Objective of the Game
Onitama is a strategic board game for two players. The objective is to either capture the opponent's Master or to have your own Master reach the opponent's Master starting spot.
Components
- 1 Game Board: A 5x5 grid.
- 4 Students and 1 Master for each player: These represent your pieces.
- 16 Movement Cards: Only 5 are used in each game.
Setting Up the Game
- Place the Board: Place the board between the players.
- Place Pieces: Each player places their 4 Students on the first row and the Master in the center.
- Draw Movement Cards: Shuffle the 16 movement cards and draw 5. Each player receives 2 cards. The fifth card is placed next to the board to start the game.
Game Play
- Turns: Play is alternated between players. You can move one of your pieces by using one of your two movement cards.
- Using Cards: When you make a move, place the used card aside and take the card that is currently next to the board.
- Card Rotation: The card you set aside is picked up by the opponent in their next turn. Thus, movement cards rotate between players.
Movement
- Movement Pattern: Each card has a unique movement pattern, allowing moves in specific directions.
- Executing a Move: You move a piece according to a pattern on one of your two cards.
Winning
- Defeat the Master: A player wins by capturing the opponent’s Master, meaning they move onto its square.
- Temple Win: Alternatively, victory is achieved if your Master moves onto the starting square of the opponent’s Master.
Strategic Considerations
- Reading Movement Cards: Each move affects both your strategy and the opponent’s strategy because of the rotating cards.
- Predictability: As each player always has the same number of cards available, this encourages foreplanning of moves.
Onitama offers a wealth of strategic considerations despite its simplicity and is therefore very accessible, yet deeply engaging.
