Skullywugs Instructions

You will find the full instructions for the Skullywugs card game on this page. You can also read the quick start guide using the link below:

Skullywugs Quick Start Guide

More Help With This Game

If something still doesn't make sense after reading these instructions then please contact us. We'll be happy to help.

About

Skullywugs is a family friendly pirate themed card game for 2 to 4 players.
Each game normally lasts around 5 to 15 minutes.

1 x Online information card
1 x Quick Start card
2 x Dice
49 x Game cards as shown below:

Card Colours

The game card are all colour coded to made it easier for you to make decision about what card you should keep, discard and use.
Red cards are used on your turn to attack other player's pirate ships.
Blue cards are general cards that can be played on your turn.
Green cards are defensive cards that are used when other players try to do something against you. Green cards cannot be played on your turn.

What are the Dice For?

Some of the cards will require you to roll either one or two dice.
A card will show a picture of one dice in the top left corner if one dice should be rolled.
A card will show a picture of two dice in the top left corner if two dice should be rolled.

The Winner

The first player to get 3 Treasure Chests wins the game.

Setup

1) Give each player 1 Treasure Chest & create the "Treasure Pile"

Remove all the Treasure Chest cards from the deck.
Give each player 1 Treasure Chest card. These should be placed in front of each player so that everyone can see them.
Grab the remaining Treasure Chest cards and place them in a pile between the players. This is the "Treasure Pile".

2) Deal 4 cards & create a “Draw Pile”

Shuffle the remaining cards and deal 4 to each player.
Place the remaining cards face down between the players. This is the "Draw Pile".

3) The Dice

Place the dice between the players so that they are easy to find when required.

On Your Turn

Swap a card OR play a card.

How to Swap a Card

Take the top card from the Draw Pile.
Discard a card (face up) onto a "Discard Pile" next to the Draw Pile.
You can discard the card that you just picked up if you want to.
Your turn is now over.

What to do if the Draw Pile Runs Out

If the Draw Pile runs out of cards simply turn over the Discard Pile to create a new Draw Pile.

How to Play a Card

On your turn you can play a valid red or blue card from your hand.
You cannot play a card on your turn if you have already swapped a card.
At the end of your turn, discard any used cards and grab new ones from the Draw Pile so that you have 4 cards again.

How to Play a Blue Card

Blue cards are general action cards that can be played on your turn.

Each blue card includes text that explains how to use the card.

See the section "Types of Cards" section for more information about each card.

How to Play a Red Card

Red cards are general action cards that can be played on your turn.

Each red card includes text that explains how to use the card.

See the section "Types of Cards" section for more information about each card.

How to Play a Green Card

Green cards are defensive cards that are used when other players try to do something against you.

Green cards cannot be played on your turn.

Each green card includes text that explains how to use the card.

You should pick up a replacement card after you use a green card so that you have 4 card in your hand again.

See the section "Types of Cards" section for more information about each card.

Types of Card

Each card includes text that explains how to use the card.
The section below explains how to use each card in even more detail.

Types of Blue Card

Blue cards are general action cards that can be played on your turn.

❖ Pirate Ship Cards

You use Pirate Ship cards on your turn.
The blue Pirate Ship cards can be used to protect your Treasure Chests.
You can also use a Pirate Ship with a Treasure Chest card (see the Treasure Map card details below).
Each Pirate Ship has a strength value that ranges from 3 to 5.
A Pirate Ship with strength 3 is the weakest and 5 is the strongest.
The Pirate Ships each have their own name which is shown on the cards.
How to use a Pirate Ship to Guard Your Treasure
You should place any Treasure Chest cards that you find or steal in front of you.
On your turn you can place 1 Pirate Ship card face up in front of your Treasure Chests to protect then from other ships.
You cannot have more than 1 ship guarding your treasure.
On your turn you can replace any ship that is already guarding your Treasure Chests with a stronger ship. If you do this then you must discard the ship that is being replaced.
Remember to grab a new card from the draw pile before you end your turn.

Pirate Ship Tips
Other players may try to sink this ship so that they can steal a Treasure Chest.
Ships with higher strength are harder to sink, so use your strongest ship to guard your treasure.
You can place a Pirate Ship in front of you ready to guard your treasure even if you currently do not have any Treasure Chests. This will allow you attack other player's ships on your future turns.
If another player sinks your ship then you can stop them from stealing a Treasure Chest by using a green Fools Gold card.

