Many players mistakenly believe that all cities are at risk during a barbarian attack, but the rules provide specific immunities for certain players.
According to the Catan: Cities & Knights Official Rulebook, if the barbarians are stronger than the defending knights, they pillage cities and reduce them to settlements.
Catan: Cities & Knights Official Rulebook, [page not specified]
These rules correspond to the US edition of Catan: Cities & Knights.
Official Rule Breakdown
When the barbarians attack Catan, the outcome depends on a comparison of two values: the barbarian strength and the strength of Catan's knights. The barbarian strength is the sum of all cities and metropolises owned by all players on the island. The defending strength is the sum of the values of all active knights (basic = 1, strong = 2, mighty = 3). If the barbarians are stronger, they win the battle and pillage cities. A pillaged city is replaced with a settlement piece. The barbarians target the player with the lowest total strength of active knights; players with no knights are considered to have the lowest strength. However, players who own only metropolises or no cities at all are immune to being pillaged. If a city being pillaged has a city wall, that wall is also destroyed and removed from the board (Catan: Cities & Knights Official Rulebook, [page not specified]).
Step-by-Step
- Step 1: Determine Barbarian Strength by summing all cities and metropolises owned by all players.
- Step 2: Determine Catan's Knight Strength by summing the values of all active knights (Basic: 1, Strong: 2, Mighty: 3).
- Step 3: Compare the two strengths to determine if the barbarians or the knights win.
- Step 4: If barbarians win, identify the player with the lowest active knight strength (excluding those with only metropolises or no cities) to be pillaged.
- Step 5: Reduce the target player's city to a settlement and remove any associated city walls.
Example Play Situation
Alice has two cities and one basic knight (strength 1). Bob has one metropolis and no knights. The barbarians have a strength of 3. Even though Bob has no knights, he is immune because he only has a metropolis. Since Alice's knight strength (1) is less than the barbarians (3), the barbarians win and Alice's city is reduced to a settlement.
House Rules
[HOUSE RULE] The 'Nasty Variant' allows players to choose how many active knights to commit to the defense, rather than all knights automatically defending.
Common Misconceptions
- Thinking metropolises are targets for pillaging (they are immune).
- Assuming all knights defend automatically (only in the official rules, not the 'Nasty Variant').
- Believing players with no cities can lose a city during an attack.
Quick Reference
| You Can | You Cannot |
|---|---|
| Count all cities and metropolises for barbarian strength | Do not count inactive knights in the defense strength |
| Use only active knights for defense | Do not pillage players who only own metropolises |
| Reduce cities to settlements if barbarians win | Do not count players with no cities as targets for pillaging |
Frequently Asked Questions
- What is the official rule for barbarian attacks in Catan: Cities & Knights?
- Barbarians pillage cities if their strength exceeds the total strength of all active knights.
- Can a metropolis be turned into a settlement by barbarians?
- No, players who own only metropolises are immune to the effects of the barbarian attack.
- What happens to my city walls if a barbarian attack succeeds?
- If a city with a city wall is pillaged, the wall is destroyed and removed from the board.
- Does an inactive knight help defend the island?
- No, inactive knights do not assist in defending the island in any way.