Rules for Playing Plague Inc

Hey there! Ready to dive into the world of Plague Inc? I’m here to show you the ropes and make sure you have an awesome time playing. Just sit back, relax, and let’s get started!

1. Choose a Plague Type

The first step is to choose the type of plague you want to unleash upon the world. You’ve got plenty of options, from bacteria to zombies to killer robots! Each type has its own unique abilities and challenges, so pick the one that suits your style.

2. Spread and Evolve

Once you’ve picked your plague, it’s time to spread like wildfire. Your goal is to infect as many people as possible and evolve your disease to make it stronger and more deadly. Be strategic and adapt to different environments to maximize your chances of success.

3. Monitor and Manage

Monitoring your plague’s progress is crucial. Keep an eye on the infection rate, the severity of symptoms, and how lethal your disease has become. Manage your resources wisely to stay one step ahead of the cure efforts. Remember, you need to eliminate all of humanity to win!

4. Evade and Resist

The world won’t just sit back and let your plague take over. Governments, scientists, and ordinary citizens will fight back with everything they’ve got. Evade their efforts and develop resistance to the cure to keep your disease spreading and thriving.

5. Unlock Achievements and Scenarios

Throughout your journey, don’t forget to unlock achievements and explore different scenarios. These will test your strategic skills and offer new challenges to keep the game fresh and exciting.

6. Learn from Defeat

It’s not always smooth sailing, and sometimes you might face defeat. But that’s okay! Failure is an opportunity to learn, adapt, and come back stronger. Analyze your mistakes, adjust your strategy, and launch a new plague that will conquer the world.

7. Compete with Friends

Plague Inc also offers a multiplayer mode where you can compete with your friends. See who can create the most devastating plague and become the ultimate champion!

So there you have it – the rules of Plague Inc. Now it’s your turn to take control and unleash your deadly creation upon the world. Good luck, and may your plague reign supreme!

• 1 World Board
• 4 Bacteria Evolution Slides
• 4 DNA Point Markers
• 49 Country Cards
• 62 Trait Cards
• 28 Event Cards
• 64 Plague Tokens
• 1 Death Dice
• 1 End Game Bonus Card
• Instructions

Welcome to Plague!

Hey there! Are you ready to unleash your inner disease and wreak havoc on the world? In this game, you get to be a different disease and compete with other players to score as many DNA Points as possible. The player with the most DNA points at the end wins! Let’s get started!

Game Objective

Your goal in Plague is to earn as many DNA Points as you can. You can earn DNA Points in different ways:

• Having the most Plague Tokens in a Country each turn;
• Killing a Country, or having Plague Tokens in a Country that is killed;
• Winning Bonuses based on your achievements.

It’s time to show the world how deadly your disease can be!

Setup

Alright, folks, let’s get this game started! Here’s what you need to do:

First things first, place the World Board 1 right in the middle of the table. Make sure to have the Card Mat, 2 Bonus ‘Summary Card 3, and Death Dice 4 all next to it.

Now, each of you will get a set of 16 colored Plague Tokens, also known as “Tokens.” Don’t forget your matching DNA Points Marker 5 and a Bacteria Evolution Slide 6.

Time to shuffle those Trait Cards and give everyone a hand of 5 cards. The remaining Trait Deck goes face down on the Card Mat 6.

Next up, shuffle the Event Cards and put them on the Card Mat, also face down 8.

Grab the Country Cards and set aside the ones with red circles on the back. Those are the Starting Country Cards. Shuffle them up, then hand one out to each player 9.

Okay, here’s how it works: I’ll mix the rest of the Starting Country Cards in with the other Country Cards. After that, I’ll make the Country Deck by counting out the right number of Country Cards for how many people are playing. Any extras will be put aside.

Alright, let’s get started! First, I’ll place the Country Deck on the Card Mat, face down. Then, I’ll turn over the top 3 cards from the deck and lay them out next to each other.

Now, it’s time for all of us to choose our Starting Country. We’ll place it face up on the board in the correct continent zone. Don’t forget to put one of your Tokens on a City Space (those black hexagons) in that Country. And just like that, we’re ready to infect the world!

