Dixit

Dixit rules — frequently asked questions

What counts as a legal clue?

Almost anything: a single word, a sentence, a movie quote, a hummed melody, an interpretive shrug. There's no restriction on form. The only real rule is social — the clue must be about your card, delivered once, without followup hints.

Why did the storyteller score zero?

Because everyone found the card — or no one did. A perfect clue is deliberately imperfect: findable by some, missable by others. Both extremes score 0 for the storyteller and hand 2 points to everyone else.

Can I vote for my own card?

No, never. You vote only among the other cards, trying to identify the storyteller's. Attracting other people's votes to your decoy is where your bonus points come from.

How many points do decoy votes give me?

One point per vote your card received. Newer printings cap the bonus at 3 points per round — check your rulebook, and agree as a table if you're between editions.

Can the storyteller lie or give a clue about a different card?

The clue must refer to the card they actually play. Misdirection comes from ambiguity, not from cluing a card that isn't there.

How do you play with exactly 3 players?

Common official adjustment: each non-storyteller submits two decoy cards (hands of 7), so five cards are revealed each round. It keeps the lineup wide enough to hide the real one.

Is there a time limit for clues or votes?

No official timer. If someone agonizes forever, the table is licensed to apply gentle peer pressure.

What if two players submit near-identical cards?

Nothing special — that's the fun. Votes fall where they fall, and the decoy that fooled people earns its owner bonus points.

Do we replace cards immediately?

Yes — after scoring, all played cards are discarded face-down and every player draws back up to six. When the deck can't refill hands, the game is over.

Can the storyteller role be skipped or passed?

No, it rotates clockwise every round so everyone tells stories equally. If cluing feels intimidating, remember: bad clues score everyone else points, and the table loves you for it.