How to Play (Generation 1) (2024)

This is the rules for the original game. If you were looking for the rules for Bakugan Battle Planet, click here.

For Japanese version of the rulebook, see Bakugan Wiki:How to Play (Generation 1)/Japanese Version.

The goal of the game is to get three Gate Cards in your Used Pile, after which you win the game.

To begin, each player selects 3 different Bakugan (the same Bakugan with different G-Powers are considered different), 3 Gate Cards (one Gold, one Silver and one Copper/Bronze) and 3 Ability Cards (one Red, one Blue and one Green), up to two unique Support Pieces (Support Pieces with different G-Powers/Attributes/Types are considered different) and up to three different BakuNano (BakuNano with different G-Powers/Types are considered different).

To start the game, each player places all their cards, Bakugan, Support Pieces and BakuNano and places them in an area on your right called the Unused Pile. This pile houses every piece that has not been used yet. Gate Cards and Ability Cards are always facedown when in your Unused Pile. There is another pile on your left called your Used Pile, which hold every piece that has been used.

In a two-player game, each player places one of their Gate Cards face down in the center of the playing field, one on top of each other with your Gate Card on top.

In a three-player game and a four-player game, each player places their Gate Cards touching the bottom corners of your opponents' Gate Cards. The formation in a three-player game should create a triangle in the center of the field.

The formation in a four-player game should create a square in the center of the field.

Play begins with the youngest player and then play goes in a clockwise orientation.

Whenever there are no more Gate Cards on the field, all players lay out Gate Cards as specified in this section.

Rolling[edit]

On your turn, you can roll your Bakugan at least two card lengths away from the closest Gate Card or play certain Ability Cards (ones that take effect before or after your roll).

If your Bakugan opens (or even partially opens) or stops on a Gate Card, then your Bakugan has stood. If there is no other Bakugan on that Gate Card, then it is the next player's turn.

If there is an opponent's Bakugan on the Gate Card, Battle ensues.

If one of your Bakugan is also on that Gate Card, then you must move one your Bakugan to another Gate Card.

If there is no other Gate Card on the field or all other Bakugan on the field are yours, then you take both Bakugan and the Gate Card they landed on and place them in your Used Pile.

If you miss your Bakugan, that Bakugan is placed in your Used Pile.

If you don't have any Bakugan in your Unused Pile to roll, take all your Bakugan, Support Pieces and BakuNano from your Used Pile and place them in your Unused Pile. Then, pick one and roll it.

If all of your Bakugan are on the field and you have no Bakugan in either your Used or Unused piles, then you can pick a Bakugan on the field to "Stay". If your turn comes around and the Bakugan you called "Stay" on is still on the field (ie. a Battle hasn't started yet with that Bakugan) then you get to take that Bakugan to your Used Pile ALONG with the Gate Card it was standing on.

Battle[edit]

Battles begin when 2 Bakugan from different players land on the same Gate Card. Before the Gate Card is flipped over, players check whether certain Ability Cards can be played. Then, the Gate Card is flipped over, and the card text is read. Then, look at each of the Bakugan's printed G-Powers and add the Gate Attribute bonus that matches your Bakugan's attribute to your Bakugan. After that, players can play Ability Cards, Support Pieces and BakuNano from your Unused Pile, starting with the person who created the battle. The Bakugan with the highest G-Power by the end wins the battle. In the event of a tie, the Bakugan who stood on the Gate Card first wins. Gate Cards won in battle go to the winner's Used pile and all Bakugan and Support Pieces go to their owner's Used Piles after Battle.

The Bakugan[edit]

Each Bakugan a member of one of six Attributes; Pyrus(Fire), Subterra(Earth), Haos (Light), Darkus (Darkness), Aquos (Water) and Ventus (Wind). Each Bakugan also contains a printed G-Power. This is used in Battle to determine a winner.

