How Axis & Allies Works

The rules for Axis & Allies have changed somewhat over the years. The changes generally revolve around set-up changes, different rules for weapons research, the addition of "combined arms" and changes to the victory cities. Modern versions of the rules offer more balance between nations, but many players prefer the classic rules. Some of the variant Axis & Allies games, such as Axis & Allies: Battle of the Bulge and Axis & Allies: Miniatures differ significantly. We're going to talk about the rules common to the original Axis & Allies and revisions derived from it.

Setting up the game takes a few minutes, as each player chooses one or more nations, then lays out the plastic pieces in the appropriate territories according to the rulebook. Each nation also receives a set number of Industrial Production Certificates (IPCs). IPCs are the currency of Axis & Allies, representing the economic and industrial power required to manufacture weapons, train soldiers and research new technologies.

Play is divided into turns, each turn made up of seven phases. Each nation plays through an entire turn (all seven phases) before the next nation goes. Nations can't take action during other nations' turns, which means that even allied nations can't perform joint attacks. The game uses standard six-sided dice.

In the first phase of the game, players develop weapons. The active player spends IPCs to purchase research dice. When rolled, these offer a chance at discovering a potent technology such as longer range for aircraft, more powerful submarines or heavy bombers. This aspect of the game has changed significantly with each revision, and many players substitute their own home rules.

Players purchase units in the game's second phase. The active player spends IPCs to acquire new units. Each unit has its own cost, reflecting its strength and special abilities. Core units include infantry, tanks, fighters, bombers, aircraft carriers, battleships, transports, submarines and industrial complexes. Later versions add artillery, destroyers, cruisers, anti-aircraft guns, naval bases, tactical bombers and mechanized infantry. Note that units aren't placed on the board at this time, only purchased and set aside for later in the turn.

What happens when it's time to fight? Find out on the next page.

Players finally start to plan combat moves in the game's third phase. Units can move up to their movement value (tanks move two, infantry one, while aircraft have longer ranges). When a unit enters a territory controlled by an enemy nation, movement stops for that unit. Multiple units can be moved into a single space, grouping them together for a large attack.

Once all the movements resulting in combat are complete, players identify which battles are taking place and resolve them one at a time. This is the combat phase of the game. The attacker rolls a die for each attacking unit, while the defender does the same for each defending unit. Each unit type has an attack number, and a hit is scored if that unit rolls the attack number or less (it's important to keep track of which die goes with which unit -- typically all the dice for units of one type are rolled together, then the next type). Once all the hits are scored, each side chooses and removes a unit for each hit scored against them, obviously choosing the most inexpensive units first.

The fifth phase is non-combat movement. Units that haven't moved yet this turn can move, but they can't move into enemy territories. You basically get to rearrange your units within your own territories. Units can move into territories controlled by allies, so you can set up joint defensive positions.

Players deploy new units in Phase 6. This is when the units that purchased in Phase 2 are placed on the board. They have to be placed on a territory with an existing Industrial Complex, which often means your units are far away from the front where you really need them.

Finally, players collect their income. Each territory is worth a certain number if IPCs. Add up the IPC value of all your territories and collect that amount from the bank.

Play continues until a nation controls a predetermined number of victory cities. The exact number depends on the version and the desired game length (for shorter games, fewer cities must be controlled to end the game).

Now you know the basic rules, but Axis & Allies can be a difficult game to master. In the next section we'll give you some tips that will help ensure your side achieves world domination.

Axis & Allies can be frustrating at times. You'll often be forced to build your units far from where you need them, and loading all your land units onto transports to make an assault by sea is a slow process as well. Since you can't exactly sneak up on an opponent, you'll find they've stacked the territory you were planning to attack with defensive units in the meantime.

The key to success is to grind out a narrow margin of victory in every attack you make. This doesn't mean always winning a territory; it means making sure your opponent loses a greater value (in IPCs) of units than you do. And if you must sacrifice units, make sure you can hold the territory you attack so you recoup the IPC loss. Doing this successfully involves foresight and a bit of math. It gets easier once you get used to breaking down the odds of a given battle and adding up the IPCs spent on each side, and you can evaluate every attack this way.

Many players make the mistake of failing to build enough infantry. Infantry are excellent defensive units for their cost, but they're very useful on offense as well. For one thing, you need to have them around to soak up your casualties, otherwise you'll be losing your more expensive tanks and you'll quickly fall behind in the IPC race. In many cases, the attack strength of the infantry that can be purchased for the price of a more expensive unit is greater -- they're more efficient than fighters, for example.

Learn to use combined arms. Some units work well in concert as a natural result of their cost and comparative strengths and weaknesses (infantry and tanks are both needed for a successful invasion force). One of the better rule revisions added explicit combined arms benefits. Infantry are boosted by the presence of artillery, and tactical bombers work best with fighters or tanks helping them out.

Novice players will realize quickly that the odds are somewhat stacked against the Axis. Germany has difficulty controlling the Atlantic Ocean and faces the historic problems of a two-front war, battling the U.S. and Britain on one side and Russia on the other. Quick, decisive attacks in the early game can make a huge difference and lead to Axis success.

For their part, the Allies benefit greatly from cooperation and careful planning of maneuvers and attacks. Axis cooperation is limited by the vast distance between Germany and Japan -- they seldom are able to help each other directly. On the other hand, you'll often find U.S. units positioned in Britain, making attacks on Axis-held territories on the continent. If the Allies can gain a toehold in Western Europe, they can close in on Germany like a vice.

You certainly don't need to be a genius strategist to enjoy Axis & Allies, but it's fun to pull off a thrilling victory every once in a while.