Bang! is a Wild West card game of hidden roles and gunfights for 4 to 7 players. Most players do not know who is on whose side, so each turn is part shootout, part guessing game. This guide covers the base game. Expansions and variants add extra cards, and the official rulebook is the best reference for rare edge cases.
What Bang! is
Each player takes a secret role and a character with a special ability. Your life points are shown as bullets on your character card. You play cards to shoot rivals, defend yourself and manipulate the table, while working out who your allies are.
Roles and goals
- Sheriff: Always revealed. The Sheriff wants to eliminate all Outlaws and the Renegade.
- Deputies: Secret. They help the Sheriff and win with the Sheriff.
- Outlaws: Secret. They want to eliminate the Sheriff.
- Renegade: Secret. The Renegade wants to be the last one standing, usually by dealing with the others and facing the Sheriff last.
Role split by player count in the base game:
| Players | Sheriff | Deputies | Outlaws | Renegade |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 4 | 1 | 0 | 2 | 1 |
| 5 | 1 | 1 | 2 | 1 |
| 6 | 1 | 1 | 3 | 1 |
| 7 | 1 | 2 | 3 | 1 |
Setup
- Shuffle the role cards that match your player count, deal one face down to each player, and keep it hidden. The Sheriff turns their card face up.
- Each player is dealt character cards and chooses one. The character card shows a life total and a special ability. The Sheriff gains one extra life point.
- Each player takes bullet cards (or tokens) equal to their life total.
- Shuffle the deck and deal each player a starting hand equal to their life points. The Sheriff starts, and play goes clockwise.
Turn structure
On your turn you do three things:
- Draw two cards.
- Play any cards you like. By default you may play only one Bang! per turn.
- Discard down to a hand size equal to your current life points.
Key cards, weapons and distance
- Bang!: Shoot a player within range. They lose a life point unless they play a Missed! (or use a defensive card such as a Barrel).
- Missed!: Cancels a Bang!.
- Beer: Restores a life point. It cannot be used to save you from elimination in the final two-player stage.
- Weapons: Your default gun reaches only a player next to you. Weapon cards in play extend your range and sometimes change how you shoot. You can have only one weapon in play at a time.
- Blue cards in play: Items such as the Barrel (a chance to dodge) or a horse that adjusts distance remain in front of you.
- Action cards: Cards such as Panic!, Cat Balou, Stagecoach, Gatling, Saloon and General Store let you steal, discard, draw or affect several players.
Distance is counted the short way around the table. Cards and abilities can increase or reduce distance, so a player who seems far away may be within reach.
Elimination and rewards
When a player loses their last life point, they are out and reveal their role. Some rewards and penalties apply in the base game, such as drawing cards for eliminating an Outlaw, or the Sheriff discarding hand and cards in play for eliminating a Deputy. Check the rulebook for exact details.
How to win
- Sheriff and Deputies: Win when all Outlaws and the Renegade are eliminated.
- Outlaws: Win when the Sheriff is eliminated.
- Renegade: Wins by being the last player alive.
Beginner tips
- Do not shoot the Sheriff on turn one, unless you are sure you are an Outlaw. Early guesses are often wrong.
- Watch who shoots whom to deduce roles.
- Keep a Missed! in hand when you are low on life.
- As a Renegade, avoid revealing yourself too early, and try to keep both sides in the game.
- Read your character ability before your first turn.
FAQ
How does the Bang game work?
You secretly belong to a team, then play cards over many turns to eliminate your rivals’ team while staying alive.
How many cards do you start with in Bang?
Each player starts with a hand equal to their life points.
How many players do you need?
The base game is for 4 to 7 players, so it is not a good fit for a pair. For two, see our best couple games. Another option for a group is Ludo, which is simpler. More ideas for small groups at home are in games to play with your roommate.