The Ultimate Catan Strategy Guide - Top Tips to Win More at Catan

If you want to learn how to beat your friends and family at Catan, you've come to the right place. I've collected tips and strategies from all over the internet, including from World Championship level players, to take your game to the next level.
Blog / Transcript: remptongames.com/2021/08/08/t...
Chapters:
00:00 Intro
00:31 General Strategies
05:28 Settlement Placement
08:13 Development Cards
11:41 The Robber
14:12 Trading
15:44 Outro
Catan Strategy: A Complete Guide to Winning the Popular Board Game - www.amazon.com/CATAN-STRATEGY...
Other Resources:
www.meeplemountain.com/top-si...
www.ultraboardgames.com/catan...
boardgamegeek.com/thread/4026...
/ pro-tips-to-win-settle...

[@borstenpinsel]

Top tip: don't go for 6 and 8 fields, the dice realise they're used in Catan and actively avoid rolling the statistically most probable roll and favour 3 or 12 instead.... except for 7.

[@DeezNuts-zx3ih]

Yup. I had a game where 2, 3, and 7s were almost exclusively rolled. Dont think a single 10 was rolled, and each of the other numbers were rolled 1-2 times

[@theparadoxicaltouristtrave9320]

And when they finally hit 6 or 8 the robber is there

[@barrybludgeon7448]

Yeah 3, 4, 7 and 10 were rolled 3 out of 4 turns all game. Never seen the likes of it before.

[@mikel839]

My brother keeps multiple sets of dice in the box and switches which ones he uses on different turns

[@JackMott]

negative ghostriders

[@braxtonhill6468]

A little tip with the monopoly card: If you are playing on a board, sometimes you can tell what resources are in the opponent's hands due to the size of the resource decks!

[@astralanarchist]

Smart!

[@warped_Eclipse]

I haven't thought about that 😃@@astralanarchist

[@MaxGormley]

Jesus, that is cheeky🤣

[@PrinceKatamari]

Resource tracking is better. You can tell exactly what people have by remembering dice rolls and observing other people’s trades. Deck sizes are a more general means and is helpful, but it’s easier to count cards in Catan than you might think.

[@Eyes0penNoFear]

I used to play this game with my family every Sunday evening. There are 5 people in my family, so my friends would fight over who got the 6th spot. It would often get booked out several weeks in advance. We had a big trophy that someone found at a thrift store. Whoever won got to keep the trophy that week. We also had the title "Big Fat Jerk of Catan" and whoever hosed everyone else the worst during gameplay got that title for the week. I was so proud of myself when I got the BFJC title after using your strategy where I traded over a dozen of a single resource, then used the Monopoly card to steal them all back, then built the last 3 or 4 things I needed for the win. I also set our family record for fastest win. Every roll of the dice gave me multiple of the exact resources I needed. It was either my fourth or fifth turn, and I built the last thing I needed to win. The game was over in around 17 minutes. Those were such fun times 😊

[@jito7377]

Great story. I wish my family had more concentration for broad games.

[@8KilgoreTrout4]

Same! It's the concentration that gets us@@jito7377

[@paradoxicallyexcellent5138]

The point that a 6-on-wheat produces more ore than a 2-on-ore was pretty powerful, not something I ever thought of.

[@Mastereo]

That power move with trading all your resources that you have a surplus of and then using monopoly is so insanely funny. I am 100% going to try that when possible

[@WesCraft]

I did it 1 time. Everyone groaned and I got robbed a ton after that. I needed to time it closer to the end game...

[@paisleyjane9606]

Very well organized and helpfully clear. Also, it's nice to see some respect for the Year of Plenty card! Another advantage is that the two cards it represents are not vulnerable to theft or sevening out as they would be in the player's hand.

[@KrispyKreilick]

Great breakdown! Just played the game for the first time the other night and wanted to know more! Glad I clicked your video rather than these others! Great insight for new players!

[@chrisherold7728]

Dude I love your videos. You have supreme taste in hobbies and topics, and your videos are comprehensive. You are currently one of the few “instant click” channels I’m subscribed to.

[@RemptonGames]

Thank you so much, I’m so glad you enjoy the videos!

[@ethanperry569]

That trading part at the end was super helpful! I appreciate it!

[@RemptonGames]

What games would you like to see an Ultimate Strategy Guide for next? Edit: A few quick corrections. When discussing the wood-brick strategy I misspoke and mentioned building 6 settlements, when the maximum number of settlements you can build is 5. Also, some of the virtual tabletop demonstrations are to illustrate a concept, and might not realistically portray an actual in-game scenario.

