Yes

Flip ocean boards to divided side. 6 stingray tokens per ocean board. Starting tile = 1 Crustacean with 1 Fish. 3 x Finless Sole tiles per bag. Ship starts in any zone. Submersible starts on any vertex adjacent to ship. Set up Shark location tokens and place Sharks in revealed regions.

Starting tile = 1 Crustacean with 1 Fish. 3 x Jellysh tiles per bag. Ship starts in any zone. Submersible starts on any vertex adjacent to ship. Octopus starts on any vertex adjacent to submersible.

Starting tile = 1 Crustacean with 1 Fish. 2 x Anglersh and 1 x Deep-Sea Camera tile per bag. Ship starts in any zone. Submersible starts on any vertex adjacent to ship.

Starting tile = Whalefall. 2 x Siphonophore tiles per bag. Ship starts in any zone. Submersible starts on any vertex adjacent to ship.

All in their region

At the end of the submersible phase, Stingrays in the same region as a Shark are eaten and removed from the game.

At the end of the submersible phase, Stingrays in the same region as a Shark are eaten and removed from the game.

No

If the same region is shown on both tokens, move 1 of the Sharks into the next region clockwise.

Shark location token

Each round, after ships have moved, flip the Shark location tokens above and below the current round on the round tracker board. Each player should place their Sharks near the regions revealed. If the same region is shown on both tokens, move 1 of the Sharks into the next region clockwise.

After Ship phase

Each round, after ships have moved, flip the Shark location tokens above and below the current round on the round tracker board. Each player should place their Sharks near the regions revealed. If the same region is shown on both tokens, move 1 of the Sharks into the next region clockwise.

No

At the start of the submersible phase, you may move up to 2 Stingrays, each up to 2 zones; they cannot pass through discovery tiles or other tokens.

At the start of the submersible phase, you may move up to 2 Stingrays, each up to 2 zones; they cannot pass through discovery tiles or other tokens.

No

Finless Soles score based on how many are on a player’s ocean board and they all score as a group.

While undiscovered

While undiscovered, Finless Sole prevent Sharks eating Stingrays in the same region as the Finless Sole tile.

No

Point of interest tokens are not flipped by the Octopus.

Yes

When the Octopus’ movement ends, all 3 tiles adjacent to the Octopus are flipped. Point of interest tokens are not flipped by the Octopus.

All adjacent tiles

When the Octopus’ movement ends, all 3 tiles adjacent to the Octopus are flipped. Point of interest tokens are not flipped by the Octopus.

No

The Octopus cannot visit the same vertex in a round, and it cannot share its final vertex destination with the submersible, but it can move through the submersible.

No

At the end of the submersible phase, players must move their Octopus 2 vertices (triangle spots). The Octopus cannot visit the same vertex in a round, and it cannot share its final vertex destination with the submersible, but it can move through the submersible.

Yes

The Octopus cannot visit the same vertex in a round, and it cannot share its final vertex destination with the submersible, but it can move through the submersible.

Up to 2 vertices

At the end of the submersible phase, players must move their Octopus 2 vertices (triangle spots). The Octopus cannot visit the same vertex in a round, and it cannot share its final vertex destination with the submersible, but it can move through the submersible.

Flips tiles

At the end of the submersible phase, players must move their Octopus 2 vertices (triangle spots). The Octopus cannot visit the same vertex in a round, and it cannot share its final vertex destination with the submersible, but it can move through the submersible. When the Octopus’ movement ends, all 3 tiles adjacent to the Octopus are flipped. Point of interest tokens are not flipped by the Octopus.

No

Jellyfish only score if they are present in a particular shape and each tile cannot count towards more than 1 scoring shape

No

Yes

A submersible action may be used to rotate the Camera’s line of sight.

No

The Camera tile does not count towards its own colour/species scoring.

No

You may never have more than 1 Deep-Sea Camera tile on your ocean board.

Top colour

Stacked Anglerfish count as the colour of the top tile for the purposes of Deep-Sea Camera scoring.

No

Anglerfish cannot be stacked on top of any other tile type and, once stacked, neither Anglerfish in the stack can be moved.

At the end of the submersible phase, players may move each discovered, non-stacked Anglerfish tile into an adjacent zone Anglerfish can move into empty zones unless occupied by another discovered Anglerfish, in which case the Anglerfish may be stacked on top.

Anglerfish can move into empty zones unless occupied by another discovered Anglerfish, in which case the Anglerfish may be stacked on top.

No

At the end of the submersible phase, players may move each discovered, non-stacked Anglerfish tile into an adjacent zone.

At the end of the submersible phase, players may move each discovered, non-stacked Anglerfish tile into an adjacent zone.

None

Each player starts the game with 2 Sharks around their ocean boards. There are no Shark icons on Discovery tiles.

