How to Play Targi

Last Updated on August 5, 2025 by The Official Game Rules Team

Targi is an elegant two-player strategy game with rich tribal theme and clever card placement mechanics. Your goal is to collect Tribe cards and resources to maximize points and complete patterns, all while navigating around your opponent’s moves. Here’s a breakdown of the rules and how to play!

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Targi Game Components

80 cards total:
- 45 Tribe cards
- 19 Goods cards
- 16 Border cards
30 resource tokens (Dates, Salt, Pepper; 10 each)
6 player markers (Targi figures)
4 Tribe ruler markers
1 Robber figurine
1 First Player token (Amulet)
8 gold coins
15 Victory Point tokens (VPs)
1 special “X Marks the Spot” token

Targi board game components list and rules illustration including game board, tokens and cards.

Targi Setup

Prepare the Border
Arrange the 16 Border cards in order around the playing area (cards 1 to 16). Make sure the small numbers are visible in the top-left corners. These cards remain fixed throughout the game. Beginners should use the text side; advanced players may flip them to the icon side later.
Prepare the central area
Shuffle Goods and Tribe cards separately. Deal into the 3×3 central grid, alternating between Goods and Tribe cards—five Goods and four Tribe total.
Organize decks and resources
Place the remaining Tribe cards beside Border #14 (Tribal Expansion) and Goods cards beside Border #13 (Caravan). Set resource tokens, gold, and scoring tokens in a shared supply. Position the Robber figurine on Border card #1 (Noble).
Distribute player materials
Each player chooses a color and receives:
- Three Targi figures
- Two Tribe ruler markers
- Starter resources: 2 Dates, 2 Salt, 2 Pepper, 1 gold, one 1‑VP token, one 3‑VP token
The player who last ate dates begins (otherwise, the blue player starts). Blue is often called the “Blue People.”

Targi Gameplay

1. Advance the Robber

Move the Robber one space clockwise along the Border track. Players cannot place Targis on the Robber’s card; if the Robber lands on a corner (“Raid”) card, players must pay a penalty (goods, gold, or VPs) before continuing.

2. Place your Targis on Border cards

Players alternate placing their three Targi one at a time on empty, legal Border cards. Invalid placements include:

The Robber’s card
Any Raid card
A card occupied by another Targi
A card directly across from an opponent’s Targi
The central 3×3 grid

3. Place Tribe markers on the central grid

After all Targis are placed, draw imaginary lines from each pair of your Targis. Each intersection point gets a Tribe ruler marker. If two Targis are in the same row or column, only one intersection—so only one marker.

4. Resolve actions

Each player performs actions tied to their Targis (Border cards) and Tribe markers (central cards) in any order. You may choose to pass on any action. After resolving a Border action, return that Targi. After resolving a central card, reclaim your marker and refill that space: discard a Goods card, replace with a face-down Tribe card, or vice versa.

Resources are retrieved immediately if the card shows goods, gold, or VP. If three types are shown (separated by slashes), choose one. Use substitute tokens if a resource runs out.

Tribe cards acquired may be played immediately by paying their costs or kept in hand (maximum one). Additional cards must be discarded. Playing a Tribe card gives its effects immediately, including permanent or one-time bonuses.

5. Refill central cards and pass first-player token

At end of turn, flip all central cards face-up, pass the Amulet to the other player, and begin a new turn with the Robber movement.

Additional Rules & Limitations

Resource Limits: At the end of your turn, you may hold at most 10 goods and/or 3 gold. Excess must be returned.
End of Game: The game ends when a player places their 12th Tribe card or when the Robber reaches the 4th Raid card. After final income and penalty, players tally all VPs: tokens, bonuses, row completions (same symbols or differing symbols), and special card bonuses. Tie-breaker order: Gold, then goods, then rematch.

Scoring

Base VPs from Victory tokens and played Tribe cards
Set-completion bonuses:
- +4 VPs for a row of four identical symbols
- +2 VPs for a row of four different symbols

Win Condition

The player with the most total VPs at the end of the game wins. In case of a tie, the player with more gold wins; next tie-breaker is most goods. If still tied, play again!

Targi board game illustration showing tokens, coins, and rules

Targi rules offer a compact yet deep two-player strategy experience with thoughtful placement, resource management, and timed competition. With modular board layout and variable card effects, no two games feel the same.