[@tome1145]

Exploding Kittens

[@mathswithgarry7104]

How about 7 Wonders?

[@pokernomadrealnielszzz5998]

Everdell boardgames

[@Ggdivhjkjl]

Cluedo please.

[@BenichouHillel]

Twilight imperium

[@USMLELive]

Thank you for this, great video. Very well organized and excellent information!

[@elektroplasma4671]

Very good video quality for such an underrated channel. Keep it up!

[@Rishort]

These strategy guides are amazing, keep it up!!

[@vectorboom1982]

Commenting to help the KZbin algorithm

[@katanking]

VectorBoom, the friend we all need!

[@raficelkouche8531]

Such a great video! I loved the tip on how to use the monopoly card!

[@gnvinternationalambassador925]

pro tip: slam your foot into the shin of your opponent when they dont want to give you a good trade... i recommend the Timberland PRO Men’s 6″ Pit Boss Steel-Toe

[@mathswithgarry7104]

I would never trade away a resource, and then use a monopoly card to get it all back. The guys I play with wouldn't trade with me for the next 5 games. Don't be a jerk is a great rule!

[@katanking]

This is part of the game and it's a great monopoly card strategy. Your opponents must take this into consideration when trading away resources. Nothing personal, just part of the game :)

[@Jigolopuff]

@@katanking yes however games are supposed to be fun first and foremost

[@katanking]

@@Jigolopuff it is fun 👍

[@djphroop]

@@Jigolopuff Well I mean this is a guide to winning not a guide to having fun.

[@gryfon7000]

@@djphroop me and my friends have the most fun when we all give everything to win. This means bluffing, lying, manipulating each other, betrayals etc. We just dont enjoy a game where everyone is "nice" and doesnt have the win as his primary goal. It results in intense battles over resources, destructive robber steals, cooperation of 3 players against one that is winning to take him down and then one betrays the others and takes the win. So much fun. And after the game we just laugh and discuss our strategies cause we understand that its just a game.

[@spastheghost]

Great tips, I really want to get better at Catan, I finally caved and ordered the game. In the past I only played it at board game cafes with coworkers and because I’m fairly inexperienced with it I got bodied every time but I’m going to turn the tables soon lol

[@StormTerror5940]

This man is my people, Catan and Throne of glass books in the background. Can’t wait til the new Sara J Mass book comes out in February

[@vicentediaztrepat2585]

Ever since I learnt to play this game, I’ve lost every single match I’ve played. I’m tired of losing, and even more against the same opponents. Next time, I’ll win, I’ll make sure of it.

[@yvonnemurray6281]

Great video! Thanks for sharing your tips!

[@conradjanke7386]

i love getting catan tips from dexter

[@andrewthegreat1243]

We like to randomly place every title including the desert. I used the monopoly strategy and took control of two brick tiles and made deals with everyone except my brother who is the best player. Kept talking up how good he was and kept saying I’m not a threat since I really only have brick. Somehow that strategy worked

[@blackcattrucking4907]

Great tips, thank you!

[@nerdvananc]

Just your intro and how comprehensively you've arranged the entire video = subscribe.

[@Gheston]

Great tips, thanks!

[@tome1145]

Thanks this was a pretty hectic video.

[@StopMotionWizard]

Helpful video!!

[@guykoppi2525]

Good video. Don’t be afraid to blink ;)

[@martabuonsanto7284]

Thank you very informative

[@reecesteeves4110]

I think the strategy I’ve always used is getting one or two ports and trade for what I want for less than just get a bunch of cities and development cards

[@isaacgalera3604]

1:59 ¿Building 6 settlements? There are only 5 in the game

[@Puggy42069]

I would appreciate seeing a strategy guide for “Ticket to ride.” It’s such a simple game in rules terms but I believe it has depth concerning strategy.

[@judybooze7256]

Good job Catan is loads of fun

[@legitmusicgaming4749]

The double port strategy is actually insane, my friends never thought I'd win with only sheeps 😂

[@jackcoleman5955]

Ooh! Great tip with placing the robber on the player acting right before you!! I never thought of that.

[@bertbunner6324]

Good video. Could use some tips on Seafarers. Thanks

[@nfc14g]

Is Catan base version still the most popular today for tournaments and such?