Oh, and here’s a fun tip: You might want to come up with a witty, clever, or scary name for your plague right about now!

Alright, who goes first?

The person who washed their hands most recently gets the honor of going first. After that, we’ll take turns clockwise. Now, here’s an interesting twist: Each player starts the game with a different number of DNA Points, depending on their turn order. Player 1 starts with 0 DNA points, Player 2 starts with 1 DNA point, Player 3 starts with 2 DNA points, and Player 4 starts with 3 DNA points.

Don’t forget to place your DNA Points Marker on the DNA Points Track, which is on the outer edge of the World Board.

DNA Points Track

As I play the game, every time I earn DNA points, I move my marker forward on the track. But when I spend DNA points, my marker goes backwards on the track by the number of points I spend.

Playing the Game

When it’s my turn to play, I have to complete 5 phases in a specific order. First, I do the DNA phase, then the Country phase, followed by Evolution, Infection, and finally Death!

The next player takes their turn after I’m done with these phases. You can find a summary of the turn phases on the right side of the Evolution Slide.

I suggest that the first player starts their turn while we go through the rules together.

Phase 1: DNA

During this phase, I earn 1 DNA point for each country that I control.

How to Control a Country

Control: I have control of a country when I have the most tokens in it, with at least 1 token.

Tied Control: If there is a tie, all players with the most tokens in that country have control.

What I Can Do with DNA

Hey there! Let me tell you all about the amazing things you can do with DNA.

First off, did you know that you can use DNA to count the countries you control? It’s a super cool way to keep track of your power. Just ignore the countries that you don’t control and focus on the ones that you do.

Once you’ve counted your countries, you can score 1 DNA point for each one you control. How awesome is that? It’s like a reward for being in charge. So go ahead and move your DNA points marker forward to show off your success.

With DNA, you have the power to conquer countries and earn points. It’s an exciting and rewarding experience that will make you feel unstoppable. So why wait? Start using DNA today and see how far you can go!

Remember, the more countries you control, the more DNA points you’ll score. It’s a great way to show off your dominance and rise to the top. Don’t miss out on this incredible opportunity!

Tip: Did you know that your Bacteria Evolution Slide gives you a special DNA Ability? This ability gives you an extra DNA Point during this phase, so make sure to use it!

(Don’t forget, you can only use this ability if you haven’t already covered the space with a card). More about Abilities will be explained on the next page.

Phase 2: Country

When playing the game, you have an important decision to make – should you pick up a new Country Card and add it to the World Board, or discard it and draw new Trait Cards?

Placing a Country Card means that there are more Countries that can potentially be infected by disease. This can potentially make the game more challenging, but it also opens up new strategies and opportunities for you to tackle.

On the other hand, discarding a Country Card removes it from the game and allows you to refresh your hand of Trait Cards. This can be useful if you’re not satisfied with your current hand and want a chance at getting better cards.

Country Actions

When it comes to Country Actions, you have two choices. You can either take one of the face-up Country Cards or draw a new one from the top of the Country Deck. Once you have a card, you need to decide what to do with it – should you place it on the World Board or discard it to draw new Trait Cards?

• If you decide to place the Country Card, you need to do so immediately. Find the correct Continent Zone on the World Board and place the card there.

When you decide to get rid of it, ya gotta toss out that Country Card. And don’t forget to ditch all your Trait Cards too! Then, grab 5 new ones from the Trait Deck. Easy peasy, lemon squeezy!

If you grab a card that’s face-up, just replace it with a fresh one from the top of the Country Deck. Gotta keep 3 face-up cards at all times, ya know?

Now, listen up. If a Country Card’s Continent Zone is all filled up, you can’t place it. It’s a no-go. And if it doesn’t fit on the World Board, you gotta kiss it goodbye and get yourself some new Trait Cards.

Oh, and here’s a little tip for ya – at the start, it’s smart to grab Countries in the same Continent Zone as your disease. That way, infecting ’em becomes a piece of cake!

Now, let’s move on to Phase 3 – Evolution. Look at that fancy image below. Ain’t it a beaut?

