Caravan is one of the most rewarding minigames in Fallout: New Vegas, offering travelers a great way to earn extra caps while exploring the Mojave Wasteland. Despite its reputation for being complicated, the core mechanics are straightforward once you understand how stack building and face cards work. Learning the basic rules will turn this cryptic card game into a reliable source of income across your playthroughs.
Understanding Deck Building and Initial Setup
Before initiating a match, players must construct a custom deck containing a minimum of thirty cards gathered from vendors or wasteland loot. Each player starts the game by drawing eight cards and placing one numbered card down to initiate three distinct stacks called caravans. These three stacks compete directly against the opponent's corresponding stacks across the table.
Core Objective and Number Rules
The main goal in Caravan is to bring the total numerical value of each stack to a range between 21 and 26. Cards played onto a stack must follow an ascending or descending numerical sequence unless matched by suit. If a stack goes over 26 points, it becomes overburdened and cannot be used to win until adjusted or disbanded.
Strategic Use of Face Cards
Face cards act as tactical modifiers that can be attached to your own cards or used defensively on your opponent's stacks. Kings double the value of the card they are attached to, making them perfect for quickly reaching target ranges or overloading enemy piles. Jacks remove specific cards from the board to clean up bad sequences, while Queens reverse the numerical direction of a stack.
Winning Strategies and Cap Farming
A simple winning strategy involves building a deck packed primarily with 6s, 8s, 10s, Kings, and Jacks. By pairing a 10 and an 8 with a King on the 8, you instantly reach a score of 26 points. Using Jacks defensively against high-value opponent stacks ensures you maintain control of two out of the three active routes to secure victory.
