Official ruleBase game, 2021 edition, with The Abbot mini-expansion (included)
Can you take your abbot back early in Carcassonne?
YesShort answer
Yes. If you don't place a meeple on your turn, you can take your abbot back from its monastery or garden and score it right away: 1 point for the abbot's tile plus 1 per surrounding tile.
The rule:
Yes, in Carcassonne you can take your abbot back early on any turn you don’t place a meeple, scoring its monastery or garden right away: 1 point for the abbot’s tile plus 1 for each surrounding tile.
The Abbot is a mini-expansion included in this box. Each player gets 1 abbot in their color.
- Placing: when your tile shows a monastery or a garden, you can place your abbot there instead of a normal meeple. Normal meeples can’t go on gardens.
- Scoring: a monastery or garden surrounded by 8 tiles scores 9 points, like a normal monastery.
- Special ability: if you didn’t place a meeple this turn, you may take your abbot back and score its monastery or garden immediately.
- Game end: an abbot still on the board scores like a normal monk.
Example:
Your abbot's garden has 5 neighbors. On your turn you place a tile but no meeple, take the abbot back, and score 6 points immediately.
Why players argue about it:
Normal meeples can't be picked up early, so players assume the abbot can't either. The abbot's special ability is exactly that.