If you are tired of traditional Beer Pong, then the Civil War drinking game would be the perfect alternative. This drinking game is fast-paced and fun but also does have some strategy to it. A lot of drinking games rely on luck, but Civil War stands out because of its more competitive gameplay.
Playing Civil War will require a bit of set-up work, and there are a few different ways you can play. In this blog, we’ll talk you through everything you need to know about the Civil War drinking game. We’ll start by outlining what the game is all about.
What is The Civil War Drinking Game?
The exact origin of the Civil War drinking game isn’t really known. It likely started out as a spinoff of traditional Beer Pong but became a popular game in its own right. The game is played with two equally numbered teams.
Ideally, you’ll want six players with three to each team. Each player will have their own six-cup lifeline. These cups should be laid out in a triangle formation in front of each player. If you only have a small table to play on, you can use three cups per player instead.
The aim of the game is for players on each team to throw their balls into the other team’s cups. When this is done, the other team must drink from that cup. Once a player drinks from all of their cups, they are out of the game.
The last team with a player standing will win! Now there is much more to the Civil War drinking game, which we’ll discuss in the gameplay section below. But before we get into that, let’s take a look at what you’ll need to play.
What You’ll Need To Play?
So, what do you need to play the Civil War drinking game? Well, you’ll need quite a few different things but don’t worry, the game isn’t overly difficult to set up. The most important element of the game is plastic cups like these from Plasticpro.
You’ll also need ping pong balls; while there are some variations under traditional rules, each team should start with two balls each. Any kind of ping pong ball can be used; if you want to add some flair to your game, these colorful neon balls will make a good choice.
Of course, you’ll also need plenty of beer as well. Although if you’re not a beer fan, you can use other beverages. Finally, make sure you have a big enough table/ playing space. Custom Beer Pong tables are ideal for playing Civil War. To help outline how everything works, we’ve included a mini guide for you to check out below.
#1. The Cups
The number of cups you need to play the Civil War drinking game can vary quite a lot. In the standard three vs. three games, you’ll need 36 or 40 cups. Every player will have six cups which gives you 36 in total.
However, each team should also have two other cups filled with water. These cups won’t count as a player’s life, but they will still need to be hit. If a ball lands in one of the cups, you’ll need to drink from them.
#2. The Ping Pong Balls
Each team should start with two ping pong balls each. To decide who takes the first shot, you should flip a coin. Every time a ball lands in your opponent’s cups, they’ll need to drink from it. The cup is then removed from the table or turned over.
Now aside from that first shot, there are no actual turns in the Civil War drinking game. Once a ball has landed in the other team’s cup, they can take it and throw it back after drinking. If a ball misses and lands on the table or the floor, then it’s first come, first serve!
The Civil War Drinking Game Rules and Gameplay
#1. The Aim of The Game
The aim of the Civil War drinking game is to beat the other team! You do this by throwing ping pong balls into the other team’s cups. Every player will have six cups that represent their lives. When the ball lands in their cups, they’ll have to drink and then remove the cup or turn it over.
If a player loses all six of their cups, they are out of the game.
#2. Setting Up
To set up, players should split into two equal teams. Every player should have six cups set up in front of them at either end of the table. When setting up your cups, make sure they are in a triangle formation.
Cups should be set up in rows of three, two, and finally one cup, but they can be in either direction. Once these are set up, fill each cup with beer. Cups should only be filled halfway; trust us, you’ll regret it if you fill them all the way up!
Each team should also have two other cups filled with water. Once this is done, all you need to do is decide which team goes first. Both teams will start with two ping pong balls, but you should flip a coin to determine who gets the first shot.
If you don’t have a coin, then each team should nominate a player, and they should take turns throwing balls into a cup. The first player to get a shot in a cup will win for their team, and they’ll take the first shot.
#3. Playing Civil War
The team that wins the coin toss (or shot) will go first. To win in Civil War, you need to throw your ping pong balls into your opponent’s cups. When a ball lands in your opponent’s cup, they’ll need to remove it and then drink the beer from the cup.
Once a cup is empty, it can be removed or turned over. Once a player loses all six of their cups, they out of the game. However, after the first shot, Civil War doesn’t use regular turns like you might expect.
Once a ball is thrown, it can be picked up by any team and used. This rule remains in place even if balls land on the floor. It’s very “anything goes” and quite frantic. However, if a ball lands in one of your cups, you do get to remove it and then use it after drinking.
The game is over when one team loses all their cups; this includes the two water cups if you’re using them. If you like Beer Pong, it’s easy to recommend Civil War as it takes the same basic gameplay to the next level!
#4. Game Strategy
While the Civil War drinking game is very fast and frantic, if you want to increase your chances of winning, you should slow down a little. Take the extra time to position your shots, and you can easily knock out your opponents. Think of throwing the balls as you would with darts and take the time to aim carefully.
Civil War – A Frantic, Fast-Paced Drinking Game!
That’s everything you need to know about the Civil War drinking game. If you want to take a break from card-based drinking games like Kings Cup, you’ll be sure to enjoy Civil War. It’s also a must-play game for groups.
You don’t even have to use beer either! If you want to avoid drinking for a night, you can just use water. Civil War is undoubtedly a great drinking game, but it can be fun to play, even without beer or booze.
