How to Play Werewolf: A Comprehensive Guide to the Ultimate Party Game

Werewolf, also known as Mafia, is a captivating and engaging party game that thrives on deception, deduction, and social interaction. It’s perfect for large groups and can provide hours of entertainment. If you’re new to the game or looking to refine your strategy, this comprehensive guide will walk you through everything you need to know.

## What is Werewolf?

Werewolf is a social deduction game where players are secretly assigned roles, typically either Villagers or Werewolves. The Villagers’ goal is to identify and eliminate all the Werewolves, while the Werewolves aim to outnumber the Villagers. The game proceeds in alternating day and night phases, each with its own set of actions and consequences.

The core of the game lies in its hidden information. No one, except the Werewolves themselves, knows who the other Werewolves are. This creates an environment of suspicion, where players must carefully observe others’ behavior, analyze their statements, and try to discern the truth from the lies.

## What You Need to Play

* **A group of players:** Werewolf is best played with at least 7-8 players, but it can accommodate even larger groups (15+). The more players, the more exciting and complex the game becomes.
* **Role cards:** You’ll need a set of cards corresponding to the different roles in the game. These cards can be regular playing cards (assigned meaning ahead of time) or specially designed Werewolf cards. A typical deck includes:
* **Villagers:** The majority of the players are villagers. They have no special abilities and must rely on deduction and teamwork to identify the werewolves.
* **Werewolves:** The antagonists of the game. They secretly know each other and work together to eliminate villagers each night.
* **Seer (or Oracle):** A villager with the special ability to secretly investigate one player each night to determine if they are a werewolf.
* **Doctor (or Guardian Angel):** A villager with the special ability to protect one player each night from being killed by the werewolves.
* **Other optional roles (more on these later):** Depending on the size of the group and desired complexity, you can include roles like the Hunter, Witch, Tanner, Cupid, or Bodyguard.
* **A moderator:** One player acts as the moderator. The moderator doesn’t play the game but guides the proceedings, announces the phases of the game, and manages the actions of the special roles.
* **A quiet space:** The game requires a relatively quiet environment where players can hear each other clearly and concentrate on the discussions.

## Setting Up the Game

1. **Choose a moderator:** Select one player to be the moderator. The moderator should be someone who understands the rules well and can effectively manage the game.
2. **Prepare the role cards:** Determine the roles you want to include in your game based on the number of players. A common setup for 8 players might be: 5 Villagers, 2 Werewolves, and 1 Seer. For larger groups, you can add a Doctor, Hunter, and other special roles.
3. **Distribute the role cards:** Shuffle the role cards and secretly distribute one card to each player. Players should look at their card without revealing it to others.
4. **Explain the rules:** Before starting the game, the moderator should clearly explain the rules and the roles of each character to all players. Make sure everyone understands the phases of the game and how the special roles work.

## Gameplay: Day and Night Phases

The game proceeds in alternating night and day phases, each with specific actions:

### Night Phase

1. **Moderator announces:** The moderator announces, “It is night, everyone close your eyes.” All players close their eyes and keep them closed until instructed otherwise.
2. **Werewolves awaken:** The moderator announces, “Werewolves, open your eyes.” The Werewolves open their eyes and silently acknowledge each other. They then decide, as a group, which player they want to eliminate that night. They silently point to their target. The moderator sees their choice.
3. **Werewolves go back to sleep:** The moderator announces, “Werewolves, close your eyes.” The Werewolves close their eyes.
4. **Seer awakens (if present):** The moderator announces, “Seer, open your eyes.” The Seer opens their eyes and silently points to one player they want to investigate. The moderator nods or shakes their head to indicate whether the selected player is a Werewolf or not. The moderator must have a pre-decided signal to indicate whether the player is a werewolf or not. Something simple like nodding for no and shaking head for yes.
5. **Seer goes back to sleep:** The moderator announces, “Seer, close your eyes.” The Seer closes their eyes.
6. **Doctor awakens (if present):** The moderator announces, “Doctor, open your eyes.” The Doctor opens their eyes and silently points to one player they want to protect that night. This can be themselves. The moderator acknowledges the choice.
7. **Doctor goes back to sleep:** The moderator announces, “Doctor, close your eyes.” The Doctor closes their eyes.
8. **Other roles:** The moderator manages any other roles according to their specific abilities, such as Cupid selecting lovers or the Witch using her potions (more on these roles later).
9. **End of Night:** The moderator announces, “Everyone, open your eyes. It is now day.” All players open their eyes.

