Tips onitama

Some basic strategy:

Early Game

1) Identify cards with unique attacks. Each card has one or two options for moving forward; focus on these in the beginning when identifying which cards will be most important initially. Sometimes one card will stand out in a particular set of five as being important enough to hold for many turns to make optimal use of. This is most commonly true about the Tiger, but can also be true about the Dragon or any other card that offers an attack in a direction that no other card offers.

2) Advance slowly. Don’t move pieces forward faster than you can protect them.

3) Don’t be afraid to be conservative. The first player to move a piece into the third row is usually also the first person to lose a piece. Make sure that you’re looking 2-3 moves ahead before you form your first offensive.

Mid-game

4) Try to dictate how trades are made so that you come out in a favorable position. Often the first captures come in a pair, one on each side. Look for ways to come out of it with small advantages, such as holding stronger end-game cards (Tiger and Dragon) or having the further forward pieces. Don’t be afraid to back away from an offered trade if you see that the other player will benefit more from it.

5) Find the right time to bring your Master into play. 5-on-5 is usually too crowded to safely bring your Master out, but 4-on-4 is usually okay. You can’t afford to keep your Master back all game; you’ll end up playing short-handed in the middle of the board if your opponent is able to make their Master useful.

End Game

6) Pay attention to the position of both Masters as the board clears up. Often the winner will be the person whose Master is farther forward when the last trade happens because they win the race to the opponent’s Temple square.