Best Starting Placements in Catan

The best Catan starting placement is an intersection touching three high-pip hexes covering different resources, with room to expand in at least two directions. Count the pips (dots under each number), aim for 10+ combined pips across your two settlements, and make sure you touch all five resources between them. Placement is the highest-skill phase of the game — a strong start wins more games than any mid-game tactic.

Most players treat setup as a formality. Strong players treat it as the game. Here’s how to find the best Catan starting placement like the second group.

The Four Factors of a Great Catan Starting Placement

Every intersection should be scored on four things to find the best catan starting placement:

1. Pip count. Add the dots under each adjacent number — see our pips guide. A 6 (5 pips) + 9 (4 pips) + 4 (3 pips) intersection = 12 pips — excellent. Anything above 10 combined across your start is strong; below 7 is a problem.

2. Resource diversity. Across your two settlements, touch all five resources: lumber, brick, sheep, grain, ore. Missing a resource means depending on trades or ports for it all game.

3. Expansion room. Prefer intersections with open edges leading to unclaimed territory — ideally toward the coast (ports) or the board’s interior gaps. A rich corner with nowhere to build is a trap.

4. Port proximity. Settlements within two road segments of a useful port gain long-term trading power. A 3:1 port near your start is a safety net; a matching 2:1 port is a genuine asset.

The Ideal First Settlement

Look for the intersection with the highest pip total that also covers at least two resources you need. In practice, this usually means a 6-8-5, 6-9-8, or 5-6-9 type intersection — three mid-to-high numbers clustered together. But don’t stop at pips. Ask: where do my roads go from here? If the answer is “into a wall of opponents’ future settlements,” keep looking. The best Catan starting placement combines production with a growth corridor.

The Second Settlement: Filling Gaps

Your second placement (in reverse order, so you place last if you went first) serves two jobs: complete your resource spread and grab your starting hand. You collect one resource per adjacent hex immediately, so this settlement literally deals your opening cards. Prioritize whatever resources your first settlement missed. If settlement one gave you lumber, brick, and sheep, hunt grain and ore. Also consider: the second settlement is placed after seeing everyone else’s first placements. Use that information — don’t fight over scraps.

Spots to Avoid

The high-pip trap. Three great numbers touching the same resource looks amazing and plays terribly. The corner coffin. Edges and corners limit you to two hexes instead of three and offer one expansion direction. The desert neighbor. An intersection touching the desert effectively has one fewer producing hex. Fighting for scraps. If two opponents already committed near the ore cluster, don’t be the third — take uncontested territory and trade later. Steering clear of these pitfalls is key to the best catan starting placement.

Port-First Placements

Sometimes the best Catan starting placement is settling directly on a port intersection. A 2:1 port matching a resource you’re heavy in converts surplus into anything at a great rate. The 3:1 ports are solid safety nets for any start. Evaluate port spots by asking: “Am I giving up more than 2-3 pips to sit here?” If not, the port usually justifies it.

Frequently Asked Questions

What defines the best Catan starting placement? Three high-pip hexes covering different resources, with room to expand in at least two directions. If a spot has all three, take it.

Should I place my settlements near each other or spread out? Spread out, generally. Nearby settlements compete for the same expansion space and duplicate resources.

What if all the good spots are taken? Take the best available pip count with an eye on a specific plan — usually a port rush or a dev-card strategy.

Is it better to go first or last in placement order? Last is slightly better in most groups: you place your second settlement with full information.

How important is the starting resource hand? Quite. Your second settlement’s adjacent resources become your opening hand, which determines your first builds.

Use these four factors to find the best Catan starting placement every game, and you’ll start more games ahead than behind. For the game’s background, see Catan on Wikipedia.

Catan is a trademark of Catan GmbH. This is an unofficial fan guide.