Uno Attack: it’s like regular Uno, but imagine a mischievous gremlin hiding inside the draw pile, ready to launch cards at unsuspecting players. This is Uno Attack (or Uno Extreme, if you’re in Canada or the UK), a game where strategy meets sheer, chaotic fun. Similar to Uno Blast but with a unique twist, Uno Attack keeps you on your toes with its unpredictable card launcher, turning the classic family card game into a laugh-out-loud experience.
We’ll break down those sometimes-confusing Uno Attack rules, from setting up the game to mastering the art of the well-timed “Hit 2.” We’ll even cover those crazy old-school cards you might find in your grandma’s attic. Get ready to launch your way to Uno Attack victory!
I. Uno Attack Arsenal: Cards & Launcher
Let’s break down the game components. You’ve got your number cards (1 through 9) in classic Uno colors: red, yellow, green, and blue. But the action cards are where things get interesting.
Want to shake things up? The Reverse card flips the order of play. Feeling generous? The Skip card lets you skip a player’s turn. The Hit 2 card? That’s a direct hit of two cards from the launcher to an unlucky player. And of course, we’ve got Wild cards to change the color in play. But the most powerful weapon? The Wild Attack-Attack card, letting you choose both the color and the player who faces the launcher—twice! Lastly, the Discard All card provides a much-needed purge if you’re overloaded with one color.
The card launcher, a battery-powered contraption, adds the element of surprise. Press the button, and cards fly out! Older versions have a shelf for the discard pile and a gentler launch. Newer versions, while lacking the shelf, pack a punch with more forceful, card-flinging action and fun sound effects.
II. Game Setup
Uno Attack accommodates 2-10 players. To determine the dealer, each player draws a card; highest number deals. The dealer distributes seven cards to each player. Remaining cards go facedown in the card launcher. The top card from the launcher is flipped face up to start the discard pile.
III. How to Play Uno Attack
On your turn, match the top card of the discard pile by number, color, or symbol. No match? Time for the card launcher. Press the button—if you’re lucky, nothing happens. If not, add the launched cards to your hand. Your turn ends.
Action cards add a strategic layer:
- Reverse: Reverses the order of play.
- Skip: Skips the next player’s turn.
- Hit 2: The next player draws two cards from the launcher.
- Discard All: Discard all cards of the matching color from your hand.
- Wild Card: Change the color in play to any color.
- Wild Attack-Attack: Choose the color and a player to take two hits from the launcher.
And don’t forget the golden rule of Uno Attack: when you’re down to one card, scream “UNO!” like you mean it. If someone catches you forgetting, you’ll be punished with two blasts from the launcher – ouch!
Speaking of punishment, the game goes clockwise, with the launcher rotating to each player like a ticking time bomb of card-based chaos.
IV. Winning the Game
The first player to empty their hand wins the round in Uno Attack. But the game isn’t over until points are tallied. Each card left in a player’s hand adds to the winner’s score:
Uno Attack Scoring Table:
| Card Type | Point Value |
|---|---|
| Number Cards (0-9) | Face Value |
| Reverse | 20 points |
| Skip | 20 points |
| Hit 2 | 20 points |
| Discard All | 30 points |
| Wild | 50 points |
| Wild Attack-Attack | 50 points |
The first player to reach 500 points wins the game.
V. Two-Player Game Variations
Now, if you’re feeling brave (or just can’t find a third player), Uno Attack works surprisingly well with just two players. A couple of rule tweaks, though. The Reverse card? Yeah, that basically becomes a Skip card since, well, there’s only two of you. And that Hit 2 card? Once your opponent has braved the launcher (twice!), play goes right back to you. Consider it a little bonus for your ruthlessness.
VI. Alternative Gameplay
Want to turn Uno Attack into a game of survival? Try keeping a running tally of points after each round—but here’s the twist—the lowest score wins! You could aim for a point threshold, say 500, and the first person to topple over that edge is the loser. It adds a whole new layer of strategy. Do you play it safe and risk racking up points? Or do you go all-in with risky attacks, hoping to send your opponents soaring past that 500-point mark?
VII. Tips and Strategies
Now, a few pro tips for dominating the world of Uno Attack. First off, treat those action cards like gold—especially the Hit 2s and Wild Attack-Attacks. They’re your weapons of mass card-struction. For example, imagine your smug opponent is down to one card, about to yell “UNO!” and snatch victory from your grasp. SLAM! Down comes a Wild Attack-Attack, sending them scrambling to collect a double-launcher blast of doom.
Secondly, channel your inner card shark and try to keep a good mix of colors in your hand. If the discard pile is a rainbow, and you’re sitting on a hand full of blues, well, good luck hitting that launcher button without consequence!
And lastly, embrace the chaos! You can’t predict how many cards the launcher will spit out, so sometimes you just gotta roll with it. A face full of cards might just be the lucky break you need – you might even get a card that lets you unleash a counter-attack! Who knows? That’s half the fun of Uno Attack.
