Map #M5
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 I45 + 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 wheat, 1 ore.
How To Approach It
- The board produces relatively little ore; secure a source or a way to trade for it.
- The board has more sheep 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
I25 Wheat 9 / Ore 6 / Wood 5
Overall 18.27, production 13.00, road 10.25, city 11.19.
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 | I25 | Wheat 9 / Ore 6 / Wood 5 | 18.27 | 5.63 | - |
| 2 | I43 | Wheat 8 / Brick 5 / Ore 4 | 17.10 | 5.46 | - |
| 3 | I39 | Wood 11 / Wheat 8 / Brick 5 | 16.31 | 6.52 | - |
| 4 | I33 | Sheep 10 / Wheat 8 / Brick 4 | 16.22 | 6.33 | - |
| 5 | I45 | Sheep 8 / Brick 4 / Ore 4 | 16.15 | 5.60 | - |
| 6 | I32 | Sheep 10 / Ore 6 / Brick 4 | 16.06 | 5.20 | - |
| 7 | I42 | Wheat 8 / Brick 4 / Ore 4 | 16.01 | 5.21 | - |
| 8 | I13 | Wheat 9 / Brick 6 / Ore 2 | 15.06 | 5.71 | - |
| 9 | I34 | Sheep 12 / Ore 6 / Wood 5 | 15.03 | 4.93 | - |
| 10 | I35 | Sheep 12 / Ore 6 / Brick 4 | 14.43 | 6.24 | - |
Top Opening Pairs
These pair scores reflect combined production, coverage, number overlap, port help, and long-term flexibility.
Top pair
Score 52.19These 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 wheat, 1 ore.
Pair 2
Score 52.12These settlements produce all five resources, giving you several ways to build. This opening leans toward roads and new settlements. Place I33 second to start with 1 brick, 1 sheep, 1 wheat.
Pair 3
Score 51.74These settlements produce all five resources, giving you several ways to build. This opening leans toward roads and new settlements. Place I32 second to start with 1 brick, 1 sheep, 1 ore.
Pair 4
Score 51.60Without sheep production, new settlements and development cards will need a trade. This opening leans toward roads and new settlements. Place I43 second to start with 1 brick, 1 wheat, 1 ore.
Pair 5
Score 51.18Without sheep production, new settlements and development cards will need a trade. This opening leans toward roads and new settlements. Place I39 second to start with 1 wood, 1 brick, 1 wheat.
Pair 6
Score 49.90Without sheep production, new settlements and development cards will need a trade. This opening leans toward cities and development cards. Place I42 second to start with 1 brick, 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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I25 Wheat 9 / Ore 6 / Wood 5Opening score 46.02 · Best pair score 52.19You can choose this spot now. After this pick, I13 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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I43 Wheat 8 / Brick 5 / Ore 4Opening score 45.77 · Best pair score 51.60You can choose this spot now. 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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I42 Wheat 8 / Brick 4 / Ore 4Opening score 43.86 · Best pair score 49.90You can choose this spot now. 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.
Settlement pairs to consider
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I25 + I13Wheat 9 / Ore 6 / Wood 5 + Wheat 9 / Brick 6 / Ore 2
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I43 + I03Wheat 8 / Brick 5 / Ore 4 + Wood 10 / Sheep 9 / Wood 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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I43 Wheat 8 / Brick 5 / Ore 4Opening score 45.78 · Best pair score 51.60This 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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I42 Wheat 8 / Brick 4 / Ore 4Opening score 43.86 · Best pair score 49.90This 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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I39 Wood 11 / Wheat 8 / Brick 5Opening score 43.19 · Best pair score 51.18This 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.
Settlement pairs to consider
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I43 + I03Wheat 8 / Brick 5 / Ore 4 + Wood 10 / Sheep 9 / Wood 3
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I42 + I03Wheat 8 / Brick 4 / Ore 4 + Wood 10 / Sheep 9 / Wood 3
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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I30 Sheep 10 / Wheat 8 / Wheat 3Opening score 43.42 · Best pair score 48.08This spot stayed open until your turn in all 4 scenarios checked, but another player can still take it. After this pick, I32 was the most common second settlement in the scenarios checked. Road building will need trades for wood.
