UNO Attack: Complete Rules & Strategy Guide

If you’re looking for a new variation on your classic UNO game, UNO Attack adds the perfect twist to make it more fun and random. Instead of a draw pile, cards shoot out of a launcher, and you never know how many you’re going to get when you press the button. Whether you’re learning the game for the first time or just need a refresher on the rules, we’ll walk you through setting up the game and how to play, including what all of the action cards mean!

UNO Attack Game Overview

To play UNO Attack, each player starts with 7 cards. On your turn, play a card that matches the color, number, or symbol of the discard pile’s top card. If you can’t play a card, then press the button on the launcher, which may shoot out cards to put in your hand. Be the first player to get rid of all your cards to win.

Section 1 of 5:

UNO Attack Setup

Download Article

1
Shuffle the cards and deal 7 per player. You can play UNO Attack with up to 10 players, so find a group of friends to get started. Choose a player to be the dealer, and have them shuffle the deck of cards. Then, deal the cards out one at a time until each person has 7 cards in their hand.^{[1]
X
Research source}
- If you can’t decide who should be the dealer, have everyone pick a card, and whoever has the highest number gets to deal (action cards count as 0).
- You can look at your hand of cards, but keep them a secret from the other players.
2
Flip the top card of the deck to start the discard pile. Deal one card face up in the middle of the table where everyone can see it. This card is the first one in the discard pile, and it tells the players what color they’re able to play from their hand.^{[2]
X
Research source}
- If the first card is a Wild, then the player to the left of the dealer chooses any of the 4 colors to start.
Advertisement
3
Set up the card launcher by adding batteries and inserting cards. If this is the first time you’re playing UNO Attack, unscrew the bottom compartment of the launcher and insert 3 C batteries. Put the switch in the On position. Then, flip open the door on the top of the launcher. Lift the inside lever, and place the rest of the deck face-down inside. Close the door, and you’re ready to play!^{[3]
X
Research source}
- On older versions of UNO Attack, the top cover slides off instead of lifting up. When you slide it back on, the launcher will beep to let you know that it’s closed.

Section 2 of 5:

How to Play UNO Attack

Download Article

1
Match one card on your hand to the top card on the discard pile. The player to the left of the dealer takes the first turn. On your turn, you can legally play any card that matches the number, color, or symbol that’s on top of the discard pile. If you have a match, place it face up on the discard pile. Then, the next player uses the new top card for their turn.^{[4]
X
Research source}
- Example: If the card on top of the discard pile is a blue 3, you can discard a 3 of any color, or a blue card with any number or symbol.
- Cards without numbers are called Action cards, and they have special abilities that trigger as soon as you play them. Jump to our card meaning section for a detailed breakdown of the possible actions.
2
Press the launcher button if you don’t have cards to play. If you don’t have any legal cards to play or just don’t want to play a card from your hand, turn the launcher toward you and press the button 1 time. The launcher may shoot out any number of cards, or it may not shoot any at all! Add all of the cards that came out of the launcher to your hand. Then, your turn immediately ends.^{[5]
X
Research source}
- Even if the launcher shoots out a card you could legally play, you’re not allowed use it this turn.
- If some cards are sticking halfway out of the launcher, you have to take all of those too!
- Cards not coming out of the launcher at all? Try these troubleshooting tips:
  - Replace the batteries. Some newer models of UNO Attack have a flashing light on the launcher to indicate low batteries.
  - Clean the rubber roller. Open the launcher and use a cloth damp with water or rubbing alcohol to wipe the rollers clean.
3
Continue taking turns around the table. After you finish your turn, the next player in clockwise order takes their turn. Keep playing cards or pressing the launcher button until you reach the end of the game.^{[6]
X
Research source}
- If you run out of cards in the launcher, set aside the top card of the discard pile and shuffle the rest. Put them back into the launcher to continue the game.

Section 3 of 5:

UNO Attack Card Meanings

Download Article

1
Skip Skip the next player in turn order. If you’re playing a 2-player game, whoever plays a Skip can immediately take another turn.
2
Reverse Switch the direction of play. If players are taking turns clockwise around the table, switch to counterclockwise. If you’re already going counterclockwise, change back to taking turns clockwise.
- If you’re playing with 2 players, a Reverse card acts like a Skip card. Whoever played the Reverse can immediately take another turn.
3
Wild Choose any color you want to become the new top color of the discard pile. You can play this card on top of any color, even if you have another legal card to play.
4
Discard All Discard all of the cards in your hand that are the same color as the Discard All. Place the Discard All card on top of the pile when you’re finished.
5
Hit 1 The next player has to tap the launcher button 1 time, and then they immediately end their turn.
- If this is the first card revealed in the game, the player to the left of the dealer has to hit the button. Their turn ends right away.
6
Hit 2 The next player has to tap the launcher button 2 times, and then they end their turn.^{[7]
X
Research source}
- If this is the first card at the start of the game, the player to the left of the dealer has to tap the launcher button and skip the rest of their turn.
7
Wild Hit 4 Choose any color that you want to use for the top of the discard pile. Then, the next player has to hit the launcher button 4 times and end their turn immediately.
8
Wild Attack-Attack Choose any color you want to become the new color for the discard pile. Then, pick any other player to attack, and force them to press the launcher button 2 times.^{[8]
X
Research source}
- If this is the first card in the discard pile, the player to the left of the dealer chooses the color and the person to attack.
- If you play this card as your last card, you can choose a player to attack before ending the game and calculating scores.

