How to Play Borderfall

Master the turn, then master the map.

Borderfall is played in turns, and every turn has a rhythm: reinforce, attack, then fortify. Learn that loop and you can play any era on any map. This guide covers the essentials so you can win your first game and grow from there.

The goal

Control territory. Eliminate rivals by taking their last region, complete your objective, or outlast the field. Holding whole continents earns bonus reinforcements each turn, so the map is a constant trade-off between expanding and defending what you already hold.

Reinforce

At the start of your turn you receive new troops based on how many territories you control, plus bonuses for any continents you fully own. Place them where you intend to attack — or where you expect to be attacked.

Attack

Attack from a territory you own into an adjacent enemy territory. Combat is resolved with dice: the attacker and defender each roll, the highest dice are compared, and the loser removes troops. Keep attacking while you have the advantage, and stop before you overextend.

Fortify

End your turn by moving troops along a connected path of your own territories to shore up a threatened border. Good fortification turns a sprawling, fragile empire into a defensible one.

Advance through the ages

As the game progresses you can advance to the next era, unlocking new technologies, units, and even naval and orbital theaters. Timing your advance — and reacting when a rival advances first — is its own layer of strategy. See the eras overview for the full nine-era arc.