Who goes first in Pictionary?
Mattel English rules, item DKD47

Each team selects a Picturist, then the die is rolled to determine the order of play: the highest-rolling team starts. The Start space is always the yellow category, so the die is not rolled to choose the first word — only to decide which team begins.
Source & edition
- Pictionary — Instruction Sheet (DKD47)Mattel · "Set Up" section and "How to Play" opening paragraph · Checked 2026-09-27
Image: © Mattel, Inc. · Book Nook Bookstores, product image for Mattel DKD47 · Editorial fair use (Small clean box-front product image identifies the exact Pictionary edition discussed in this starting-rule article. It is used for editorial reference with no more artwork than needed for identification.)
Rule details
The Picturist must change each time a team sketches a new word.
If a team has a younger player, that team always uses the Junior Card Deck instead of the Adult Card Deck.
If there’s a tie
The rulebook doesn’t say.
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