Azul: Summer Pavilion isn’t just about placing pretty tiles; it’s about outsmarting your opponents and making every move count. Whether you’re a newbie or a seasoned player looking to up your game, these strategies will help you craft a winning masterpiece every time you play. I have analyzed the games of top players and tested their strategies in dozens of my own games to understand what winning play looks like. Let’s dive into some tips and tricks that will turn you into an Azul champion!
Complete 1 or 2 high-value stars
In Azul: Summer Pavilion completing a star is worth a substantial number of points—ranging from 12 to 20, depending on the color. Since it’s impossible to complete all stars in one game, it’s crucial to concentrate on finishing just one or two. Completing one star is typically straightforward, and with strategic play and a bit of luck, you can often finish a second.
Top players aim to maximize points from completed stars. Let’s examine the points scored by top players on BGA from completed stars compared to the average player.
| Top Player #1 | Top Player #2 | Top Player #3 | Average Player | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Total Star Points | 27.89 | 31.46 | 21.09 | 15.44 |
| Multicolor | 0 | .46 | 0 | 1.42 |
| Fuschia | 19.44 | 2.31 | 13.33 | 4.37 |
| Green | 1.18 | .69 | 1.09 | 1.88 |
| Orange | 2.07 | 4.58 | 3.09 | 2.06 |
| Yellow | 1.79 | 5.54 | .48 | 1.71 |
| Blue | 2.10 | 9.81 | 1.82 | 2.01 |
| Red | 1.31 | 8.08 | 1.27 | 2.00 |
Clearly, top players are much more diligent and intentional about completing stars compared the average player. Not only that, but there is a definite emphasis on which stars they focus on. The top player completes the Fuschia star in almost every game (it’s worth 20 points, and they score almost 20 points per game from it), while the #3 player completes it well over half of the time. This makes intuitive sense, because if each player only manages to complete one star in a game then it makes sense to focus on the star that is worth the most.
Another thing that stands out is how infrequently (virtually never) the top players complete the Multicolor star. We should learn from this, and only complete the lower numbers in the Multicolor star with no intention of ever completing it.
Always complete all 1’s, 2’s, and 3’s
You should nearly always complete all 1’s, 2’s, and 3’s on your board. The bonuses from these tiles grant an additional 4, 8, and 12 points, respectively, providing some of the most reliable scoring in the game. Here’s how top players target these numbers compared to the average player.
| Top Player #1 | Top Player #2 | Top Player #3 | Average Player | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Total complete numbers points | 19.51 | 16.92 | 22.67 | 13.67 |
| Points for complete 1’s | 3.74 | 3.85 | 3.64 | 2.57 |
| Points for complete 2’s | 7.10 | 8.00 | 8.00 | 5.06 |
| Points for complete 3’s | 6.73 | 5.08 | 7.64 | 4.47 |
| Points for complete 4’s | 1.94 | 0 | 3.39 | 1.57 |
Every one of the top 3 players complete their 1’s, 2’s, and 3’s at a significantly higher rate than the average player. They complete 1’s and 2’s in almost every game, and 3’s in well over half of their games. Notably, 4’s are not a priority – presumably because it takes too much of a resource commitment to reliably complete all of the 4’s in the time allotted.
Efficiently place tiles adjacent to one another
Completing stars and numbers is just the beginning. The order in which you place your tiles significantly impacts your overall score. On average, top players score more points from tile placement than from star and number bonuses combined.
You score these points by playing tiles adjacent to one another, and the more tiles that are touching each other in a star, the more you score per tile.
| Top Player #1 | Top Player #2 | Top Player #3 | Average Player | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Points from placed tiles | 75.53 | 75.75 | 72.98 | 64.80 |
| Points from complete stars | 27.89 | 31.66 | 22.68 | 15.44 |
| Points from complete numbers | 19.51 | 17.5 | 21.70 | 13.67 |
Look at that! The top players score about 10 more points per game than the average player just by being more deliberate about playing tiles adjacent to one another. The bulk of your points is likely to come from this scoring mechanism, so it pays to plan out your strategy in advance and take tiles that can score off of one another.
Focus on statues and windows for bonus tiles
There are three area types on a Summer Pavilion board that, if surrounded, grant you the ability to pick bonus tiles. But not all of these areas are equal – some grant more tiles than others. The top players in the world place an emphasis on surrounding Statues and Windows which provide 2 and 3 bonus tiles, respectively, especially when compared to the average player
| Top Player #1 | Top Player #2 | Top Player #3 | Average Player | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Total bonus tiles collected | 14.75 | 14.42 | 14.67 | 12.06 |
| Bonus tiles from pillars | 1.80 | 1.62 | 1.82 | 2.01 |
| Bonus tiles from Statues | 8.43 | 6.69 | 9.39 | 6.97 |
| Bonus tiles from Windows | 4.51 | 6.12 | 3.45 | 3.07 |
This might not make sense intuitively, but it becomes much more clear when we look at the math behind the bonus tiles. To complete a Statue, it takes a total of 10 tiles (four total spaces requiring 1, 2, 3, and 4 tiles). Since Statues grant 2 bonus tiles, that’s 1 bonus tile per 5 tiles. Similarly, it takes 11 tiles to complete a Window, for an average of 1 bonus tile per 4.5 tiles.
