Who goes first in Small World of Warcraft?
Days of Wonder English base rules, with Battle for Azeroth team-variant clarification
In the base game, the person who last played a video game starts. Take turns clockwise from them.
Rule details
In later rounds, the same first player advances the round marker and starts again.
The Battle for Azeroth team variant has a different order: Alliance 1, Horde 1, Neutral, Alliance 2, Horde 2. Leave out positions that are not used for your player count.
With two or four players there is no Neutral player. With three or five players, include one Neutral player. The first Alliance player starts the team game.
Source & edition
- Small World of Warcraft: Days of Wonder rulesDays of Wonder · Starting the Game and I. The First Round; PDF pages 4 · Checked 2026-09-23Printed page references: 4
- Small World of Warcraft: Battle for Azeroth English team variantDays of Wonder · Playing in Teams on the first unnumbered page; first Alliance player example on the second · Checked 2026-09-23
Image: © Days of Wonder (publisher of the cited rules; cover art may have additional creators or rights holders) · Days of Wonder
If there’s a tie
The rulebook doesn’t say.
More starting rules
Browse available game rulesGames with a similar starting rule
Small World UndergroundThe last person to visit a cave or cellar starts. Turns then go clockwise.
MegalandThe person who most recently played a video game receives the first-player token and starts.
Cargo NoirWhoever last visited a port in real life starts and takes the first-player marker. Turns proceed clockwise.
Ghost StoriesThe most recent person to watch a kung-fu movie starts. Turns then proceed clockwise.
Finding NessieThe last player to take a bath starts.
Free game-night tools: score keeper · turn timer · dice roller · all tools
Found a different instruction in your edition? Send a correction with the game, edition, and source.