Map #5X
Wood and brick make expansion worth a look.
Interactive Settlement & Road Draft
Choose a three- or four-player table and your seat, then record each settlement and its initial road in normal snake order. Occupied and adjacent blocked intersections are removed, while settlement and road recommendations update after every completed turn.
Board Read
The classic board view marks intersection quality directly on the map and reveals adjacent initial-road choices during each interactive draft turn.
Best Remaining Spots
The numbered spots stay visible during settlement selection and update after every completed settlement-and-road turn.
Best Remaining Pairs
Pairs update as opponents take spots; after your first pick they anchor to it.
Initial Board Assessment
For your two settlements, look at I44 + I25. These settlements produce all five resources, giving you several ways to build. This opening leans toward roads and new settlements. Place I25 second to start with 1 wood, 1 brick, 1 wheat.
How To Approach It
- The board produces relatively little brick, ore; secure a source or a way to trade for it.
- The board has more wood production than most other resources; check whether a matching harbor fits your opening.
- These are starting plans, not promises: dice, the robber and other players can change them.
- Compare the numbers as long-run averages, not a countdown to your next build.
Best Immediate Read
I34 Ore 10 / Wood 8 / Wheat 4
Overall 16.08, production 11.00, road 8.82, city 9.24.
Best Starting Intersections
These are the best single-settlement openings before you account for draft order or pair timing.
| # | Spot | Read | Overall | Future | Port |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | I34 | Ore 10 / Wood 8 / Wheat 4 | 16.08 | 5.21 | - |
| 2 | I44 | Ore 10 / Sheep 9 / Wheat 5 | 16.00 | 4.99 | - |
| 3 | I38 | Ore 10 / Wood 8 | 15.93 | 5.20 | Wood |
| 4 | I33 | Sheep 11 / Wood 6 / Wheat 5 | 15.90 | 5.43 | - |
| 5 | I03 | Wheat 10 / Wood 9 / Sheep 5 | 15.43 | 4.08 | - |
| 6 | I42 | Brick 12 / Wood 6 / Wheat 5 | 15.42 | 6.67 | - |
| 7 | I25 | Wood 8 / Wheat 4 / Brick 3 | 15.31 | 6.11 | - |
| 8 | I31 | Wood 6 / Ore 4 / Wheat 3 | 14.96 | 4.87 | - |
| 9 | I26 | Sheep 8 / Ore 4 / Wheat 3 | 14.56 | 3.73 | - |
| 10 | I45 | Brick 12 / Sheep 9 / Wheat 5 | 13.79 | 4.87 | - |
Top Opening Pairs
These pair scores reflect combined production, coverage, number overlap, port help, and long-term flexibility.
Top pair
Score 48.50These settlements produce all five resources, giving you several ways to build. This opening leans toward roads and new settlements. Place I25 second to start with 1 wood, 1 brick, 1 wheat.
Pair 2
Score 48.28Road building will need trades for brick. This opening leans toward cities and development cards. Place I44 second to start with 1 sheep, 1 wheat, 1 ore.
Pair 3
Score 47.18These settlements produce all five resources, giving you several ways to build. This opening leans toward roads and new settlements. Place I42 second to start with 1 wood, 1 brick, 1 wheat.
Pair 4
Score 47.04Road building will need trades for brick. This opening leans toward cities and development cards. Place I44 second to start with 1 sheep, 1 wheat, 1 ore.
Pair 5
Score 46.96Road building will need trades for brick. This opening leans toward cities and development cards. Place I44 second to start with 1 sheep, 1 wheat, 1 ore.
Pair 6
Score 46.86City upgrades will need trades for ore. This opening leans toward roads and new settlements. Place I25 second to start with 1 wood, 1 brick, 1 wheat.
Seat Plans
Your place in the turn order affects which settlements may still be available. Compare the suggested starts and the second settlements that work with them.
3-player game
Placement order reverses after everyone has chosen once: the last player picks twice in a row, and the first player waits longest. These examples compare four opponent play styles, not the odds of a spot staying open.
Player 1
You choose first, then wait until everyone else has placed both settlements.
Priority: Choose a useful first settlement without relying on one particular second pick.
Recommended starts
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I44 Ore 10 / Sheep 9 / Wheat 5Opening score 43.28 · Best pair score 48.50You can choose this spot now. After this pick, I39 was the most common second settlement in the scenarios checked. Road building will need trades for brick.
