Onitama

2014

Onitama is a captivating two-player abstract game of strategy and wit. Navigate a 5x5 grid, capture your opponent's pawns, and outsmart them to claim victory!

20
minutes

2 - 2
player(s)

10+

Medium Light

About the game

Onitama is an elegant and captivating board game that effortlessly merges simplicity and depth into its gameplay. The game transports you into an immersive and exotic world of ancient Japanese martial arts, where you lead your school of martial artists to victory in a grand clash of tactics and wits.

The setting of this game is a simple 5×5 grid, a battlefield where you and your opponent, each controlling a master and four students, engage in a strategic duel. The minimalist yet thematic design of the game board and pieces is reminiscent of a Japanese Zen garden, creating an atmosphere of tranquility even as tensions rise on the battlefield.

Game components Unboxing the fun!

Onitama is an elegant and simple two player abstract strategy game. It comes with a variety of components that interact with each other to create a dynamic and strategic gameplay experience. Below, the components included in the game are detailed, along with their use and interaction with the game.

1. The Game Board:

The game board for Onitama is a 5×5 grid. The board is the battlefield upon which the two players’ pawns will move. Each player starts with their five pawns on their respective side of the board. The central row of squares on the board is the river, which has no special impact on gameplay but serves as a visual guide to separate the two territories.

2. Pawns:

There are 10 pawns in total, 5 for each player. One of each player’s pawns is their Master pawn, usually represented by a larger size. The aim of the game is to either capture your opponent’s Master pawn or to get your Master pawn to your opponent’s temple arch space, which is the middle space on their side of the board.

3. Move Cards:

The game includes 16 move cards, which dictate how a player can move their pawns. At the start of the game, each player is dealt two move cards and one move card is placed on the side. The cards show a grid representing the player’s pawn in the center and squares to which that pawn can move. After a player uses a move card, it is swapped with the spare move card. This means that every move a player makes not only changes the position of their pawns, but also their potential future moves.

4. Temple Arch Spaces:

These are the starting spaces for each player’s Master pawn. If a player can get their Master pawn to their opponent’s temple arch space, they win the game. This is one of two ways the game can be won, the other being capturing the opponent’s Master pawn.

Onitama is a game of strategy and foresight, where players must not only consider the current state of the board, but also anticipate future moves. The components of the game work together to create a constantly changing tactical situation, offering a depth of play that is remarkable for its simplicity.

Game setup Lay it out, line it up, let’s go

Onitama is an abstract strategy board game where two players compete to capture each other’s ‘Master’, or to move their own Master into the opponent’s temple arch. The game is played on a 5×5 grid and involves a rotating set of movement cards.

Step 1: Player Roles

In Onitama, there are two player roles:

Player 1: This player uses the blue pieces, consisting of one Master and four Students.
Player 2: This player uses the red pieces, which also consist of one Master and four Students.

Step 2: Setting up the Board

The board should be placed between the two players. Each player’s Master begins on the center point of their Temple Arch, which is always the center point of the row closest to them on the 5×5 grid. The four Students are placed on the remaining points of the Temple Arch.

Step 3: Shuffle the Movement Cards

There are 16 movement cards in the game. To start, shuffle these cards and deal two to each player. These cards detail the possible movements for the player’s pieces. Place another card face-up next to the board – this is the card that the first player to move will pick up after they make their move.

Step 4: Determine the First Player

The player who received the ‘Koi’ card goes first. If the ‘Koi’ card is not dealt, the player with the card closest to ‘A’ in alphabetical order will go first.

Step 5: Understanding the Random Element of the Game

The randomness in Onitama comes from the shuffle of the movement cards. Each game will have a different combination of five cards, changing the potential strategies and movements with each play.

Now that all components are set up and the players understand their roles and the game’s random elements, you are ready to begin playing Onitama.

Game flow Round and round we go

Onitama is a two-player strategy game where each player takes on the role of a Master, leading their monks to defeat their opponent. The game takes place on a 5×5 grid and involves a unique mechanic of swapping movement cards. The game doesn’t have rounds or phases in the traditional sense; instead, gameplay continues with players alternating turns until one player achieves victory.

The game begins with the setup. The game board is placed between the two players and each player places their Master and four student pawns on their respective temples, which are the rows closest to them.

Five cards are drawn from the deck of sixteen and two are given to each player, with the fifth card placed to the side of the board. These cards determine the movement options for the players’ pieces for that turn.

