BangArena rules

#In one minute

1. You get a secret role. Only the Marshal is revealed to everyone.
2. On your turn draw 2 cards and play as many as you like. Shot: once per turn.
3. You can only shoot within your weapon's range. Without a weapon everyone has the Revolver: range 1.
4. Shot at? Answer with a Ricochet, or a Flask on your last ♥; Cover works by itself.
5. From round 8 it's High Noon: no Shot limit for anyone, Cover no longer saves you, and healing stops working.
6. At the end of your turn keep no more cards in hand than you have ♥.
7. Eliminated? Your role is revealed to all. The team that completes its goal wins.

#The table and who sits there

A table of 4–8 seats. Each seat is a human, a bot or an AI (a language model); a badge under the name says who controls it. For every player you see: the character portrait and ability, ♥ health (now/max), cards in hand, distance ↔ from you, cards in play and the weapon. You are always at the bottom; the top line says whose turn it is and what is happening, below the table are the event feed and your hand.

#Roles and goals

Roles are dealt at random and stay hidden. Only you see your role (the «You are the …» strip above the table). The Marshal is public from the start. An eliminated player's role is revealed to everyone. The set of roles depends on the seat count and the mode — everyone sees it in the «Roles at the table» line.

Marshal Law

Public from the deal, takes the first turn. Bonus ♥ on top of the character's health depends on the seat count: 4 seats — +2 ♥, 5 seats — no bonus, 6 seats — +2 ♥, 7 seats — +1 ♥, 8 seats — +1 ♥. The starting hand equals the ♥, except: 6 seats — +2 cards, 7 seats — +1 card, 8 seats — −1 card. Cannot be put in Jail. Goal: remove every Raider and Loner. Eliminating your own Deputy discards all your cards: hand, cards in play and weapon.

Deputy Law

Plays for the Marshal, role hidden. Wins with the Marshal even when eliminated. The main danger is your own Marshal's fire: they don't know who you are. Starts with the character's health and no bonus, so ♥ and hand size never give the role away.

Raider Raiders

Goal: eliminate the Marshal. All Raiders win, eliminated ones too. Raiders don't know each other.

Loner On their own

On their own. Wins only as the last player at the table. If the Marshal falls while anyone besides the Loner is alive, the Raiders win — so a Loner needs the Marshal alive almost to the end. Starts with the character's health and no bonus.

Double Agent Raiders

Only in Double Agent mode (beta), from 5 seats — takes the place of one Raider. Role hidden, plays for the Raiders. At the deal the Marshal is privately told two «Deputies»: a real one and the Agent, but not which is which. The Agent and the Raiders know each other. Wins with the Raiders, even if eliminated.

Roles by seat count (Classic and Partners)

Roles in Double Agent mode

Role modes (chosen before the game):

• Classic — Loners play for themselves. At 8 seats there are two.
• Partners — same roles, but the Loners win together if only Loners are left at the table (eliminated Loners win too). There are two Loners only at 8 seats — at 4–7 seats the mode plays like Classic.
• Double Agent (beta) — one Raider becomes the Double Agent (from 5 seats; at 4 seats the table plays Classic, and the button says so). The Marshal knows two «Deputies», but one of them is the Raiders' agent. The Agent and the Raiders know each other.
• Old Classic — the Classic line-up with the original card game rules and none of our changes: no High Noon and no Glory, Cover works on ♥ from the deck (not 50/50), Jail skips your whole turn, the Flask does not heal with two players left, the Marshal gets +1 ♥ at any table, Stone Leopard has 4 ♥, a Raider is worth 3 cards.

#The turn

1. Order. The Marshal goes first, then around the table in seat order. Eliminated players are skipped.
2. Start of turn — checks. First Dynamite if it lies in front of you, then Jail. See «Checks».
3. Draw. You draw 2 cards from the deck — automatically. Some characters draw differently (see «Characters»).
4. Play. Play any number of cards in any order. Shot: once per turn; the Volcanic and the Mad Dog character shoot without a limit, and from round 8 (High Noon) everyone does. Buckshot doesn't use your Shot.
5. End of turn. Press «End turn». If you hold more cards than your ♥, discard the extra ones of your choice.

