot wins.
- 5-6 players: 75 Loot wins.
The Cards
Loot - Gold Bars & Money Bags Cards: Collect these cards to win. Gold Bars come in 5 values, and Money Bags come in 4. Loot can only be stashed under your Hideout in sets of 3 or more of the same type (either all Gold Bars or all Money Bags).
Outlaw Cards: These are your attack cards. The strength of an outlaw is determined by the number of guns on the card. Wild Bill (6 guns) is the most powerful outlaw, so use him wisely.
Lawmen Cards: These are your defense cards. The strength of a lawman is determined by the number of stars on the card. Sheriff McCoy is the most powerful—hold onto him!
Two-Way Cards: These cards can be used either for attacking or defending.
Tracker Card: This card is played against another player's Hideout to attack it and steal the loot inside. The attacked player has to hand over 6 random cards from his Hideout to you if he does not intercept the attacker. If the opponent has less than 6, all of them are delivered. No Lawmen or other cards are yielded in this attack.
Backfire Card: If you are under attack, this card is played against the attacker! If he cannot defend himself, you win the shootout and take his hand. You can also use this card to counterattack a Tracker; if he cannot defend himself, you win 6 cards from the attacker's Hideout.
Booby Trap Card: Ambush at your Hideout by hiding this card in your lair with at least two other Loot cards of the same type. If the Hideout is attacked, the card is played-exhausting the attack without the use of additional Lawmen. This Booby Trap card is then discarded.
Please keep in mind that the official Bandits PDF rules listed below could be different depending on the version you have. They should be an exact copy of what came in your original packaging. Download them to view now or print them for later use.
Share with us your comments, funny stories, tips, advice, strategies, creative ways to play, questions about playing, problems with the directions, etc. All submissions will be reviewed within 24 hours.
Jessica says:
I'd love to get a new set!
12-09-2019
I'd love to get a new set!
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