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2–4 players30 minAge 10+

2024 edition (10th anniversary rules) · Checked against the rulebook, Oct 2026

In short

Collect gem pieces and spend them on Development cards. Each card you own becomes a permanent discount, so your engine snowballs, and some cards are worth Prestige points. Nobles visit when you own the right cards. Reach 15 points to trigger the end; most points wins.

1

Setup

  1. 1Shuffle each of the three Development card decks on its own and stack them face down, one above the other, with level 1 nearest you and level 3 furthest.
  2. 2Deal 4 cards face up from each deck in a row beside it.
  3. 3Reveal Noble tiles: 5 with 4 players, 4 with 3 players, 3 with 2 players. Put the rest back in the box.
  4. 4Sort the pieces into 6 stacks by color to form the supply. With 3 players, return 2 of each gem color to the box; with 2 players, return 3. Gold always stays at 5.
  5. 5Give the First Player marker to the youngest player, who goes first. Play passes clockwise.

Rules sheet, Setup panel

2

How a turn works

Take gems

Take 3 gems of different colors (fewer if 3 colors aren't available), or 2 of the same color if that stack has at least 4. Never gold.

Or reserve a card

Take a face-up card, or the top card of a deck, into your hand (3 at most) and take 1 gold if any is left.

Or buy a card

Buy a face-up card or one you reserved. Your cards' bonuses discount the cost, and gold can stand in for any gem.

End of turn

Hand back pieces until you have 10 at most. If you now meet a noble's requirement, it joins you (1 per turn).

Rules sheet, Game Overview and Noble Tiles panels

3

How to win

Most Prestige points

The end is triggered when someone has 15 or more points at the end of their turn; finish the round, and ties go to whoever bought fewer cards. Points come from:

Development cardsNoble tiles

Rules sheet, End of the Game panel

4

Rules people get wrong

9

Splendor rulings

Official sources

Play better with

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Cities of SplendorFour modules that change how you winCheck price at Amazon
Splendor DuelStandalone 2-player versionCheck price at Amazon
Card sleevesFor the Development cardsCheck price at Amazon
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Century: Spice RoadGizmosSplendor Duel

Last checked Oct 2026 · Report an error