Special Treatment Bakugan[edit]

There are several different types of Bakugan which behave differently than regular Bakugan. Here are the ones which feature different rulesets:

Clear (Changes to your opponent's Bakugan's attribute. If both your and your opponent's Bakugan are clear, both player may chose which attribute to use for the battle)

Translucent (Either you can keep your attribute or take your opponent's)

Pearl/Crimson and Pearl (Either take the regular Gate Attribute bonus or the highlighted bonus)

Dual Attribute (Can choose which attribute you can use, from either half of the Bakugan, after the Gate Card is revealed)

BakuMutation (Can change to their opponent's Bakugan's attribute if their Bakugan is also a Special Treatment)

BakuMutants (Function like Dual Attribute, but each half can be swapped (before the game starts) and each half features G-Powers, which are added together)

Baku Sky Raiders (Have special cards that are placed on the field at the beginning of the game. If the Baku Sky Raider lands on the card after jumping, they gain a G-Power bonus)

BakuBlaster (Shoots discs that add G-Power to the main Bakugan)

BakuMine (Gain a G-Power bonus listed on the top half of the mine if the mine doesn't go off)

BakuDouble-Strike (These have buttons that reveal hidden G-Power bonuses that are added only when battling on an opponent's Gate Card)

BakuFusion (If two Bakugan that can fuse together land on the same Gate Card, they win the Gate Card, no matter what)

Special Attack (These Bakugan have various unique effects. Some feature random G-Power/Attribute spinners, some have metal accents, while others spin when opened)

BakuChance (Bakugan who feature miniature dice that are rolled upon opening)

Special Evolution Bakugan[edit]

Special Evolution Bakugan is played separately from all other Bakugan and Support Pieces. Each Special Evolution Bakugan has a Reference Card, which is played separately of your Gate Cards and your Ability Cards. Their Reference Card lists the condition to evolve into the Special Evolutions, which are specific Bakugan with a specific G-Power. Underneath this box are the unique abilities of the Special Evolution. Each Special Evolution Bakugan features “Unique.” on its Reference Card, meaning that you cannot have more than one of one specific Bakugan Special Evolution.At the beginning of your turn (before you roll) and when the conditions to evolve have been met, you may replace the evolving Bakugan with the evolved Bakugan. The evolving Bakugan is removed from the game and your turn ends. This can be done when the evolving Bakugan is in either the Unused Pile or the Used Pile.

Support Pieces[edit]

There are several different Support Pieces that can be used alongside your Bakugan. You can only play one Support Piece per battle.

Bakugan Traps[edit]

Bakugan Traps can be played during battle when your Bakugan matches the attribute of the Trap being used. Once activated, you may now change the attribute of your Bakugan to any of the attributes printed inside the Trap.

Bakugan Battle Gear[edit]

Bakugan Battle Gear can be played during battle. They come with Reference Cards, which are separate from your Ability Cards and Gate Cards. Once opened, they reveal a G-Power, which is added to your Bakugan. They also have a symbol on their outside which correspond to the different types of Gate Cards. If the Gate Card type does not match the type that is listed on the Battle Gear, you may only use the ability listed on the Battle Gear's Reference Card that matches your Bakugan's attribute. If the Gate Card type does match the type that is listed on the Battle Gear, you may use either ability listed on the Battle Gear's Reference Card, no matter your Bakugan's attribute.

Bakugan Mobile Assault[edit]

Bakugan Mobile Assault are attached to Bakugan before the game begins. They come with Reference Cards, which are separate from your Ability Cards and Gate Cards. You must play a Mobile Assault that matches your Bakugan's attribute. They are rolled on to Gate Cards like regular Bakugan are. Their Reference Cards contains symbols which correspond to the different types of Gate Cards. When the Gate Card is revealed, if its type matches one of the types listed on the Bakugan Mobile Assault, you gain the G-Power Bonus printed inside the Mobile Assault and can use the ability listed on its Reference Card. However, if the Gate Card type does not appear on your Mobile Assault's Reference Card, then the Mobile Assault is removed from the game and the Bakugan inside is played without it.

