COUP
Deception, deduction, and ruthless power plays.
2-6 Players|10-20 min|Bluffing / Strategy
How to Play
Bluff your way to the top
1Setup
Each player gets 2 face-down cards (influence)
And 2 coins to start
2Your Turn
Income: +1 coin (safe)
Foreign Aid: +2 coins (blockable)
Coup: Pay 7 coins, force a player to lose influence
3Bluffing
Claim ANY role to use its action—even if you don't have it!
Other players can Challenge your claim
4Challenges
Bluff caught: Bluffer loses 1 influence
Wrong challenge: Challenger loses 1 influence
Last player with influence remaining wins!
The 5 Roles
Duke
Tax: Take 3 coins
Blocks Foreign Aid
Assassin
Assassinate: Pay 3, target loses influence
—
Captain
Steal: Take 2 coins from another player
Blocks Stealing
Ambassador
Exchange: Swap cards with the deck
Blocks Stealing
Contessa
No special action
Blocks Assassination
Strategy Tips
- Claim Duke early: Tax is the most powerful income action and hard to disprove.
- Track claims: Remember what others claim — contradictions reveal liars.
- Challenge wisely: A wrong challenge costs you influence. Only challenge when confident.
- 10 coins rule: If you have 10+ coins, you MUST coup. Don't hoard too long.