Distance

In Sanguosha, the concept of distance determines which players you can target with certain cards and abilities. Each pair of players at the table has a calculated distance between them, based on their seating positions. Understanding how to count distance is essential for planning attacks, using abilities, and managing your threats.

Distance is measured by counting the number of seats between you and another player around the table. A player who is seated directly next to you—on either your left or right—is considered to be at a distance of 1. For every additional seat between you and a target, the distance increases by 1.

Distance is always calculated using the shortest path around the table, meaning you can count clockwise or counterclockwise—whichever results in the lower number. For example, in a five-player game, the person sitting two seats to your left is at a distance of 2, even if they are three seats away when counted in the other direction.

Example

You are player A in a six person game. You are player A in a six person game. You are seated adjacent to B and F. Both of them are distance 1 away from you. C is on the opposite side of B making C distance 2 from you. Farthest from you is D at distance 3. Both E and C are distance 2 away from you in either direction. Each of the players at the table calculate distance in the same way, so you are distance 2 from player C and distance 3 from D.

Although different games may use different numbers of players, the distance calculations are done in the same way for all player counts.

Dead Characters

As players are eliminated from a game of Sanguosha, the distances between the remaining players begin to shrink, tightening the battlefield and pushing the game toward a faster, more intense conclusion. When a player is removed, their seat is also removed from the turn order and distance calculations. It is as if they were never part of the seating arrangement at all. The remaining players’ distances are then recalculated based on the new, smaller circle of participants. This shrinking circle can change who is within striking range, so players must constantly adjust their strategy as the game progresses.

In our previous example, player B has been eliminated from the game. With B removed, player C now shifts into the adjacent position, making C just distance 1 from you, player A. Likewise, the distance to player D is reduced to 2, as the entire circle contracts. It's important to remember that distance calculations work both ways—just as other players are moving closer to you, you are also moving closer to them. This tightening of range affects everyone equally and can suddenly bring players into range who were previously out of reach.

Horses

Players can equip Horses to influence how distance is calculated between themselves and others. There are two types of Horses: -1 Horses and +1 Horses, and each player may equip one of each type at a time. The type of Horse is indicated on the card itself and determines where it is placed on your equipment area.

A -1 Horse is considered an "offensive" Horse. It reduces the distance between you and all other players by 1, making it easier for you to target opponents. This bonus only applies to distances you calculate to others—it does not affect how others calculate distance to you. However, distance cannot be reduced below 1, so even with a -1 Horse, the minimum possible distance between any two players remains 1.

A +1 Horse is considered a "defensive" Horse. It increases the distance between you and all other players by 1 when they calculate their distance to you. This can make it more difficult for opponents to target you, especially with cards that have range limitations. Importantly, a +1 Horse only affects how others perceive distance to you—it does not impact your own distance calculations in any way.

Using Horses can shift the flow of a game, keeping threats at bay or helping you reach others. It is almost always in a players interest to equip Horses as soon as they are acquired.

Example with Horses

Using the same seating arrangement from earlier, you are player A and now have a -1 Horse equipped. Player E also has a -1 Horse, while player B has a +1 Horse. Player C has both a -1 and a +1 Horse equipped. When you calculate the distance from yourself to each of the other players, your -1 Horse reduces the result by 1 in each case.

For example, player D was originally at a distance of 3, but your -1 Horse brings that down to 2. Player F remains at distance 1—since that’s the minimum distance possible, it cannot be reduced any further. Player E, who was previously 2 away, is now also just 1 away. E’s own -1 Horse has no effect on your calculations, because you only apply your own equipment when measuring distance outward.

Player B has a +1 Horse, but because you have a -1 Horse, the two effects offset each other. As a result, B remains at distance 1. The same is true for player C: their +1 Horse increases the distance to them, but your -1 Horse brings it back down, leaving the total distance at 2.

Remember, when measuring how far you are from other players, only your own -1 Horse is considered. Defensive +1 Horses on other players only affect distance when they are the target and someone else is doing the measuring.

Page updated

Google Sites

Report abuse