Many players mistakenly believe that the value of a card set only increases when they personally trade them in, but the official rules track every set played by all players.
According to the Hasbro Gaming Official Rulebook, the value of card sets increases every time any player trades in a set, regardless of who played them.
Risk Rules 2022, p. 75
These rules correspond to the UK edition of Risk.
Official Rule Breakdown
The value of matched Risk card sets increases based on the total number of sets traded in by all players throughout the game. The first set turned in is worth 4 extra armies, and the second set is worth 6 extra armies. Subsequent sets follow a specific progression: the 3rd set is worth 8 armies, the 4th is worth 10, the 5th is worth 12, the 6th is worth 15, the 7th is worth 20, the 8th is worth 25, and thereafter, each additional set increases the army count by five. For example, if a player waits until three sets have been turned in by others, their own set will be worth 10 armies (Risk Rules 2022, p. 75).
Example Play Situation
Alice has just traded in her first set of cards for 4 armies. Bob then trades in a set, which makes the next available set worth 6 armies. Later, Charlie trades in a set, meaning when Alice finally trades in her next set, it is worth 10 armies because three sets have been played in total.
House Rules
[HOUSE RULE] Some experienced players use a variation where the value of each matched set increases by only 1 army (e.g., 4, 5, 6, etc.) instead of the official scaling increments.
Common Misconceptions
- The value only increases when it is your turn to trade in cards
- The value increases by a fixed amount for every single card
- Only the player who trades in the cards benefits from the increased value
Quick Reference
| You Can | You Cannot |
|---|---|
| You can trade in sets at the beginning of your turn | You cannot trade in cards if you did not capture a territory on your last turn |
| You must trade in at least one set if you hold 5 or 6 cards | You cannot hold more than 12 armies on a single territory |
Frequently Asked Questions
- What is the official rule for card exchange rates in Risk?
- The value increases based on the total number of sets traded in by all players so far.
- Does my card set value go up if another player trades in theirs?
- Yes, the value of sets increases regardless of which player plays them.
- How many armies is the first set of cards worth?
- The first set of cards turned in is worth 4 extra armies.
- What happens if I have 5 cards at the start of my turn?
- You must trade in at least one set of cards.
