STACCS Rulebook

Table of Contents

Table of Contents

• Components
• Anatomy of a Card
• Cardinal Rules
  • Cardinal Rule #1: Matching Suits STACC on the TOP
  • Cardinal Rule #2: Matching Numbers STACC on the SIDE
  • Cardinal Rule #3: Matching Face Cards STACC on the FACE
• Wild Cards
• Playable Surfaces
• Play Modes
• Play Mode #1: UH OH!
  • Setup
  • On Your Turn
  • Special Cards
  • Countering ATTACCs
  • Multiple Numbers
  • Wild Cards
  • Cheat Sheet
• Play Mode #2: UH OH! PARTY
• Play Mode #3: SOLOSTACCS
  • Setup
  • Rules
  • Variations
• Play Mode #4: WILD OUT
  • Setup
  • Rules
  • Variations
• Play Mode #5: FACE OFF
• Mistaccs to Avoid
  • Number Cards on the Face
  • Face Cards on the Side
  • Letters Must Match
  • Wilds
• Frequently Stacced Questions
  • Wilds on Wilds
  • Out of Cards
  • Over the Edge
  • Queen Sweep
  • Win With Multiples
  • Ace Specifics

Components

STACCS comes with a deck of 60 hexagonal cards called the DECC.

• Each of the four suits (spades, hearts, clubs, diamonds) has 0, 2-10, J, Q, K and A.
• The number cards are 2-10. The face cards are J, Q, K and A. The ZERO card is marked 0.
• There are 4 WILD cards, which have no suit and no number or letter.

The printed component page reads "15 Cards x 4 Suits = 60 TOTAL CARDS". The per-suit count printed on the same page and in the cheat sheet is 14 cards (0, 2-10, J, Q, K, A), which with the 4 WILDs gives the printed total of 60.

Anatomy of a Card

Every STACCS card is marked in multiple places with its SUIT and its NUMBER or LETTER. You can fan your hand to see each card's SUIT and NUMBER or LETTER at a glance.

Each card has three visible surfaces:

• TOP: the top surface of the card. It is always the brightest surface.
• SIDE: the right-hand surface of the card. It carries the NUMBER.
• FACE: the left-hand surface of the card. It carries the LETTER for face cards.

Cards are shaped like cubes, and cards can STACC onto each other to create 3D-looking structures. To correctly STACC matching cards onto each other, follow the 3 CARDINAL RULES below.

Cardinal Rules

Cardinal Rule #1: Matching Suits STACC on the TOP

If you're trying to match a card of the same SUIT (for example, two spades), STACC on the TOP surface of the card you're matching.

Cardinal Rule #2: Matching Numbers STACC on the SIDE

If you're trying to match a card of the same NUMBER (for example, two 5's), STACC on the SIDE (right) surface of the card you're matching.

Cardinal Rule #3: Matching Face Cards STACC on the FACE

If you're trying to match a card of the same FACE or LETTER (for example, two A's), STACC on the FACE (left) surface of the card you're matching.

Wild Cards

WILD cards have their own special way of STACCING. They can be STACCED on any available TOP surface, but they must always be ROTATED in a new direction.

• You must ROTATE the WILD. You can rotate it however you want, as long as you orient it differently from the previous cards. Now the STACC is headed in a new direction.
• WILDS STACC on TOP surfaces only.

Playable Surfaces

To play a card, every surface it touches must match the STACC correctly. Cards should all be oriented the same way, and you can't play on a surface that's partially covered or blocked.

The printed example marks open surfaces with these labels: a HEARTS card or a WILD on a TOP surface; 7's on a SIDE surface; ACES on a FACE surface; and a 5 of CLUBS (the only card other than a WILD that fits that spot) on a SIDE surface. A 3 of DIAMONDS is also marked as playable on a SIDE surface.

In the printed example, the matchable cards are: ACES, any HEARTS, 7's, the 5 of CLUBS, the 3 of DIAMONDS, and WILDS. All 2's and SPADES are blocked and out-of-play because they're covered by other cards.

Play Modes

Whether you're by yourself, with a friend or a big group, there are many ways to STACC!

1. Play Mode #1 - UH OH! The classic way to STACC. 2-5 players.
2. Play Mode #2 - UH OH! PARTY. Bring more hands into the fold. 6-10 players.
3. Play Mode #3 - SOLOSTACCS. STACCS, solitaire style. 1 player.
4. Play Mode #4 - WILD OUT. Where the wild STACCS grow. 1-4 players.
5. Play Mode #5 - FACE OFF (Coming Soon). An ultra-competitive versus mode. 2 players.

Keep an eye out for more STACCING fun as we add new ways to play!

Play Mode #1: UH OH!

The classic way to STACC. 2-5 players.

Goal: Be the first to STACC all the cards in your hand to win!

