Catan Explorers & Pirates Expansion Guide
Catan: Explorers & Pirates is the most mission-driven of the four major Catan expansions. It uses exploration, movable ships, crews, settlers and scenario objectives instead of simply extending the base game’s road-and-settlement race.
What Explorers & Pirates adds
- Movable expedition ships
- Settlers and crew carried by ships
- Unexplored islands and outposts
- Pirate-lair missions
- Fishing missions
- Spice-trading missions
How ships differ from Seafarers
Explorers & Pirates ships are expedition pieces that move across the board and transport cargo, settlers and crew. They are not simply road-like links placed permanently along sea edges.
This makes the expansion much more about logistics and movement than Seafarers.
Exploration and outposts
The expanded board includes undiscovered areas. Players sail outward, reveal new land and establish outposts on islands beyond the starting area.
Pirate-lair missions
Crews can be used against pirate lairs. Success contributes toward mission rewards and creates competition over which player can complete the Council’s objectives most efficiently.
Fishing missions
Ships collect fish from fishing grounds and return them to the appropriate destination for rewards. This turns movement efficiency into a scoring consideration.
Spice missions
Players meet villages, collect spices and gain useful benefits that improve later sailing or pirate-fighting efficiency.
Can Explorers & Pirates combine with other expansions?
Yes, but CATAN recommends treating it primarily as its own expansion. Official combination documents exist for Cities & Knights and Traders & Barbarians, and CATAN also documents how it can interact with Seafarers.
What do you need for 5–6 players?
For 5–6 players you need the base Catan game, base 5–6 player extension, Explorers & Pirates, and its matching 5–6 player extension.
Who should add it?
Choose Explorers & Pirates when your group wants Catan to feel more like a mission game with moving pieces and discovery. Choose Seafarers instead if you mainly want a familiar Catan economy on larger island maps.
Related guides
Publisher source
Expansion details checked September 2026.