Map #AI
Choose your first settlement carefully: the strongest spots stand apart.
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 I16 + I45. These settlements produce all five resources, giving you several ways to build. This opening leans toward roads and new settlements. Place I45 second to start with 1 wood, 1 brick, 1 ore.
How To Approach It
- The board produces relatively little brick; 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.
- Keep I26 in mind if you want to focus on city upgrades.
- 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
I26 Wheat 10 / Sheep 6 / Ore 5
Overall 16.77, production 12.00, road 8.90, city 10.85.
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 | I26 | Wheat 10 / Sheep 6 / Ore 5 | 16.77 | 4.88 | - |
| 2 | I45 | Brick 11 / Ore 8 / Wood 5 | 16.15 | 5.36 | - |
| 3 | I39 | Sheep 9 / Ore 5 / Wood 4 | 16.01 | 5.57 | - |
| 4 | I31 | Sheep 9 / Sheep 6 / Ore 5 | 15.89 | 4.65 | - |
| 5 | I03 | Ore 11 / Wheat 9 / Wood 8 | 15.83 | 5.15 | - |
| 6 | I15 | Ore 11 / Wheat 9 / Sheep 6 | 15.55 | 4.34 | - |
| 7 | I42 | Brick 11 / Sheep 9 / Wood 5 | 15.42 | 6.30 | - |
| 8 | I16 | Wheat 10 / Wheat 9 / Sheep 6 | 15.19 | 5.69 | - |
| 9 | I44 | Brick 11 / Ore 8 / Wood 4 | 15.08 | 5.15 | - |
| 10 | I24 | Brick 10 / Wheat 6 | 14.64 | 3.90 | Brick |
Top Opening Pairs
These pair scores reflect combined production, coverage, number overlap, port help, and long-term flexibility.
Top pair
Score 51.19These settlements produce all five resources, giving you several ways to build. This opening leans toward roads and new settlements. Place I45 second to start with 1 wood, 1 brick, 1 ore.
Pair 2
Score 50.52These settlements produce all five resources, giving you several ways to build. This opening leans toward roads and new settlements. Place I26 second to start with 1 sheep, 1 wheat, 1 ore.
Pair 3
Score 49.60Road building will need trades for brick. This opening leans toward cities and development cards. Place I03 second to start with 1 wood, 1 wheat, 1 ore.
Pair 4
Score 49.49These settlements produce all five resources, giving you several ways to build. This opening leans toward roads and new settlements. Place I45 second to start with 1 wood, 1 brick, 1 ore.
Pair 5
Score 49.46These settlements produce all five resources, giving you several ways to build. This opening leans toward cities and development cards. Place I44 second to start with 1 wood, 1 brick, 1 ore.
Pair 6
Score 49.37Road building will need trades for brick. This opening leans toward cities and development cards. Place I26 second to start with 1 sheep, 1 wheat, 1 ore.
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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I45 Brick 11 / Ore 8 / Wood 5Opening score 44.24 · Best pair score 51.19You can choose this spot now. After this pick, I13 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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I31 Sheep 9 / Sheep 6 / Ore 5Opening score 44.09 · Best pair score 49.60You can choose this spot now. After this pick, I25 was the most common second settlement in the scenarios checked. Road building will need trades for wood.
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I39 Sheep 9 / Ore 5 / Wood 4Opening score 43.71 · Best pair score 48.54You can choose this spot now. 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.
Settlement pairs to consider
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I45 + I13Brick 11 / Ore 8 / Wood 5 + Wheat 6 / Brick 3 / Sheep 3
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I31 + I25Sheep 9 / Sheep 6 / Ore 5 + Brick 10 / Wheat 6 / Sheep 2
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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I43 Sheep 9 / Wood 5 / Wood 4Opening score 43.34 · Best pair score 48.11This 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. City upgrades will need trades for ore.
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I03 Ore 11 / Wheat 9 / Wood 8Opening score 43.14 · Best pair score 49.60This 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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I25 Brick 10 / Wheat 6 / Sheep 2Opening score 42.99 · Best pair score 46.61This 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. These settlements produce all five resources, giving you several ways to build.
Settlement pairs to consider
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I43 + I25Sheep 9 / Wood 5 / Wood 4 + Brick 10 / Wheat 6 / Sheep 2
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I03 + I25Ore 11 / Wheat 9 / Wood 8 + Brick 10 / Wheat 6 / Sheep 2
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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I43 Sheep 9 / Wood 5 / Wood 4Opening score 43.93 · Best pair score 48.11This spot stayed open until your turn in all 4 scenarios checked, but another player can still take it. After this pick, I15 was the most common second settlement in the scenarios checked. Road building will need trades for brick.