Now the game can begin:

Player A’s turn: The first player (Player A) chooses one of their cards to dictate the movement of one of their pieces. After moving a piece according to the movement pattern on the card, they replace the used card with the one set aside at the beginning of the game. The used card becomes the new “next card”.
Player B’s turn: The second player (Player B) now does the same, choosing one of their cards to move a piece, then replacing it with the “next card”. The card they used now becomes the new “next card”.
These steps alternate back and forth until one player achieves victory. The game ends immediately once a victory condition is met.

Victory Conditions:

A player wins the game by either capturing their opponent’s Master (by moving onto the opponent’s Master’s square) or moving their own Master to the opponent’s temple arch (the middle square of the row closest to the opponent).

Special Rules:

If a player is unable to make a legal move on their turn, they must pass and replace one of their movement cards with the “next card”, effectively losing a turn.

Onitama provides a swift yet satisfying game of strategy, intuition, and mobility that’s easy to learn and quick to play.

Players'turn One turn to rule them all

Onitama is a strategic board game that pits two players against each other in a battle of wits and strategy. Each player controls a group of pieces, one of which is the Master and the rest are Students. The game consists of several rounds, each of which represents a player’s turn. Here is a breakdown of what happens during a player’s turn in Onitama.

Moving a Piece:

The core action a player can take during their turn is to move one of their pieces. They can choose to move either their Master or one of their Students. The specific ways that a piece can move is determined by the movement cards.

Master: The Master is the most important piece in the game. It can be moved in the same way as a Student, using the movement cards. However, capturing the opponent’s Master or moving your Master to the opponent’s temple arch (starting point) results in a win.
Students: Student pieces are used to assist the Master. They can be moved using the movement cards, and capturing them can limit the opponent’s options. However, losing all Students does not end the game.

Using Movement Cards:

In Onitama, the way a piece can move is dictated by the movement cards. Players start the game with two movement cards, each of which shows a specific pattern of movement. A player must choose one of these cards to move their chosen piece, then the card is exchanged with the one in the center of the board.

Choosing a Card: The player chooses one of their two movement cards and moves a piece according to that card’s pattern. The piece can move to any of the squares shown on the card, relative to its current position.
Moving a Piece: The player moves their chosen piece according to the chosen card’s movement pattern. It’s important to note that pieces can only move to empty squares or squares occupied by an opponent’s piece, which is then captured and removed from the game.
Exchanging the Card: After the piece is moved, the used movement card is placed in the center of the board, and the player takes the center card into their hand. This means players constantly have to adapt their strategy based on changing movement options.

The strategic choices in Onitama come from the limited movement options and the ever-changing landscape of the game. Players must think ahead, predicting their opponent’s moves and adapting their strategy as the cards change. They must balance the need to protect their Master with the desire to capture their opponent’s pieces and control the board. The game ends when a player either captures their opponent’s Master or moves their Master into the opponent’s temple arch.

End of the game All good games must come to an end

Onitama is a strategic two-player board game where players take on the roles of rival Masters, guiding their Monk followers on a path to triumph. The game ends when one of two victory conditions are met. There are no actions that players need to take before final scoring, as scoring is not a component of the game. Instead, victory is achieved through strategic maneuvering and capture.

The first victory condition is capturing the opponent’s Master. The Master is one of the five pieces each player begins the game with, and it is distinguished from the Monks by its taller height. The aim is to land on the square occupied by the opponent’s Master, thereby capturing it and winning the game.

To capture the opponent’s Master, a player must first move one of their pieces (either their Master or one of their Monks) onto the square occupied by the opponent’s Master. This is done by playing a movement card from the player’s hand and moving a piece according to the pattern shown on the card.

The second victory condition is moving a player’s Master into the opponent’s temple archway (the gateway square on the opponent’s side of the board). This represents the Master leading their students to enlightenment.

To move the Master into the opponent’s temple archway, a player must play a movement card that allows their Master to move into the archway square on the opponent’s side of the board. As with capturing the opponent’s Master, this ends the game immediately in victory for the moving player.

It’s important to note that in Onitama, each move must be carefully considered. The movement card played is then swapped with the central card, becoming available for the opponent’s use on their next turn. This constantly changing pool of moves calls for adaptive strategies and forethought to win.

Scoring Did you outsmart your rivals?

