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Official Rules & Gameplay Guide
Welcome to the official rulebook for Barricade Clash. Whether you are a newcomer or a seasoned veteran of classic Barricade (Malefiz), this guide covers every detail of board layout, pawn movement, barricade placement, capturing, time controls, and competitive fair play regulations.
1. Objective of the Game
The main objective of Barricade Clash is to be the first player to move any single one of your pawns onto the topmost Goal Spot at the apex of the board. You do not need to bring all your pawns to the top—reaching the goal with just 1 pawn grants immediate victory!
2. Board Setup & Starting Positions
- Each player starts with 5 colored pawns located in their respective starting house at the bottom of the board.
- Multiple white barricade obstacles are placed on designated bottleneck spots across the board at the beginning of the game.
- Players take alternating turns rolling a standard 6-sided die to move their pawns upward toward the top goal.
3. Dice Rolling & Pawn Movement
Movement is governed by the following strict rules:
- Exact Die Count: A pawn must move the exact number of spaces shown on the rolled die. You cannot split a die roll between multiple pawns.
- Directional Freedom: Pawns may move forward, backward, left, or right along connected board paths. However, a pawn cannot change direction or backtrack onto the exact same space in a single turn.
- Exiting Starting Base: Rolling a 6 or any number allows you to move a pawn out of your home base onto the starting field.
- Occupied Spaces: A pawn may pass through spaces occupied by friendly pawns, but cannot end its turn on a space occupied by another pawn of the same color.
4. The Barricade Mechanic (White Obstacles)
The white barricades are the defining tactical feature of Barricade Clash:
Movement Blockade
No pawn can jump over or pass through a white barricade. A barricade acts as a complete physical wall blocking the path.
Removing & Relocating Barricades
To clear a barricade, a player must land a pawn exactly on the barricade space by exact die count. When this occurs:
- The player picks up the white barricade.
- The player immediately relocates the barricade to any empty space on the board (except the bottom starting row).
- Strategic placement allows players to wall off opponents, block narrow bottleneck bridges, or shield their leading pawns from capture.
5. Capturing Opponent Pawns
If your pawn lands on a space occupied by an opponent's pawn, the opponent's pawn is captured. The captured pawn is immediately returned to the opponent's home starting base and must start its journey from the beginning.
6. Ranked Matchmaking & ELO Rating Regulations
In competitive Ranked mode:
- ELO System: Players start with an ELO rating of 800. Winning a ranked match increases your ELO rating based on your opponent's skill level; losing decreases your rating.
- Time Control: Each turn has a maximum countdown timer (300 seconds total bank). Failing to make a move before the timer expires results in an automatic turn skip or forfeit.
- Disconnect Protection: If a player disconnects during a live ranked match, they have 30 seconds to rejoin. If they fail to return, the remaining active player receives an automatic win and ELO points.
7. Fair Play & Anti-Cheat Code of Conduct
We enforce a strict zero-tolerance policy for cheating, unauthorized software scripts, intentional stalling, or offensive handles. Accounts violating fair play regulations are subject to immediate suspension, ELO reset, or permanent account bans.