Table of contents
  1. Introduction.(I00)
  2. What is Risk?(I01)
  3. Starting out.(I02)
  4. Picking countries.(I03)
  5. Placing your units.(I04)
  6. Reinforcements.(I05)
  7. The battle begins!(I06)
  8. Risk cards.(I07)
  9. Controlling a continent.(I08)
  10. Victory!(I09)
  11. Strategies.(I10)
  12. 2-player risk.(I11)
  13. Credits.(I12)

Introduction (I00)

This is an introduction to the rules of risk, if for some reason you can't follow this then look in the manual that came with your game, and as a side note, this is modern Risk, the rules may be different than your version. If you are here for a specific section highlight the tags (the I00,I01 etc) copy it than it ctrl+F paste it in the section, than hit find next to take you down to that section. If you would like to find the information on attacking, click here. If you want the find the information source for 2-player risk, click here.

What is Risk? (I01)

Risk is a game of global domination, you use dice to conquer territories and claim victory over the enemy's, sounds fun huh? Well here is the tricky part; they are doing the same thing to you so you have to place strategies to defend your countries as you take over others. Risk is a great game for family and friends, and since it is a board game you can bring it anywhere. Risk features 2-8 players of competition so the fun never stops. This game can be used for educational features such as learning the countries, or expanding your mind with strategies and the list goes on.

Starting out (I02)

Once you got the game and the players, the first thing you want to do is decide the order. Roll the dice to see who goes first, second, third, last etc. Another way you can do the order is by clockwise starting with the highest roller, there are many ways you can pick the order pick which one is best for your group.

Picking countries (I03)

There are two ways to pick countries, one of them is just use the order to pick, the person who goes first picks a country than the person who goes second picks a country and than third picks a country than first picks another country until all countries are pick There can be no Neutral countries whatsoever every country must belong to someone. To pick a country just simply place on of your units on it. This method adds strategy to picking wisely.

Another way of doing it is by picking up a risk card. The player who goes first picks up a risk card, it should display a country on it whatever the country is, place a unit on it. This method is random and the outcomes can differ between games. It spreads out your armies too much. Those are the two methods, I personally prefer the first one because of the strategy it involves, trying to take control of a continent while not letting other players take it (full control of a continent will be explained later.)

Placing your units (I04)

Once you have picked countries comes the reinforcing part. Choosing where to place them is all up to your strategy. Depending on the amount of players there are, the amount of units you start with varies with the number of players, for 2 players (see the end of part 2.) For 3 players you get 35 units to start with each. For 4 players its 30 units each. For 5 players its 25 units each. For 6 players its 20 units each.

Reinforcements (I05)

Once you have reinforced the battle begins, the order is whatever you rolled at the beginning of the game. The first thing you do is collect your reinforcments the way to do this is to ask yourself, how many countries do you own? Depending on how many countries you own you will get additional reinforcements. The math equation follows: {R=C/3} where R is the amount of reinforcements you get and C is how many countries you own. For example say you control 11 countries, 11 divide by 3 equals 3.67, so you will get 3 additional units, as a note the minimum amount of reinforcements you can get is no less than 3.

Depending on what continents you own (every country of that colour.) you will get extra reinforcements.

Depending on what continents you own and don't own, you will or will not get additional reinforcements. Another way of getting additional reinforcements is using Risk cards, which will be explained later. Also as a side note if you do not know, Infantry=1 unit Cavalier=5 units and artillery=10 units (note: the units may vary from version to version.)

The battle begins! (I06)

Once you got your reinforcements and placed them in the countries of your choice its time to conquer, all of the attacking information will be placed here.

Once your done attacking you can move your troops, you can only move troops from one country however you can move them anywhere you wish to for example say you own Britain and you wish to move to your other country Greenland, you can send as many as you want with a few rules.

  1. You can only send from one country for example: Britain can send some however on the same turn, another country cannot send until after your next turn.
  2. You can send to any country you wish as long as they are connected for example: Britain can send units to greenland as long as you control Iceland (which is in between) if you do not control Ice land, you will be unable to send to Greenland.
  3. When sending units, at least one must remain in the original country for example: Britain must have at least one unit on it.
  4. Although you can only send from one country, you can send them to as many different country as you want as long as it follows the rules

As another note if you have conquered at least one country, you will gain a risk card, more to be said about them next section. After your turn, another player will take his/her turn thus ending yours.

Risk Cards (I07)

These baby's can change the outcome of the game when used right. On the card should be a design of either a foot soldier, and cavalier, or an artillery. If you get a 3 of a kind or one of each, you get a bonus reinforcements depending on what the bonus is (note: The bonus varies from versions so check your manual for details on what the bonus is.) The bonuses will increase every time someone uses their risk cards, as a side note, you can only have 5 cards than on your next turn you have to turn 3 in. Knowing when to play them is part of whatever your strategy is so its all up to you whether you play them when you can or not.

Controlling a continent (I08)

When you control a continent (you own all the counties within that colour) and you hold it until your next turn you will get additional reinforcements for your army. The list as follows shows how many you will get.

It is highly recommended controlling a continent because it adds to your army but which one? They all have their ups and downs

North America: Great bonus, easy to defend, however high in demand.
South America: Crappy bonus, very easy to defend, depending on the players can be either high or low on demand.
Europe: Great bonus, open on many fonts so it's hard to defend, high on demand.
Africa: semi decent bonus, easy to defend, depending on the players can be either high or low on demand.
Asia: Greatest bonus, can be hard to defend, highest in demand.
Australia: Crappy bonus, Easiest to defend, depending on the players can be either high or low on demand.

What you want to do is try to get as many continents as you can without your opponents controlling them, they can own all of Asia but as long as they don't control one country within the continent they wont get a bonus keep this in mind.

Victory! (I09)

The point of this game is obviously Global Domination and nothing less, so you must capture every country, in order to ensure this you must use a combination of strategy and good luck with dice rolls, one can not win without the other keep that in mind. By carefully placing your troops and attacking at the right countries you can ensure victory for yourself and your troops.

Strategies (I10)

Strategies are the key to victory however you first have to discover those keys, I will list a few strategies that I know of it isn't much but be thankful for what you get.