Sagrada: A Guide to the Stained Glass Game – Rules, Instructions & Strategy Tips

Introduction

Sagrada, a game that’s all about building beautiful stained glass windows with dice which I find to be a pretty cool concept. The game was inspired by the famous Sagrada Família church in Barcelona, Spain, and it’s all about patterns and colors. Players pick dice and place them on their window pattern boards to score points based on certain rules. It’s a mix of luck and strategy, and it’s a hit with folks who like puzzles and planning ahead.

The game was created by Adrian Adamescu and Daryl Andrews and first hit the shelves in 2017. Since then, it’s won a bunch of awards and has become a favorite for many board game enthusiasts. The game is designed for 1 to 4 players, so you can play solo or with friends. Each game takes about 30 to 45 minutes, which is perfect for a game night or a quick play session.

It reminds me a lot of similar tile-based building games like The Builders: Middle Ages, which I’ve also written a guide on.

Rules for playing Sagrada

Let’s dive into the rules of Sagrada. The goal is to score the most points by completing your stained glass window. Each player gets a window pattern card that shows where you can place your dice. The cards have different difficulty levels, and you get tools to help you out based on how hard your card is.

The game is played over 10 rounds, and each round has two turns. On your turn, you pick a die from a pool that’s rolled at the start of the round and place it on your window. But here’s the catch: you can’t put dice of the same color or number next to each other, and you have to follow your pattern card’s rules.

There are also public objectives that give you points for certain patterns or color combinations, and private objectives that are secret goals just for you. Plus, there are tool cards that let you break the rules in cool ways, but they cost you tokens that you get at the start of the game.

At the end of the game, you add up your points from the objectives, minus any points you lose for empty spaces on your window. The player with the most points wins!

Equipment and Setup for Sagrada

For Sagrada, you need the game box, which comes with all the bits and pieces. You’ve got dice in different colors, window pattern cards, tool cards, objective cards, score markers, and tokens. Each player gets a board to hold their window pattern card and a score marker.

To set up, everyone picks a window pattern card and puts it on their board. You place the round tracker and the tool cards where everyone can see them. Then, you shuffle the objective cards and deal out three public ones and one private one to each player. Finally, you give each player some tokens based on their window card’s difficulty.

How to Play Sagrada

Playing Sagrada is all about taking turns and making smart choices. Here’s a quick rundown of what happens in each phase:

1. Drafting Dice: Roll dice based on the number of players, and pick one to place on your window.
2. Using Tools: Spend tokens to use tool cards that let you move dice around or break other rules.
3. Scoring Points: At the end of the game, check the objectives and see how many points you scored.

Remember, you can’t place a die next to another of the same color or number unless your window card says otherwise. And you have to start placing dice on the edges of your window and work your way in.

How to Win at Sagrada

Winning at Sagrada is about balancing your options. You want to fill up your window without leaving empty spaces, but you also want to hit those objectives for big points. Keep an eye on the public objectives and work towards them, but don’t forget your secret private objective too.

It’s also smart to use your tokens for tool cards at the right time. They can really save you when you’re stuck or help you complete a tricky part of your window. And watch what dice your opponents are going for so you can grab the ones they need before they do.

Best Strategies for playing Sagrada game

For the best strategies, think ahead. Plan out where you’re going to place your dice and how you can hit multiple objectives at once. Sometimes it’s worth taking a lower scoring die now if it sets you up for a big move later.

Also, don’t get too focused on one part of your window. You need to be flexible and adapt when the dice don’t roll your way. And remember, sometimes the best move is to take a die that doesn’t help you much but really messes up someone else’s plan.

Variations

There are a few ways to mix up Sagrada. You can play with different window cards for new challenges, or try the solo mode where you play against a score to beat. There are also expansions that add new tools, objectives, and even new types of dice for more variety.

Scenarios

Sometimes you’ll find yourself in a tough spot, like when you need a specific die and it’s not in the pool. When that happens, look for other ways to score points or use a tool card to change things up. And if you’re ahead, think about how you can block your opponents from scoring.

Frequently Asked Questions about playing Sagrada game

Here are some common questions and answers:

1. Q: Can I move a die after I’ve placed it? A: Normally, no. But some tool cards let you do it.
2. Q: What if I can’t place any of the dice? A: You have to pass and miss out on placing a die that turn.
3. Q: Can I use tool cards more than once? A: Yes, but the cost goes up each time someone uses it.

External Links

For more info on Sagrada, check out the publisher’s website or look for video tutorials online. And if you want to read the official rules, you can find them on the publisher’s site too.

Floodgate Games – Sagrada

Official Sagrada Rulebook [EN/PDF]