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Terra Mystica

Expert Terra Mystica builds a connected network for endgame scoring. The spade wheel is the tempo engine—cult bonus on spade rounds funds terraforming. Power actions (7 VP for 12 power) are the hidden scoring line.

Quick winning principles

  • Build bridges to connect dwellings before upgrading to trading houses.
  • Take cult bonus on spade wheel rounds to fund terraforming.
  • Use the 12-power action for 7 VP when power would otherwise be wasted.
  • Terraform toward the center for endgame network scoring.

Ideal strategy

  1. 1

    Terraforming network: each dwelling must connect to two others before endgame scoring.

  2. 2

    Spade wheel: plan terraforming for spade rounds—cult bonus pays 3–5 power per spade.

  3. 3

    Power actions: burn 12 power for 7 VP in the final round when no terraforming remains.

  4. 4

    Faction asymmetry: Witches gain from swamps; Halflings expand cheaply—play to your passive.

  5. 5

    Dwelling-to-trading-house ratio: upgrade only when the trading house opens a new network branch.

  6. 6

    Endgame: 7 VP power action plus full network beats 10 trading houses without connections.