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I32 Sheep 10 / Ore 6 / Brick 4Opening score 43.27 · Best pair score 51.74This spot stayed open until your turn in all 4 scenarios checked, but another player can still take it. After this pick, I30 was the most common second settlement in the scenarios checked. Road building will need trades for wood.
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I03 Wood 10 / Sheep 9 / Wood 3Opening score 43.18 · Best pair score 48.33This 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. These settlements produce all five resources, giving you several ways to build.
Settlement pairs to consider
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I30 + I32Sheep 10 / Wheat 8 / Wheat 3 + Sheep 10 / Ore 6 / Brick 4
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I32 + I30Sheep 10 / Ore 6 / Brick 4 + Sheep 10 / Wheat 8 / Wheat 3
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
-
I25 Wheat 9 / Ore 6 / Wood 5Opening score 46.00 · Best pair score 52.19You can choose this spot now. After this pick, I13 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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I43 Wheat 8 / Brick 5 / Ore 4Opening score 42.87 · Best pair score 51.60You can choose this spot now. After this pick, I19 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 Wood 11 / Wheat 8 / Brick 5Opening score 41.82 · Best pair score 51.18You can choose this spot now. After this pick, I13 was the most common second settlement in the scenarios checked. Without sheep production, new settlements and development cards will need a trade.
Settlement pairs to consider
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I25 + I13Wheat 9 / Ore 6 / Wood 5 + Wheat 9 / Brick 6 / Ore 2
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I43 + I19Wheat 8 / Brick 5 / Ore 4 + Wood 10 / Sheep 10 / Ore 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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I03 Wood 10 / Sheep 9 / Wood 3Opening score 42.98 · Best pair score 48.33This 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. These settlements produce all five resources, giving you several ways to build.
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I43 Wheat 8 / Brick 5 / Ore 4Opening score 42.87 · Best pair score 51.60This spot stayed open until your turn in all 4 scenarios checked, but another player can still take it. After this pick, I19 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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I32 Sheep 10 / Ore 6 / Brick 4Opening score 42.68 · Best pair score 51.74This spot stayed open until your turn in all 4 scenarios checked, but another player can still take it. After this pick, I31 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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I03 + I13Wood 10 / Sheep 9 / Wood 3 + Wheat 9 / Brick 6 / Ore 2
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I43 + I19Wheat 8 / Brick 5 / Ore 4 + Wood 10 / Sheep 10 / Ore 2
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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I03 Wood 10 / Sheep 9 / Wood 3Opening score 42.98 · Best pair score 48.33This 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. These settlements produce all five resources, giving you several ways to build.
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I32 Sheep 10 / Ore 6 / Brick 4Opening score 42.94 · Best pair score 51.74This spot stayed open until your turn in all 4 scenarios checked, but another player can still take it. After this pick, I30 was the most common second settlement in the scenarios checked. Road building will need trades for wood.
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I13 Wheat 9 / Brick 6 / Ore 2Opening score 42.78 · Best pair score 48.57This 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.
Settlement pairs to consider
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I03 + I13Wood 10 / Sheep 9 / Wood 3 + Wheat 9 / Brick 6 / Ore 2
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I32 + I30Sheep 10 / Ore 6 / Brick 4 + Sheep 10 / Wheat 8 / Wheat 3
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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I03 Wood 10 / Sheep 9 / Wood 3Opening score 42.98 · Best pair score 48.33This 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. These settlements produce all five resources, giving you several ways to build.
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I13 Wheat 9 / Brick 6 / Ore 2Opening score 42.78 · Best pair score 48.57This 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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I45 Sheep 8 / Brick 4 / Ore 4Opening score 42.52 · Best pair score 52.19This 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.
Settlement pairs to consider
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I03 + I13Wood 10 / Sheep 9 / Wood 3 + Wheat 9 / Brick 6 / Ore 2
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I13 + I03Wheat 9 / Brick 6 / Ore 2 + Wood 10 / Sheep 9 / Wood 3
Resource Profile
Scarcity & Abundance
Best Harbor Starts
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I04 Sheep 9 / Wood 3Port Sheep, score 11.52
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I38 Sheep 12 / Wood 5Port Wood, score 10.82
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I24 Wheat 9 / Wood 5Port Brick, score 9.68
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I01 Wheat 11 / Sheep 9Port 3:1, score 9.18
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I48 Brick 5 / Ore 4Port Wheat, score 8.98