Your Evolution Slide is where you can see the Traits your disease currently has. These Traits are represented by colored bars and they change how your disease behaves. When you start the game, you already have some Core Traits on your Evolution Slide, and you also have five Trait Cards in your hand.

As the game progresses, you can add more Traits to your disease by evolving and adding Trait Cards to your Evolution Slide.

Now, let me explain how you can evolve a Trait Card. You need to place the Trait Card on one of the five spaces on your Evolution Slide. Make sure that space doesn’t already have a Trait Card on it.

Every Trait Card has a DNA Cost displayed on the top left. To evolve the Trait, you need to pay the DNA Cost using your DNA Points from the DNA Points Track. You will move your DNA Points Marker backward by the cost number. However, you can only evolve if you have enough points to cover the cost.

Note: At the end of the game, the cost of evolved Trait Cards on your Evolution Slide is added back to your score.

You have the option to remove previously evolved Trait Cards.

Traits

Trait Cards can have up to 6 types of Traits. Some cards may have multiple Traits, but they require more DNA Points to evolve.

Different Types of Traits

Abilities

Some spaces on the Evolution Slide have Abilities printed on them (e.g. Bonus DNA). These Abilities allow you to perform special actions or receive bonuses. Make sure to read them carefully to understand when and how you can use them.

You can use each of these Abilities once per turn throughout the game, as long as they are still visible. However, once you place a Trait Card on top of them, you can no longer use them.

Here’s a helpful tip: To start, place your Trait Cards on the spaces without Abilities so you don’t block anything useful.

Actions to Evolve

Decide if you want to evolve a Trait Card. If you don’t, move to the next phase.

If you do want to evolve, move your DNA Points Marker backwards by the number shown on the top left of the Trait Card you want to evolve. Then, place the Trait Card on an empty space on your Evolution Slide.
You can only evolve one Trait Card per turn.

Here’s a tip: If you need new Trait Cards and don’t like your hand or have run out, you can discard a Country Card during the Country Phase. This will give you a fresh hand of 5 new Trait Cards.

If at any time there aren’t enough Trait Cards left in the deck, just shuffle and reuse the Trait Discard Pile.

Phase 4: Infection

In Plague Inc., every country is made up of cities, represented by black hexagons. To spread your infection, you need to place tokens on empty city spaces.

Your infectivity traits, which are listed on your Evolution Slide, determine how many tokens you have to place each turn. Let’s say you have 3 infectivity traits – that means you need to put down 3 tokens, if there are enough empty city spaces available.

Important: It’s a must that you are blessed with both of these qualities to successfully infect a City:

• Your disease needs to be able to withstand the climate in that City
• In addition, your disease must have connections in that City.

Climate Survival

If you want to live in a city, you need to make sure you can handle its climate. There are different types of climates, like hot, cold, and neutral. Being resistant to a climate means that you can live in a city without it being a problem for you. However, being resistant to hot or cold climates is different from being resistant to a neutral climate.

When a city has a neutral climate, everyone is naturally resistant to it. So, you can live in a city with a neutral climate without any extra adaptations. It’s like a basic survival skill that everyone has.

But when it comes to hot and cold cities, you need to have a specific trait called Heat/Cold Resistance. This trait helps you survive in a city with a hot or cold climate. Think of it as a superpower that allows you to stay comfortable in extreme temperatures.

So, if you want to live in a hot city, you need to evolve the Heat Resistance Trait on your Evolution Slide. And if you want to live in a cold city, you need to evolve the Cold Resistance Trait. These traits will make sure you are ready to face the challenges of these climates.

Remember, each city has its own climate, and you need to choose the right traits to survive there. It’s like picking the right tool for a job. You wouldn’t use a hammer to fix a computer, right? So, choose your traits wisely and thrive in any city you choose to call home.

If you reduce Heat/Cold Resistance, you won’t be able to infect new Hot/Cold Cities, but existing Tokens in those cities will remain.

Requirement 2: Connected

You can only place Tokens on Cities that are connected to your disease. There are three ways to be connected:

When you place a Token, the connected rules are recalculated. This means that you can infect a Country with a Seaport and then use the Seaport in the same turn. It’s like a chain reaction that keeps building.

