How To Play Stratego
Stratego Game Rules (PDF Instructions)
2
Players
8+
Ages
45 MIN
Play Time
$15
Price
Stratego is a classic two-player strategy board game that simulates a battlefield encounter between two opposing armies. Each player commands an army of soldiers, bombs, and a single flag, arranged on a 10x10 grid board. The goal of Stratego is to capture your opponent's flag while protecting your own. The catch lies in the hidden ranks of the pieces; players set up their pieces in a specific formation in secret, and the identities of the pieces are hidden from the opponent until they come into direct contact on the board. This element of hidden information adds an intriguing layer of deduction and bluffing to the game.
The gameplay of Stratego revolves around maneuvering your pieces strategically across the board to uncover your opponent's flag while protecting your own. Each piece has a rank denoting its strength, and higher-ranked pieces defeat lower-ranked ones. However, there are exceptions, such as the bombs, which eliminate any piece attempting to attack them, and the spies, which can defeat the highest-ranked piece but are vulnerable to all others. The game requires players to carefully plan their moves, anticipate their opponent's strategies, and deduce the identities of hidden pieces through careful observation and deduction.
Stratego's enduring appeal lies in its blend of skill, strategy, and psychological warfare. Players must balance offensive and defensive tactics while outwitting their opponent through clever misdirection and feints. The game's simplicity of rules combined with the depth of strategic possibilities ensures that each match is a thrilling and dynamic contest of wits. Whether played casually for fun or competitively in tournaments, Stratego continues to captivate players of all ages with its timeless charm and strategic depth.
Stratego is a game of armies and their battlefield. Each player's goal is to steal the flag of their opponent and to protect their own flag from being taken. The game board is the battlefield. Each player has an army of men and some bombs that they can use during play. The army is used to steal the other flag and to protect your own flag. The bombs are used to make play a bit trickier. Players can attack each others pieces, but pieces can be bombs which will "blast" your piece from the board. Victory comes when a player can steal his opponents flag.
The gameplay of Stratego revolves around maneuvering your pieces strategically across the board to uncover your opponent's flag while protecting your own. Each piece has a rank denoting its strength, and higher-ranked pieces defeat lower-ranked ones. However, there are exceptions, such as the bombs, which eliminate any piece attempting to attack them, and the spies, which can defeat the highest-ranked piece but are vulnerable to all others. The game requires players to carefully plan their moves, anticipate their opponent's strategies, and deduce the identities of hidden pieces through careful observation and deduction.
Stratego's enduring appeal lies in its blend of skill, strategy, and psychological warfare. Players must balance offensive and defensive tactics while outwitting their opponent through clever misdirection and feints. The game's simplicity of rules combined with the depth of strategic possibilities ensures that each match is a thrilling and dynamic contest of wits. Whether played casually for fun or competitively in tournaments, Stratego continues to captivate players of all ages with its timeless charm and strategic depth.
Stratego is a game of armies and their battlefield. Each player's goal is to steal the flag of their opponent and to protect their own flag from being taken. The game board is the battlefield. Each player has an army of men and some bombs that they can use during play. The army is used to steal the other flag and to protect your own flag. The bombs are used to make play a bit trickier. Players can attack each others pieces, but pieces can be bombs which will "blast" your piece from the board. Victory comes when a player can steal his opponents flag.
- Stratego Game Board
- 40 Red Army Pieces
- 40 Blue Army Pieces
- Display Tray
- Label Sheet
- Official Stratego Board Game Rules And Instructions
The object of the game Stratego is simply that of capturing your opponent's flag.
Please keep in mind that the official Stratego 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.
- Official Stratego Board (1999) Game Rules
- Official Stratego Board (2002) Game Rules
- Official Stratego Battle Cards Game Rules
- Official Stratego Conquest Game Rules
- Official Stratego Master's Edition Game Rules
- Official Stratego Sci-Fi Game Rules
- Official Stratego Waterloo Game Rules
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.
Josh says:
What happens if a sharp shooter shoots a siege mortar
04-17-2019
What happens if a sharp shooter shoots a siege mortar
Dennis says:
Thanks for the official Stratego game rules. I've seen some that were the original and wanted to be truly authentic in how I was playing. I didn't know there were so many different versions of this either. Anyway, good to have my own copy of the instructions now.
08-14-2017
Thanks for the official Stratego game rules. I've seen some that were the original and wanted to be truly authentic in how I was playing. I didn't know there were so many different versions of this either. Anyway, good to have my own copy of the instructions now.
Raven says:
I've been playing Stratego since I was 12. I served in the Marines as a Combat Engineer and removing mines and mine emplacement was part of my duty. I also had my troops play to develop strategy. it was fun then it is fun now, Semper Fi
06-18-2015
I've been playing Stratego since I was 12. I served in the Marines as a Combat Engineer and removing mines and mine emplacement was part of my duty. I also had my troops play to develop strategy. it was fun then it is fun now, Semper Fi
JenCutiePie says:
Love the game!
12-07-2009
Love the game!
Here are some other games you might like to play at your next get together. Learning how to play new games can feel daunting at first but once you get the hang of it, it can be really fun to try out new games. You can also use our search feature at the top of the page to search for a specific criteria that might interest you. Who knows - you might just find your next favorite game.
Catapult Kingdoms
Pirate's Cove
Doge
NumRush
Catapult Kingdoms
Pirate's Cove
Doge
NumRush