❖ Treasure Map Cards

On your turn you can use a Treasure Chest card with a Pirate Ship card to get a Treasure Chest card from the Treasure Pile.
You can either use a Pirate Ship from your hand or the Pirate Ship that is guarding your treasure (if you have one).
Show the other players your Treasure Map and Pirate Ship card.
Discard the Treasure Chest and Pirate Ship card by placing them face up on top of the discard pile.
Grab a Treasure Chest from the Treasure Pile.
Grab 2 replacement cards from the Draw Pile so that you have 4 cards in your hand again.

❖ Skullywugs Cards

On your turn you can use a Skullywugs card to steal a Treasure Chest from any player who does not have a Pirate Ship protecting their treasure.
Show the target player the Skullywugs card.
Remember, you cannot steal from any player who has a Pirate Ship guarding their Treasure Chests.
Grab a Treasure Chest from that player.
If the other player now uses a Fools Gold card then you must give them back their Treasure Chest.
Discard the Skullywugs card after use, even if you did not manage to steal any treasure.

❖ Black Spot Cards

On your turn you can place a Black Spot card in front of another player to curse them.
Any player who is given a Black Spot card must discard the Black Spot card on their next turn and miss their go (they can't do anything else on that turn).
You cannot give a Black Spot card to any player that already has a Black Spot card in front of them.

Types of Red Card

Red cards are used to target and attach other players' Pirate Ships.

❖ Cannon Cards

On your turn you can fire a cannon at any other player's Pirate Ship that is face up on the table.
You can only use this card if you currently have a Pirate Ship face up in front of you (the cannon fires from that ship).
You can attack another player's Pirate Ship even if they currently don't have any Treasure Chests.
Show the target player your Cannon card and ask them if they have a Ghost Ship card.
If the target player now uses a Ghost Ship then your attack fails and you must simply discard the Cannon card.
If the other player does not have a Ghost Ship then fire the cannon by rolling one dice.
If the number that you roll is higher than the strength of their Pirate Ship then you sink that ship (place it on the Discard Pile).
Grab a Treasure Chest from that player (if they have any).
If the other player now uses a Fools Gold card then you must give them back their Treasure Chest.

Cannon Tips
Pirate Ships with lower strength are more easier to sink. A strength of 3 makes a ship the easiest target, while a strength of 5 provides more durability.
If you have a green Ghost Ship card when another player attacks you with a Cannon then use that card to scare them off and stop the attack.
Use a green Return Fire card if someone takes a shot at your Pirate Ship (rolls the dice) but they fail to sink your Pirate Ship. This way, you're not just sitting back and letting them take pot-shots at you without consequences!
Use a green Fools Gold card If another player sinks your Pirate Ship and tries to steal a Treasure Chest from you.

❖ Double Shot Cards

On your turn you can fire two cannons at any other player's Pirate Ship by using a Double Shot card.
You can only use this card if you currently have a Pirate Ship face up in front of you (the Double Shot fires from that ship).
You can attack another player's Pirate Ship even if they currently don't have any Treasure Chests.
Show the target player your Double Shot card and ask them if they have a Ghost Ship card.
If the target player now uses a Ghost Ship then your attack fails and you must simply discard the Double Shot card.
If the other player does not have a Ghost Ship then fire the cannons by rolling both dice.
If the number rolled on either dice is higher than the strength of their Pirate Ship then you sink that ship (place it on the Discard Pile).
Grab a Treasure Chest from that player (if they have any).
If the other player now uses a Fools Gold card then you must give them back their Treasure Chest.

Double Shot Tips
Pirate Ships with lower strength are more easier to sink. A strength of 3 makes a ship the easiest target, while a strength of 5 provides more durability.
Double Shots are twice as likely to sink a ship compared to regular Cannons.
If you have a green Ghost Ship card when another player attacks you with a Cannon then use that card to scare them off and stop the attack.
Use a green Return Fire card if someone takes a shot at your Pirate Ship (rolls the dice) but they fail to sink your Pirate Ship. This way, you're not just sitting back and letting them take pot-shots at you without consequences!
Use a green Fools Gold card If another player sinks your Pirate Ship and tries to steal a Treasure Chest from you.