When you start the game, your disease is pretty weak. It can’t infect Hot/Cold Cities, and it can’t use boats or planes. So you might get stuck in your Starting Country for a while.

To make your disease stronger, you need to evolve Traits on your Evolution Slide. This will give you more abilities and options. Alternatively, you can use the Outbreak Ability.

Here’s how the Infection Actions work:

• First, count how much Infectivity you have on your Evolution Slide.
• Next, place that number of Tokens on Cities that meet two conditions: they must be CLIMATE RESISTANT and CONNECTED to you.
• If possible, you must place all the Tokens.
• Some Cities may be off-limits because you are not Climate Resistant and/or Connected to them.

So, here’s the deal: if you don’t have enough Tokens or can’t use them all up, it’s time to move on. It’s as simple as that!

Tip: The Outbreak ability can be a game-changer for you

With the Outbreak Ability, you can move one of your Tokens from the World Board to any City, regardless of whether you are Climate Resistant or Connected.

You can do this instead of taking your Infection Phase, but only if you haven’t covered the space with a card.

Phase 5: Death

In the final phase, your goal is to kill any Country that you CONTROL and that is FULLY INFECTED. To determine this, roll the Death Dice for each Country and compare the results to your Lethality Traits.

Control is determined in the same way as during the DNA Phase. You Control a Country if you have the highest number of Tokens in it, even in case of a tie.

Fully Infected Countries

When all the City spaces in a Country are infected, we consider that Country to be Fully Infected. This typically occurs as the game unfolds and more Cities become infected.

Actions Related to Death

When it comes to death, there are a range of actions that can be taken. Some of these actions are fairly simple and straightforward, while others are more complicated and require careful thought and consideration. Below are a few examples of actions that can be taken in relation to death:

• Funeral Planning: Planning for a funeral is one of the most common actions taken after a person’s death. This involves coordinating and organizing the details of the funeral service, including choosing a funeral home, deciding on burial or cremation, and arranging for any necessary ceremonies or rituals.
• Estate Planning: Estate planning involves making arrangements for the distribution of a person’s assets and belongings after their death. This can include creating a will, setting up trusts, designating beneficiaries, and appointing an executor to carry out the person’s wishes.
• Grief Support: After the death of a loved one, some individuals find it helpful to seek out grief support. This can involve joining a support group, attending therapy or counseling sessions, or finding other ways to connect with others who have experienced similar losses.
• Organ Donation: Some people choose to donate their organs after death, in order to help others in need. This can involve registering as an organ donor, discussing the decision with loved ones, and ensuring that necessary steps are taken to carry out the donation.
• Memorialization: Memorialization involves creating a lasting tribute or memorial to a deceased loved one. This can take many forms, such as erecting a gravestone or marker, holding a memorial service or ceremony, or creating a memorial fund or scholarship in the person’s name.

These are just a few examples of the actions that can be taken in relation to death. Each individual’s situation is unique, and the actions they choose to take will depend on their personal beliefs, values, and circumstances.

If you have a Country under your control that is fully infected, your mission is to eliminate it using the Death Dice.

• If your roll equals or is less than your Lethality score, you successfully kill the Country! (Find out what happens next below).
• If your roll is greater than your Lethality score, you fail to kill the Country and must try again in the next turn.

Tip: It’s best to avoid getting wiped off the World Board. If that happens, refer to page 7 for instructions.

Tip: The Countries you successfully eliminate may grant you powerful End Game Bonuses. Share the Bonus Summary Card with all players so they can strategize accordingly.

What Occurs When a Country Is Killed

When I kill a Country:

• All players earn 1 DNA Point for each Token they have in that Country;

In the game, here’s what happens when a Country is killed:

I draw an Event Card from the top of the Event Deck, unless I already have 3 Event Cards in my hand.

All the Tokens go back to their respective players.

I take the Country off the World Board and keep it. This will give me some bonuses later on.

It’s good to know that Event Cards are really helpful in the game. So, if you can get them, go for it!

