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Catan Robber Rules
Learn what happens when a 7 is rolled, who discards cards and how stealing works.
Discard when required, move the robber and steal a resource legally.
The robber is one of the most frequently misplayed parts of Catan. It matters in three separate ways: rolling a 7, blocking production, and stealing a resource card.
What happens when a 7 is rolled?
- No terrain hex produces resources.
- Every player with more than 7 resource cards must discard half of them, rounded down.
- The player who rolled the 7 moves the robber to a different terrain hex.
- If at least one opponent has a settlement or city next to that hex, the active player may steal 1 random resource card from one eligible opponent.
Who has to discard?
You discard only if you have 8 or more resource cards. Development cards do not count toward the hand-size check.
Examples: with 8 cards you discard 4; with 9 cards you discard 4; with 11 cards you discard 5.
Can you leave the robber where it is?
No. Under the standard rules, when you move the robber because of a 7, it must be moved to another terrain hex.
What does the robber block?
A terrain hex occupied by the robber does not produce resources when its number is rolled. Settlements and cities next to that hex receive nothing from that hex while the robber remains there.
How does stealing work?
After moving the robber, choose one opponent with a settlement or city adjacent to the robber’s new hex. Take one resource card at random from that player’s hand. If more than one opponent is eligible, you choose which player to steal from.
Does the robber steal development cards?
No. The robber steals only resource cards.
Does a Knight use the same robber rules?
A Knight development card also moves the robber and can trigger a random resource steal from an adjacent opponent. The hand-discard step belongs specifically to rolling a 7.
Worked example: a 7, three hands, one steal
Suppose a 7 is rolled while three players hold 9, 8 and 7 resource cards. The players with 9 and 8 each discard 4; the player with 7 discards none. Check every player’s hand before the robber moves. Development cards are not part of these hand counts, and no hex produces resources from that roll.
The roller then moves the robber to a different terrain hex. If two opponents border that hex, choose one eligible opponent and take one resource card at random from that player’s hand. While the robber remains there, that hex produces nothing when its number is rolled; other hexes with that number still produce normally.
Roll of 7 or Knight card?
| Event | Discard for more than 7? | Move robber and possibly steal? |
|---|---|---|
| Roll a 7 | Yes, all players check their hands | Yes |
| Play a Knight development card | No | Yes |
When settling a dispute, resolve the discard first, then the move and possible steal. The current CATAN base-game rulebook is the authority for edition-specific wording.
Related Catan guides
Official source
Rules checked September 2026.