[@antonio.oscar1]

10:43 Ive done this to my mom yesterday, and she didnt look in my eyes again for the rest of the game, didnt even trade with me again... Hilarius!!! But It was worth It.. I WON THAT GAME!! HAhahaha

[@Postumeartist]

I’m surprised that for base game Catan you didn’t say, “ignore sheep” (most of the time, especially at the very beginning)

[@Alexcoman51]

That’s why sheep are the best card to monopolize, because no where ever builds on it or the 2:1 port

[@gavinleahy9951]

how do you play that PC version of Catan, like where can i find it?

[@scullyisadog]

You should do a video on power plays!

[@amegis1830]

You should do a video on ticket to ride

[@binkeybonkey]

didn't blink once in the video, thats dedication.

[@AltogetherGuy]

I was once playing Catan and set up on really lucrative tiles but my opponents surrounded me early on so I couldn’t build out. I still dominated on resources and upgraded to cities and bought many cards from the deck each turn. I was trying to find the point scoring cards. One of my opponents found a victory card and we got through the whole deck without me winning. I realised that I couldn’t win as there were no victory points left in the deck. My role would have to be a kingmaker. So I put my weight behind another player and made them win.

[@adamkral8110]

My play group basically never trades 1 for 1 because the active player has the inherent advantage. The only time we have 1 for 1 is when players have 2 for 1 ports as leverage (e.g. “why trade you 2 when I can trade 2 to the bank for anything”)

[@trrt0048]

Does someone know the name of those books in the background that combined make the image of a castle?

[@transws6am]

It's that Harry Potter trash

[@jj9delacruz]

I was continually rolling dice and for some reason they kept landing on seven

[@Ggdivhjkjl]

@11:00 Done that both online and in person!

[@marcogijsen5508]

Lots of good tips. But I don't agree that its best to spread numbers. It is even better to have combinations, for instance the same number on wood and clay (you always need them in a 1-1 ratio) or combine ore and wheat (3-2 ideally). This makes sure you can spend it right away and dont need to trade so much.

[@gryfon7000]

This might be good for numbers like 6 and 8 that most certainly will roll a few times. The video doesnt say you must have 6 different numbers. It says that you should not have only 3 or 4 numbers to rely on. A settlement at 5 8 9 and another one at 5 8 3 will slow you down. You only have 5 8 9 and 3 to rely on while the player with 6 different numbers will get resources on almost every roll

[@marcogijsen5508]

@@gryfon7000 I'm talking about numbers that have the exact same chance of rolling. In that case it's better to have them paired. That 5, 8, 3 / 5 , 8, 9 is absolutely perfect when the 5's are wood/brick and the 8's wheat/ore. The player who has a spread of 6 numbers needs two rolls to gain a street and will not have the same amount of bricks and wood. The player who only has 1 number but also only needs 1 roll can build with that right away and doesn't have recourses laying around waiting to be robbed.

[@weignerleigner3037]

Focusing on numbers is not a good idea.

[@weignerleigner3037]

@@denniscoffman2919 number spread is always better. By your 4th settlement you can get every number and pick up every turn.

[@nikhil6354]

The actual numbers don’t matter. Only their probability matters.

[@nancydee6106]

Year to plenty is a trade??? I thought you just follow the directions on the card and take two resources from the bank???

[@cameronvandevelde4186]

I have a question about trading, can only the active player initiate trades with others? can others initiate a trade with the active player as well?

[@yeetmetothemoon8434]

You can only initiate trading when it's your turn. Of course, you can discuss with the other players and give them reasons to want to trade with you. But you're not supposed to be asking to trade until it's your turn

[@1.blazeIT]

Where are these guys playing this game?

[@alextrigger8199]

somehow I read the title as "The Ultimate Satan Strategy Guide" and clicked, as I was very intrigued :)

[@XxearthxX844]

4:10 can't do this, you have to wait for the other 3 players to finish their whole placement and its very unlikely the 2nd spot will be free

[@justliam6473]

thats why he said rare situations

[@RexRegisPeter]

If you are the last to place your first settlement you are first to place the second, and can place both settlements on the same time. But it would be rare to get that good numbers as in his example.

[@martinmartin6300]

This giy is presenting the stuff very seriously, as if Catan would be the most important thing in the world. :D

[@darrecditlevsen3072]

Pro tip. It’s doesn’t matter what you do, the dice hate you

[@seanmillar3845]

Sheep strategy is Goated

[@jj9delacruz]

Can you make a strategy guide to forbidden island

[@nicholasglenn2206]

There are several major mistakes in this video: 1) You only get 5 settlements not 6, so you can only get to 7 with settlements and longest road not 8 2) Every setup example has the player place 4 roads. You only get 2 roads to start. 3) Building cities is less resource intensive than building settlements, not more. Cities take 5, settlements take 4+2 per road. So min 6 and often up to 8 or 10. The rest of this video is pretty helpful and most of this strategy is pretty dang sound. The one thing I would note is that wheat is by far the most important resource to have at least some of since it is needed for both settlements and cities. Also, city based strategies are usually lots stronger than pure road/settlement strategies

[@majorali242]

I started off reading this post as overly critical, but these were useful observations, cheers buddy.