• High Noon. Rounds count at the Marshal's turns (the number is in the table header). From round 8 it is High Noon (☀ in the header): no Shot limit for anyone, Cover — card or a character's built-in one — no longer works, and neither does healing (Flask, Saloon, the Bonesetter's skill). It keeps a match from dragging: by noon the town runs out of patience.
• Deck empty? The discard pile is shuffled into a new deck.
• Every decision has the table's time per move: 15, 30, 60 or 90 seconds (the timer is next to the portrait); 8 seconds for a disconnected player. Out of time — the server makes the simplest move for you: pass, end turn or discard.
• Gone for long? The host can hand your seat to a bot («Hand to a bot») and give it back when you return.
• On someone else's turn you only answer attacks on you: the top line says «Response · Name» — whose answer it is.

#Distance and weapons

Distance is the smallest number of steps around the table to a player, counting living players only. Neighbours are at distance 1. When a player is eliminated the ring closes and distances shrink. A Shot reaches a player whose distance is no greater than your weapon range.

• Without a weapon everyone has the Revolver: range 1.
• One weapon at a time; a new one replaces the old, which is discarded.
• Horse in front of you: others see you 1 farther.
• Scope in front of you: you see others 1 closer (never closer than 1).
• Snatch works only at distance 1; Toss at any distance.

Weapons

#Answering attacks

Only the player under attack answers. Everyone else waits; the top line shows whose answer it is.

• A Shot at you. Discard a Ricochet — the hit is cancelled. With Cover in front of you a 50/50 flip happens first, by itself: lucky — the hit is cancelled; otherwise you can still Ricochet. A Flask works as an answer only on your last ♥ and with 3+ players alive: the hit is cancelled and you stay at 1 ♥. Or take the hit: −1 ♥.
• Buckshot. Every other player takes 1 damage; each answers in turn just like a Shot.
• Raid. Every other player discards a Shot — or loses 1 ♥.
• Duel. The target discards a Shot first, then the challenger, and so on. Whoever can't (or won't) loses 1 ♥.
• Double Barrel. Dodging their Shot takes 2 Ricochets (Cover counts as one).

#Checks

Jail and Dynamite checks: the server flips the top card of the deck; its suit and rank (in the corner) matter. The flipped card is shown large in the centre of the table. Cover flips no card — it is a fair 50/50 coin (from round 8, at High Noon, Cover does not work).

• Cover: a 50/50 flip on every hit — lucky, and the hit is cancelled. Suits do not matter. Iron Brow has Cover built in; the built-in one and a Cover card together give one check, not two.
• Jail: ♥ — you break out and play as usual. Otherwise you draw 2 but can't play — the turn goes straight to discarding. The Jail is discarded either way. The Marshal can't be jailed.
• Dynamite: ♠ 2 to 9 — it explodes: 3 damage, Dynamite discarded. Otherwise it passes to the next player. Checked before Jail.
• Lucky gets two tries on any check; the better one counts.

The deck has 80 cards: ♥ — 21 (Jail escape ≈ 26%), ♠ 2–9 — 12 (Dynamite explodes ≈ 15%). Cover is exactly 50%.

#Elimination, glory and penalty

• At 0 ♥ a player is eliminated. Their role is revealed to everyone and their cards are discarded (the Scavenger character takes them instead).
• Turn order and distances are recounted without the eliminated player.
• Glory: whoever eliminates a player gets a ★ star of glory and picks an upgrade for the rest of the match: Sharpshooter — +1 range; Toughness — +1 max ♥ and +1 ♥ now; Instinct — every draw, look at 3 cards and keep 2 (once). Everyone sees the stars by the portrait.
• Bounty: eliminate a player with stars — take one of their stars with an upgrade and draw a card from the deck for each of their stars.
• Last bullet: a Marshal whose Deputies are all out gets a star without a shot.
• In Old Classic there are no stars: whoever eliminates a Raider draws 3 cards from the deck, as in the original game.
• Penalty: a Marshal who eliminates their own Deputy discards all their cards: hand, cards in play and weapon.
• The eliminator is the source of the last damage; in a Duel, the other duellist. A Dynamite explosion belongs to no one: no star, no penalty.
• Eliminated players stay as spectators: they see the table and can send reactions.

#Winning and the match summary

• Law (Marshal and Deputies) — no living Raiders or Loners are left. Eliminated Deputies win too.
• Raiders — the Marshal is out, and a lone Loner is not the only one left. All Raiders win, eliminated ones too.
• Loner — the only living player at the table.
• Partners (mode) — every living player is a Loner: all Loners win, eliminated ones too.
• Double Agent (mode) — wins with the Raiders once the Marshal is out, even if the Agent is out too. To win, the Law must remove him as well.

After the match: the summary screen — who won, everyone's roles, match badges, your achievements and a statistics table per player. «Play again» is right there.