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I39 Ore 11 / Wood 6 / Ore 4Opening score 42.09 · Best pair score 46.96You can choose this spot now. After this pick, I03 was the most common second settlement in the scenarios checked. Road building will need trades for brick.
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I03 Wheat 10 / Wood 9 / Sheep 5Opening score 41.90 · Best pair score 46.86You can choose this spot now. After this pick, I39 was the most common second settlement in the scenarios checked. Road building will need trades for brick.
Settlement pairs to consider
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I44 + I39Ore 10 / Sheep 9 / Wheat 5 + Ore 11 / Wood 6 / Ore 4
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I39 + I03Ore 11 / Wood 6 / Ore 4 + Wheat 10 / Wood 9 / Sheep 5
Player 2
Other players choose between your two turns, so your preferred second spot may disappear.
Priority: Take a useful mix of resources and leave yourself more than one follow-up.
Recommended starts
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I26 Sheep 8 / Ore 4 / Wheat 3Opening score 42.98 · Best pair score 46.76This spot stayed open until your turn in all 4 scenarios checked, but another player can still take it. After this pick, I25 was the most common second settlement in the scenarios checked. These settlements produce all five resources, giving you several ways to build.
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I42 Brick 12 / Wood 6 / Wheat 5Opening score 42.51 · Best pair score 47.18This spot stayed open until your turn in all 4 scenarios checked, but another player can still take it. After this pick, I03 was the most common second settlement in the scenarios checked. City upgrades will need trades for ore.
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I33 Sheep 11 / Wood 6 / Wheat 5Opening score 42.17 · Best pair score 46.83This spot stayed open until your turn in all 4 scenarios checked, but another player can still take it. After this pick, I03 was the most common second settlement in the scenarios checked. Neither settlement produces brick, ore, so plan for trades.
Settlement pairs to consider
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I26 + I25Sheep 8 / Ore 4 / Wheat 3 + Wood 8 / Wheat 4 / Brick 3
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I42 + I03Brick 12 / Wood 6 / Wheat 5 + Wheat 10 / Wood 9 / Sheep 5
Player 3
Your two settlement picks are consecutive, so you can choose them as a pair.
Priority: Use your consecutive picks to cover missing resources or support one building plan.
Recommended starts
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I26 Sheep 8 / Ore 4 / Wheat 3Opening score 43.86 · Best pair score 46.76This spot stayed open until your turn in all 4 scenarios checked, but another player can still take it. After this pick, I42 was the most common second settlement in the scenarios checked. These settlements produce all five resources, giving you several ways to build.
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I39 Ore 11 / Wood 6 / Ore 4Opening score 42.97 · Best pair score 46.96This spot stayed open until your turn in all 4 scenarios checked, but another player can still take it. After this pick, I03 was the most common second settlement in the scenarios checked. Road building will need trades for brick.
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I31 Wood 6 / Ore 4 / Wheat 3Opening score 42.86 · Best pair score 47.04This spot stayed open until your turn in all 4 scenarios checked, but another player can still take it. After this pick, I03 was the most common second settlement in the scenarios checked. Road building will need trades for brick.
Settlement pairs to consider
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I26 + I42Sheep 8 / Ore 4 / Wheat 3 + Brick 12 / Wood 6 / Wheat 5
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I39 + I03Ore 11 / Wood 6 / Ore 4 + Wheat 10 / Wood 9 / Sheep 5
4-player game
Placement order reverses after everyone has chosen once: the last player picks twice in a row, and the first player waits longest. These examples compare four opponent play styles, not the odds of a spot staying open.
Player 1
You choose first, then wait until everyone else has placed both settlements.
Priority: Choose a useful first settlement without relying on one particular second pick.
Recommended starts
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I44 Ore 10 / Sheep 9 / Wheat 5Opening score 39.84 · Best pair score 48.50You can choose this spot now. After this pick, I20 was the most common second settlement in the scenarios checked. Road building will need trades for brick.
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I03 Wheat 10 / Wood 9 / Sheep 5Opening score 39.81 · Best pair score 46.86You can choose this spot now. After this pick, I12 was the most common second settlement in the scenarios checked. City upgrades will need trades for ore.
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I33 Sheep 11 / Wood 6 / Wheat 5Opening score 39.46 · Best pair score 46.83You can choose this spot now. After this pick, I12 was the most common second settlement in the scenarios checked. City upgrades will need trades for ore.