Now, let’s talk about how we use Event Cards.

Event Cards are an important part of the game. They let me take specific actions and have instructions on how and when to use them.

When I receive an Event Card, I keep it in my hand until I want to use it. I can’t use it on the same turn that I receive it. But I can use as many Event Cards as I want each turn, as long as I meet the criteria. After I use an Event Card, I have to discard it.

At the start of my turn, I can choose to discard 1 Event Card and score 1 DNA point instead of using it.

If there aren’t enough Event Cards, I can shuffle and reuse the Event Discard Pile.

It’s important to understand the Event Key. When it refers to “Token,” it means any player’s Token, including mine, unless it’s specified otherwise. And when it says “Move a Token,” it means a Token that is already on the World Board.

When you “Place a Token,” it means adding a new Token to the World Board. On the other hand, “Remove a Token” means returning it to its owner.

Now, let’s talk about what happens at the end of the game. Once the final Country Card is placed or discarded, the world starts to collapse, and the game enters Sudden Death Mode right away.

During Sudden Death Mode, the Country Phase is skipped, and the game can end in two ways:

1. Eradicated Plague: If any player has no Tokens left on the World Board, the game will end when the current player finishes their turn.

2. Unable to move: If any player cannot place Tokens or roll the Death Dice during their turn, the game will end immediately.

Once the game is over, it’s time to calculate the final scores.

When playing the game, I can earn DNA Points in different ways. Not only do I score DNA Points during the game, but I can also get them from my Evolved Trait Cards and End Game Bonuses. It’s important to keep track of my DNA Points by moving the DNA Point Markers whenever I earn them.

First, I need to calculate the total cost of all the Trait Cards I currently have on my Evolution Slide. This cost is then refunded to me and added back to my DNA Points score.

After that, I have a chance to earn bonus DNA Points based on my achievements. If there are multiple players who meet the criteria, we all get awarded the points:

• Lucky Escape: This bonus is given to the player(s) who have the most Tokens left on the World Board at the end of the game. It awards 4 DNA points.
• Continent Killer: For each Continent, there is a bonus for the player(s) who have killed the most Countries in that Continent. This awards 6 DNA points per continent.

Welcome to the game of Ultimate Wipeout! The objective is simple: destroy countries and earn DNA points. Here’s how it works:

• Country Cards: Each player starts with a deck of Country Cards. These cards represent the countries you control.
• Action Cards: Throughout the game, you can use Action Cards to unleash special abilities and wreak havoc on your opponents.
• Cities: Each country has cities. The more cities you control, the more DNA points you earn.
• Attacking and Defending: You can attack other players’ countries by playing an Attack Card. The defending player can defend using Defense Cards. The outcome is determined by the sum of the attack and defense values.
• DNA Points: Whenever you destroy a city, you earn DNA points. The player with the highest number of DNA points wins the game!

But wait, there’s more! Here are some optional rules for advanced players:

Time Is Relative:

If you want a longer or shorter game, you can adjust the length by adding or removing Country Cards from the deck. Remove one card per player for a shorter game or add one to two cards per player for a longer game.

Unnatural Selection:

If you’re feeling daring, you can introduce Unnatural Selection. This rule allows you to genetically modify your countries, giving them unique advantages and making the game even more intense.

Remember, in the end, it’s all about having fun and embracing the chaos. So gather your friends, strategize, and let the ultimate wipeout begin!

If you’re not a fan of the Trait Cards you start with, no worries! You have the option to get rid of some or all of them and draw new ones from the Trait Deck. Just make sure you still have a total of 5 Trait Cards after your replacements.

But here’s the catch: you can only do this once, and you need to do it before the Starting Countries are revealed or the Country Deck is laid out. You can take a peek at your own Starting Country card while you’re at it.

A Twist of Fate

If you’re up for a game with more surprises, try this rule. Instead of having separate Starting Country Cards, each player is dealt a random Country Card that they must use as their Starting Country. It could be an official Starting Country or not, you never know.

Just place one Token on your Starting Country as usual, disregarding any climate restrictions. But once the game begins, those restrictions will come into play!

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