Setup

1. Choose a large, flat surface to play. The table's edge is the boundary of your STACC. Cards can't go past it.
2. Shuffle the DECC and deal everyone 7 CARDS (or 5 cards if you've got 5 players). The rest of the cards go face-down as the DRAW PILE.
3. Start the STACC by flipping over the top card. Make sure you leave enough space above this first card so there's room for your STACC to grow.
4. Make sure the first card is a number card (2-10). If the first card is SPECIAL (J, Q, K, A, 0, WILD), skip it and flip again. Place any skipped cards back into the DRAW PILE and give it one more shuffle before the game begins.
5. The player to the left of the dealer goes first, and then play continues clockwise.

The direction of play is upward from the first card.

On Your Turn

You're trying to be the first to get rid of all the cards in your hand.

• On your turn, if you have a match in your hand, STACC IT!
• If you can't make a match, DRAW 1 CARD.
• Now your turn is over and the next player goes.
• When you have only 1 CARD left in your hand, you have to warn the other players by saying "UH OH!" out loud. Whisper it, shout it, sing... it's up to you!
• If you forget and someone calls you out before your next turn, you have to DRAW 3 CARDS as a penalty.
• The first player out of cards WINS THE GAME!

Special Cards

Some cards have unique powers. You'll recognize them by their special symbols.

• ZERO: Playing a ZERO blocks the next player from STACCING on its TOP surface for that turn only. With 3+ players, it also reverses direction of play.
• JACK (ATTACC): When you play a JACK, the next player has to DRAW 1 CARD.
• QUEEN (ATTACC): When you play a QUEEN, GIVE 1 CARD from your hand to the next player.
• KING (ATTACC): When you play a KING, the next player has to DRAW 2 CARDS.
• ACE: When you play an ACE, take another turn immediately.

Don't worry! If you get hit with an ATTACC card (J, Q, K), you still get to take your turn.

Countering ATTACCs

Effects of ATTACC cards like JACK, QUEEN, and KING can be passed onto the next player if you have a matching card in your hand. Each counter adds to the effect: DRAW 1, then DRAW 2, then DRAW 3, then DRAW 4!

For example, if the player before you plays a JACK and you have another one in your hand, STACC IT! The effect (DRAW 1) passes to the next player and is additive. They will now have to DRAW 2, unless they also have a JACK and can counter again.

Multiple Numbers

See a NUMBER already on the STACC that you have multiples of in your hand? On your turn, you can play them all at once, like a pair of 5's.

NOTE: This only works with NUMBERS (0-10). You can't place multiple FACE or LETTER cards (J, Q, K, A) at once.

Wild Cards

WILDS are the most special of special cards! WILDS can only be STACCED on open TOP surfaces and must always be ROTATED in a new direction.

• Play a WILD on any turn except your last. STACC it and call a SUIT of your choice.
• The next player must STACC a card of that same SUIT on the TOP surface of the WILD, or draw a card if they can't.
• All cards played before the WILD are now locked and UNSTACCABLE, and play continues in the new direction.
• If your last card is a WILD, you can't win with it. You'll have to DRAW 1 on your next turn instead.

Cheat Sheet

Here's a quick cheat sheet!

• Goal: Be the first to STACC all the cards in your hand to win!
• Setup: 60 cards: 4 suits (0, 2-10, J, Q, K, A, Wild). Shuffle and deal 7 cards each (5 if 5 players). Draw pile goes face-down. Flip one card to start the STACC (skip J, Q, K, A, 0 or Wilds). Play starts clockwise.
• How to STACC: Each card has 3 surfaces.
  • TOP: match by SUIT.
  • SIDE: match by NUMBER (0-10).
  • FACE: match by LETTER (J, Q, K, A).
  • Cards must match all visible surfaces they touch. No STACCING on partially covered surfaces.
• On your turn: Play a matching card, or draw 1 if you can't. Down to 1 card? Say "UH OH!" Forget and get caught? DRAW 3 cards. First player out of cards WINS THE GAME!
• Special cards:
  • ZERO: Can't STACC on card TOP for 1 turn. For 3+ players, also reverses direction of play.
  • JACK: Next player DRAWS 1 card.
  • QUEEN: GIVE 1 card to next player.
  • KING: Next player DRAWS 2 cards.
  • ACE: Take another turn.
  • WILD: Play on any TOP, rotate, call a new suit. Can't win with it. DRAW 1 if it is your last card in hand.
• Extra rules: Counter J/Q/K by playing the same card; the effect adds to the next player. Play multiple numbers at once if that number is already on the STACC.

Play Mode #2: UH OH! PARTY

Bring more hands into the fold. 6-10 players.

Goal: Be the first to STACC all the cards in your hand to win!

UH OH! PARTY is played exactly like the original UH OH! but with more people (and a bigger table).

• Combine and shuffle together 2 DECCS.
• Deal 7 cards to every player. For 10 players, deal 5 cards each.
• The STACC will now be twice as long, twice as wide, and twice as trippy.
• You can STACC with up to 10 players!
• Yell UH OH! twice as loudly as you normally would when you have one card left.

Play Mode #3: SOLOSTACCS

STACCS, solitaire style. 1 player.

Goal: Use all 60 cards in the DECC to build a single STACC.