Section 4 of 5:

Scoring & Winning a Game of UNO Attack

Download Article

1
Yell “UNO” when you only have 1 card left in your hand. As soon as you only have 1 card in your hand, say “UNO” out loud for everyone to hear. This lets the other players know that you’re close to winning.
- If you don’t say “UNO” out loud, another player can call you out before the next person starts their turn. If you’re caught, you have to press the launcher button twice.^{[9]
  X
  Research source}
2
Win the round if you play the last card from your hand. When you only have 1 card in your hand, other players may target you with Action cards or try to skip your turn. If you’re still able to play the last card from your hand, then the round ends and you win!
- If you want a shorter game, then whoever goes out first during this round wins the whole game!
3
Play multiple rounds and count points to create a longer game. If you want a bit more of a strategic game, then play multiple rounds and track points after each round. If you were the first player to go out, count the points from the other players’ hands and add them to your score. Then, shuffle the cards and deal them out to start the next round. The first player to reach 500 points over multiple rounds wins the game!^{[10]
X
Research source}
- The point values for each card are:
  - Number cards: Face value (1-9)
  - Skip: 20 points
  - Reverse: 20 points
  - Hit 1: 20 points
  - Hit 2: 20 points
  - Discard All: 30 points
  - Wild Hit 4: 40 points
  - Wild: 50 points
  - Wild Attack-Attack: 50 points

Section 5 of 5:

UNO Attack Strategies

Download Article

1
Stack Hit cards to force a player to draw a lot of cards. When someone plays a Hit card against you, you can play a Hit card of any color from your hand to start a Mega Hit. You don’t have to press the launcher button, but the next player in turn order has to press the button for all of the cards that have been stacked. If they play another Hit card, it passes to the next player.^{[11]
X
Research source}
- Example: If someone plays a Hit 2 against you, you may play a Hit 1 of any color, and the next player has to press the launcher button 3 times.
2
Save your Hit cards for later in the game. Board game expert Ashton Wu recommends keeping an eye on how many cards each player has throughout the game so you can see who’s close to going out.^{[12]
X
Expert Source

Ashton Wu
Board Game Expert

Expert Interview} When you notice a player only has a few cards in their hand, try targeting them with your Hit cards so they’re forced to press the launcher and get more cards.
3
Switch the discard color to force attacks and fake out your opponents. Wu notes that matching the number and switching the color is a good way to make other players draw more cards. He also says that it makes other players think you’re out of the original color, which could come in handy later if they play a Wild.^{[13]
X
Expert Source

Ashton Wu
Board Game Expert

Expert Interview}

Want to save this article? Download it as a PDF.

UNO Attack: Complete Rules & Strategy Guide

Get the full formatted PDF you can save, print, or read offline. Anytime, anywhere.

One-time purchase

Join the Discussion...

Uno Card Game Variations Explained

Hunter Rising

There are a ton of different ways to play UNO that put a new twist on the regular rules. These are some of our favorite UNO variants and how they’re played:

UNO All Wild: Every card is a Wild, but they have special abilities when you play them.
UNO House Rules: Some cards let you make new rules players have to follow when a number is played.
UNO Flip: UNO cards can be flipped over to trigger even more powerful abilities.
UNO Flex: Some cards have a “Flex” side you can activate to change their color before playing them.
UNO Show ‘Em No Mercy: Wild and Draw cards are more powerful, and you’re eliminated if you have 25 cards in your hand.

If you want to try some different rules using the original set of cards, these UNO game variations are perfect to try:

UNO Teams: Play 2-vs-2, and win as a team if one member plays all their cards.
UNO Stacking: Play multiple Draw cards at the same time to make the next player draw more cards.
Speed UNO: Players can play cards from their hands even when it’s not their turn.
Elimination UNO: Instead of drawing if you’re not able to play a card, you’re out of the game.
Open Hand UNO: Keep your hand of cards visible to other players for a more strategic game.

Video

Read Video Transcript

Community Q&A

Search

Add New Question

Question

Would we get a penalty if no one notices we didn't say UNO?

Kidz1212

Community Answer

Yes, if somebody doesn’t say UNO and they have an UNO, the penalty is 2 more cards (three cards in total).

Thanks! We're glad this was helpful.
Thank you for your feedback.
If wikiHow has helped you, please consider a small contribution to support us in helping more readers like you. We’re committed to providing the world with free how-to resources, and even $1 helps us in our mission. Support wikiHow
Yes No

Not Helpful 12 Helpful 22