For the rules of mattock, see GameHelpMattock

Summary and Links

• Mattock is a territory game.
• The removal mechanic causes like-coloured miners to link together in groups
  • On the smaller hex5 board, a single group of 3.
• Your goal is to trap your opponent's miners in a small area, while keeping a large area of open spaces for yourself.
• There is a quick strategy primer on the second page of the rules.
• The 3-minute rules/strategy video also covers strategy basics.
• Example game with video analysis.
• This article is a good in-depth strategy guide.
• Annotated games.

Protect Open Spaces Around the Edge of the Board

• As you mine and remove, you will eventually link your miners together and split the board’s territory with your opponent.
• The last player who can mine wins, so whoever has more open space to mine in their own territory will win.
• In the endgame, the open spaces will usually be around the edge of the board.
• Protect edge spaces by blocking choke points with your miners, and building shapes that block your opponent's connections.

Block Your Opponent Using the 3 Basic Shapes

• No tile can ever touch more than 3 other tiles.
  • So, when a tile touches exactly 3 other tiles, all of the adjacent open spaces are blocked.
  • There are only 3 ways that a tile can touch 3 other tiles, making 3 basic shapes:
    • the t-rex, whirligig, and diamond.
  • These shapes are described in the rules, strategy article, and strategy video.
• Each time you mine, think about which of the 3 basic shapes you will make and how you will use them to protect edge spaces from your opponent.

Protect Your Miners From Removal

• Connect your miners together to prevent your opponent from removing them.
• Create shapes that block your opponent from connecting, so that your opponent's miners can't get between your own miners and sever your connections.
• When you remove an opponent miner, check to make sure that your opponent can't reply by removing your own miners in return.