### Day Phase

1. **Moderator announces the victim:** The moderator announces who was killed by the Werewolves during the night. The player who was killed is out of the game and reveals their role card. If the Doctor successfully protected the targeted player, the moderator announces that no one was killed that night.
2. **Discussion and debate:** The remaining players discuss who they suspect of being a Werewolf. Players can ask questions, share observations, make accusations, and try to persuade others to their point of view. This is the crucial phase for Villagers to gather information and build a case against the Werewolves.
3. **Voting:** After a period of discussion, players vote to lynch (eliminate) one player they believe is a Werewolf. Each player gets one vote. The moderator can call for a formal vote, where each player publicly states who they are voting for. A simple show of hands works too.
4. **Lynching:** The player with the most votes is lynched and is out of the game. They reveal their role card. If there is a tie, there are a few common options:
* **Re-vote:** Conduct another vote between the tied players.
* **No lynch:** No one is lynched that day.
* **Sudden death:** The moderator can choose to eliminate one of the tied players randomly.
5. **End of Day:** The game returns to the Night Phase.

## Winning the Game

The game continues with alternating night and day phases until one of the following conditions is met:

* **Villagers win:** All the Werewolves are eliminated. The Villagers have successfully identified and lynched all the Werewolves.
* **Werewolves win:** The number of Werewolves equals or exceeds the number of Villagers. The Werewolves have successfully thinned the herd and can now easily eliminate the remaining Villagers.

## Strategies and Tips

* **Observe carefully:** Pay close attention to other players’ behavior, body language, and statements. Look for inconsistencies, nervous ticks, and defensive reactions.
* **Ask probing questions:** Asking specific and insightful questions can help you uncover hidden information and expose lies. For example, asking a player, “What were you doing last night?” can reveal inconsistencies if they are a Werewolf.
* **Form alliances (carefully):** Building alliances with other players can be helpful, but be cautious about who you trust. Werewolves can use alliances to manipulate and deceive Villagers.
* **Don’t be afraid to lie (if you’re a Werewolf):** As a Werewolf, your primary goal is to deceive the Villagers. Be convincing in your role, and don’t be afraid to lie or manipulate others to protect yourself and your fellow Werewolves.
* **Analyze voting patterns:** Pay attention to who votes for whom. This can reveal alliances and hidden loyalties.
* **Think like a Werewolf (if you’re a Villager):** Try to anticipate how the Werewolves might be thinking and acting. This can help you identify their strategies and expose their lies.
* **Vary your strategy:** Don’t become predictable. If you always act the same way, other players will be able to read you more easily.
* **The Seer:** If you are the Seer, choose wisely. Early in the game, it may be advantageous to check players that are being vocal. As the game progresses, use the information you have gathered to select less vocal players or those that are changing their stories.
* **The Doctor:** If you are the Doctor, protecting yourself the first night can be a good strategy, as you are a high value target. After that, try to deduce who the werewolves may target or protect those that have spoken out against other players.

## Optional Roles

Adding optional roles can add complexity and excitement to the game. Here are some common optional roles:

* **Hunter:** When the Hunter is killed (either by the Werewolves or by being lynched), they get to choose one player to take with them. The Hunter reveals their role card and immediately points to the player they want to eliminate. This player is then out of the game.
* **Witch:** The Witch has two potions: a healing potion and a poison potion. Each potion can only be used once during the game. The healing potion can save a player from being killed by the Werewolves, while the poison potion can kill any player. During the night phase, the moderator will wake the Witch after the Werewolves and inform her who was attacked. She can then choose to use either potion (or neither).
* **Tanner:** The Tanner’s goal is to be lynched. They win if they are lynched, regardless of whether the Villagers or Werewolves win. This can add a chaotic element to the game, as players may try to manipulate others into voting for them.
* **Cupid:** Cupid chooses two players to be lovers on the first night. These two players become secretly linked. If one lover dies, the other lover also dies. If one lover is a Villager and the other is a Werewolf, their goal becomes to be the last two players alive. During the night phase, the moderator wakes Cupid and Cupid chooses two players.
* **Bodyguard:** The Bodyguard can protect a different player each night from being attacked by the Werewolves. They cannot protect the same player two nights in a row. If the Werewolves attack the player the Bodyguard is protecting, the Bodyguard dies instead. During the night phase, the moderator wakes the Bodyguard and the Bodyguard chooses a player to protect.
* **Little Girl:** The Little Girl can peek at the Werewolves during the night, but if the Werewolves see her peeking, she dies instead of the person they initially targeted. During the night phase, after the werewolves wake up, the moderator will instruct the Little Girl to open her eyes to peek. If the Little Girl is caught peeking by the Werewolves, the Werewolves should indicate this to the moderator.
* **Pied Piper:** Each night, the Pied Piper can charm two players. Charmed players are on the Pied Piper’s side and know who else is charmed. The Pied Piper wins when all living players are charmed. During the night, the moderator wakes the Pied Piper and the Pied Piper charms two players by pointing at them.
* **Alpha Wolf:** This is a variation on the Werewolf role. The Alpha Wolf can turn one villager into a werewolf during the game (usually on the first night). This creates an additional werewolf and changes the dynamic of the game.