[@nosferatuzodd8553]

Just because a settlement costs 6 resources or even up to 8 or 10 like you said does not mean the city is less expensive/resource intensive. The city is in fact more expensive. A) I could easily make the same argument that building a city costs more resources than just 5, just like you made that argument for settlements. Making the argument that a settlement costs 6 resources or 10 is silly. Because for a city you need to build AND replace the settlement all for only 1 point. In order to build a city you need a settlement. Settlement = 4 city =5, 4+5 = 11. A city is made up of ore and wheat which in most games are more valuable than sheep, wood, and brick AT LEAST in the late game. Obtaining the specific resources needed for a city costs more resources. And Holding all 5 of those resources in your hand waiting for your turn is also very risky-therefore more costly therefore more expensive. Even in the off chance that you are directly holding 2 wheat and 3 ore. Perhaps you are carrying 2 wheat 1 ore and 3 wood hoping to succeed on a trade, which could also be unsuccessful. Or you lose it on a rolled 7. Or soldier. Or monopoly. B) Players can easily sense when you are wanting to build a city and will want and will easily prevent you by 1: robbing you, 2: not trading with you. C) A settlement itself provides equal or more utility than a city. It gives you more/new resources and different or more number tiles. Your rebuttal may be that a city will give you more resources long term because it gives you two per roll. That is not true. A city gives you an EXTRA resource on your originally placed settlement that it took its place from. Placing a new settlement gives you equal amount PLUS potentially new numbered tiles or higher dotted number tiles. As well as advantageously taking up space on the board or blocking other players strategies. D) a city itself only gives 1 point. A settlement gives only 1 point. A city is limited after its placement. However a new settlement can always be upgraded into a city. E) Cities are a giant target for robbers. Don't know where to place the robber? Place it on the city. Placing a city early game has the advantage of more resources but has the disadvantage of people placing the robber or soldier on you, or disliking you as they perceive you as the closest to winning therefore avoiding trades as well. The value of 1 resource vs another 1 resource is completely subjective of the boards layout, tile layout, and each players specific need for that resource in its given time. Hence why the 4-1 trade with the bank is frequently used, and why the 2-1 port is incredibly valuable. In most cases a city will be more expensive.

[@gabrielwilliams5553]

My game must be outdated since each color in my game only has 5 settlements

[@dennismonk9559]

monopolizing ore has never worked out well for me, even on boards set up for it. People just don't build cities until they can trade w/ the bank. Monopolizing Clay or even wood is more effective.

[@Ggdivhjkjl]

Make a Cluedo strategy video please.

[@lockewoodsims2089]

Thank u so much did was very helpful can’t wait to smoke my friends on game night

[@katanking]

Good luck :)

[@Greatermaxim]

I own this game.

[@MarkRoemer2022]

I have always wanted to play Catan, but don't have anyone to play with.

[@Greatermaxim]

I win 4/5 games. I won a game by rolling only one 7 in the beginning. I moved the robber to the desert. I had great numbers getting what I wanted. We all know it is not always that easy.

[@irispostema]

All of these strategies would be easier if moving the robber didn't enforce a hand limit.

[@elfkingz]

You say when rolling two die not dice

[@LocksOnly]

It’s Cuh-Tahn

[@evgenyzhithere7956]

If you play online , balance mood has real roll , random is a joke , had 6 rolled only 2 times all game

[@davidpotter9595]

No! Aren't the numbers placrd down randomly after the initial placement!? This way the math wizards and geniuses can't place on all the good numbers!!!

[@johngitzen8507]

2 Major mistakes in the first 30 seconds. First he shows initial setup with 2 roads wit each ofthe settlements being placed when you only get 1 road at setup and then he says with 6 settlements plus longest road you get 8 points but you can never have more than 5 settlements. I turned him off at this point

[@mohammedsoofi3904]

The example was not for start of game. You only get 5 settlements in basic version, you get more in expansion

[@mygills3050]

I know this dude but… doesn’t it kinda look like this guy has the equivalent of bags under his eyes but it’s bags beside his nose?

