When you marry someone who’s great at deception games, game night turns into something a little more competitive—especially when it’s Coup vs Avalon. These two bluffing games might seem similar at first glance, but they couldn’t be more different in how they play—and how well I do in them. One leans into solo tactics and open lies, the other into teamwork and subtle manipulation. And let’s just say, my wife and I have very different win records.

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The Mechanics: Coup vs Avalon at a Glance

Let’s break it down simply:

• Coup is a fast-paced game of hidden roles where you pretend to be one of five characters, perform their actions, and challenge others for lying. It’s quick, strategic, and brutal.
• Avalon is a hidden role game where players are either Loyal Servants of Arthur or Minions of Mordred. It’s about building trust, forming quests, and slowly unraveling who’s who.

The biggest thing I’ve realized about Coup vs Avalon is that while they both center on bluffing, the kind of deception they reward is completely different.

Why I Love Coup (And Why It Doesn’t Love Me Back)

Coup is my kind of chaos. You lie, challenge lies, or sometimes just play the truth so convincingly that people assume you’re lying. What I love most?

Here’s the kicker: in a full 6-player Coup game, the probability someone is lying is absurdly high. Since each player only gets two role cards from five available types, and everyone claims actions freely, lies are statistically inevitable.

Rough math check: 15 total cards, 5 roles x 3 copies. If 6 players are claiming actions per turn and 2-3 players claim the same rare role (like Contessa), someone’s definitely lying.

That said, despite my love for the game, I get targeted a lot—by my friends and especially by my family. I’ve built a reputation. And when everyone decides I’m a threat? Let’s just say I rarely make it past the third round.

Why My Wife Loves Avalon (And Why I… Don’t Win It)

Avalon is her playground. She’s cool under pressure, and somehow always convinces people she’s good. Me? Not so much.

It’s a game of subtlety, timing, and team dynamics. And unfortunately, I might just be more of a solo strategist.

Targeted in Coup, Doubted in Avalon

Here’s the difference in vibe:

• In Coup, I’m actively hunted. Everyone wants me out. They suspect me, but it’s because they think I’m good at it.
• In Avalon, I’m constantly doubted. Whether I’m good or evil, people look at me with suspicion. Sometimes it’s fair. Other times… well, I don’t help my case.

I often think that the only role I could win with consistently in Avalon is Oberon—the evil minion that no one else knows is evil. At least then, I’d be playing solo, which is secretly my comfort zone.

Same Genre, Different Skills

At the end of the day, Coup and Avalon are cut from the same cloth—both games thrive on hidden information, bluffing, and psychology. But the skills they require are vastly different:

• Coup favors adaptive bluffing, tactical aggression, and quick reads.
• Avalon rewards social deduction, long-term memory, and team synergy.

And maybe that’s why these two games bring out our personalities so well. My wife? She’s a mastermind, subtle and composed. Me? I’m either too aggressive or too earnest. But the fun is in the clash. And the rematch.

Our game nights almost always end in a rematch—and between Coup vs Avalon, the winner often depends on which game hits the table.

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About Me

I’m JP B. Bantigue, CLSSBB—a multidisciplinary digital professional with a love for game mechanics, bluffing strategies, and learning from losing (often to my wife). Through every game night, I get a crash course in psychology, probability, and humility—and honestly, I wouldn’t have it any other way.