ARK NOVA STARTING DECKS

To help you get started with Ark Nova, we suggest playing the first game with the following starting decks and base conservation projects.
Note that these decks are not designed for a perfect balance, but for an easier start. For each deck, we also have a few tips on what you
should try to accomplish until the first and second break.
Personal setup: Place (as usual) your Animals action card in position 1, on the far left. Also, place your Cards action card in position 2,
directly to the right of the Animals action card. Place the rest of the actions cards randomly on positions 3 to 5. Now, each player chooses
one of the following decks. These are your cards at the start of the game. There is no need for card selection. You will also receive exactly
1 final scoring card. This means that the final scoring card decision at 10 conservation points does not happen. Place your base conservation
project belonging to your deck below the association board. When playing alone or with 2 players, randomly draw more base conservation
projects and place them under the association tableau until there are 3 below the board.
If you are unable to perform one of the suggested actions because the action card is not in the appropriate place, use your Cards
action card in between.
................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................

Player 1
Animals: Mantled Guereza (455), Rock Monitor (472), Slow Worm (488)
Sponsors: Herpetologist (237) Base conservation project in play:
Final scoring card: Climbing park (010) Africa (103)
3 2 1 1 0 4 : 3
13 12 4

CLIMBING PARK

010
AFRICA

103
HERPETOLOGIST
237

MANTLED GUEREZA ROCK MONITOR SLOW WORM Gain for rock icons
455

472

488

Colobus guereza Varanus albigularis Anguis fragilis – Near Threatened Each time a reptile icon is played in your zoo. Requires Africa icons
Clever Sunbathing 3 into any zoo, gain 3 . in your zoo.
After finishing the current action,
you may place any Action card
You may sell up to 3 cards from
your hand for 4 each.
1 3 5 7 5 4 2
on 1 .
455
1 2 3 4 5 3 2
6 5 2

Tips for actions in the first turns

Before the 1st break
1. Perform the Association action (strength 3+) and take the Africa partner zoo.
2. Perform the Sponsors action (strength 4+) and play the sponsor card Herpetologist.
Gain 3 money because the sponsor card itself has a reptile icon, triggering it directly.
3. Perform the Build action (strength 2+) and build a 2-space enclosure for 4 money. Place the enclosure next to your kiosk and a rock space.
4. Perform the Animals action (strength 5) and play 2 animals. Play the Mantled Guereza for 10 money and the Rock Monitor for 9 money
(each 3 money less because of the partner zoo). Then gain 3 money through your sponsor card because you played a reptile icon into your
zoo with the Rock Monitor.
After the 1st break
Complete the Africa conservation project with an Association action (strength 5). Unlock an income by marking the achieved level of the
conservation project with one of the upper 4 player tokens on your zoo map.

................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................

Player 2
Animals: Muskox (437), Llama (439), Barn owl (513)
Sponsors: Expert in Small animals (229) Base conservation project in play:
Final scoring card: Small animal zoo (002) Herbivores (111)
4 2 1 5 2- -3 2-

13 10 12

SMALL ANIMAL ZOO

002

HERBIVORES
111

EXPERT IN SMALL ANIMALS

229

MUSKOX LLAMA BARN OWL Gain for small animals

439
437

513

Ovibos moschatus Lama glama Tyto alba Your cost to play a small animal in your zoo. Requires herbivore icons
Sponsor Magnet Flock Animal 2 Perception 4 is reduced by 3 . in your zoo.
Add all Sponsor cards from
the display to your hand.
May share the existing enclosure
of a with 2+ .
Draw 4 cards from the deck.
Add 2 to your hand and
2-
3 6 8 10 5 4 2
discard the rest.
437 439 513
2- 1 1 2 3 4 5 4 2
5 4 3

Tips for actions in the first turns

Before the 1st break
1. Perform the Association action (strength 3+) and take the Americas partner zoo.
2. Perform the Build action (strength 4+) and build a 4-space enclosure for 8 money.
3. Perform the Sponsors action (strength 5) and play the sponsor card Expert in Small animals.
4. Perform the Animals action (strength 5) and play 2 animals. First play the Muskox for 10 money (3 money less because of the partner
zoo). Then play the Llama second for 4 money (3 money less because of the partner zoo and 3 money less because of the Expert in Small
animals). Do not flip a free enclosure for the Llama, as its Flock Animal ability allows it to be played into the Muskox‘s enclosure.
After the 1st break
Complete the Herbivores conservation project with an Association action (strength 5). Unlock an income by marking the achieved level of
the conservation project with one of the upper 4 player tokens on your zoo map.
 Player 3
Animals: Sumatran Tiger (407), Sloth Bear (408)
Sponsors: Science Institute (223), Sponsorship: Lions (234)
Base conservation project in play:
Final scoring card: Sponsored zoo (008) Predators (110)
4 3 3 3 1
3
5
3
6
9
X
26 14

