BoardGameArchiveHow to Play Apiary: Worker Bees, Hive Tiles & Hibernation
Learn Apiary base-game rules: place worker bees, bump and strengthen workers, explore, farm, advance, build hive tiles, use faction powers and hibernate bees.
Apiary is a worker-placement game where worker bees become stronger when displaced, then eventually hibernate. Worker strength is therefore both power and a lif
Apiary is a worker-placement game where worker bees become stronger when displaced, then eventually hibernate. Worker strength is therefore both power and a lifespan timer.
At a glance
Learn Apiary base-game rules: place worker bees, bump and strengthen workers, explore, farm, advance, build hive tiles, use faction powers and hibernate bees.
About this guide
Apiary is a worker-placement game where worker bees become stronger when displaced, then eventually hibernate. Worker strength is therefore both power and a lifespan timer.
What this guide covers
Place a worker bee
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Bump occupied workers
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Explore
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Farm and gather
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Scope: Stonemaier base game; Expanding the Hive excluded.
Place a worker bee
Send one available bee to an action space. Its current strength can determine how powerful the action becomes.
Bump occupied workers
When placing onto an occupied space under the legal bumping rules, displaced bees return to their owner stronger.
Explore
Use exploration actions to reveal planets and gain resources or bonuses.
Farm and gather
Acquire pollen, fiber, water and other resources used for hive development and advancement.
Build hive tiles
Add tiles to your faction mat to create resource engines, abilities and scoring patterns.
Advance
Progress on the major tracks and unlock increasingly valuable rewards.
Hibernation
When a bee reaches the end of its strength cycle, it hibernates instead of remaining a normal worker. Hibernation can itself produce benefits and frees your economy to create or develop other workers.
Game end
When the Flow/end condition is reached, score hive development, tracks, hibernation and other base-game categories.