Map #SW
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 I39 + I21. These settlements produce all five resources, giving you several ways to build. This opening leans toward roads and new settlements. Place I21 second to start with 1 wood, 1 brick, 1 sheep.
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
I39 Ore 9 / Brick 6 / Wheat 5
Overall 18.10, production 13.00, road 10.25, city 10.88.
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 | I39 | Ore 9 / Brick 6 / Wheat 5 | 18.10 | 4.42 | - |
| 2 | I40 | Ore 9 / Brick 6 | 17.00 | 6.01 | Ore |
| 3 | I21 | Wood 6 / Sheep 5 / Brick 3 | 16.09 | 5.49 | - |
| 4 | I31 | Ore 9 / Wheat 5 / Wood 4 | 16.09 | 5.37 | - |
| 5 | I43 | Brick 6 / Wheat 5 / Wheat 4 | 15.83 | 6.37 | - |
| 6 | I03 | Sheep 11 / Ore 9 / Wood 8 | 15.53 | 3.93 | - |
| 7 | I48 | Brick 6 / Wheat 4 | 15.39 | 5.87 | Wheat |
| 8 | I45 | Sheep 8 / Wheat 4 / Wood 3 | 15.01 | 5.63 | - |
| 9 | I25 | Wheat 10 / Wood 6 / Brick 3 | 14.91 | 4.84 | - |
| 10 | I15 | Ore 9 / Wood 8 / Wood 4 | 14.75 | 4.01 | - |
Top Opening Pairs
These pair scores reflect combined production, coverage, number overlap, port help, and long-term flexibility.
Top pair
Score 53.56These settlements produce all five resources, giving you several ways to build. This opening leans toward roads and new settlements. Place I21 second to start with 1 wood, 1 brick, 1 sheep.
Pair 2
Score 51.99Without 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 brick, 1 wheat, 1 ore.
Pair 3
Score 51.94These settlements produce all five resources, giving you several ways to build. This opening leans toward roads and new settlements. Place I03 second to start with 1 wood, 1 sheep, 1 ore.
Pair 4
Score 51.73City upgrades will need trades for ore. This opening leans toward roads and new settlements. Place I21 second to start with 1 wood, 1 brick, 1 sheep.
Pair 5
Score 51.32These settlements produce all five resources, giving you several ways to build. This opening leans toward roads and new settlements. Place I03 second to start with 1 wood, 1 sheep, 1 ore.
Pair 6
Score 50.83Without 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, 2 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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I39 Ore 9 / Brick 6 / Wheat 5Opening score 46.71 · Best pair score 53.56You can choose this spot now. After this pick, I09 was the most common second settlement in the scenarios checked. Road building will need trades for wood.
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I43 Brick 6 / Wheat 5 / Wheat 4Opening score 45.30 · Best pair score 51.73You can choose this spot now. After this pick, I09 was the most common second settlement in the scenarios checked. Road building will need trades for wood.
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I31 Ore 9 / Wheat 5 / Wood 4Opening score 43.41 · Best pair score 49.76You can choose this spot now. After this pick, I40 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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I39 + I09Ore 9 / Brick 6 / Wheat 5 + Ore 11 / Ore 9 / Sheep 5
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I43 + I09Brick 6 / Wheat 5 / Wheat 4 + Ore 11 / Ore 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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I15 Ore 9 / Wood 8 / Wood 4Opening score 43.21 · Best pair score 51.99This 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. Road building will need trades for brick.
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I21 Wood 6 / Sheep 5 / Brick 3Opening score 43.19 · Best pair score 53.56This spot stayed open until your turn in all 4 scenarios checked, but another player can still take it. After this pick, I34 was the most common second settlement in the scenarios checked. City upgrades will need trades for ore.
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I25 Wheat 10 / Wood 6 / Brick 3Opening score 42.88 · Best pair score 49.53This spot stayed open until your turn in all 4 scenarios checked, but another player can still take it. After this pick, I09 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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I15 + I45Ore 9 / Wood 8 / Wood 4 + Sheep 8 / Wheat 4 / Wood 3
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I21 + I34Wood 6 / Sheep 5 / Brick 3 + Wheat 10 / Wood 6 / Brick 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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I45 Sheep 8 / Wheat 4 / Wood 3Opening score 43.21 · Best pair score 50.26This 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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I09 Ore 11 / Ore 9 / Sheep 5Opening score 43.00 · Best pair score 48.72This spot stayed open until your turn in all 4 scenarios checked, but another player can still take it. After this pick, I34 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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I48 Brick 6 / Wheat 4Opening score 42.86 · Best pair score 45.68This 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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I45 + I15Sheep 8 / Wheat 4 / Wood 3 + Ore 9 / Wood 8 / Wood 4
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I09 + I34Ore 11 / Ore 9 / Sheep 5 + Wheat 10 / Wood 6 / Brick 2
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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I43 Brick 6 / Wheat 5 / Wheat 4Opening score 44.82 · Best pair score 51.73You can choose this spot now. After this pick, I09 was the most common second settlement in the scenarios checked. Road building will need trades for wood.
