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Uno Attack turns classic UNO into a lively, unpredictable race. The electronic launcher replaces slow, single-card draws with a dramatic button press that may fire no cards or shower you with a dozen. Because the machine never acts the same way twice, quiet rounds can explode into laughter without warning.
Introduction to Play Uno Attack
The goal is familiar: empty your hand before anyone else does. On every turn, you try to match the top discard by color, number, or symbol. If you can’t, the Uno Attack Rules state that you have to press the launcher and accept whatever it spits out. Sometimes nothing happens and play moves on; sometimes you collect a stack that sets you back several turns.
This article is written in collaboration with k-boardgame.com.
Setting Up the Game
Place the battery-powered launcher in the centre of the table, switch it on, and load the shuffled deck into the tray.
As per the Uno Attack rules, deal seven cards to each player, then turn the next card face up to start the discard pile. If that first card is a special one, follow its effect before the first turn. The player to the dealer’s left begins, and play moves clockwise unless a Reverse card changes direction.
Unlike classic Uno, Uno Attack cannot be played online. If you do choose to play online using the original game, be sure that you stay safe.
Special Cards
Skip and Reverse
These work just as in classic UNO. Skip jumps the next player, while Reverse flips the turn order.
Hit 2
A unique Action card that tells the next player to press the launcher twice. They add every launched card to their hand and forfeit their turn.
Discard All
Lay this card on a matching color and clear every card of that color from your hand in one move. This is a lifesaver after a big launcher burst.
Wild
Change the color in play. You may use it even if you hold other playable cards.
Wild Attack-Attack
Turn the launcher towards your target and press it twice. The target picks up those cards, and you finish by changing the color in play. Old versions of Uno Attack do not contain this card, so be sure to check your edition and the Uno Attack rules in the pack.
UNO Attack Rules
Match the discard or play a Wild; otherwise, press the launcher once. According to the Uno Attack rules, you may not play a card after pressing, even if the machine stays silent. When you have one card left, you must call “UNO” before the next player’s turn begins. If you forget and someone catches you, press the launcher twice as a penalty.
Unlike some house rules in classic UNO, you cannot “stack” penalties. A Hit 2 cannot be answered with another Hit 2; you must accept the launcher’s verdict. This keeps the Uno Attack rules clear and the game moving.
Using the Card Launcher
Press the button once, firmly, and let go. Repeated jabs can jam the mechanism and break the rhythm. If the launcher misfires or stalls, pause the game, reload the stray cards, and test with a single press. Should the problem persist, switch to manual draws for that round and repair the unit later.
After play, turn the switch off, remove batteries if you will store the game for a while, and wipe dust from the tray so cards glide smoothly next time.
No Matching Cards
When you lack a playable card, pressing the launcher replaces the old “draw one” rule. The result might be blissfully empty—or a spread of new cards that balloon your hand. If the launcher fires and none of the cards help, your turn still ends.
Scoring in UNO Attack
A round ends when one player runs out of cards. All opponents add up the cards left in their hands: numbers score face value, action cards score twenty points each, and Wilds score fifty. The round winner earns the sum of those points. Traditional play continues until someone reaches five hundred, though many groups prefer a fixed number of rounds and crown the highest total.
Strategies for Winning
- Hold multiple colors so a single change won’t trap you.
- Use regular Wilds early to shift the suit toward a color you hold in bulk, but retain at least one emergency card in case the launcher hands you trouble.
- Fire off high-point Wilds and Action cards before someone else goes out; they become hefty penalties if stranded in your hand.
- Watch the table. A player who hesitates before naming a new color likely lacks that hue; steer play back to it when you can.
Conclusion
Uno Attack keeps the heart of classic UNO but adds a dose of suspense with its card launcher and new Wild cards. Simple to learn yet packed with surprises, it fits school nights, family gatherings, and quick party breaks. By mastering the launcher’s risk, timing powerful specials like Wild All Hit, and staying alert to scoring pitfalls, you can rise above the chaos and claim victory, always under the watchful eyes of Uno Attack rules, the real judge of every round.