None

Players start the game with 6 Stingray tiles on their ocean boards.

3

Each player has 3 Finless Sole icons on tiles in their bags.

None

Players start the game with a single Octopus tile on their ocean boards.

3

Each player has 3 Jellyfish icons on tiles in their bags.

1

Each player has 1 Deep-Sea Camera tile in their bag.

2

Each player has 2 Anglerfish icons on tiles in their bags.

2

Each player has 2 Siphonohore icons on tiles in their bags.

None

Each plaeyr starts the game with a single Whalefall tile on their ocean board.

They don't score!

Sharks do not score points!

If left on board

Each Stingray token is worth 2 points if still on the ocean board at end of the game.

Number of tiles

Score based on how many are on a player’s ocean board: • 1 Finless Sole scores 2 points. • 2 Finless Sole scores 6 points. • 3+ Finless Sole scores 12 points.

It doesn't score!

Octopus does not score points!

Group shape

Jellyfish score based on group shape: • A line of 2 Jellyfish scores 6 points. • A triangle of 3 Jellyfish scores 12 points. • A diamond of 4 Jellyfish scores 20 points.

Tiles in sight

Scores 1 point for each unique species, unique colour and point of interest in the Camera’s line of sight. Scores an additional 5 points if all 5 species (Coral, Schooling Fish, Sea Cucumber, Crustacean and Anglerfish) are in the Camera’s line of sight.

Stacked pairs

Score 6 points for each stacked pair. Stacked Anglerfish count as the colour of the top tile for the purposes of Deep-Sea Camera scoring.

Adjacent empty zones

Scores 1 point for each adjacent empty ocean zone. Scores an additional 2 points if the tile is in a zone at the edge of the ocean board.

Adjacent scavengers

Scores 2 points per unique scavenger species in an adjacent ocean zone. Scores an additional 1 point if adjacent to all 3 scavenger species. Scavenger species (Sea Cucumber, Schooling Fish and Crustacean) are denoted by the icon next to the species name in the core species guide.

Sinless sole, Stindray and Sharks.

Jellyfish and an Ostopus.

An Anglerfish and a seep-sea camera.

Whalefall and a Siphonophore.

No

Score 2 points if adjacent to Coral, plus an additional 2 points if adjacent to at least 2 dierent colours of Coral (maximum 4 points per Crustacean).

4

Each player has 4 Crustacean icons on tiles in their bags.

Adjacent with Corals

Score 2 points if adjacent to Coral, plus an additional 2 points if adjacent to at least 2 dierent colours of Coral (maximum 4 points per Crustacean).

3

Each player has 3 Sea Cucumber icons on tiles in their bags.

If tied, all tied players share the points for their position, rounding down. For example, two players tied with most Sea Cucumbers would each gain half of 12 points, meaning that each player would only get 6 points, while the second-most Sea Cucumber player would get all 7 points.

Majority

The player with the most Sea Cucumbers scores 12 points, second most scores 7 points and so on: 12 points > 7 points > 3 points > 0 points

Yes

Score 9 points per separate group of 6 or more Schooling Fish icons (not tiles). This means that a group of 12 Schooling Fish will score the same as a group of 6; be sure to keep your groups separated!

By icon count

Score 9 points per separate group of 6 or more Schooling Fish icons (not tiles).

15

Each player has 15 Schooling Fish icons on tiles in their bags.

No

A group of 12 Schooling Fish will score the same as a group of 6; be sure to keep your groups separated!

Per groups of 6

Score 9 points per separate group of 6 or more Schooling Fish icons (not tiles).

6

Each player has 6 Coral icons on tiles in their bags.

Not really

Multicoloured Coral counts as any single colour of your choice and the chosen colour must be used for all scoring criteria involving that Coral tile. To make scoring easier, you can place a console slider of the chosen colour on the tile.

Same colour groups

A connected group of Coral of the same colour scores according to the size of the group.

4

Core discovery tiles are used in every game of Fathom. They feature 4 species; Coral, Schooling Fish, Sea Cucumber and Crustacean. Some core discovery tiles feature more than 1 species on the same tile;

It depends

The amount of points point of interest tokens provide depends on the Expedition you are playing, Sometimes they might not provide any points or even give negative points!

Most discovered tile

The player with the most points wins. In the case of a tie, the winner is the tied player with the most discovered tiles on their ocean board.

Player order changes and player console sliders are reset.

up to 4 spaces

You can move your submersible up to 4 vertices on your ocean board with 1 submersible action.

Submersible action

Submersible action

Submersible action

Yes

There are 4 submersible actions, They can be performed in any combination and order. You may take the same action more than once.

There are 4 submersible actions, These actions are perfomed by your submersible that moves on vertices.

Yes

There are 4 submersible actions, They can be performed in any combination and order. You may take the same action more than once.