Setup

Shuffle your DECC and place it face down as the DRAW PILE. Start the STACC by flipping over the top card. This first card can be any card but a WILD. If the first card flipped is a WILD, randomly slide it back into the middle of the DECC and flip a new card.

Leave room next to the DRAW PILE for a new DISCARD PILE.

Rules

• Keep drawing cards and matching them to create a single STACC using the entire DECC.
• If you can't play a card, place it face up on the DISCARD PILE. You can play the top card of that pile at any point instead of drawing a card.
• Special cards (0, J, Q, K, A) have no effect. WILDS still take the STACC in a new direction, and lock previously played cards.
• The game ends when you run out of cards or playable matches. If you managed to STACC all 60 cards in one go, YOU WIN!

Variations

• Perfect Win: STACCING all 60 cards in one go sounds hard... and it is! But it's totally possible. If you can do it, consider it a PERFECT WIN.
• Second Chances: If you run out of cards but still have some left in the DISCARD PILE, you can still try to win by flipping the pile over and going through each card again. Don't worry, nobody's looking!
• No Wilds: For a more straightforward challenge, remove the 4 WILDS from the DECC before starting. You'll create a chunkier STACC that doesn't change direction, and you'll have more matching opportunities than usual since all cards remain STACCABLE throughout the game.

Play Mode #4: WILD OUT

Where the wild STACCS grow. 1-4 players.

Goal: Co-operatively build the wildest 4-headed STACC possible.

Setup

Remove the 4 WILDS from the DECC and place them in the center so they're touching, each facing out in a different direction.

Shuffle the remaining DECC and place it face down as the DRAW PILE. Deal one card from the DECC onto the top of each WILD to start each STACC.

Rules

• Take turns drawing from the DECC and matching on any playable surface on any STACC. If you can't match, hold the card until you can.
• The 4 STACCS never connect, but can block each other by overlapping matchable surfaces.
• Special cards (0, J, Q, K, A) have no effect!
• The game ends when there are no cards or matches left. Look at the STACCS. Appreciate the STACCS. Everybody wins!

Variations

Here are some other ways you can set up the WILD cards. Feel free to come up with your own starting positions to mix things up! (The printed page shows several alternative arrangements of the four WILDs, each facing out in different directions.)

Play Mode #5: FACE OFF

Coming soon. An ultra-competitive versus mode. 2 players.

The rulebook lists Face Off as coming soon, with no rules printed.

Mistaccs to Avoid

There is a wrong way to STACC your cards. Here are the most common STACCING errors.

Number Cards on the Face

• WRONG: This 3 of Hearts is placed incorrectly. NUMBER cards don't STACC on the FACE.
• RIGHT: NUMBER cards only STACC on the SIDE (or right) surface.

Face Cards on the Side

• WRONG: This Jack of Hearts is placed incorrectly. FACE or LETTER cards don't STACC on the SIDE.
• RIGHT: FACE or LETTER cards only STACC on the FACE (or left) surface.

You'll get the hang of it after a game or two!

Letters Must Match

• WRONG: This King of Spades is placed incorrectly. K's don't match with J's.
• RIGHT: When matching FACE cards, the LETTER has to match. Only another J can STACC on the FACE of a J.

Wilds

• WRONG: This WILD card is placed incorrectly. The WILD can't be STACCED on the FACE of another card, and it hasn't been rotated.
• RIGHT: WILD cards only STACC on available TOP surfaces and must be ROTATED. It's also playable on the TOP surface of the card shown in the example.

Frequently Stacced Questions

Wilds on Wilds

Can I play a WILD card on top of another WILD card?

You sure can! Just make sure you STACC it on the TOP surface of the first WILD and you ROTATE the new WILD in a different direction.

Out of Cards

What happens if we run out of cards in the DRAW PILE in UH OH or UH OH PARTY?

First, make sure you're dealing correctly. The usual count is 7 cards per player, but for games with 5 or 10 players, each player should only get 5 cards to start. If you still run out of DRAW PILE cards and nobody has won yet, the player with the fewest cards left wins.

Over the Edge

What happens if the STACC runs off the edge of the table?

The only rule is that each card has to be able to lay flat on its own without falling off the edge. If you can't STACC a card without it falling off the table, you can't STACC there! Experienced STACCERS cleverly use their WILD cards to keep the action safely away from table edges.

Queen Sweep

I have only 2 cards left, and one of them is a QUEEN. If I play it, I get to give my last card to the next player, and I win the game, right?

Yes, as long as the next player doesn't also have a QUEEN to counter the effect, you win! Call this move the "QUEEN SWEEP." Don't forget to say "UH OH!" in between cards.

Win With Multiples

Can I win the game by playing multiples of a number? For example, if my last 2 cards are a pair of 7's, can I play them at once to win?

Yes! As long as there's already a 7 on the STACC with an open SIDE surface, you can play them both, winning the game. Don't forget to say "UH OH!" before you STACC the last one!

Ace Specifics

If I play an ACE, but don't have another playable card in my hand, do I have to draw a card?

Yup! An ACE immediately gives you another turn, so if you can't play, you have to draw. However, if you play an ACE as your last card, you win the game and don't have to draw again.