Werewolf roles: every power and the right setup
Updated on October 2, 2026 · 5 min read
In short
Every Werewolf role explained, with a tip for each: Villager, Werewolf, Seer, Witch, Hunter, Cupid, Little Girl and eight advanced roles. With the night's wake-up order and how to split the roles for your number of players.
- 6–19 players
- 30–60 min
- A deck of cards
- A phone
- No alcohol
Contents
Werewolf is the great classic of game nights: at night, the wolves devour a villager; by day, the village debates and votes to unmask the culprits. The whole fun of the game comes from the roles, each with its own power and its own way to bluff. Here is every role explained, the order in which they wake up and the right setup for your number of players.
The teams
- The Village: the Villagers and every role with a power. It wins when all the Werewolves and solo roles are eliminated.
- The Werewolves: they know each other and win when only wolves are left alive.
- The solo roles: they play for themselves, with their own winning condition.
A Game Master runs the game without playing: they wake the roles at night and announce the deaths in the morning. The full rules are on the Werewolf page.
The classic roles
Villager
No power, but a fearsome weapon: their vote. Villagers must listen, spot contradictions and convince the others. Tip: ask precise questions and remember who voted against whom. Wolves often give themselves away by protecting each other.
Werewolf
Every night, the wolves wake up together and choose a victim, never another wolf. By day, they pretend to be villagers. Tip: take part in the debate like everyone else, and don't rush to defend another wolf.
Seer
Every night, she discovers the role of a player of her choice. She is the village's best source of information, and so the wolves' favourite target. Tip: don't reveal yourself too early. Steer the vote with suspicions, and only reveal your role to save the village.
Witch
She has two potions, each usable once: the healing potion saves the wolves' victim (herself included), the poison eliminates a player. She can use both on the same night. Tip: keep the healing potion for a player who seems valuable, and the poison for a wolf you are sure about.
Hunter
When he dies, by night or by day, he fires one last shot and immediately eliminates the player of his choice. Tip: wolves are wary of targeting him. If you are wrongly accused, announcing that you are the Hunter can calm the village… but draws attention.
Cupid
On the first night, Cupid picks two lovers (and can pick themselves). If one dies, the other dies of grief, and the lovers never vote against each other. If they come from different teams, they win together by being the last two survivors. Tip: pairing two players who barely know each other makes for the most surprising games.
Little Girl
While the wolves are awake, she can open her eyes slightly to spy on them. If a wolf catches her, she dies instead of their victim. Tip: a quick glance is enough. Use what you saw without saying how you know.
The advanced roles
Once everyone knows the rules, these roles add bluff and plot twists:
- White Werewolf: hunts with the wolves but wants to be the last survivor. Every other night, he can devour another wolf.
- Wolf Father: once per game, he turns the wolves' victim into a wolf, who keeps their power.
- Thief: on the first night, he can swap his card for one of the two cards left in the middle.
- Village Idiot: if voted out, he reveals his role and stays alive, but can no longer vote.
- Elder: survives the wolves' first attack. If the village kills him, the villagers lose their powers.
- Savior: every night, protects a player from the wolves, never the same one two nights in a row.
- Raven: every night, picks a player who will get two extra votes against them at the next vote.
- Flute Player: plays alone. Every night, charms two players, and wins when everyone alive is charmed.
The wake-up order at night
The Game Master always wakes the roles in the same order:
- Thief (first night only).
- Cupid (first night only).
- Savior.
- Seer.
- Werewolves, while the Little Girl may spy, then the Wolf Father.
- White Werewolf (every other night).
- Witch, who is shown the wolves' victim by the Game Master.
- Flute Player.
- Raven.
The Villager, the Hunter, the Village Idiot and the Elder never wake up: their power works on its own, at the right moment.
How many wolves for your number of players?
Count about one wolf for every three or four players. Here is a balanced setup with the classic roles:
| Players | Werewolves | Roles with powers | Villagers |
|---|---|---|---|
| 6 | 2 | Seer, Witch | 2 |
| 8 | 2 | Seer, Witch, Hunter | 3 |
| 10 | 3 | Seer, Witch, Hunter, Cupid | 3 |
| 12 | 3 | The 5 classic roles | 4 |
| 15 | 4 | The 5 classic roles | 6 |
| 18 | 5 | The 5 classic roles | 8 |
Tips for the Game Master
- Set the mood: tell the story of the night, describe the village waking up. Werewolf is also a storytelling game.
- Give nothing away: call every role in the same voice, even dead ones, so nobody knows who is still in play.
- Keep debates short: a few minutes are enough. A timer avoids endless discussions.
- The dead stay silent: they can watch, but no longer influence the living.
Frequently asked questions
How many werewolves for 10 players?
Three Werewolves, with the Seer, the Witch, the Hunter, Cupid and three Villagers. As a rule, count one wolf for every three or four players.
In what order are the roles woken at night?
Thief and Cupid on the first night, then the Savior, the Seer, the Werewolves, the White Werewolf every other night, the Witch, the Flute Player and the Raven.
Can you play Werewolf without a Game Master?
Someone has to wake the roles and announce the deaths. With the Partizo app, the phone guides the Game Master step by step, for 6 to 19 players.
Werewolf with Partizo
In the Partizo app, Werewolf is played by 6 to 19 players on a single phone, held by the Game Master. The app suggests the roles for your number of players, deals the cards in secret, wakes the roles in order and records everyone's choices. The 7 classic roles are free; the advanced roles are part of Premium.
For another bluffing game that plays in a few minutes, try the imposter game.