The first time I sat down to play Scythe, I thought I was ready. I had watched a couple of videos, skimmed a few strategy posts, and felt pretty confident. How hard could it be? It is, after all, a board game. Yet, as the hours slipped away and my plans unraveled faster than a poorly knotted scarf, it became clear: I was blissfully unaware of what I was stepping into. If only someone had whispered these truths before that first game, my experience might have been less like a rollercoaster and more like a smooth, scenic ride.
Here is what I wish I knew before my first game of Scythe.
It Is Not Just Another Resource-Collecting Game
At a glance, Scythe looks like one of those classic Eurogames where you gather resources, build things, and score points. But it is much more than that. It has this wonderful tension between expanding your empire, building your infrastructure, and deciding the *right* moment to throw down a mecha in battle. There is a rhythm, a pulse, to the game that took me a while to feel.
My rookie mistake was treating it as if I could just hoard resources and build up endlessly. Nope. Scythe is a game of balance — between patience and aggression, between risk and reward. You do not just collect wood, food, metal, and oil for the sake of it. You need to think about *how* and *when* you use them because every action matters.
Quick note: Actions Are Limited But Powerful
Each turn, you pick one section of your player mat and perform two actions in that section. It sounds straightforward, but that limitation is what makes you really plan ahead. You can only do certain things per turn, and you cannot just have your cake and eat it too.
That alone feels like a giant brain teaser the first time around.
Understanding Your Faction and Player Mat Changes Everything
It took me two games to truly appreciate that your faction and player mat are not just skin-deep differences. The game hands you a unique personality right out of the box. Each faction has a different starting ability and mecha design, but the real magic comes from your player mat’s action setup.
Some mats let you move quickly, others help you produce resources faster. When I first played, I tried to follow the same “build lots of units” plan with every faction and player mat. Spoiler: that does not work. The game almost *forces* you to tailor your strategy to your setup.
Once I started paying attention to my faction’s strengths and the actions my mat encouraged, I could actually see my plan come together instead of just floundering.
Combat Is More About Positioning Than Brutal Fighting
I went into my first battle thinking it was going to be a big brawl — lots of dice rolling or intense, crazy damage dealing. Nope. The combat system is surprisingly simple, but what caught me off guard was how much the stakes felt higher than they seemed. Each fight costs you combat cards and can delay your plans, so it is never something to jump into mindlessly.
Your power on the board matters, but sometimes it is better to avoid battle altogether if you can. Positioning, timing, and knowing when to press the attack or hold back can swing the game more than having the biggest army. I remember trying to bash my way forward only to get wiped out two turns later, setting me back way more than I thought was possible.
Combat Cards Are a Secret Weapon
When you get those cards, treat them like gold. They do not replenish easily, and each one could turn a fight upside down if played right. But avoid burning through them early. Keep a few in reserve to bluff or to ensure victory when it really counts.
Don’t Chase Every Objective or Victory Point
The victory point system in Scythe is kind of sneaky. You score points for all kinds of things — building structures, upgrading actions, controlling territories, popularity, and even combat victories. It is tempting to try to grab every point possible, but that is a surefire way to feel overwhelmed and unfocused.
Your moves have to tell a story. If you stretch yourself too thin chasing every little point, you end up doing a little bit of everything and a lot of nothing. The best players I saw had a clear plan of what mattered most to their faction and played *to* that.
For example, if you have a faction that is great at producing, lean into building up your economy hard and then capitalize on that with upgrades and deployment. If you are more combat-focused, nurture your popularity and position yourself for the right fights instead of going for every single territory.
Popularity Is a Quiet but Heavy Influence
Popularity often felt like the overlooked kid in the class. I did not realize how much it would impact my endgame scoring. The higher your popularity, the more points your structures, resources, and territory are worth at the end. And popularity moves in strange ways.