SPONSORED ZOO

008
PREDATORS

110
SCIENCE INSTITUTE SPONSORSHIP: LIONS

223

234
SUMATRAN TIGER SLOTH BEAR Gain for Sponsor cards
407

408
Panthera tigris sumatrae – Critically Endangered Melursus ursinus – Vulnerable Income: in your zoo. Requires predator icons
Boost: Association Gain 3 / 6 / 9 for 1/3/5 predator in your zoo.
After finishing the current action,
you may place your Association
icons in your zoo. 3 6 8 10 5 4 2
Action card on 1 or 5 .
408
: 1 1 2 3 4 5 4 2
1 2 8 6

Tips for actions in the first turns

Before the 1st break
1. Perform the Association action (strength 3+) and take the Asia partner zoo.
2. Perform the Animals action (strength 2+) and play the Sloth Bear for 11 money (3 money less because of the partner zoo).
3. Perform the Sponsors action (strength 3+) and play the sponsor card Sponsorship: Lions.
Immediately gain 1 Appeal as a one-off effect, since you have a predator icon in your zoo with the Sloth Bear.
4. Perform the Build action (strength 4+) and build a 4-space enclosure for 8 money. Place the 4-space enclosure so that it is adjacent to
2 water spaces and covers the placement bonus 5 money. Get 5 money from the placement bonus.
5. Perform the Sponsors action (strength 3+) and play the sponsor card Science Institute as preparation for the Sumatran Tiger (the card adds
the 2 needed science icons to your zoo).
After the 1st break
Perform the Animals action (strength 2+) and play the Sumatran Tiger for 23 money (3 money less because of the partner zoo).
Complete the Predators conservation project with an Association action (strength 5). Unlock an income by marking the achieved level of
the conservation project with one of the upper 4 player tokens on your zoo map.

.................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................

Player 4
Animals: Frilled Lizard (491), Cinereous Vulture (499), Australian Pelican (515)
Sponsors: Ornithologist (238) Base conservation project in play:
Final scoring card: Large animal zoo (001) Australia (105)
2 1 5 1 4 4 : 3 4+

12 16 13

LARGE ANIMAL ZOO

001

AUSTRALIA
105

ORNITHOLOGIST
238

FRILLED LIZARD CINEREOUS VULTURE AUSTRALIAN PELICAN Gain for large animals
491

499

515

Chlamydosaurus kingii Aegypius monachus – Near Threatened Pelecanus conspicillatus Each time a bird icon is played in your zoo. Requires Australia icons
Sprint 1 Scavenging 3 Action: Build into any zoo, gain 3 . in your zoo.
Draw 1 card from the deck. Shuffle the discard pile and draw
3 cards from it. Add 1 to your hand
After finishing the current
action, you may perform
4+
1 2 4 5 5 4 2
and discard the others. the Build action .
1 2 3 4 5 4 2
5 6 5

Tips for actions in the first turns

Before the 1st break
1. Perform the Association action (strength 3+) and take the Australia partner zoo.
2. Perform the Build action (strength 4+) and build a 4-space enclosure for 8 money. Place the 4-space enclosure so that it is adjacent to
2 water spaces and covers the placement bonus 5 money. Get 5 money from the placement bonus.
3. Perform the Sponsors action (strength 4+) and play the sponsor card Ornithologist.
Gain 3 money because the sponsor card itself has a bird icon, triggering it directly.
4. Perform the Animals action (strength 5) and play 2 animals. Play the Australian Pelican for 10 money and the Frilled Lizard for 9 money
(each 3 money less because of the partner zoo). Then gain 3 money through your sponsor card because you played a bird icon into your
zoo with the Australian Pelican. If player 1 already played the Herpetologist, they gain 3 money as well, since you played a card with a
reptile icon (the Frilled Lizard).
After the 1st break
Complete the Australia conservation project with an Association action (strength 5). Unlock an income by marking the achieved level of the
conservation project with one of the upper 4 player tokens on your zoo map.

Cut the instruction apart on the dotted lines so that everyone can place their tips in front of them.