Root Movement Rule: Clearing Rule, Paths & When You Can Move
Root’s basic movement restriction is easy to miss: to move between two clearings, you normally must rule the clearing you move from, the clearing you move to, or both.
What does it mean to rule a clearing?
You rule a clearing if you have more total warriors plus buildings there than every other player. Tokens and pawns normally do not count toward rule.
What happens on a tie?
If players tie for the greatest total, no one rules the clearing unless a faction ability specifically breaks that rule.
Basic move requirement
Choose one clearing and move any number of your warriors from it to one adjacent clearing along a path. You must rule either the origin or destination clearing.
Do rivers count as paths?
Not normally. Rivers are not paths unless a faction ability or other rule explicitly treats them as paths.
Can one piece move more than once?
Yes, if your faction gives you enough Move actions. A piece is not generally limited to one move per turn; each move must be legal when it happens.
Faction exceptions
Root factions deliberately break general rules. For example, some factions have special movement systems involving forests, rivers or faction-specific pieces. When a faction rule conflicts with the general movement rule, follow the faction rule.
Does moving require permission?
No. Root actions do not generally require another player’s consent. If the move is legal under the rules, you may take it.
Related Root guides
Official source
Rules checked September 2026.