BoardGameArchiveHow to Play Cosmic Encounter: Encounters, Allies & Alien Powers
Learn Cosmic Encounter core rules: destiny, offense and defense, allies, encounter cards, attack and negotiate results, the Warp and foreign colonies.
Cosmic Encounter is a negotiation-and-conflict game where each player controls an alien species with a power that breaks or modifies the normal rules.
Cosmic Encounter is a negotiation-and-conflict game where each player controls an alien species with a power that breaks or modifies the normal rules. The standard objective is to establish five foreign colonies.
Key takeaway
Learn Cosmic Encounter core rules: destiny, offense and defense, allies, encounter cards, attack and negotiate results, the Warp and foreign colonies.
About this guide
The full rules, scoring explanations and references are retained in the sections below.
Topics covered
Regroup and recover a ship
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Destiny identifies the target color
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Launch ships through the Hyperspace Gate
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Offense and defense may invite allies
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Scope: Fantasy Flight Games core set; expansion aliens and modules are excluded.
Regroup and recover a ship
At the start of an encounter, the offense normally retrieves one ship from the Warp if possible, then proceeds to the Destiny phase.
Destiny identifies the target color
Reveal a Destiny card to determine which player/system is targeted. Special Destiny results can modify that target under the current core rules.
Launch ships through the Hyperspace Gate
The offense chooses one eligible target planet and commits up to four ships to the encounter unless a power/effect changes the limit. The planet owner becomes the defense.
Offense and defense may invite allies
Both main players may invite other players to commit ships to their side. Allies receive rewards or consequences based on the encounter result.
Choose encounter cards
Offense and defense each select one encounter card face down, then reveal simultaneously. Attack cards compare ship totals plus card values. Negotiate cards can create deals or compensation depending on what the opposing side played.
Resolve the encounter and alien effects
Alien powers, flares, artifacts, reinforcements and timing windows may alter the normal result. Winning offense ships establish a foreign colony; losing ships commonly go to the Warp.
A successful first encounter may lead to a second
Under the standard rules, if the offense succeeds in its first encounter, it may usually attempt a second encounter that turn. After that, play passes clockwise.
Five foreign colonies wins
A player wins when they establish the required fifth colony on planets outside their home system. Multiple players can share victory if the encounter creates simultaneous qualifying colonies.
Publisher reference: Fantasy Flight Games core rulebook.