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I25 Brick 10 / Wheat 6 / Sheep 2Opening score 43.34 · Best pair score 46.61This spot stayed open until your turn in all 4 scenarios checked, but another player can still take it. After this pick, I45 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 Wheat 6 / Brick 3 / Sheep 3Opening score 43.04 · Best pair score 46.95This spot stayed open until your turn in all 4 scenarios checked, but another player can still take it. After this pick, I45 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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I43 + I15Sheep 9 / Wood 5 / Wood 4 + Ore 11 / Wheat 9 / Sheep 6
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I25 + I45Brick 10 / Wheat 6 / Sheep 2 + Brick 11 / Ore 8 / Wood 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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I26 Wheat 10 / Sheep 6 / Ore 5Opening score 41.39 · Best pair score 50.52You can choose this spot now. After this pick, I38 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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I16 Wheat 10 / Wheat 9 / Sheep 6Opening score 41.29 · Best pair score 51.19You can choose this spot now. After this pick, I47 was the most common second settlement in the scenarios checked. Road building will need trades for brick.
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I31 Sheep 9 / Sheep 6 / Ore 5Opening score 40.89 · Best pair score 49.60You can choose this spot now. After this pick, I38 was the most common second settlement in the scenarios checked. City upgrades will need trades for wheat.
Settlement pairs to consider
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I26 + I38Wheat 10 / Sheep 6 / Ore 5 + Brick 10 / Wood 4
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I16 + I47Wheat 10 / Wheat 9 / Sheep 6 + Ore 8 / Wood 4
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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I03 Ore 11 / Wheat 9 / Wood 8Opening score 40.51 · Best pair score 49.60This spot stayed open until your turn in all 4 scenarios checked, but another player can still take it. After this pick, I38 was the most common second settlement in the scenarios checked. Without sheep production, new settlements and development cards will need a trade.
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I15 Ore 11 / Wheat 9 / Sheep 6Opening score 40.49 · Best pair score 49.49This spot stayed open until your turn in all 4 scenarios checked, but another player can still take it. After this pick, I04 was the most common second settlement in the scenarios checked. Road building will need trades for brick.
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I43 Sheep 9 / Wood 5 / Wood 4Opening score 40.23 · Best pair score 48.11This spot stayed open until your turn in all 4 scenarios checked, but another player can still take it. After this pick, I13 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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I03 + I38Ore 11 / Wheat 9 / Wood 8 + Brick 10 / Wood 4
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I15 + I04Ore 11 / Wheat 9 / Sheep 6 + Wheat 9 / Wood 8
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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I43 Sheep 9 / Wood 5 / Wood 4Opening score 42.90 · Best pair score 48.11This 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. City upgrades will need trades for ore.
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I25 Brick 10 / Wheat 6 / Sheep 2Opening score 39.68 · Best pair score 46.61This spot stayed open until your turn in all 4 scenarios checked, but another player can still take it. After this pick, I02 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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I04 Wheat 9 / Wood 8Opening score 39.54 · Best pair score 48.37This 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. City upgrades will need trades for ore.
Settlement pairs to consider
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I43 + I25Sheep 9 / Wood 5 / Wood 4 + Brick 10 / Wheat 6 / Sheep 2
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I25 + I02Brick 10 / Wheat 6 / Sheep 2 + Wheat 12 / Ore 11 / Wood 8
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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I25 Brick 10 / Wheat 6 / Sheep 2Opening score 43.02 · Best pair score 46.61This spot stayed open until your turn in all 4 scenarios checked, but another player can still take it. After this pick, I45 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 Wheat 6 / Brick 3 / Sheep 3Opening score 42.92 · Best pair score 46.95This 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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I24 Brick 10 / Wheat 6Opening score 41.01 · Best pair score 45.05This 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. City upgrades will need trades for ore.
Settlement pairs to consider
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I25 + I45Brick 10 / Wheat 6 / Sheep 2 + Brick 11 / Ore 8 / Wood 5
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I13 + I03Wheat 6 / Brick 3 / Sheep 3 + Ore 11 / Wheat 9 / Wood 8
Resource Profile
Scarcity & Abundance
Best Harbor Starts
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I40 Ore 5 / Wood 4Port Ore, score 12.22
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I24 Brick 10 / Wheat 6Port Brick, score 12.11
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I38 Brick 10 / Wood 4Port Wood, score 10.71
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I04 Wheat 9 / Wood 8Port Sheep, score 10.38
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I41 Ore 5Port Ore, score 9.72