LET'S PLAY
Unstable Unicorns is a chaotic, backstabbing card game where unicorns aren’t just cute—they’re ruthless! Build your stable, sabotage your friends, and be the first to collect seven unicorns to claim victory. But beware—magic spells, upgrades, and betrayals can turn the game upside down in an instant. It’s a mix of strategy, luck, and pure unicorn-fueled mayhem.
Card Types:
Unicorn Cards – The key to victory! Three types exist:
Baby Unicorns – Everyone starts with one, but more can be added.
Basic Unicorns – No special abilities, just a step toward victory.
Magical Unicorns – Have game-changing special effects.
Magic Cards
Single-use spells that create chaos before being discarded.
Upgrade Card
Buff your stable with permanent advantages.
Downgrade Cards
Cripple your opponents with negative effects.
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Instant Cards (Nay Cards)
Can be played at any time to cancel an opponent’s action.​​​​​​​​​​​​​​
Object
Set Up
Be the first player to have seven unicorns in your stable (six if playing with 6–8 players).
What You Need
• Unstable Unicorns deck
• 2 to 8 players
• A ruthless attitude
1. Place the main draw deck in the center.
2. Each player starts with one baby unicorn of their choice, placed in their stable.
3. Give each player five cards from the draw deck as their starting hand.
4. Put the remaining baby unicorns in a separate pile.
5. Decide who goes first – The player wearing the most colors (the most unicorn-like) starts.
6. Play proceeds clockwise from the first player.
The Goal is to Have 7 Unicorns in Your Stable Before Anyone Else.
All Players Start with One Free Unicorn (A Baby Unicorn).
Watch the step by step guide here!
Game Play
Each turn consists of four phases:
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1. Beginning Phase
Activate any cards in your stable that apply at the start of your turn.
This includes any cards form your stable that begin with: "If this card is in your Stable at the beginning of your turn..."
This is an optional action on a card by card basis.
2. Draw Phase
Draw one card from the deck.
3. Action Phase
Choose one and only one of the following actions:
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• Play a unicorn card to your stable
• Play a magic card for a one-time effect
• Play an upgrade card (helpful effects)
• Play a downgrade card (harmful effects for opponents)
• Draw another card instead
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It is possible that you can take more actions if you have an active card/s that allow for more actions per turn.
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4. End Phase (Card Limit)
If you have more than seven cards, discard down to the hand limit. Unless you have an active effect that dictates a different hand limit.​
Sacrifice vs. Destroy
Sacrifice and Destroy are two of the most important mechanics in Unstable Unicorns—and they're often the most confusing abilities. Let's clarify it:
Destroy means removing a card from an opponent’s stable and sending it to the discard pile. This is how you directly sabotage other players, breaking up their unicorn collection and ruining their strategy.
Sacrifice means removing a card from your own stable and discarding it. Some cards require you to sacrifice unicorns or upgrades to trigger powerful effects, so you’ll need to decide when it’s worth it.
Since sacrificed and destroyed cards go to the discard pile, they’re often gone for good unless a card effect lets you bring them back. Mastering these mechanics is key to winning—knowing when to protect your stable, when to force an opponent to lose their best unicorn, and when to sacrifice one of your own for a bigger payoff.
Winning the Game:
The game ends immediately when a player has seven unicorns in their stable. That player wins, it's over.
If it's not you, you lost. You probably should have executed your master plan sooner.
Special Rules & Variants:
Running Out of Cards:
If the deck is empty and no one has won, the player with the most unicorns wins.Tiebreaker:
Count the total letters in unicorn names—the player with the most wins. If still tied, everyone loses!
Two-Player Variant:
Remove specific cards before playing (as listed in the official rules).
Expansions & Add-Ons:
Unstable Unicorns has multiple expansions with themed unicorns and new special cards.
Strategy Tips:
Play aggressively!
Waiting too long to act can get you wrecked by opponents.
Keep track of Nay cards.
If a player is out of Nays, it’s time to make a big move.
Disrupt strong players.
Don’t let one person get too close to victory unchallenged.
Bluff and mislead.
Making your stable seem less threatening can buy you time.
Unstable Unicorns is a colorful, hilarious, and wildly unpredictable game that rewards cunning strategy, ruthless betrayal, and just a little bit of luck. So gather your friends, embrace the chaos, and remember—these unicorns may look cute, but they play dirty!