❖ Fireball Cards

On your turn you can shoot a flaming cannon ball at any other player's Pirate Ship by using a Fireball card.
You can only use this card if you currently have a Pirate Ship face up in front of you (the Fireball fires from that ship).
You can attack another player's Pirate Ship even if they currently don't have any Treasure Chests.
Show the target player your Fireball card and ask them if they have a Ghost Ship card.
If the target player now uses a Ghost Ship then your attack fails and you must simply discard the Fireball card.
If the other player does not have a Ghost Ship then shoot the Fireball by rolling one dice.
Add one on to the number that you roll. If that number is higher than the strength of their Pirate Ship then you sink that ship (place it on the Discard Pile).
Grab a Treasure Chest from that player (if they have any).
If the other player now uses a Fools Gold card then you must give them back their Treasure Chest.

Fireball Tips
Pirate Ships with lower strength are more easier to sink. A strength of 3 makes a ship the easiest target, while a strength of 5 provides more durability.
Fireballs indeed pack a punch! They are more likely to sink a ship compared to regular Cannons or Double Shots. So, if you're aiming for maximum impact, the Fireball is your weapon of choice on the high seas!
If you have a green Ghost Ship card when another player attacks you with a Fireball then use that card to scare them off and stop the attack.
Use a green Return Fire card if someone takes a shot at your Pirate Ship (rolls the dice) but they fail to sink your Pirate Ship. This way, you're not just sitting back and letting them take pot-shots at you without consequences!
Use a green Fools Gold card If another player sinks your Pirate Ship and tries to steal a Treasure Chest from you.

❖ Slippery Squid Cards

On your turn you can sink another player's Pirate Ship by using a Slippery Squid card.
You do not require a Pirate Ship face up in front of you to use this card.
You can attack another player's Pirate Ship even if they currently don't have any Treasure Chests.
Show the target player your Slipper Squid card and ask them if they have a Ghost Ship card.
If the target player now uses a Ghost Ship then your attack fails and you must simply discard the Slippery Squid card.
If the other player does not have a Ghost Ship then Slippery Squid will immediately sink their ship (place it on the Discard Pile).
Grab a Treasure Chest from that player (if they have any).
If the other player now uses a Fools Gold card then you must give them back their Treasure Chest.

Slippery Squid Tips
Slippery Squid can immediately sink any ship, so try to use it on the strongest enemy ship.
Don't forget that you can use Slippery Squid even if you don't currently have a Pirate Ship in front of you.
If you have a green Ghost Ship card when another player attacks you with Slippery Squid then use that card to scare them off and stop the attack.
Use a green Fools Gold card If another player sinks your Pirate Ship and tries to steal a Treasure Chest from you.

Types of Green Card

Green cards are used to respond to actions that other players take against you on their turn. You cannot use a green card on your turn.

❖ Ghost Ship Cards

You can immediately use a Ghost Ship if another player attacks your Pirate Ship with a Cannon, Double Shot, Fireball or Slippery Squid.
You must use the Ghost Ship before they roll any dice and the other player must give you a chance to use a Ghost Ship before they roll.
Discard this card after use a grab a replacement card from the draw pile so that you have 4 cards again.
If another player uses a Ghost Ship on you then you must discard your attack card and cannot sink their ship or steal any treasure.
Ghost Ships cannot be used against Skullywugs.

❖ Fools Gold Cards

You can immediately use a Fools Gold card if another player steals one of your Treasure Chests.
Show them this card and grab your stolen Treasure Chest card back from them.
Discard this card after use a grab a replacement card from the draw pile so that you have 4 cards again.
You can use this card after another player sinks your ship or if Skullywugs attack.

❖ Return Fire Cards

You can immediately use this card if another player fails to sink your Pirate Ship.
It can only be used after they roll the dice.
You cannot use this card if Slippery Squid or Skullywugs attack you.
You cannot use this card if you have already used a Ghost Ship to frighten off the attacker.
Discard this card after use a grab a replacement card from the draw pile so that you have 4 cards again.