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I39 Ore 9 / Brick 6 / Wheat 5Opening score 44.48 · Best pair score 53.56You can choose this spot now. After this pick, I04 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 Ore 9 / Wheat 5 / Wood 4Opening score 43.08 · Best pair score 49.76You can choose this spot now. After this pick, I40 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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I43 + I09Brick 6 / Wheat 5 / Wheat 4 + Ore 11 / Ore 9 / Sheep 5
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I39 + I04Ore 9 / Brick 6 / Wheat 5 + Sheep 11 / Wood 8
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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I21 Wood 6 / Sheep 5 / Brick 3Opening score 41.62 · Best pair score 53.56This spot stayed open until your turn in all 4 scenarios checked, but another player can still take it. After this pick, I09 was the most common second settlement in the scenarios checked. City upgrades will need trades for wheat.
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I25 Wheat 10 / Wood 6 / Brick 3Opening score 41.57 · Best pair score 49.53This 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.
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I15 Ore 9 / Wood 8 / Wood 4Opening score 41.10 · Best pair score 51.99This spot stayed open until your turn in all 4 scenarios checked, but another player can still take it. After this pick, I09 was the most common second settlement in the scenarios checked. Neither settlement produces brick, wheat, so plan for trades.
Settlement pairs to consider
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I21 + I09Wood 6 / Sheep 5 / Brick 3 + Ore 11 / Ore 9 / Sheep 5
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I25 + I13Wheat 10 / Wood 6 / Brick 3 + Sheep 10 / Sheep 5 / Brick 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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I09 Ore 11 / Ore 9 / Sheep 5Opening score 41.58 · Best pair score 48.72This spot stayed open until your turn in all 4 scenarios checked, but another player can still take it. After this pick, I34 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 / Wheat 4 / Wood 3Opening score 40.36 · Best pair score 50.26This spot stayed open until your turn in all 4 scenarios checked, but another player can still take it. After this pick, I34 was the most common second settlement in the scenarios checked. City upgrades will need trades for ore.
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I34 Wheat 10 / Wood 6 / Brick 2Opening score 40.00 · Best pair score 48.17This spot stayed open until your turn in all 4 scenarios checked, but another player can still take it. After this pick, I09 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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I09 + I34Ore 11 / Ore 9 / Sheep 5 + Wheat 10 / Wood 6 / Brick 2
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I45 + I34Sheep 8 / Wheat 4 / Wood 3 + Wheat 10 / Wood 6 / Brick 2
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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I48 Brick 6 / Wheat 4Opening score 41.44 · Best pair score 45.68This 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. City upgrades will need trades for ore.
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I45 Sheep 8 / Wheat 4 / Wood 3Opening score 41.14 · Best pair score 50.26This spot stayed open until your turn in all 4 scenarios checked, but another player can still take it. After this pick, I34 was the most common second settlement in the scenarios checked. City upgrades will need trades for ore.
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I34 Wheat 10 / Wood 6 / Brick 2Opening score 41.12 · Best pair score 48.17This spot stayed open until your turn in all 4 scenarios checked, but another player can still take it. After this pick, I09 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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I48 + I45Brick 6 / Wheat 4 + Sheep 8 / Wheat 4 / Wood 3
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I45 + I34Sheep 8 / Wheat 4 / Wood 3 + Wheat 10 / Wood 6 / Brick 2
Resource Profile
Scarcity & Abundance
Best Harbor Starts
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I40 Ore 9 / Brick 6Port Ore, score 13.62
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I48 Brick 6 / Wheat 4Port Wheat, score 12.11
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I04 Sheep 11 / Wood 8Port Sheep, score 10.60
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I41 Ore 9Port Ore, score 9.72
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I24 Wheat 10 / Brick 3Port Brick, score 9.20