Set-Up & Components

Catan is an island, surrounded by sea. There are six sea tiles that fit together like a jigsaw, making a large hexagonal frame. Inside, you’ll need to place the 19 smaller hex tiles, which comprise of the five different terrains: Hills, forests, mountains, fields and pastures.

For this beginner setting, next take the 18 small circular number tokens (ranging 2-12) and place specific numbers on each terrain hex – again, mimicking the set-up of the hexagonal resources. 

Place the grey Robber figure on desert rather than a number token .

Separate and stack the five different types of Resource cards (brick, lumber, ore, grain and wool) and place them into decks.

Shuffle and place the Development cards deck.

Also place out the two special cards: Longest Road, and Largest Army.

Allocate colors to the players, Catan is a three or four-player game). Give each player settlements, cities, roads and a Building Card costs reference card in their corresponding color.

Each player then places two of their settlements on intersections where three hexes meet.

Every player starts with resource cards depending on their placement of second settlements placement. 

Give the two D6 dice to the start player and you’re all ready to start settling the island of Catan!