#All cards

The deck has 80 cards of three kinds. Brown cards are played and discarded. Blue cards stay in play in front of a player and work while they lie there. A weapon also goes in play, one per player. Tap a card in the game to see its text, a tip and its suit.

One-shot (brown)

Shot

one-shot · in deck: 25

Deal 1 damage to a player in weapon range (once per turn). Cover and Ricochet stop it.

Tip: Aim at empty hands: no cards, no Ricochet.

Ricochet

one-shot · in deck: 12

Reaction: cancel a Shot or a Buckshot hit aimed at you.

Tip: Keep one in hand, especially when your ♥ runs low.

Flask

one-shot · in deck: 6

Heal 1 ♥. Off-turn only at 1 ♥ vs a Shot or Buckshot, and only with 3+ alive.

Tip: Save it for off-turn: at 1 ♥ it stops a Shot or Buckshot.

Snatch

one-shot · in deck: 4

Take a card from a player at distance 1: your pick from play or a random one from hand.

Tip: Grab their Cover or weapon off the table — hurts more than a hand card.

Toss

one-shot · in deck: 4

Discard a card from any player: your pick from play or a random one from hand.

Tip: Distance doesn't matter: knock the gun off the deadliest shooter.

Duel

one-shot · in deck: 3

Challenge any player: take turns discarding a Shot, they go first; whoever can't loses 1 ♥.

Tip: Duel whoever holds the fewest cards.

Raid

one-shot · in deck: 2

Every other player discards a Shot or loses 1 ♥.

Tip: Play it when rivals' hands are thin — not everyone has a Shot.

Wagon

one-shot · in deck: 2

Draw 2 cards from the deck.

Tip: Play it first — you can still use what you draw this turn.

Bazaar

one-shot · in deck: 2

Every living player draws 1 card from the deck, clockwise starting with you.

Tip: Rivals get a card too: play it when you need it more.

Saloon

one-shot · in deck: 1

Every living player heals 1 ♥.

Tip: Heals enemies too: play it when you need ♥ more than they do.

Caravan

one-shot · in deck: 1

Draw 3 cards from the deck.

Tip: Caravan first, decisions later: more cards, more options.

Buckshot

one-shot · in deck: 1

Every other player takes 1 damage; Cover and Ricochet stop it. Doesn't use your Shot limit.

Tip: Play it, then fire a regular Shot — your limit is untouched.

Stays in play (blue)

Jail

in play · in deck: 3

Jail a player (not the Marshal). Turn start: ♥ plays, else they draw but can't play. Jail is discarded.

Tip: One check, at most one turn without plays — then Jail is gone.

Cover

in play · in deck: 2

Hit by a Shot or Buckshot? A 50/50 flip: lucky — the hit is cancelled. If not, you can still Ricochet.

Tip: A card-free 50/50 dodge: luck saves your Ricochets for later.

Horse

in play · in deck: 2

Others see you at +1 distance.

Tip: Play it early: short guns lose you out of range.

Scope

in play · in deck: 1

You see others at −1 distance (minimum 1).

Tip: With a Revolver or Sawed-Off, Scope brings far targets into reach.

Dynamite

in play · in deck: 1

Place it before you. Start of turn, before Jail: spades 2–9 deal 3 damage, else it passes to the next player.

Tip: Play it with 4+ ♥: you'll survive the blast — neighbours, maybe not.

Weapons

Volcanic

weapon · in deck: 2 · range 1

Weapon: range 1, unlimited Shots.

Tip: Stockpile Shots, then unload them all on a neighbour in one turn.

Sawed-Off

weapon · in deck: 3 · range 2

Weapon: range 2.

Tip: Solid early pick: reaches two seats out.

Rifle

weapon · in deck: 1 · range 3

Weapon: range 3.

Tip: Add a Scope: range 3 hits like 4.

Carbine

weapon · in deck: 1 · range 4

Weapon: range 4.

Tip: A Horse rarely saves them: range 4 usually shrugs off a +1.

Long Rifle

weapon · in deck: 1 · range 5

Weapon: range 5.

Tip: Most of the table is in range: pick targets, not seats.

#Characters

Every player gets a random character with an ability and a health value. The Marshal gets bonus ♥ on top, by seat count (see «Roles and goals»). Everyone sees the ability under the portrait.

Stone Leopard ♥ 3

Draws 1 card from the deck for every hit taken (even Dynamite) — 2 cards if the hit leaves them at 2 ♥ or less.

Tip: Don't Ricochet every Shot: a wound also means a card.

Red Suit ♥ 4

In the draw, reveals the 2nd card: if it's red, draws 1 more.