Yes

There are 4 submersible actions, They can be performed in any combination and order. You may take the same action more than once.

4

There are 4 submersible actions, They can be performed in any combination and order. You may take the same action more than once.

No

Sonar beams are places on a sonar board dividing lines, such that they divide the board up into equal segments.

First player

Each player picks up their sonar beam. Then, beginning with the first player and proceeding in player order, they place it on a sonar board dividing line, such that they divide the board up into equal segments.

No

Each round players will redivide the sonar board in player order, starting with the first player.

Draw and place a bonus token face-up into each empty space of the sonar board.

No

During some rounds, no bonus tokens will be added.

In Sonar phase

Draw and place a bonus token face-up into each empty space of the sonar board. During some rounds, no bonus tokens will be added.

No

Ships can't discover tokens or flip already discovered tiles.

Nothing

Do not flip tokens or already discovered tiles.

No

If there is an undiscovered tile in the same zone as your ship, flip it to the discovered side.

It depends

If there are not enough empty spaces, first remove bonus tokens in your segment of the sonar board until there are enough spaces. If there weren’t any bonus tokens, or there are still not enough spaces after removing them, remove discovery tiles placed on the sonar board during previous rounds until there is enough space for the new ones. Return any removed tokens and tiles to the box.

No

Place the remaining drawn Discovery tiles into empty spaces in your segment of the sonar board, undiscovered side up.

Place the remaining drawn Discovery tiles into empty spaces in your segment of the sonar board, undiscovered side up.

Yes

You are not required to place any discovery tiles, but you many place up to 2 tiles.

No

You may not place a tile into a zone that already contains a tile or token. Some Expedition rules might allow tiles to be stacked, but new tiles must be placed into empty ocean zones.

No

You place up to 2 of the drawn Discovery tiles, undiscovered side up, into an empty zone under or adjacent to your ship.

Up to 2

Place up to 2 of the drawn Discovery tiles, undiscovered side up, into an empty zone under or adjacent to your ship.

No

You always draw 3 discovery tiles from the bag, if able.

3

Draw 3 discovery tiles from the bag.

To the left

Pass your bag of discovery tiles to the nearest player clockwise.

No

Pass your bag of discovery tiles to the nearest player clockwise.

Ship phase

You can move your ship at the begining of the Ship phase. However, this is skipped in the first round of the game.

Yes

You may place your ship on top of a tile or token.

No

In the first round, skip this step.

No

In the first round, skip this step.

In the submersible phase, take submersible actions, and then change the player order for the following round.

In the sonar phase, add bonus tokens to the sonar board, then take your sonar beam and redivide the sonar board in player order.

In the ship phase, move your ship, pass tile bags, draw and place discovery tiles and then flip the tile under your ship.

Console sliders

The actions that players will take in each phase can be tracked using the player consoles and console sliders.

No

Players resolve the ship phase and submersible phase simultaneously. The sonar phase is resolved in the order specied in that section. The actions that players will take in each phase can be tracked using the player consoles and console sliders.

Each round of Fathom consists of 3 phases; the ship phase, sonar phase and submersible phase.

After 6 rounds

Some times

The Ship phase and the Submersible phases are played simultaneously, while the Sonar phase is resolved in player order.

Yes

Player Consoles help players to manage on which action and in which phase of the game they are currently in. This is helpful because the Ship phase and the Submersible phases are played simultaneously, while the Sonar phase is resolved in player order.

No

Player Consoles help players to manage on which action and in which phase of the game they are currently in. This is helpful because the Ship phase and the Submersible phases are played simultaneously, while the Sonar phase is resolved in player order.

Ususally no

During some Expeditions additional ways how tiles and token can be flipped will be introduced.

Not really

During some Expeditions additional ways how tiles and token can be flipped will be introduced.

Players can discover undiscovered tiles and tokens during their Ship phase and Submersible phase. If a ship is standing over an undiscovered tile at the end of the Ship phase. Additionally, undiscovered tiles and point of interest tokens that are adjacent to a player's submersible can be flipped during the Submersible phase by using 1 submersible action.

No

At the end of the game, only discovered tiles and tokens score points.

Once a tile or token is flipped on a player's ocean board, it is considered to be discovered and will have a light blue background side facing up.

Dark background

When tiles and tokens are placed on the board, they are placed with their undiscoreved side facing up. It has a dark background.

Not really

By itslef, scavenger species symbol has no meaning, but it can be referenced by other Discovery tokens, such as Whalefall from the Expedition 1.

Scavenger species (Sea Cucumber, Schooling Fish and Crustacean) are denoted by the icon next to the species name in the core species guide.

Some of them

Once discovered, unless otherwise specied, point of interest tokens are removed from the ocean board. Some Expeditions might change this.