Sometimes, avoiding battles or picking peaceful options on the encounter cards can boost your popularity more than you would expect. Other times, being an aggressive player might tank it without the payoff. It is a tricky balance to hold.
After learning this, I started to think beyond just “winning fights” or “building lots” and focused on *who* would come out looking best in the final tally. Popularity sometimes felt like the secret sauce.
Encounters and Mechs Give Flavor and Options
One of my favorite surprises in Scythe was how encounters shook up the game. These little narrative moments give you choices that can make or break your momentum. You get bonuses, resources, or sometimes a tough decision that can feel pretty personal.
These encounters add a human touch to the game — a little story thread in an otherwise very mechanical experience. It reminded me that a board game isn’t just about points and tokens but about moments shared at the table.
Mechs are another game-changer. They are your muscle on the map and unlock new abilities. Getting them out early feels great because it opens doors for movement and combat. But rushing mechs without a plan can leave you exposed. I learned that slow and steady with mechs often beats “all guns blazing.”
Time and Player Count Affect Everything
My first game was with four players, and it dragged because people took their time to think. It was fun but also a little exhausting trying to keep track of what everyone was doing and how that affected me.
Playing with two people feels completely different. The game speeds up, and the tension gets razor-sharp because there are fewer distractions and more direct competition. With more players, the map fills up fast, and you need to adapt constantly.
There is no “better” player number. It is just different vibes. I recommend trying different player counts to see what clicks with your group.
Plan for the Long Game But Adapt Often
Scythe is not a game you win by sprinting through early moves. You have to think about your mid and late game just as much as the beginning. But beware the trap of making a rigid plan and then not adjusting when the game changes on you.
Something that seemed like a great move early on can become a dead-end if another player blocks you, or if the board shifts in an unexpected way. Flexibility is a silent winner here. You want a plan, yes, but you also want the ability to throw that plan out the window when it no longer works.
I found myself struggling to let go of failed plans in my first few games and getting stuck because of it.
Do Not Underestimate the Power of Upgrades
The upgrade actions on your player mat might seem boring compared to the flashier moves, but they are a backbone of your strategy. Upgrades improve your actions permanently and can tip the scales slowly but surely.
Trying to power through the game without upgrading felt like running with a backpack full of bricks. You want to free up your turns, make stronger moves, and be able to produce or move more efficiently. Investing in upgrades early lets you do that in the long run.
Scoring Is Not Everything — Fun Is
After my somewhat frustrating first game, I realized I was so fixated on winning I forgot to actually enjoy the experience. Scythe takes time to learn and even longer to master, but it is also a beautiful game to share with friends who like strategy and a little storytelling.
Try not to worry about losing at first. Every game teaches something new. Sometimes you win by sneaky moves, sometimes by pure economic might, and sometimes by just being in the right place at the right time.
And that is okay.
Some Handy Tips From My Experience
- Take your time learning: Do not rush your first game. Ask questions, pause, and discuss moves with others.
- Watch a playthrough before you start: It helps, but do not expect to remember everything.
- Focus on your mat’s strengths: Tailor your strategy to what your faction and mat do best.
- Don’t attack at random: Save combat for key moments and use your cards wisely.
- Balance popularity and power: Think about your endgame scoring from the start.
- Use encounters to your advantage: They provide useful resources and can boost your progress.
- Upgrade early: It pays off in the long run.
- Expect surprises: Be ready to change your plan as the game evolves.
Scythe is one of those games that grows on you. At first, it is a tangle of rules and possibilities. But over time, you start to see the threads connecting your moves, your faction’s personality, and the actions on the board. It becomes less a game you play and more a story you live — a story of strategy, choices, victories, and setbacks.
If you are sitting down for your first game soon, know this: you will probably get tripped up. That is part of the fun. Every mistake is a lesson, every hesitation a chance to think differently. Just remember, Scythe is not a race. It is a journey. And sometimes, the best moves come from slowing down and listening to what the game is telling you.