Which Expansion

Five Tribes expansions

Base game: 2–4 players40–80 minDays of Wonder3 expansions checked
  1. #1 overall

    Five Tribes: The Artisans of Naqala

    Buy this first

    BGG rates it 8.12 from 4,313 ratings, the highest of the three. BGG posters name it the first expansion to buy, but posters also report it is out of print and hard to find.

    Needs: Just the base game

    Adds: A sixth tribe of Artisans who craft goods and magic items, workshop and market tiles, a chasm tile and mountain markers that change movement, and two new Djinns.

    Expansion2–4 playersAdds more rulesFine for any group
    DetailsReference:View on BoardGameGeek
  2. #2 overall

    Five Tribes: Whims of the Sultan

    Worth it

    BGG rates it 7.95 from 1,810 ratings. BGG posters call the Whims cards good for new players, but those who never play with five see less value and dislike its very high-scoring tiles.

    Needs: Just the base game

    Adds: Everything needed for five-player games, plus Fabulous Cities and Whims cards that steer your strategy; it can be played with or without Artisans.

    Fixes: Lets a fifth person play; the base game seats four.

    Expansion2–5 playersAdds more rulesFine for any group
    DetailsReference:View on BoardGameGeek
  3. #3 overall

    Five Tribes: The Thieves of Naqala

    Most groups can skip

    BGG rates it 7.23 from 1,462 ratings, the lowest of the three. BGG posters call it a minor expansion and suggest Artisans first; they add that it suits groups of more than two.

    Needs: Just the base game

    Adds: Six thief cards and one new Djinn: a thief tied to a tribe can make every other player discard resources, tiles or Djinns while you keep something.

    Mini expansion2–4 playersAbout the same rules loadBest for experienced groups
    DetailsReference:View on BoardGameGeek

Need the base game?

Reference:View on BoardGameGeekBuy:Amazon

Stuck between two?

Five Tribes expansions: quick answers

Which Five Tribes expansion should I buy first?

Five Tribes: The Artisans of Naqala. BGG rates it 8.12 from 4,313 ratings, the highest of the three. BGG posters name it the first expansion to buy, but posters also report it is out of print and hard to find.

Is Five Tribes: The Artisans of Naqala worth it?

Our verdict: buy this first. It adds: A sixth tribe of Artisans who craft goods and magic items, workshop and market tiles, a chasm tile and mountain markers that change movement, and two new Djinns.

Five Tribes: The Artisans of Naqala or Five Tribes: Whims of the Sultan: which first?

We’d buy Five Tribes: The Artisans of Naqala first. See the side-by-side comparison for what each adds and needs.

Other games’ expansion guides

Same publisher

Rankings are our editorial picks, built from the reviews linked on each expansion page. Last checked 2026-10-15.