Last Updated on August 6, 2025 by The Official Game Rules Team

Get ready for some fast-paced fun with Coyote by Exploding Kittens! This is the rules page for the card game from the creators of Exploding Kittens, so you’re in the right place to learn how to play. You’re just a few steps away from a game of high fives and havoc.

Here’s a quick overview of what you can expect:

• A new game every time: The high-stakes, chaotic action keeps every round feeling fresh and exciting.
• A simple objective: Be the last player standing!
• Fast and engaging gameplay: Players take turns performing actions on cards.
• Sabotage and strategy: Add cards to mess with other players’ turns.

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How to Play Coyote by Exploding Kittens

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Contents:

• 66 Cards
• 3-8 Players
• Ages 10+
• 10 Minutes

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Game Overview

Coyote is a competitive party game of memory, speed, and silliness. Players take turns performing action cards to the beat while keeping track of growing layers of chaos. With each round, new rules, challenges, and modifiers enter play. The goal is to be the last player standing by avoiding mistakes and remembering your actions.

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Setup

1. Choose one player to be the First Player.
2. Shuffle the deck and place it face down in front of the First Player to create the Draw Pile.
3. Flip over one card per player into a row in the center of the table.
   • Example: 4 players = flip 4 cards.
4. If any Coyote Cards or Attack Cards appear during setup, return them to the bottom of the Draw Pile and replace with new cards. Shuffle the Draw Pile afterward.
   • Exception: With 3 players, flip over 6 cards instead of 3.

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Coyote Gameplay

1. The First Player performs the first Action Card (left to right), the Second Player performs the second, and so on, following clockwise order.
2. Before each action, all players thump the table twice in rhythm (like the beat from “We Will Rock You”).
3. Once the thumping ends, only the appropriate player performs the corresponding action.
4. Play continues around the table until all cards have been performed.
5. All Action Cards are resolved left to right each round.

Winning Condition:
Be the last remaining player in the game.

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Action Cards

Each Action Card has a phrase and matching action. Follow it exactly. Cards may be added anywhere in the row. Ignore the card’s color unless a Coyote Card says otherwise.

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Coyote Cards

Coyote Cards change how specific Action Cards are played. Place them near the Action Card(s) they affect. Follow the text on the card for instructions.

Examples:

• WHISPER: Whisper every orange Action Card.
• DO IT AGAIN: For every blue Action Card, perform it twice.

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Attack Cards

Choose a target when playing an Attack Card:

• Target a player: That player must perform all actions with the penalty described.
• Target an Action Card: Every player performing that card is affected.

Examples:

• T-REX: The player must keep elbows at their sides while acting.

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Failing a Round

You fail if:

• You do the wrong action or say the wrong phrase.
• You act out of turn.
• You act too slowly.
• You ignore modifiers from Coyote or Attack Cards.
• You forget to thump or thump off-beat.

If any player fails, stop the round:

• That player takes the bottom card from the Draw Pile and places it face down in front of them.
• Multiple players failing means each takes one face-down penalty card.
• Retry the same round with the same cards and same First Player.

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Elimination

If a player collects 3 penalty cards, they are out of the game. Continue play with the remaining players.

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New Round

• If all players succeed with no mistakes, pass the Draw Pile to the left.
• The new First Player draws 3 cards, selects 1 to add to the Action row, and places the others at the bottom of the Draw Pile.
• The new First Player begins the round.

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Cooperative Mode

Play together as a team. All players win or lose as one.

Setup: Same as competitive.

Winning:

• Complete a round with 9 Action Cards and 3 total Coyote or Attack Cards.
• Draw 3 new cards and choose 1 to add to the table each round.

Failing:

• If anyone fails, place one penalty card face down as a shared failure.
• Three shared failures = game over for everyone.

Expert Mode:

• Complete a round with 20 Action Cards and 5 modifiers (at least 3 must be hard difficulty).

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Blank Cards

Use these to write your own actions and challenges. Share your best ideas with the creators.

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Goal Recap:

• Competitive: Be the last player remaining.
• Co-op: Survive increasing chaos together and complete the final round.

Play wild. Stay sharp. Thump in rhythm. And don’t mess up.