Vikings Board Game: First Game Setup Guide
By Catalyst Game Labs Store | Published: 2026-10-19
Category: How-to Guides
Learn how to set up Vikings: The Board Game for your first playthrough. Follow these clear steps to get the board, cards, and pieces ready quickly.
Quick answer
Set up the game board, place the saga tiles, distribute starting resources and cards, then choose a first player. The full process takes about 10 minutes.
Why setup order matters
Placing the board and tiles first gives you a clear spatial reference before distributing cards and tokens. Skipping this order often leads to misplaced tiles or forgotten resource piles.
Common first-game mistakes
New players sometimes mix the saga tiles with the starting tiles or forget to separate the raid cards from the event deck. Checking the icon on each card prevents confusion.
Setup steps
- Unfold and place the game board: Open the board in the center of the table. Make sure the map side with the raid routes and settlement spaces is face up. Check that all players can reach the central area. If the board feels crowded, shift it slightly so each player has equal reach to the resource piles.
- Sort and place saga tiles: Separate the saga tiles by their back color (usually one color per era). Shuffle each era pile separately and place them face down next to the board in the order they will be drawn. Do not shuffle all saga tiles together — the game expects them in era order.
- Distribute starting resources and cards: Give each player their starting resource tokens (wood, food, gold) as shown in the rulebook. Deal the starting hand of cards — typically a mix of raid cards and event cards. Keep the remaining cards in a draw deck near the board. Double-check that every player received the same starting resources. Uneven starts can unbalance the first few rounds.
- Place player pieces on starting positions: Each player takes their set of miniatures (longship, warriors, and leader) and places them on the designated starting spaces on the board. The rulebook shows the exact hex or area for each. If a starting space is unclear, look for the matching icon on the board — it is usually marked with a small ship or helmet symbol.
- Determine first player and draw opening hand: Use any agreed method (roll a die, oldest player, or random draw) to pick the first player. That player draws the top card of the event deck and reads it aloud. Then each player draws their opening hand of cards from the draw deck. The first player does not get an extra turn — the turn order simply starts with them and proceeds clockwise.
Product used in this guide
- Vikings: The Board Game: Vikings: The Board Game includes saga tiles, raid cards, event cards, and resource tokens representing the Norse world. Knowing what is in the box helps you verify you have all components before starting setup.
Vikings: The Board Game
