How to Play Risk
Risk is a long-running strategy game about conquering territories and outsmarting other players. For more beginner guides like this, visit Playmore — this walkthrough will help you start your first game of Risk with confidence.
Quick facts
| Fact | Detail |
|---|---|
| Game | Risk |
| Type / family | Area-control / war board game |
| Typical players | 2–6 |
| Deck or components | Use the components included with the game |
| Canonical focus | Gateway strategy title for beginners |
What you are trying to do
Your main aim is simple: capture and hold territories so you can grow your armies and push other players off the map. Most games end when one player controls enough territory to eliminate opponents or meets a specific victory condition agreed before play. Rules and win conditions can vary by edition, so check your in-box rules or official rule sheet for the exact version you own.
What you need and how to set up
Use the game box components: the board, territory cards, army pieces, dice, and any markers included. Play with the number of players shown on the box.
Basic setup steps:
- Lay the board on a flat table where everyone can reach it.
- Shuffle territory cards and deal them as your version requires, or claim territories in draft order if the rules call for it.
- Each player places a starting number of armies on controlled territories. Exact starting armies depend on the edition.
- Keeps the dice and any extra tokens nearby for attacks and reinforcements.
If anything in setup looks different from this guide, follow the official rulebook that came with your copy for the exact steps.
How to play
- Begin your turn by receiving reinforcements. These come from the territories you control, continent bonuses (if any), and sometimes trading in cards. The exact calculation depends on the version you own.
- Place your new armies on your territories. You can stack them where you plan to attack or defend.
- Choose a territory you control that borders an enemy territory to attack. Attacks are resolved with dice. The attacker rolls one to three dice and the defender rolls one or two, depending on armies present. Higher dice win pairwise, and losing armies are removed.
- If you conquer a territory, you must move at least a minimum number of armies into it. This lets you secure the new territory and keep pressure on neighbors.
- You can continue attacking from the same territory against other adjacent enemies as long as you have armies to attack with.
- At the end of your attacks you may be allowed one fortify or troop move between two connected territories to rearrange your forces.
- Some versions use cards or objectives. If your rules include cards, you may turn them in for extra reinforcements on your turn according to the rulebook.
How a round or game ends
A round is one player’s complete turn from drawing reinforcements to the final fortify step. The game ends when a player meets the chosen victory condition, usually by controlling the required number of territories or by eliminating all opponents. Because editions and house rules differ, check the official rulebook for exact victory details for your copy.
Beginner tips
- Start small. Hold a compact region first so your forces aren’t spread too thin.
- Protect borders. Leave enough armies on front-line territories to discourage easy attacks.
- Think ahead. Plan where reinforcements will matter in two or three turns.
- Use dice odds. Attacking with a clear numerical advantage improves your chances, but remember luck matters.
- Talk to players. Agreeing non-binding truces or timing attacks can change the game flow.
- Always check your edition’s card and reinforcement rules before trading cards for armies.
FAQ
Do I need a special deck or extra pieces?
No. Use the components included with your Risk box. Different editions add pieces or rules, so use what came in your copy.
How many dice can I roll when I attack?
That depends on how many armies you have and the edition rules. Commonly you can roll up to three dice as the attacker and up to two as the defender, but check your game’s rulebook for exact limits.
Where can I find the exact rules for my version?
Look in the in-box rulebook or the publisher’s official rules for your edition. Rules and victory conditions can vary between versions and house rules.