From the publisher’s rulebook
Who goes first in Terra Mystica?
Capstone English base rules
Whoever most recently dug a planting bed in their own garden goes first.
Rule details
That player receives the Starting player token. After Income, they take the first Action, followed by the other players clockwise.
Initial Dwelling placement and Bonus-card selection have their own setup orders. They do not replace the token holder as the first player in the Action phase.
In later rounds, the first player to pass becomes the next round’s starting player.
Source & edition
- Terra Mystica: Capstone Games rulesCapstone Games · Setup: Starting player token; Choosing a Faction Board; first Structures and Bonus cards; Income; Action phase; Passing; faction reference · Checked 2026-09-23Printed page references: 5, 6, 8, 9, 14, 20
Image: © Capstone Games / Feuerland Spiele · Capstone Games
If there’s a tie
The rulebook doesn’t say.
More starting rules
Browse available game rulesGames with a similar starting rule
Cottage GardenThe player who most recently weeded a garden goes first.
Save the Treasure of Fairy TalesThe player who was most recently in a garden starts.
FoothillsChoose a starting player; the rules suggest the person who most recently dug soil in their garden.
The Hanging GardensWhoever did yard work most recently takes the first-player marker and begins their garden.
Into the BlueThe player who swam most recently starts the game.
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.