Section 2: Components
Game Board
A classic Stratego game requires one 10-by-10 game board containing 100 squares. Two lake areas occupy the center of the battlefield. Each lake covers a 2-by-2 group of squares, leaving three passable lanes between the players' sides. No playing piece may enter, cross, or occupy a lake square.
Playing Pieces
Each player requires a complete army of 40 playing pieces in one color. The identifying face of every piece must be visible to its owner and hidden from the opponent during ordinary play.
| Piece | Quantity per Army | Relative Strength or Ability |
|---|---|---|
| Marshal | 1 | Strongest ordinary rank; defeats every ranked piece except when attacked by the Spy. |
| General | 1 | Second-highest rank. |
| Colonel | 2 | Below General and above Major. |
| Major | 3 | Below Colonel and above Captain. |
| Captain | 4 | Below Major and above Lieutenant. |
| Lieutenant | 4 | Below Captain and above Sergeant. |
| Sergeant | 4 | Below Lieutenant and above Miner. |
| Miner | 5 | The only movable piece that defeats a Bomb when attacking it. |
| Scout | 8 | Weakest regular rank, but may move any unobstructed distance in a straight line. |
| Spy | 1 | Defeats the Marshal only when the Spy attacks first. |
| Bomb | 6 | Immobile; defeats every attacking piece except a Miner. |
| Flag | 1 | Immobile objective; its capture ends the game. |
The rank name is decisive when editions use different numbering systems. Before setup, confirm that both players understand which printed number represents the strongest rank.
Component Condition
Piece backs should be indistinguishable within an army so that wear, marks, or orientation do not reveal identities. If a piece is visibly marked, place all pieces in matching opaque holders or agree on another fair remedy before beginning.