[@marginis]

Ah yes, I remember the famous game where I played as Mal-Wart, hated clay baron of the west. They despised my sprawling monopolistic empire, but they always came crawling to me when their resources ran low. Five wood for a clay? Make it six and we have a deal. Oh what they would have done for access to a port. If only I hadn't blocked them off with my massive road system. It was great.

[@boryskusoyaro]

why would someone trade 5 res to you if they can go to bank

[@cristianobrogna1225]

Making up stories on the internet is more fun

[@marginis]

@@boryskusoyaro Because we didn't know that was a thing.

[@curtisrobinson7962]

The host has a sing-song voice pattern that I found difficult to follow. Recommended book: The Actor Speaks. Constructive criticism, I hope. Take or leave it, it's okay.

[@josaphatgonzalez4508]

Take it from a pro player 😉

[@charlesor1023]

year of plenty is actually bad because you are not taking into account the 3 resources you spend to buy the card

[@arnavpawar8203]

Great video but please pronounce it correctly it’s Catan not Catan! Hahah

[@pfeilspitze]

Well, the real Catan game is the politics, which is its biggest problem. The one player who just constantly asks for trades that nobody wants just makes it so unfun. The game would be way better if you could only trade with the bank, at slightly-better rates.

[@TudorAlex988]

All ur strategies depend on the dice, it's just another luck game.

[@user-dt2kw4ry4y]

Yeah I don’t trust you to have the research or played the game enough to advice high-level strategy for the game, when you don’t correct yourself from saying there’s 6 settlements in Carson, where there are in fact only 5 settlements, 4 cities and 15 roads per player, regardless of number of players and choice of expansions. Sorry thumbs down before the 3 minute mark.

[@RemptonGames]

I misspoke, and have a pinned comment pointing out the mistake. Accidents happen - for example, I assume you meant “Catan” instead of “Carson”, and I don’t take that typo to immediately invalidate your entire comment.

[@user-dt2kw4ry4y]

@@RemptonGames I respect that, and thanks for the reply, the thumbs down has been changed to thumbs up. The original comment will be deleted in 5 min to minimise negative comments.

[@josaphatgonzalez4508]

Don’t use strategies of a rat. Trading your resources and then using the monopoly card… SUCH A CHEAP MOVE!!!!!

[@PelycheeaceRA]

lol what does that even mean?

[@SerDiesel90]

You lost all your credibility when you said building six settlements

[@eastdragon-42]

1:59 "Building six settlements & getting the longest road only gets you 8 victory points"...the last time I checked, Catan only has five settlements & four cities, so unsure where on Earth you're getting that sixth settlement from...! Stopped watching there...

[@iremainteague5653]

Get your panties untwisted it's just a hypothetical.

[@eastdragon-42]

@@iremainteague5653 Don't wear panties, and don't really see how one could hypothetically create a sixth settlement in a game that only allows five per player, but whatever...

[@John-wb4uv]

Dw he made a comment about this 1 month prior to yours

[@marcterrillon]

Couldn't finish the video because the sound was so bad.

[@roosterqmoney]

Best tip, play something else.

[@aryancuriel9924]

nice tips, definitly going to use them. Though, just as a comment. Probability of the dices are not fixed. You might also consider the multinomial distribution theory for the game: basically, if a dice combination is too frequent at the begining, it will be less frequent during the following throws. And the same in the opposite direction. So, if during the begining of the game, combinations like 9 or 5 might not happen to much, you might consider them for later builds, because at some point they will start to have higher frequency. Some math info about it for interested people en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Multinomial_distribution

[@remischmitt9308]

Mathematician here. All die rolls are independent. Also all die are expected to be honest dice (follow the perfect random distribution). You use the Gamblers Fallacy: "if a number has not shown up for some time it will show up soon". the Multinomial distribution can not be used to compensate the Gamblers fallacy. Casino's love it when you use this reasoning because it enlarges their profit margin (that's why they show the last 10 numbers on a roulette wheel). If some values don't show up in the early game i would conclude that EITHER the dice are not honest (so those values will show up rarely in the whole game) OR it is just a string of bad luck for me (and luck for another player). The reverse is also true.

[@jimwallace897]

@@remischmitt9308 Agreed - Dice have no memory

[@zygfrodo]

top tip: play a better game than catan or monopoly.

[@cameronvandevelde4186]

I have a question about trading, can only the active player initiate trades with others? can others initiate a trade with the active player as well?

[@raducora7159]

AFAIK anyone can initiate a trade negotiation. Even 2 inactive players can discuss future trades. The only requirement is that the active player is involved in the deal when it actually happens.