Tip: Watch the discard: lots of red gone means fewer bonus draws.

Two-Faced ♥ 4

Can play a Shot as a Ricochet and a Ricochet as a Shot.

Tip: Every Shot or Ricochet works both ways — hoard them.

Tollman ♥ 3

When hit by a player, takes a random card from their hand.

Tip: Every hit on you costs the shooter a card — let them try.

Grip ♥ 4

May take the first draw at random from another player's hand.

Tip: Draw from the biggest hand: you also wreck their plan.

Iron Brow ♥ 4

Always has Cover, card or no card; a Cover card adds no second check.

Tip: Tougher than you look: close range is your comfort zone.

Three Eyes ♥ 4

In the draw, looks at the top 3: keeps 2, puts 1 back on top.

Tip: The card you put back goes to the next draw — don't gift it.

Lucky ♥ 4

On a check — two tries, the better one counts.

Tip: Jail, Dynamite and Cover — two tries: the better one counts.

Pass Shadow ♥ 3

Always mounted: a built-in Horse, they count as 2 farther away.

Tip: Short guns struggle to reach you — make them hunt for a Scope.

Vulture Jr. ♥ 4

May take the first draw from the top of the discard pile. When someone is eliminated, draws 2 cards from the deck.

Tip: Watch the discard pile: Shots and Ricochets land there often.

Eagle Eye ♥ 4

Shoots farther: built-in Scope.

Tip: Even a Revolver reaches farther: fewer dead Shots in hand.

Bonesetter ♥ 5

Any time: discard 2 cards to heal 1 ♥. Not above max, not from zero.

Tip: Heal early, even off-turn — before the hit, not after.

Double Barrel ♥ 4

Point-blank (distance 1), dodging their Shot takes 2 Ricochets (Cover counts as one). Farther away, one is enough.

Tip: Target players holding one Ricochet — it's not enough.

Empty Hands ♥ 4

Hand empty? Draws 1 card right away.

Tip: Empty your hand: the last card played pulls in the next.

Scavenger ♥ 4

When someone is eliminated, takes their hand and cards in play.

Tip: Stay alive: every elimination refills your hand.

Mad Dog ♥ 4

No shot limit: play as many Shots per turn as you like. And sees 1 farther: built-in Scope.

Tip: Grab a longer gun: no limit plus range beats a Volcanic.

#The table screen

Top buttons: 🔔 — your-turn notifications, ⛶ — focus mode, 📖 — the library of cards, characters and rules, RU/EN — language. The screenshots show the Russian interface; switch to EN with the same button.

#Table signals

There is no free chat — only preset signals. Everyone at the table sees them.

• Who I am: «I am the Deputy / a Raider / the Loner». Bluffing is part of the game.
• I think this is… — tap a player's portrait and mark who you think they are. Everyone's guesses show above the portrait.
• Reaction: 👍 Nice 😂 Funny 😠 Angry 😱 Scared 🤝 Let's deal 🤔 Suspicious GG Good game
• At most one signal per 1.2 seconds and 60 per match. Claims and marks while you are in the game; reactions also after elimination.
• Bots and AI models neither see nor send signals: signals never affect their decisions.

#Settings and rooms

Before the game (start screen):

• Name at the table.
• Seats at the table — 4 to 8.
• Roles — Classic, Partners, Double Agent or Old Classic.
• Time per move — 15, 30, 60 or 90 seconds for each decision of a person. Too slow and the autopilot finishes the move for you.
• Speed — Slow, Normal, Fast: pauses between bot moves and turn changes. The host can also change it mid-game with the speed button above the table.
• Play — straight to a table with bots. Create room — get a code and a link for friends. Join room — by code. Watch a bot match — as a spectator.

In a room (host controls):

• Fill with bots — bots take every free seat; Seat a bot — one seat.
• Replace with a bot / Remove — for a taken seat.
• Hand to a bot (autopilot) and Give back to the player — during a match, if a player is gone.
• Share — the room code and link. ← Back — leave the room and change the settings.
• If the host is gone for 30 seconds, another player becomes the host.

#Bots and AI at the table

• Bot N — the server's rule-based bot. Plays its role: takes revealed roles and who shot whom into account. Never sees other players' cards or hidden roles.
• AI N — a seat controlled by a language model (the model badge is on the player's sheet). The model sees exactly what a player in that seat would see and picks a move from the legal list.
• Humans, bots and models play by the same rules, with the same timer and the same information.

How models connect and how we test them: For AI developers. Machine-readable rules: rules for AI.

#Fine points and FAQ