How do nobles work in Splendor?
At the end of your turn, if your Development card bonuses meet a noble's requirement, you take that noble. It doesn't use your action. You can only gain 1 noble per turn; if you qualify for more than one, pick one, and another player may claim the others before your next turn.
The rule:
In Splendor, a noble visits you at the end of your turn if your Development card bonuses meet its requirement, at no cost and without using your action. You can gain only 1 noble per turn, so if you qualify for several, choose one.
- When: at the end of your turn, after your action.
- What counts: only the bonuses on your Development cards. Gem pieces in hand don’t count.
- Cost: none. Taking a noble isn’t an action. If you qualify, you take it.
- Limit: 1 noble per turn. If you qualify for several, pick one.
- Points: nobles stay in your play area and their Prestige points count toward your score.
Example:
Kai buys his fourth red card, which completes the requirements of two nobles at once. He takes one at the end of his turn. If no one else claims the other first, he can take it at the end of his next turn.
Why players argue about it:
Players count the gems in their hand toward a noble, or take two nobles in one turn. Only card bonuses count, and it's one noble per turn.