Exploding kittens is an award winning, super popular card game from Matthew Inman and Elan Lee. The aim of the game is to play strategically to blow up your opponents whilst avoiding being blown up yourself.
This game is super fun to play but there seems to be some confusion over some of the rules, which has caused many arguments within households 😂
Let’s take a look at some of the rules that you should know before playing Exploding Kittens.
Table of Contents
Does an exploding kitten end your turn?
This question does cause some confusion with players but I’m going to break it down for you.
If a player plays their turn and draws an exploding kitten and they don’t have a defuse card in their hand then they have blown up, their turn is over and they are out of the game.
If a player player plays their turn and draws an exploding kitten but they have a defuse card in their hand then they can play this card and place the exploding kitten back in the deck. Their turn is now over.
If a player draws an exploding kitten as the result of another player playing an attack card (which means they have to draw two cards) and they then defuse the kitten this will not end your turn, you must still take your remaining turn.
What if the exploding kitten is the last card?
At no point in the game is the discard pile put back into the deck so if the exploding kitten is the last card then players will continue to play as normal. If the player who’s turn it is cannot play a skip, attack or defuse card then they have exploded and they are out of the game.
What happens if you nope an attack in exploding kittens?
If player 1 plays an attack card and player 2 plays a nope card then the turn would go back to player 1 to draw a card from the deck. Player 2 does not have to take two cards. Nope cards cancel out the cards underneath them like it was never played.
Can you nope a chain of attacks?
Yes you can nope a chain of attacks. If player 1 plays an attack card, then player 2 plays an attack card and player 3 places a nope card down then the turn would go back to player 2 to take 2 cards from the deck (because of player 1’s attack card).
Can you nope a nope in exploding kittens?
Yes you can nope a nope card. This in effect makes the original nope a ‘yup’. This is because a nope card will always cancel out the card placed underneath it.
**And remember, you can play a nope card before an action has taken place even if it’s not your turn.
Can you nope a defuse card?
No the rules state that you cannot nope a defuse card. Nope cards can’t be used in the following instances:
- when drawing a card normally
- when a defuse card is played
- when an exploding kitten is drawn
You can use a nope card on against everything else.
Read More: Imploding, Barking and Streaking Kittens: 12 Rules You Should Know
Can you play two attacks in exploding kittens?
One player cannot play two attack cards in a single turn. Playing a single attack card will end the players turn.
However it is possible to play two attacks in the form of a chain attack. For example, if player 1 plays an attack card, player 2 can play a second attack card as a retaliation.
What happens if you play an attack on attack?
If player 1 plays an attack and player 2 plays another attack then the attacks would stack, so effectively 4 turns will now need to be played by player 1. (Unless they have a nope card)
This is the same if more than two people are playing. The stacked attack would be passed on to player 3 and so on if more attacks were played.
Can you nope a 3 of a kind?
Yes you can nope a three of a kind. Nope cards can be used for anything with the exception of exploding kittens, defuse and drawing a card normally.
There is an argument over whether you can ask for a nope card when playing a three of a kind because the other player can theoretically ‘nope’ your request and waste your go. There is a suggestion that if a three of a kind is being played the nope card should be used straight away before the player chooses the card and person they are stealing from otherwise they cannot nope the request.
Does an exploding kitten end an attack?
No an exploding kitten does not end an attack. If you have been attacked and have to take two turns, if on the first turn you draw an exploding kitten and defuse it you would still have to take your remaining turn.
Read More: How Many Cards in Exploding Kittens?
Do attacks stack in exploding kittens?
Yes attacks do stack in exploding kittens. If player 1 was to play an attack card, this would mean that player 2 now had to take two turns, however if player 2 then also played an attack card the play would be passed to player 3 who would now have to take 4 turns. If player 3 also played an attack card this would move to player 4 who would now need to take 6 turns.
Can you nope a see the future card?
Yes you can nope a see the future card, however this must be played quickly and before the action is taken. You cannot play a nope card if the player has already looked at the top three cards.
Can you nope 5 cards?
Yes you can nope 5 cards. Playing 5 different cards at the same time allows you to go through the discard pile and pick out any card that you like. This must be done quickly as you can be noped at any time.
Can you nope a skip card?
Yes you can definitely nope a skip card. When a player plays a skip card this means that their turn ends without having to draw a card. By playing the nope card this cancels out the skip and the player must take their turn.
Exploding Kittens: 14 Rules You Should Know
I hope this article has helped defuse an explosion in your household and cleared up some of the rules to play exploding kittens.
If you have a question about the exploding kittens expansion packs, imploding kittens, barking kittens and streaking kittens check out this article here.
If you have any other questions please let us know in the comments, I would be happy to help.
