Pandemic is a cooperative board game where players work together to stop the spread of four deadly diseases. Proper setup is crucial to ensuring a smooth and enjoyable game. Follow this step-by-step guide to set up your game correctly and start playing in no time.
Game Components
Before setting up, ensure you have all necessary components:
- 1 Game Board
- 7 Role Cards and 7 Pawns
- 48 City Cards
- 6 Epidemic Cards
- 5 Event Cards
- 59 Player Cards
- 48 Infection Cards
- 96 Disease Cubes (24 per color)
- 4 Cure Markers
- 1 Outbreaks Marker
- 1 Infection Rate Marker
- 6 Research Stations
Step-by-Step Setup
Step 1: Prepare the Game Board
- Lay the game board flat in the center of the play area.
- Place the Outbreaks Marker on the “0” space of the outbreaks track.
- Place the Infection Rate Marker on the leftmost space of the infection rate track.
- Place the 4 Cure Markers under their corresponding cure indicators.
Step 2: Prepare the Infection Deck
- Shuffle the Infection Cards and place them face-down on the Infection Deck space.
- Draw 3 cards and place 3 cubes of the corresponding color on each city.
- Draw 3 more cards and place 2 cubes per city.
- Draw 3 final cards and place 1 cube per city.
- Discard all drawn cards into the Infection Discard Pile.
Step 3: Assign Player Roles
- Shuffle the 7 Role Cards and deal 1 to each player.
- Each player takes the corresponding colored pawn and places it in Atlanta (the CDC headquarters).
- Give each player a Reference Card for quick rules access.
Step 4: Prepare the Player Deck
- Remove the 6 Epidemic Cards and set them aside.
- Shuffle the remaining Player Cards and deal cards to each player based on the number of players:
- 2 Players: 4 Cards Each
- 3 Players: 3 Cards Each
- 4 Players: 2 Cards Each
- Divide the remaining deck into equal piles based on the chosen difficulty:
- Intro Game: 4 Piles
- Standard Game: 5 Piles
- Heroic Game: 6 Piles
- Shuffle 1 Epidemic Card into each pile, then stack them together to form the Player Deck.
Step 5: Place Research Stations
- Place 1 Research Station in Atlanta.
- Keep the remaining 5 Research Stations nearby for later use.
Final Steps
- Ensure all components are in their correct places.
- Decide on the first player (the person who was most recently sick often goes first!).
- You’re ready to play! Start with the first player’s turn and follow the game phases.
Wrapping Up
Now that you know how to set up Pandemic, you’re ready to jump into the game. Remember, proper setup ensures a smooth and balanced experience. Good luck in your fight against global outbreaks!
