Quick answer
To play your first Boom Patrol match, set up the arena, pick an animal tank captain, and deal each player a hand of programmed command cards. On each round, everyone secretly selects commands, then reveals and resolves them in order. Your goal is to grab gold and glory by crushing buildings and collecting power-ups while outmaneuvering rival tanks. Expect chaos, laughs, and a few spectacular collisions.
What makes Boom Patrol different from other tank games
Boom Patrol is a fantasy spectator sport where animal tank commanders battle for gold and glory. It plays like a mash-up of Mario Kart and Battlebots, with an intuitive movement system and programmed command cards. Instead of moving freely on your turn, you plan ahead and hope your opponents don't wreck your plans. The game rewards reading the table and adapting when things go boom.
Setup checklist before your first match
Clear a table large enough for the arena. Each player chooses an animal tank captain with unique abilities—read yours carefully before the first round. Shuffle the command cards and deal the starting hand. Place the gold, power-up tokens, and building pieces within reach. Decide who goes first; for your first game, pick randomly rather than using a complex bidding system.
- Check that every player understands their captain's special ability before play begins.
- Keep the rulebook open to the command card resolution order—you will reference it often in round one.
How programmed command cards work
Each round, every player secretly chooses a command card from their hand and places it face down. Once all players have chosen, reveal simultaneously and resolve in the order shown on the cards or in the rulebook. This simultaneous planning is the heart of the game: you must guess what your rivals will do. If you expect a player to charge forward, you might program a sharp turn to avoid a collision—or a boost to ram them first.
Winning the battle for gold and glory
You win by earning the most gold and glory, usually through crushing buildings, grabbing power-ups, and knocking out opponents. Don't ignore power-ups—they can turn a losing position around. Buildings are tempting targets, but they also make you a target. Balance aggression with positioning. If you can stay mobile and grab rewards while others fight, you'll often come out ahead.
Step-by-step: Your first Boom Patrol match
- Set up the arena and choose captains: Place the board or play area in the center. Each player selects an animal tank captain and reads its unique ability aloud. Shuffle the command cards and deal the starting hand to each player. Put gold, power-ups, and buildings nearby. Checkpoint: Everyone should understand their captain's ability before the first round begins.
- Learn the command card symbols: Before playing, review what each command card does. Common actions include move forward, turn, boost, and attack. The rulebook lists the exact resolution order. For your first game, play with open hands for one round so everyone can ask questions. Common mistake: Assuming you can change your command after revealing—once cards are down, they lock in.
- Program your first command: Each player secretly chooses one command card and places it face down. Don't rush—look at the board and guess what your opponents might do. If you're near a building, consider whether to smash it for gold or drive past to avoid becoming a target. Checkpoint: All players must have a card face down before anyone reveals.
- Reveal and resolve commands in order: Flip all command cards simultaneously. Resolve them one at a time in the order specified by the rulebook (often by initiative or card type). Apply movement, collisions, attacks, and power-up effects as they happen. If a collision occurs, follow the rulebook's resolution steps. Common mistake: Resolving all moves at once instead of one by one—order matters for collisions and building destruction.
- Collect rewards and update your status: After resolving all commands, check for destroyed buildings, grabbed power-ups, and knocked-out tanks. Collect gold and glory tokens accordingly. Discard used command cards and draw back up to your hand limit, if the rules say to. Checkpoint: Keep a visible pile of your gold and glory so everyone can see who's leading.
- Repeat rounds until a winner emerges: Continue playing rounds until a player reaches the victory condition (usually a set amount of gold or glory, or the last tank standing). Each round, adapt your programming based on what worked and what blew up. Next step: After your first game, try a different captain to see how their ability changes your strategy.
About Boom Patrol
- Boom Patrol - Superstar Tank Battling Action!: Boom Patrol is an all-out battle for gold and glory in fantasy spectator sport, with animal tank commanders in a crazy tank battle game that plays like a mash-up of Mario Kart and Battlebots. Knowing the mash-up style helps you set expectations: it's fast, chaotic, and rewards planning ahead with programmed cards.
- Boom Patrol - Superstar Tank Battling Action!: Featuring an intuitive and innovative movement system and programmed command cards. The movement system is easy to learn but hard to master—your first game will teach you how to predict opponents.
- Boom Patrol - Superstar Tank Battling Action!: Fun animal tank captains with unique abilities. Pick a captain whose ability matches your playstyle; for a first game, choose one with a straightforward power.
