Read our full thoughts: Ryan’s Review of Settlers of Catan
Catan is a game where every component decision matters — from your starting placement to how you handle the robber. This guide covers the universal principles every player should internalize, followed by four distinct strategies to try once you’re comfortable with the basics.
Universal Principles
These apply no matter which strategy you choose.
1. Initial Placement
Where you place your first two settlements and roads can define your entire game. Key considerations:
- Diversify resources — touching one hex of each type gives flexibility as the game evolves
- Prioritize high-probability numbers — the more dots on a number token, the more often it rolls. 6 and 8 are prime; 2 and 12 are near-useless
- Place on different numbers — two settlements on the same number means you’re all-in on one roll
- Leave room to expand — point your roads toward open territory
- Watch the port opportunities — a 2:1 port adjacent to a high-output hex of that resource is extremely powerful
- Going last in placement order means going first — use it to block key spots
2. Resource Values
Resources shift in value as the game progresses:
| Resource | Early Game | Late Game |
|---|---|---|
| Brick | Very high | Low |
| Wood | Very high | Low |
| Ore | Low | Very high |
| Wheat | Medium | Very high |
| Sheep | Medium | Medium |
Wood and brick are essential early for roads and settlements. Once you’re building cities, ore and wheat become critical. If your strategy doesn’t include ore, try to trade for it before you reach 4–5 VP — after that, opponents may refuse to trade with you.
3. Complementary Resources
If two complementary resources (wood + brick, or ore + wheat) both sit on the same high-probability number, placing on that number gives you a burst of both at once. Spend them immediately to avoid the robber hoarding penalty.
4. Development Cards
Even if your strategy isn’t built around dev cards, buy them periodically. Knights help you combat the robber and build toward Largest Army. Victory Point cards are hidden wins. The Monopoly card, used strategically, can swing a game — trade away a resource, then reclaim it all.
5. Cities
Don’t stack multiple cities on the same hex. It makes you a magnet for the robber. If you can’t avoid it, keep a Knight card ready.
6. Ports
If you’re accumulating a surplus of one resource, try to settle at its 2:1 port. It converts excess into exactly what you’re missing and keeps your hand size manageable.
7. The Robber
The robber is both a threat and a tool:
- Keep fewer than 7 cards to avoid losing half on a 7
- Target the player who’s ahead, or the player competing for your key resources
- Placing on the player to your right buys you extra time — they can’t move it until their turn
- Block the highest-probability hex, not just the richest player
8. Trading
Trade smart. Rules of thumb:
- Trade before building — opponents are less likely to deal once they see what you just built
- Get more for scarce resources — if brick is rarely rolling, ask for 2:1 or better
- Don’t benefit both other players — if two opponents each get something from a trade and you get nothing, that’s a loss even if neither resource helps you directly
- Trading has a learning curve — don’t be afraid to say no
The Four Strategies
Each strategy works best when no one else at the table is running the same plan.
Strategy 1
Wood / Brick → Longest Road
Focus on brick and wood to build roads and settlements as fast as possible. Get all 5 settlements on the board early, then shift toward cities. Aim for Longest Road.
Best when: the board has well-spread brick and wood hexes with good numbers. Works best in larger player counts where the board gets crowded quickly.
Strategy 2
Ore / Wheat → Largest Army
Place heavily on ore and wheat from the start. Immediately convert settlements to cities. Buy development cards aggressively — knights build Largest Army, and cities double your output.
Best when: strong ore hexes are available early. Be patient — you'll be slow to expand, and early trades may be hard to make. Keep knight cards to combat the robber targeting your cities.
Strategy 3
Sheep Overload
Build heavily on sheep hexes and secure the sheep 2:1 port. Trade sheep for whatever resource you need. Sheep are plentiful and you're unlikely to be robbed for them specifically.
Best when: multiple high-probability sheep hexes cluster together and no one else is going for the port. Watch your hand size — rolling a 7 when you're sitting on 10 sheep still hurts.
Strategy 4
Development Cards → Largest Army
Build only on wheat, sheep, and ore hexes (the three dev card resources). Secure a 3:1 port for any surplus. Buy development cards as fast as possible and play knights constantly.
Best when: you want to control the robber all game. Less popular with opponents — expect to be targeted. Not subtle, but effective when executed early.
Conclusion
There’s no single correct strategy for Catan — the board changes every game, and so do your opponents’ plans. The players who win most consistently are the ones who read the board, adapt when their plan gets blocked, and trade effectively throughout.
Try each strategy a few times. You’ll find one that fits your play style — and when you do, keep experimenting, because the best Catan players are the ones opponents can’t predict.
Want to really impress your group? Check out the best custom Catan boards to take game night to the next level.