CHECK IT OUT: If you want to dominate at the original Azul, be sure to check out my complete strategy guide!
The economics for Pillars is variable since each Pillar takes a different amount of tiles to complete. Starting with the Pillar adjacent to the red star, the Pillars require 8, 10, 12, 14, 16, and 12 tiles to complete. Even at 8 tiles, the one bonus tile a Pillar provides is not nearly as efficient as a Statue or Window.
Since you already plan on completing all of the 1’s, 2’s, and 3’s on the board, the Statues would be nearly complete. Then, if you focus on just one or two Stars to finish, you’ll end up completing some Statues and Windows. This kind of synergy will give you the most bang for your buck and gives you the best chance of winning.
Bring wild tiles into the next round
It can be tempting to try to place every tile in your possession on every round but, in many cases, it’s best to hold on to some tiles and bring them into the next round. This is especially true with tiles that will become wilds in the next round. Taking tiles that are wild in the next round is a great way to give yourself power and flexibility.
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If you are getting close to the end of the round’s tile drafting phase and none of the options look particularly beneficial for the current round, try setting yourself up for the next one. Take tiles that will become wild in the next round so that at least you’re getting some value from your late tile picks. Just remember that you can only take 4 tiles with you!
Taking the First Player Token is optional
Azul: Summer Pavilion keeps the First Player Token mechanic from the original Azul, but there are added mechanics that bring a lot more strategy and decision-making into the mix when compared to the original game. Unlike the original game where you only lose 1 point for taking the First Player Token, you can lose a significant amount of points if you’re the first to take tiles from the center.
However, that doesn’t mean it’s always a bad decision. Being the first player in a round gives you a lot of power since you get first crack at the tiles in the next round. But when is it worth it? Based on the data, top players tend to take the First Player Token about as much as the average player (maybe a little more). They also suffer about as much from the ‘points lost’ as the average player.
| Top Player #1 | Top Player #2 | Top Player #3 | Average Player | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Number of rounds as first player | 4.78 | 4.12 | 2.55 | 3.24 |
| Points lost from first player tile | 7.01 | 7.96 | 5.15 | 7.52 |
To me, this just means that we shouldn’t sweat taking the First Player Token. If it looks like a good idea and the tiles you gain from the center will help, go for it. However, unlike in the original game, there doesn’t appear to be a significant benefit to going out of your way to take First Player as soon as possible. In my opinion, this mechanic is much more balanced and well thought out than the original game.
Map out your tile placements in every round
Before you begin placing your tiles in each round, take a moment to make a plan. Map out where you want to place your tiles and in what order. You should already have a general idea of where you want to place your tiles (since you should be picking your tiles with purpose) but now that your selection is set you need to make more concrete decisions.
Take a holistic approach to your tile-laying decisions. Especially early in the game, you should try to set yourself up for future success instead of trying to maximize the points you score in any particular round. Look at how your tile placements contribute to your overall game plan, not necessarily what will immediately score the most points.
Get your bonus tiles early in a round
If you need one or more specific bonus tiles (especially late in the game) to complete a star or a number then you must secure them as early as possible. There are only 10 tiles to choose from in the center of the board when you pick bonus tiles, and there is no guarantee that the tiles you need will be there – especially if your opponents are paying attention and they try to block you by taking your critical tiles.
As we discussed above, you should have a plan for your tile placement in every round. Place any tiles that will complete a Window, Statue, or Pillar first so that you get the first pick of critical bonus tiles. The only time you may not want to do that is if you need a bonus tile color that isn’t currently on the board. In that case, you should wait to get your bonus tiles. This gives your opponent the chance to take bonus tiles for themselves which will have to be replenished, giving you a chance to get the tile(s) you need.
Take critical tiles from your opponent(s)
Just like in the original Azul (and many other games), hate-drafting is a powerful and often necessary tactic if you want to increase your winning odds. This is especially true in two-player games, since any points that you deny your opponent are just as good as points you score for yourself.
Keep a close eye on your opponent’s board and know what their plan is. If they are clearly trying to complete a high point value star, try to take just enough tiles of that color to make it impossible. If you’re late in the game and your opponent is close to completing all of their 4’s, take any bonus tiles they might be relying on before they get the chance. This might seem like a dirty tactic, but you can be sure that the best players would do it to you!
Thanks for reading! Did I miss something, or do you have something of your own to add? Drop a comment below, I’d love to hear from you!
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