Tips mattock

Summary and Links

Mattock is a territory game. The removal mechanic causes like-colored miners to link together in groups (on the smaller hex5 board, a single group of 3). Your goal is to trap your opponent's miners in a small area, while keeping a large area of open spaces for yourself.

There is a quick strategy primer on the second page of the rules: https://www.dropbox.com/s/3trr68e92xi45ps/Mattock.pdf?dl=1

The 3-minute rules/strategy video also covers strategy basics: https://youtu.be/PMrtXuegHHc

This article is a good in-depth strategy guide: https://www.abstractgames.org/mattock.html

Annotated games: https://boardgamegeek.com/thread/2599269/annotated-games

Protect Open Spaces Around the Edge of the Board

As you mine and remove, you will eventually link your miners together and split the board’s territory with your opponent.

The last player who can mine wins, so whoever has more open space to mine in their own territory will win. In the endgame, the open spaces will usually be around the edge of the board. Protect edge spaces by blocking choke points with your miners, and building shapes that block your opponent's connections.

Block Your Opponent Using the 3 Basic Shapes

No tile can ever touch more than 3 other tiles. So, when a tile touches exactly 3 other tiles, all of the adjacent open spaces are blocked. There are only 3 ways that a tile can touch 3 other tiles, making 3 basic shapes: the t-rex, whirligig, and diamond. These shapes are described in the rules, strategy article, and strategy video.

Each time you mine, think about which of the 3 basic shapes you will make and how you will use them to protect edge spaces from your opponent.

Protect Your Miners From Removal

Connect your miners together to prevent your opponent from removing them. Create shapes that block your opponent from connecting, so that your opponent's miners can't get between your own miners and sever your connections.

When you remove an opponent miner, check to make sure that your opponent can't reply by removing your own miners in return.