The Ludarium Academy · Full course · Free

Four Actions, Four Cures

An unofficial Pandemic course

Learn Pandemic, teach it in ten minutes, and help your table win together by reading the decks, timing cures, and giving every player a real say.

Free, one short lesson at a time. Unsubscribe anytime. Privacy

Pandemic setup for four players: the board with one research station and all four pawns in Atlanta, nine cities starting with 3, 2, or 1 disease cubes, the infection rate marker on the first 2, the outbreaks marker on 0, cure markers beside the cure indicators, the Infection deck and its discard pile of 9 cards, the Player deck with one Epidemic in each pile, the cube supply in four colors, five spare research stations, and each player's role card, reference card, and 2-card hand.Free printable teach sheetSetup, a turn, scoring, and three tips on one page.

Five levels, 17 lessons

Start with lesson one

  1. Level 0 · Learn to play

    Volunteer

    After this level: Set up, teach, and run a full game, Epidemics and chain reactions included, without opening the rulebook.

    1. 01How to Play Pandemic
    2. 02How to Teach Pandemic
    3. 03Pandemic Epidemics and Outbreaks, Step by Step

  2. Level 1 · Beginner

    Responder

    After this level: Catch the common rules slips, play every role to its strength, open well before the first Epidemic, and build stations that save cards.

    1. 04Your First Three Games of Pandemic
    2. 05The Seven Pandemic Roles and How to Play Each One
    3. 06Pandemic Opening Strategy: Before the First Epidemic
    4. 07Getting Around in Pandemic: Moves and Research Stations

  3. Level 2 · Intermediate

    Field Lead

    After this level: Read the Infection discard pile, get cards to the right hand on time, play each Event at its best moment, and plan as a team with hands closed.

    1. 08The Pandemic Midgame: Reading the Infection Deck
    2. 09Pandemic Card Flow: Planning Shares and Cures
    3. 10Pandemic Event Cards: When to Play Each One
    4. 11Planning Pandemic as a Team, With Hands Closed

  4. Level 3 · Expert

    Tactician

    After this level: Put odds on the next Epidemic and the next outbreak, count the endgame to the last turn, and beat six Epidemics.

    1. 12Pandemic Odds: The Next Epidemic and the Next Outbreak
    2. 13Pandemic Endgame Math: Counting to the Last Turn
    3. 14Beating Heroic Pandemic: Six Epidemics

  5. Level 4 · Mastery

    Veteran

    After this level: Pick your next expansion or Legacy season, solve the official puzzles and scenarios, play solo, and set your own challenge ladder.

    1. 15Pandemic Player Counts, Variants, and Expansions
    2. 16Pandemic Puzzles and Scenarios: Practice With a Goal
    3. 17Pandemic Solo Play, Challenges, and Finding a Table

Every lesson is free to read here, any time. Sign up and they also arrive by email, one at a time, so the course keeps you learning between game nights.

Who it is for

  • New players who want the rules clear before the first Epidemic hits.
  • Hosts who bring Pandemic to game night and want every player, not just one, to have a say.
  • Groups who keep losing to outbreak chains and want to know why.
  • Anyone curious about Legacy, solo play, and harder challenges.
Players
2 to 4 (official solo variant for 1)
Play time
About 45 minutes
Ages
Ages 8 and up
Rules as of
Pandemic rulebook, second edition (copyright 2013 Z-Man Games, current web PDF)

Questions

How do you win Pandemic?

Discover cures for all four diseases. Your team wins the moment the fourth cure is found, even with cubes still on the board. You do not need to eradicate anything.

How do you lose Pandemic?

Three ways: the eighth outbreak, needing disease cubes of a color when that supply has run out, or a player who cannot draw 2 Player cards after their actions. Everyone loses together.

How many Epidemic cards should you use in Pandemic?

Four for an Introductory game, five for Standard, six for Heroic. The rulebook suggests four for your first game and six once you have mastered Standard.

Can you give any card with Share Knowledge?

No. You give or take only the City card that matches the city you are both in, and both players must agree. The Researcher is the exception: she may give any City card from her hand.

Do you draw a replacement card after an Epidemic?

No. Resolve the Epidemic, then remove it from the game. The card it took up in your draw is simply gone.

Can you play Pandemic solo?

Yes. Z-Man Games publishes official solo rules: you lead three roles that share one hand, and an archive of cards replaces Share Knowledge. Board Game Arena also lists Pandemic for 1 to 4 players.

Teach sheet · PDF · Rules as described in the Pandemic rulebook, second edition (copyright 2013 Z-Man Games, current web PDF); official rules.

Unofficial. Not affiliated with or sponsored by Z-Man Games or Asmodee. Pandemic is a trademark of Z-Man Games.