Who goes first in Fallout Shelter: The Board Game?
Fantasy Flight Games English rulebook
The player who was most recently underground takes the first player token and goes first.
Rule details
During the Place Dwellers step, players start with the token holder and take turns clockwise until everyone has placed all dwellers or passed.
A room space showing the first-player icon gives its user the token and first turn in the next round.
Source & edition
- Fallout Shelter: The Board Game: English rulebook v2Fantasy Flight Games · Setup, step 5; Playing the Game; First Player icon · Checked 2026-09-23Printed page references: 3, 4, 6
Image: © Fantasy Flight Games and Fallout licensors and any cover-art licensors or artists (precise ownership not stated on product page) · Fantasy Flight Games and Fallout licensors
If your rules call for a random choice, use the player picker.
If there’s a tie
The rulebook doesn’t say. If you need a tie-break, pick a player at random.
More starting rules
Browse available game rulesGames with a similar starting rule
Dungeon RollThe player who was most recently underground starts as the Adventurer.
Anno 1800: The Board GameWhoever was abroad most recently takes the starting-player token and starts the game.
Century: Eastern WondersThe player who was most recently on a boat starts.
AqualinThe player who was most recently in the ocean goes first.
ExposedThe player who was most recently stolen from goes first.
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