What are the basic rules and mechanics of Risk?

"Risk" is a classic board game of global conquest and strategy. It combines elements of diplomacy, tactics, and luck, and it's known for its engaging gameplay. Here are the basic rules and mechanics of "Risk":

Objective: The primary objective of "Risk" is to achieve world domination by controlling territories and eliminating opponents. Players aim to accomplish this by building and commanding armies to conquer territories across the world map.

Components: "Risk" includes the following components:

  1. Game board: A world map divided into territories, grouped into continents.
  2. Territory cards: Cards representing each territory on the board.
  3. Armies: Small plastic figures representing the player's troops.
  4. Dice: Used for resolving battles and determining outcomes.
  5. Faction cards: Cards representing the different factions or armies players can control.
  6. Reinforcement cards: Cards players earn for capturing territories.
  7. Mission cards (optional): Cards that provide specific victory conditions for players (used in some versions).

Setup:

  1. Players choose their factions and receive the corresponding faction cards and armies.
  2. Territories are evenly distributed among players, and each player places one army on each of their territories.
  3. Players receive reinforcement armies based on the number of territories and continents they control.

Gameplay:

  1. Reinforcement Phase: At the beginning of each turn, players receive reinforcement armies based on:

    • The number of territories they control.
    • The continents they dominate (continent bonuses).
    • Sets of Risk cards turned in.

  2. Attack Phase: During their turn, players can launch attacks on enemy territories from territories they control. To do this:

    • Players announce the target territory and choose the number of armies they wish to use for the attack.
    • The defender can choose to fight back or retreat. If they fight back, dice are rolled to determine casualties, and the attacker must move armies from the attacking territory to the newly conquered territory.
    • If the attacker successfully conquers the territory, they receive a territory card and can choose to continue attacking or stop.

  3. Fortification Phase: After the attack phase, players have the option to move armies from one of their territories to an adjacent one. This phase can be crucial for strategic positioning and defense.

Continent Bonuses: Continent bonuses are awarded to players who control all territories within a continent. These bonuses provide additional reinforcement armies at the start of a player's turn, encouraging players to pursue continental dominance.

Eliminating Opponents: Players can eliminate opponents by capturing their last remaining territory. Eliminated players surrender their cards and armies to the player who eliminated them.

Risk Cards:

  • Players receive Risk cards for conquering territories during their turn. These cards can be traded in for additional armies.
  • Sets of cards are turned in for increasingly larger armies, providing a powerful incentive to capture territories.

Victory Conditions: The game continues until one player achieves the objective of global domination, controlling all territories on the board, or until a predetermined number of mission objectives have been completed (optional, depending on the version of the game).

Optional Rules: Depending on the version and house rules, "Risk" may include various optional rules, such as mission cards that provide specific victory conditions, alliances between players, and additional strategic elements.

"Risk" is a game that blends strategic thinking, diplomacy, and a touch of luck. Players must carefully plan their moves, balance their resources, and make critical decisions during battles to conquer the world and achieve victory. It's a game that rewards careful planning and adaptability, making it a classic choice for fans of strategic board gaming.