- BGG rank
- BGG #3,784
- BGG rating
- 7.1
Xi'an: Terracotta Army
2017
Rules assistance for Xi'an: Terracotta Army
Plain-language explanations of turns, card effects and disputed situations, with official source references and saved question history.
- 2–4 players
- 30–60 min
- 14+
- Complexity 2.8/5
For 2 players
Rules assistant for Xi'an: Terracotta Army
What would you like to know?
Answers come from the official rulebook, with the page to check.
Xi'an: Terracotta Army is a board game released in 2017 for 2–4 players, 30–60 minutes per game, and ages 14 and up. It was designed by Francesco Testini and Marco Legato and its main mechanics are Hand Management, Set Collection, and Area Majority / Influence.
About the game
246 BCE: The future first emperor of China, Ying Zheng, orders the construction of the Terracotta Army. It will be part of the "Great Mausoleum", a monument built to celebrate the Qin dynasty's endless glory and also to protect him in the afterlife. As a delegate of the Emperor, you will be asked to fulfill his wish by leading a team of workers and helpers to obtain resources, craft and decorate the warrior statues, and supply them with fine wood and bronze weapons. Xi'an is played over six turns, with two rounds in each turn. This means that each player will play exactly twelve times during the game. During each turn, players draw the first four cards from their personal workers deck, then play two rounds in the turn. First, each player choses two cards and sets aside the remaining two cards face down. The second round will use the remaining two cards. After six turns, the player who has gained the most prestige points wins. —description from the publisher
Categories
Mechanics
Designers
Publishers
- Matagot
- Surfin' Meeple China
- Pendragon Game Studio
- Surfin' Meeple
Questions and answers
Xi'an: Terracotta Army supports 2–4 players according to the catalogue. This range comes from the publisher’s listed player count, so the game can be set up for any group size within it. Some setups, rules and scoring details may still vary by player count, so check your edition’s rulebook for the exact configuration.
The listed playing time for Xi'an: Terracotta Army is 30–60 minutes. This is the publisher’s estimate for a full game. The actual duration depends on the group, the player count and familiarity with the rules: first sessions usually run longer, while experienced groups often finish faster. Setup and teaching time are not included in this estimate.
The catalogue lists Xi'an: Terracotta Army for ages 14 and up. This is the publisher’s recommendation and reflects reading demands, rule complexity and small components rather than theme alone. Younger players can often join with help from an adult, so check the age guidance on your edition and consider your group’s experience with board games.
Xi'an: Terracotta Army has a complexity rating of 2.8 out of 5 from BoardGameGeek players, which makes it a medium-light game. The rating reflects how much rules knowledge, planning and decision-making a typical game demands. Expect a longer first teach for heavier games, and use a preparation guide before game night.
Xi'an: Terracotta Army belongs to these categories: Ancient. Its main mechanics are Hand Management, Set Collection, and Area Majority / Influence. Categories describe the theme and setting of a game, while mechanics describe what players actually do on their turns. Each mechanic links to a catalogue hub with similar games, which helps when you want something comparable.
The credited designers of Xi'an: Terracotta Army are: Francesco Testini and Marco Legato. These credits come from the published game data and name the people responsible for the game’s design, not its illustrators or publishers. Designer pages on MeepleRules collect other titles by the same designers, which helps when you enjoy a game and want to find similar ones.
The catalogue lists Xi'an: Terracotta Army as a base game. It can be played on its own with the components in the box and does not require any other title. Expansions, if any exist, add new content or rules on top of it and are listed separately in the catalogue with a link back to this base game.