Last Updated on June 25, 2026 by The Official Game Rules Team

Mantis is a fast-paced card game that looks simple at first, but quickly turns into a battle of stealing, scoring, and taking risks. Created by the makers of Exploding Kittens, the game revolves around colorful cards and one important decision every turn: do you play it safe and score points, or try to steal cards from another player?

The rules are easy enough to learn in a few minutes, but every turn forces you to weigh your odds. One lucky draw can put you in the lead, while one successful steal can completely change the game.

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How to Play Mantis

Objective

Be the first player to collect 10 or more cards in your Score Pile.

In a 2-player game, the goal increases to 15 cards.

Understanding the Cards

Every card has two sides that work together:

The front (white side) shows a single colored Mantis character.
The back (black side) displays three possible colors.

The color shown on the front will always be one of the three colors shown on the back.

Because of this, players have partial information about what a card might become before they flip it over.

Setup

Shuffle all cards thoroughly.
Deal 4 cards face up (white side showing) to each player.
Place these cards in front of each player to form their Tank.
If multiple cards in a Tank show the same color, stack them slightly so everyone can see how many are in that group.
Place the remaining cards face down (black side up) in the center to create the Draw Pile.
Leave space beside your Tank for a future Score Pile.
Choose a starting player and play clockwise.

Gameplay

Each turn consists of choosing one of two actions:

Option 1: Try to Score

This is the safer option.

Take the top card from the Draw Pile and place it face up in your own Tank.

If the color matches cards already in your Tank:

Move all cards of that color to your Score Pile.
Include the newly revealed card.
Your turn ends.

If the color does not match:

Leave the card in your Tank.
Your turn ends.

Remember:

Scoring is the only way to move cards into your Score Pile.
Cards in your Score Pile are worth victory points.

Option 2: Try to Steal

Instead of helping yourself, you can target another player.

Take the top card from the Draw Pile and reveal it in another player’s Tank.

If the color matches cards already in their Tank:

Take every card of that color.
Move them into your own Tank.
Include the newly revealed card.
Your turn ends.

If the color does not match:

Leave the card in that player’s Tank.
Your turn ends.

Important Rule About Stealing

Many new players get this wrong.

When you successfully steal:

The cards go into your Tank
They do not go into your Score Pile

You’ll still need to score those cards later.

This means stealing helps set up future points, but doesn’t immediately earn any.

Score Piles

Your Score Pile should remain face down.

Players may ask how many cards you have scored, and you must answer honestly.

However:

You do not have to reveal colors.
Only the number of cards is public information.

Strategy: Score or Steal?

The entire game revolves around this choice.

When to Try to Score

Scoring is often best when:

You already have several matching colors in your Tank.
You’re close to the winning total.
You want guaranteed progress.

When to Try to Steal

Stealing becomes attractive when:

An opponent has a large stack of one color.
You can prevent someone from scoring soon.
You need to build your Tank quickly.

The color clues on the back of the cards give you just enough information to make educated guesses, but never enough to be certain.

Running Out of Cards

No Cards in Your Tank?

Don’t worry.

There is no penalty for having an empty Tank. Simply continue taking turns and try to build it back up.

Draw Pile Runs Out

If the Draw Pile is ever exhausted:

The player with the most cards in their Score Pile wins.
If tied, the player with the most cards in their Tank wins.

This rarely happens, but it serves as the game’s tiebreaker.

2-Player Rules

When playing with two players, use these changes:

Play until someone scores 15 cards instead of 10.
Successful steals become much stronger.

Whenever you successfully steal:

Move the cards into your Tank as normal.
Immediately take another turn.

If you keep succeeding on steals, you can continue taking extra turns until a steal fails.

This makes the two-player version much more aggressive and swingy.

Tips for Winning Mantis

Build Large Color Groups

The more cards of one color you collect, the more valuable a future match becomes.

Watch Opponents Carefully

Pay attention to which colors other players are collecting. A well-timed steal can erase several turns of their progress.

Don’t Ignore Scoring

Stealing feels powerful, but Score Pile cards are what actually win the game.

Use the Back of the Cards

The three colors shown on the back narrow down the possibilities. Use that information to improve your odds.

Protect a Lead

If you’re close to 10 points, scoring consistently is often safer than risking a steal.

Conclusion

Mantis combines luck, probability, and player interaction into a surprisingly strategic little card game. Every turn asks the same simple question—score or steal—but the answer changes constantly based on what’s happening around the table.

If you enjoy Mantis, you might also like Love Letter, another quick card game where simple decisions create surprisingly tense and memorable moments.