Settlement pairs to consider
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I44 + I20Ore 10 / Sheep 9 / Wheat 5 + Sheep 11 / Wood 9 / Wheat 3
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I03 + I12Wheat 10 / Wood 9 / Sheep 5 + Brick 6 / Brick 3
Player 2
Other players choose between your two turns, so your preferred second spot may disappear.
Priority: Take a useful mix of resources and leave yourself more than one follow-up.
Recommended starts
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I33 Sheep 11 / Wood 6 / Wheat 5Opening score 39.73 · Best pair score 46.83This spot stayed open until your turn in all 4 scenarios checked, but another player can still take it. After this pick, I12 was the most common second settlement in the scenarios checked. City upgrades will need trades for ore.
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I31 Wood 6 / Ore 4 / Wheat 3Opening score 39.28 · Best pair score 47.04This spot stayed open until your turn in all 4 scenarios checked, but another player can still take it. After this pick, I16 was the most common second settlement in the scenarios checked. Road building will need trades for brick.
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I16 Wheat 10 / Sheep 8 / Wheat 3Opening score 39.00 · Best pair score 45.41This spot stayed open until your turn in all 4 scenarios checked, but another player can still take it. After this pick, I43 was the most common second settlement in the scenarios checked. These settlements produce all five resources, giving you several ways to build.
Settlement pairs to consider
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I33 + I12Sheep 11 / Wood 6 / Wheat 5 + Brick 6 / Brick 3
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I31 + I16Wood 6 / Ore 4 / Wheat 3 + Wheat 10 / Sheep 8 / Wheat 3
Player 3
You pick late in the first round and early in the second; look for complementary resources.
Priority: Compare what your second settlement adds, not just how strong it looks on its own.
Recommended starts
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I39 Ore 11 / Wood 6 / Ore 4Opening score 42.09 · Best pair score 46.96This spot stayed open until your turn in all 4 scenarios checked, but another player can still take it. After this pick, I03 was the most common second settlement in the scenarios checked. Road building will need trades for brick.
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I16 Wheat 10 / Sheep 8 / Wheat 3Opening score 41.86 · Best pair score 45.41This spot stayed open until your turn in all 4 scenarios checked, but another player can still take it. After this pick, I39 was the most common second settlement in the scenarios checked. Road building will need trades for brick.
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I26 Sheep 8 / Ore 4 / Wheat 3Opening score 40.56 · Best pair score 46.76This spot stayed open until your turn in all 4 scenarios checked, but another player can still take it. After this pick, I39 was the most common second settlement in the scenarios checked. Road building will need trades for brick.
Settlement pairs to consider
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I39 + I03Ore 11 / Wood 6 / Ore 4 + Wheat 10 / Wood 9 / Sheep 5
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I16 + I39Wheat 10 / Sheep 8 / Wheat 3 + Ore 11 / Wood 6 / Ore 4
Player 4
Your two settlement picks are consecutive, so you can choose them as a pair.
Priority: Use your consecutive picks to cover missing resources or support one building plan.
Recommended starts
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I39 Ore 11 / Wood 6 / Ore 4Opening score 42.97 · Best pair score 46.96This spot stayed open until your turn in all 4 scenarios checked, but another player can still take it. After this pick, I03 was the most common second settlement in the scenarios checked. Road building will need trades for brick.
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I43 Brick 12 / Ore 11 / Wood 6Opening score 41.06 · Best pair score 44.81This spot stayed open until your turn in all 4 scenarios checked, but another player can still take it. After this pick, I03 was the most common second settlement in the scenarios checked. These settlements produce all five resources, giving you several ways to build.
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I13 Brick 6 / Brick 3Opening score 39.49 · Best pair score 42.77This spot stayed open until your turn in all 4 scenarios checked, but another player can still take it. After this pick, I03 was the most common second settlement in the scenarios checked. City upgrades will need trades for ore.
Settlement pairs to consider
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I39 + I03Ore 11 / Wood 6 / Ore 4 + Wheat 10 / Wood 9 / Sheep 5
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I43 + I03Brick 12 / Ore 11 / Wood 6 + Wheat 10 / Wood 9 / Sheep 5
Resource Profile
Scarcity & Abundance
Best Harbor Starts
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I38 Ore 10 / Wood 8Port Wood, score 13.73
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I04 Wheat 10 / Sheep 5Port Sheep, score 12.22
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I40 Ore 11 / Ore 4Port Ore, score 11.23
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I24 Wood 8 / Brick 3Port Brick, score 10.60
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I11 Brick 6Port 3:1, score 8.53