Master the Game: Unleash Your Catan Strategy Skills

Table of Contents

1. Strategy Number One: Full Orbit Cheap
2. Strategy Number Two: Road Builder
3. Strategy Number Three: Five Resource Setup
4. Strategy Number Four: City plus Road Setup
5. Strategy Number Five: Port Strategy
6. Strategy Number Six: Hybrid Orbit Cheap
7. Conclusion

Strategy Number One: Full Orbit Cheap

Strategy Number Two: Road Builder

Strategy Number Three: Five Resource Setup

Strategy Number Four: City plus Road Setup

Strategy Number Five: Port Strategy

Strategy Number Six: Hybrid Orbit Cheap

Conclusion

Strategies for Settlers of Catan: A Comprehensive Guide

In this article, we will discuss six strategies for playing Settlers of Catan that have high win rates against all levels of competition, including tournaments. Each strategy offers a unique approach to the game, with its own strengths and challenges. Whether you are a beginner or an experienced player, there is a strategy that suits your playstyle and can help you claim victory in this popular board game.

Strategy Number One: Full Orbit Cheap

The Full Orbit Cheap strategy is an interesting setup that focuses on starting on ore, wheat, and sheep axes. This strategy efficiently improves settlements into cities and relies heavily on buying development cards. Players who employ this strategy often aim to take the largest army, with a typical 10-point plan consisting of three cities, the largest army, and two victory points from the development card pile. However, Full Orbit Cheap players face challenges when it comes to building roads and settlements, as they require wood and brick, which are not produced by their initial placements. Overcoming these challenges requires either exceptional trading skills or the luck of drawing specific development cards.

Pros:

• Efficiently improves settlements into cities
• Can take the largest army
• High win rates

Cons:

• Challenges with building roads and settlements
• Relies on luck for drawing development cards
• Requires excellent trading skills

Strategy Number Two: Road Builder

The Road Builder strategy differs significantly from the Full Orbit Cheap setup. It focuses on placing settlements on wood and brick hexes to secure easy expansion spots and aim for the longest road later in the game. Winning road races provides a significant advantage in Settlers of Catan. However, the primary challenge for Road Builder players lies in building cities, as their initial settlements often do not produce ore or wheat. Possible solutions include trading for these resources or strategically building on strong third settlement spots that produce the missing resources. The Road Builder strategy is considered the most advanced to play, requiring in-depth knowledge and careful planning.

Pros:

• Secures easy expansion spots
• Increases chances of winning road races
• Provides a competitive advantage

Cons:

• Difficulty in building cities
• Depends on trading or strategic building
• Requires advanced knowledge and planning

Strategy Number Three: Five Resource Setup

The Five Resource Setup is a beginner-friendly strategy that requires the creation of fewer resources to build expansion spots and upgrade settlements into cities. This strategy offers the advantage of not relying heavily on trades with the bank or opponents. However, it does a little bit of everything, which makes it less effective against opponents who focus on specific goals such as acquiring the largest army or longest road. The key to reaching 10 points with this setup is increasing production by building cities and settlements. It is crucial to pay attention to the game state and take advantage of opportunities when other players struggle with specific goals.

Pros:

• Beginner-friendly strategy
• Doesn't heavily rely on trades
• Offers flexibility in gameplay

Cons:

• Less effective against opponents with focused strategies
• Requires careful attention to game state
• May not excel in specific areas

Strategy Number Four: City plus Road Setup

As the name suggests, the City plus Road setup focuses on building a significant number of cities while aiming for the longest road. To build cities, players need ore and wheat, as well as wood and brick for roads. Avoiding sheep placements is recommended, as it is usually the least used resource in the game. Cities are worth two points each, and players can build a maximum of four cities, resulting in 8 points. Combining these points with the 2 points from the longest road makes this strategy relatively easy to play when ideal circumstances, such as the absence of a Road Builder player, are present. This strategy thrives on boards with high sheep production, as trading for sheep becomes easier.

Pros:

• Focuses on building a significant number of cities
• Aims for the longest road
• Straightforward gameplay on the right board

Cons:

• Relies on ideal circumstances
• May be ineffective against opposing Road Builder players
• Requires favorable board conditions

Strategy Number Five: Port Strategy

The Port Strategy revolves around having a surplus of the same resource and the opportunity to build on a two-for-one port that matches that resource's production. This strategy highlights the strength of specific board strategies, such as the wood board strategy, which is considered one of the strongest approaches in Settlers of Catan. The Port Strategy offers flexibility, allowing players to convert one resource into another easily. However, the uncertainty of pursuing either the largest army or longest road early in the game poses a challenge. Furthermore, opponents are less likely to aid in building on the port, making the start of this strategy slower.

Pros:

• Provides flexibility in resource management
• Offers easy conversion of resources
• Works well against top-tier players

Cons:

• Uncertainty in pursuing specific goals
• Relies on opponents' cooperation
• Slow start compared to other strategies

Strategy Number Six: Hybrid Orbit Cheap

Considered the best strategy in Settlers of Catan by many, the Hybrid Orbit Cheap approach combines elements of both the Full Orbit Cheap and Road Builder strategies. This strategy focuses on strong ore, wheat, and sheep placements to build cities and purchase development cards. Additionally, it includes a small investment in wood or brick for easier road and settlement construction. This strategy can be employed on any board as long as there is enough ore and wheat production to support it. A rule of thumb is at least 4 pips of ore, 4 pips of wheat, and 2 pips of sheep production. Hybrid Orbit Cheap provides a balanced approach suitable for players of all skill levels.

Pros:

• Combines the strengths of Full Orbit Cheap and Road Builder strategies
• Balanced approach for various board setups
• Can be effective against all levels of competition

Cons:

• Requires careful resource management
• Relies on sufficient ore and wheat production

Conclusion

Settlers of Catan offers a diverse range of strategies to explore, each with its own advantages and challenges. Whether you prefer the intense development card-focused gameplay of Full Orbit Cheap or the strategic road-building approach of the Road Builder, there is a strategy that suits your playstyle. The key to success lies in understanding the strengths and weaknesses of each strategy and adapting your gameplay to the unique circumstances of each game. Experiment with different approaches, refine your skills, and enjoy the ever-changing dynamics of Settlers of Catan.