## Moderator Tips

* **Be clear and consistent:** Use clear and consistent language when announcing the phases of the game and managing the actions of the special roles.
* **Keep the game moving:** Don’t let the discussion phase drag on for too long. Set a time limit for discussions and voting.
* **Stay neutral:** As the moderator, you should remain neutral and avoid giving away any information that could influence the game.
* **Be prepared to answer questions:** Players may have questions about the rules or the roles of the characters. Be prepared to answer these questions clearly and accurately.
* **Manage conflicts:** Be prepared to manage conflicts or disagreements that may arise during the game. Encourage players to be respectful and avoid personal attacks.
* **Have fun!** The most important thing is to have fun and create a positive and engaging experience for all players.

## Advanced Strategies & Meta-Gaming

Once you’ve played a few rounds, you’ll start to notice more subtle strategies and meta-gaming (gameplay beyond the explicit rules). Here are some advanced tactics to consider:

* **Fake Claims:** As a Villager, sometimes it can be advantageous to falsely claim a role like Seer or Doctor to gather information or protect yourself. However, be careful, as this can backfire if you’re exposed.
* **Counter-claiming:** If someone claims to be the Seer and starts making accusations, you can counter-claim to be the Seer as well. This creates confusion and forces the Werewolves to make a decision about which Seer to eliminate.
* **Reading Tells:** Seasoned players look for “tells” – subtle behavioral cues that indicate whether someone is lying or telling the truth. These can include changes in tone, eye contact, fidgeting, or defensiveness.
* **The Meta-Game of Trust:** Building a reputation for honesty and trustworthiness can be a powerful asset, even if you’re a Werewolf. If people generally trust you, they’re less likely to suspect you.
* **Strategic Voting:** Sometimes, it’s better to vote strategically rather than based on your immediate suspicions. For example, you might vote to eliminate a known Villager to protect yourself if you’re a Werewolf.
* **The Power of Silence:** Remaining silent during the day can sometimes be as effective as speaking up. It forces other players to make assumptions about you, which can be used to your advantage.
* **Understanding Player Tendencies:** If you play with the same group regularly, you’ll start to learn their individual tendencies and patterns of behavior. This can help you predict their actions and identify liars.
* **Seer Information Management:** As the Seer, revealing your information too early can make you a prime target. Consider revealing only partial information or waiting for the right moment to expose a Werewolf.
* **Doctor Self-Preservation vs. Sacrifice:** As the Doctor, deciding whether to protect yourself or another player is a crucial decision. Protecting yourself early on ensures you can continue to heal others, but sacrificing yourself for a key Villager might be the better long-term strategy.

## Variations on the Game

There are countless variations of Werewolf, each with its own unique rules and roles. Here are a few popular variations:

* **One Night Ultimate Werewolf:** A faster-paced version where the game only lasts one night and one day. Players secretly perform actions during the night, and then the Villagers must try to identify the Werewolves based on the altered information.
* **Blood on the Clocktower:** A more complex version with a wider variety of roles and a more intricate system of information sharing.
* **Ultimate Werewolf Legacy:** A campaign-based version where the game evolves over multiple sessions, with permanent changes and consequences based on the outcomes of previous games.

## Conclusion

Werewolf is a fantastic party game that provides endless hours of fun and entertainment. With its blend of deception, deduction, and social interaction, it’s sure to be a hit with any group. By following this comprehensive guide, you’ll be well-equipped to play, strategize, and enjoy the thrilling world of Werewolf. So gather your friends, prepare your poker face, and get ready to uncover the truth… or deceive your way to victory!