Mechtogan/Mechtogan Titan[edit]

Mechtogan/Mechtogan Titan are played in battle. The attribute of the Mechtogan/Mechtogan Titan must match the attribute of your Bakugan in battle. Mechtogan/Mechtogan Titan contain an Activator Card that can activate your Mechtogan/Mechtogan Titan (although a spare Gate Card may be used to activate it as well). Once activated, they reveal a hidden G-Power, which is added to your Bakugan in battle.

Bakugan Battle Suits[edit]

Bakugan Battle Suits are played in battle. They come with Reference Cards, which are separate from your Ability Cards and Gate Cards. The attribute of the Battle Suit must match the attribute of your Bakugan in battle. Once activated, they reveal a hidden G-Power, which is added to your Bakugan in battle. The Battle Suit's Reference Card contains an ability, which can be activated when the Battle Suit is used in battle.

BakuNano[edit]

BakuNano are played in battle, when their type matches the type of Gate Card. They reveal a hidden G-Power when opened and add their G-Power to your Bakugan's G-Power total in battle. You can use as many BakuNano in battle as you want. Once used, they are removed from the game, unless they are attached to a Mechtogan/Mechtogan Titan, in which they go to the used pile after battle.

The Gate Cards[edit]

There are three different types of Gate Cards; Bronze/Copper, Silver and Gold. Each type has a specific style. Gold Gate Cards typically call out for specific attributes or specific Bakugan. Silver Gate Cards usually feature no card text. Bronze/Copper Gate Cards vary wildly, and typically assist the Bakugan with the lowest G-Power.

Each Gate Card features the same basic elements. On the left are the Gate Attribute Bonuses. These are added to your Bakugan based on your G-Power. Each Gate Card also features its name. Finally, there is the Gate Card text box, located on the bottom of the card. The text written here overrules the regular rules of the game.

Ability Cards[edit]

There are also three different types of Ability Cards; Red, Green and Blue. Each type has a specific style. Red Ability Cards are typically played during your roll. Blue Ability Cards are typically played during battle. Green Ability Cards vary wildly. Some are played during the roll, some are played during battle, before the Gate Card is revealed, after battle and some are played at any time.

Each Ability Card features the same basic elements. First, the card's name. Then, the card's text. The text in Bold contain the conditions that need to be met in order to play the card. The rest of the text explains what happens when the conditions are met. Some Ability Cards (typically blue ones) feature G-Power bonuses that are added based on your Bakugan's attribute. The text on Ability Cards overrule the regular rules of the game.

Power Level[edit]

Some cards or Support Pieces' Reference Cards contain a Power Level marker on the top right of the card. These cards or Support Pieces cannot be played until the Power Level in the game reaches the number on the card. The Power Level corelates with the total number of Gate Cards in each player's used pile.

BakuGauntlet/BakuMeter[edit]

The BakuGauntlet/BakuMeter are calculators with some additional functionality. Their rules vary depending on how many players have a BakuGauntlet/BakuMeter. If only one player has a BakuGauntlet/BakuMeter, then the player with the Gauntlet/Meter may choose whether they take the Gate Attribute bonus on the Gate Card or take the G-Power boost from the Gauntlet/Meter by pressing the G button on the Gauntlet/Meter once and pressing the = key. If both players have a BakuGauntlet/BakuMeter, then both players get both the Gate Attribute bonus and the G-Power bonus from the Gauntlet/Meter.

Hand Launchers[edit]

Hand Launchers may be used to roll Bakugan instead of doing so by hand.

The Big Game is an expanded version of the original game. The main difference is that the Big Game doubles all aspects (Bakugan, Gate Cards, Ability Cards, Support Pieces, BakuNano and Gate Cards required to win). You cannot have more than one copy of any one card.