‘Onitama’ is a two-player, abstract strategy board game where the objective is to either capture your opponent’s Master, or move your own Master into your opponent’s temple arch. Unlike many other board games, Onitama does not have a traditional points-based scoring system. Instead, a player wins immediately once they have achieved one of the two victory conditions.

Victory Condition 1: Capture the opponent’s Master- The game ends immediately when a player moves a piece (either their Master or one of their Students) into the same space as their opponent’s Master. This is considered ‘capturing’ the Master. The player who captures their opponent’s Master is the winner.

Victory Condition 2: Move your Master into the opponent’s temple arch- Each player begins the game with their Master in their temple arch (the marked space in the center of their side of the board). The game ends immediately when a player moves their Master into the temple arch on their opponent’s side of the board. The player who achieves this is the winner.

Due to the immediate win conditions, there are no tie-breaking rules in Onitama. The game continues until one player fulfills one of the victory conditions. There is no scoring of points, and therefore no possibility of a tie.

Particular Cases and Exceptions Wait… is that legal?

Onitama is a two-player, perfect information abstract game with a random starting set-up. It is a strategic game where players take on the role of a Master, guiding their monks to defeat their opponent. Here are some special rules, exceptions, and clarifications for the game:

Card Exchange Rule:

After using a movement card, the player must exchange this card with the one in the center of the board. This becomes the next movement card for their opponent. It’s a unique rule that changes the available actions for each player after every turn.

Winning Conditions:

Way of the Stone: You can win the game by capturing your opponent’s Master, regardless of the position of your own Master.
Way of the Stream: Alternatively, you can win by moving your Master to the opponent’s Arches. This rule adds a layer of strategy to the game, as players must consider both offensive and defensive maneuvers.

Pawn Movements:

Pawns can move according to the move card. They can’t jump over other pieces and can’t land on a square occupied by another of their own pieces. However, they capture an opponent’s piece by moving into its square.

Card Rotation:

The cards should always be oriented to the player’s perspective. The black square represents the location of the piece being moved and the colored squares represent the possible moves relative to this piece.

No Stalemate Rule:

There is no stalemate in Onitama. If a player cannot make a legal move with a card, they must pass and swap the card with the one in the center of the board.

Clarification on Moving into the Shrine:

Monks are allowed to move into the Shrine of their own color, but they are not allowed to move into the Shrine of their opponent’s color unless it is done by the Master, resulting in victory.

Tips and tricks Play smarter, not harder!

Onitama is a two-player, perfect information abstract game with a random starting set-up. It is a simple and elegant game where players take on the role of a Master, guiding their monks to defeat the opponent.

Advanced Strategies:

Mastering Onitama requires understanding both the spatial elements and the strategic planning. Here are some advanced strategies to consider:

Control the center: Initially, try to control the center of the board. This provides more mobility and options for your pieces.
Card Cycling: Try to use your cards in a way that prevents your opponent from getting powerful ones. Remember, once you use a card, your opponent will be able to use it two turns later.
Keep Master Safe: Do not expose your Master (king) too early. Try to keep him protected by the pawns (students).

Beginner Tips:

If you are just starting out, these tips may help you get the grips of the game:

Understand the Cards: Spend some time understanding what each card does. This will help you plan your moves better.
Be Defensive: Initially, play defensively until you understand the dynamics of the game. It’s easier to react to your opponent’s moves in the beginning.
Think Ahead: Always try to think a few moves ahead. Consider how your current move will affect future moves.

Common Mistakes to Avoid:

Even experienced players can make mistakes. Here are some common ones to avoid:

Forgetting the Swap: A common mistake is forgetting that cards swap after each turn. Always remember to exchange your card with the one in the center.
Ignoring your Opponent’s Cards: Always keep an eye on the cards your opponent has. This will help you anticipate their potential moves.
Exposing the Master too early: As mentioned before, exposing your Master too early can lead to a quick defeat.

Optimizing Gameplay:

As you become more familiar with Onitama, focus on optimizing your gameplay:

Balance Attack and Defense: Try to maintain a balance between attacking and defensive play. Too much of either can leave you vulnerable.
Use All Your Pieces: Make sure to utilize all your pieces. Each piece you have on the board increases your options for movement and attack.
Adaptable Strategies: Be flexible and adaptable with your strategies. The cards you and your opponent have will change throughout the game, so your strategy should change as well.