Bears vs Babies: How to Build a Monster and Score Big

By Exploding Kittens | Party card games, puzzles, greeting cards ... | Published: 2026-11-02

Category: How-to Guides

Learn how to play Bears vs Babies step by step: build monsters, place them in the play area, and score by defeating the baby army. Includes setup and scoring tips.

Quick answer

Build monsters by playing cards from your hand, then use those monsters to defeat the baby army when it appears. Score points based on the monsters that survive and the babies they defeat.

Why monster placement matters

In Bears vs Babies, your monsters are not just a collection—they are your defense and your offense. Placing them in the play area early gives you more chances to defeat babies, but it also exposes them to being eaten if the baby army is strong. The key is to balance building up your monster army with holding back cards that can boost your monsters when the babies attack.

The trade-off between speed and strength

Rushing to build many small monsters can score quick points, but they may be easily defeated by larger baby cards. Conversely, investing in one or two powerful monsters takes longer but can withstand tougher babies. Adapt your strategy to the cards you draw and the pace of the game.

Step-by-step: How to play Bears vs Babies

Set up the game: Shuffle the baby deck and place it face down in the center. Shuffle the monster deck and deal each player a starting hand. Place the discard pile nearby. Make sure the baby deck is separate from the monster deck to avoid mixing cards.
Build your monster: On your turn, play monster part cards from your hand to build a monster in front of you. You can play multiple cards if they match the monster's requirements. Check that each card you play legally attaches to your monster; some cards may have placement restrictions.
Draw and play baby cards: After building, draw a baby card and place it face up in the play area. This represents the baby army you must defeat. Don't forget to draw a baby card every turn—it's easy to skip when focused on monster building.
Defeat babies and score: If your monster's strength meets or exceeds the baby card's defense, you defeat it and score points. Remove the baby card and any defeated monster parts. Keep track of points as you go; scoring can be easy to lose track of in longer games.
End the game and tally scores: The game ends when the baby deck is empty or a player reaches the target score. Add up points from defeated babies and surviving monsters. Double-check that all players agree on the final scores before declaring a winner.

Product facts

Bears vs Babies: A monster-building card game where players create monsters to defeat an army of babies. This core mechanic means your success depends on how well you build and deploy monsters, so focus on card synergy.
Bears vs Babies