No

The effects of point of interest tokens vary game to game and depend on the Expedition that you are playing.

By discovering them

You can take submersible actions to flip them to their discovered side. The effects of these tokens vary game to game; they will be explained in the relevant expedition sections.

Yes

Each player has the same 4 point of interest tokens - deep-sea rubble, statue, wreck and a chest.

4

Each player has the same 4 point of interest tokens - deep-sea rubble, statue, wreck and a chest.

At the end of the game, before resolving scoring, ip 1 undiscovered tile on your ocean board to its discovered side.

During the submersible phase, look at any face-down point of interest token on your player board, and then return it to the board face-down.

During the submersible phase, perform 1 extra submersible action.

During the ship phase or submersible phase, move 1 discovery tile to an adjacent empty ocean board zone.

4

Disc with an Arrow / +1 Submersible / An Eye / Finish line

No

There is no limit to the number of bonus tokens you can use in each phase.

Yes

Collected bonus tokens may be saved for future rounds and there is no limit to the number of bonus tokens you can spend in each phase.

Submersible actions

Bonus tokens can be collected during the submersible phase. You may spend bonus tokens to gain additional benets during specic phases. They may be saved for future rounds and there is no limit to the number of bonus tokens you can spend in each phase.

During each round a Discovery token can be flipped over to its "discovered" side if a ship is standing over it as well as tiles that are adjacent to a player's submersible can be flipped during the Submersible phase.

Each discovery tiles has an undiscovered (dark background) side and a discovered (light background) side. Only discovered tiles and tokens are scored at the end of the game.

Yes

Each player's bag has 18 identical core discovery tiles as well as 3 additional advanced discovery tiles, which depend on which Expedition is being played.

A player's segment on the sonar board starts from their coloured sonar beam and it ends right before the next players sonar beam, moving clockwise. Each player should have the same amount of sonar board sections available to them.

Triangular space

Each ocean board has circular spaces that are called "zones" and small triangular spaces, called "vertex". The plural for "vertex" is "vertices".

Circular spaces

Each ocean board has circular spaces that are called "zones" and small triangular spaces, called "vertex".

No

You must choose and Expedition to play. It is recomended to play Expedition in order, but after you are familiar with all of them, you can choose any Expedition to play.

Yes

Each round the sonar board will sections will be redivided between players, but each player will always have the same amount of sections in their segments.

Yes

In a 2-player game you use the 6-section side of the sonar board and you can only place tokens onto the full-circle spaces on the sonar board. Otherwise, there are no other rules differences in a 2-player game.

Almost

During the game players usually place tiles and tokens onto spaces in their section of the sonar board. However, only the full-circle spaces are available in a 2-player game. Otherwise, all circular spaces are available.

No

During setup each player randomly draws 2 discovery tiles from their tile bags and places each onto a sonar board space; 1 in their segment of the sonar board and the other in the section directly across the centre from the rst. Sonar board spaces are the circular green icons.

Almost

Sonar beams can only be placed on dividing line. All players should place their sonar beams such that they divide the board up into equal segments.

No

In player order, players should place their sonar beam on a sonar board dividing line, such that they divide the board up into equal segments.

No

On the player order board, move the token in the first position to the last position and move all tokens up 1 space.

Randomly choose a starting player and place their player order token on the ‘1’ space of the player order board. Going clockwise around the table, add each other player’s order token to the next available space of the player order board.

Random

Randomly choose a starting player and place their player order token on the ‘1’ space of the player order board.

Yes

The sonar board has diferent number of section on each side that are used depending on the number of players in the game - 6-section side up for a 2- or 3-player game or the 8-section side up for a 4-player game.

No

Player bags hold different components to help setup the game faster, but during setup after taking out all components from a player's bag, it should only have Discovery tiles left in it. Other components should be placed on the table.

No

Each ship and submersible are paired with art style, but have no other in-game differences.

No

During setup point of interest tokens are chosen at random and placed face-down on marked spaces on each player's ocean board.

Yes

The sliders help players to keep track of actions they have taken each phase as some phases are played simultaneously, while others - in player order. Additionally, some actions are skipped in the first round of the game, thus setting up the Player Console corrently can help.

Yes

You use a specific side of the sonar board depending on the number of players in the game - the 6-section side for a 2- or 3-player game or the 8-section side for a 4-player game.

No

Ocean board and Player Consoles are all the same. Later differ only in colour.

You need to prepare them once before your first game by filling them with the relevant components.

Fathom is a tile-laying, pattern-building game of deep-sea exploration. Players have 6 rounds to explore an underwater ecosystem, taking actions with their ship and submersible to place and discover tiles on their ocean board.

See the following rule(s) to find an answer to this question.

Gain most points

At the end of the 6th round, players score for discovered tiles - the player with the most points wins!