Learn Dominant Species: Marine

Welcome to Dominant Species: Marine

The end of the age of dinosaurs, in the sea. You are one of four animal classes — Reptiles, Cephalopods, Fishes or Crustaceans — spreading your species across a growing ocean floor and adapting to the elements that feed them.

The animal with the most victory points after the Asteroid strikes wins. Points come from:

• Majorities on tiles when they are scored — Land pays most.
• Evolution cards, bonus actions and the special pawns you control.

2–4 players, about 2–3 hours. Ready to set up? Open the setup checklist — it adapts to your player count.

Stay next to food

Elements on your animal display are what your species need; elements on tile corners are the supply. A species whose tile has at least one matching element is thriving; one with none is endangered.

When a new evolution card with a dead fish is dealt, every endangered species dies. So before you move in, look at the corners. More in Endangered and thriving.

One pawn, one action

On your turn, place one pawn on the action display and do that action at once — or take back all your pawns. Your coloured pawns must go after all your placed pawns: lower down, or to the right in the same row. White special pawns go anywhere.

When every animal has taken its pawns back, a Reseed refreshes the display. See Pawn placement and Retrieve.

Grow, move, fight, score

• Speciation adds species around one element; Wanderlust adds a tile; Migration moves.
• Competition removes rivals; Tectonics makes Vents.
• Evolution scores one tile — most species wins — then, if you thrive there, you take an evolution card.
• Domination claims a special pawn when your elements × tiles beat its target.

Full rules: Earth actions, Evolution and Domination.

When the Asteroid hits

The Asteroid hides among the last five evolution cards. When someone takes it, the round finishes, a last Extinction and Survival happen, every tile is scored, and each special pawn you control adds its target value. Most points wins; ties go to the animal higher on the food chain.

Details: Endgame. Ready? Read Teach the Game.