How to Play King of Tokyo: Dice, Tokyo, Damage & Power Cards
King of Tokyo is a push-your-luck dice battle. On your turn you roll six dice up to three times, then resolve number results for victory points, claws for damage, hearts for healing and lightning bolts for Energy. Tokyo changes who you attack and rewards staying in the city.
Current base-game guide. This covers IELLO’s standard King of Tokyo rules without expansion Evolutions or other modules.
Roll six dice up to three times
Roll all six dice. After the first and second rolls, keep any dice you want and reroll the rest. You may reroll kept dice later if you change your mind. After the third roll—or earlier if you stop—resolve the final six results.
Three matching numbers score points
A set of at least three matching 1s, 2s or 3s scores that number in VP. Every additional matching die beyond the first three adds 1 more VP.
Claws attack monsters on the other side of Tokyo
Each claw deals 1 damage to every relevant monster. If you are outside Tokyo, your attack hits the monster in Tokyo (and Tokyo Bay when applicable). If you are in Tokyo, your attack hits all monsters outside Tokyo.
Hearts heal only outside Tokyo
Each heart normally heals 1 damage, up to your maximum health, but a monster occupying Tokyo cannot use ordinary heart results to heal. Power cards can create exceptions.
Lightning bolts generate Energy
Each lightning result gives 1 Energy cube. Spend Energy after resolving dice to buy face-up Power cards from the market. Keep cards give ongoing abilities; discard cards resolve once and are discarded.
Enter Tokyo when it is empty
If Tokyo is empty at the end of your attack step, you must enter. Entering Tokyo gives 1 VP. If you begin your turn in Tokyo and remain there, you gain 2 VP.
A monster damaged in Tokyo may yield
When a monster in Tokyo takes damage from another monster’s attack, it may leave Tokyo after the attack resolves. The attacking monster then enters the vacated Tokyo space. Choosing whether to stay is the main risk/reward decision in the game.
Two ways to win
You win immediately by reaching 20 VP or by being the only monster still alive. If several effects resolve around a winning moment, follow the rulebook/card timing for the exact order.
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Source: IELLO: King of Tokyo. Checked September 20, 2026.