If your idea of a perfect party involves laughter, chaos, and just a touch of competitive spirit, the Avalanche drinking game might be your new favorite pastime. This fast-paced party game is all about quick reactions, teamwork (sort of), and keeping up with the ever-growing avalanche of drinks. In this guide, we’ll break down everything you need to know — card rules, dice rules, creative variations to keep the party rolling.
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What Is the Avalanche Drinking Game?
At its core, the Avalanche drinking game is a group drinking challenge where each move builds on the one before it, creating a cascading effect — hence the name. One wrong move, and everyone gets swept up in the avalanche. Its most common form is played with a standard deck of cards, but there’s also a fun dice-and-glass version that’s equally popular. Players love it for its unpredictability, speed, and the sheer amount of interaction it forces between players. If you’ve ever played Waterfall or Ring of Fire, you’ll notice some similarities, but Avalanche adds its own chaotic flair.
Avalanche Drinking Game Rules: Card Version
What You Need to Play the Card Version of Avalanche Drinking Game
You don’t need much to start the card version — just:
- A standard 52-card deck (no Jokers)
- Drinks of choice for each player
- A table big enough for everyone
- At least three players (more is better)
Step-by-Step Card Rules for Avalanche Drinking Game
- Shuffle the cards and place them face down in the center of the table.
- Players take turns drawing one card at a time.
- Each card has a specific meaning. For example:
- Ace: Avalanche — this triggers a “waterfall.” Everyone starts drinking at the same time, and nobody can stop until the person to their right does.
- King: Take 3 drinks.
- Queen: Assign 2 drinks to any player(s).
- Jack: You drink 1.
- Number cards: Each player takes drinks equal to the number.
- Continue around the table, drawing cards and following the rules until the deck runs out or everyone decides they’ve had enough.
- Optional house rules: Add silly twists, like singing during a waterfall, or assigning special actions to Jokers if you keep them in.
Tips for Playing Avalanche Card Version Responsibly
This version can get intense, especially with a large group. Use light drinks if you’re playing for a long time, and don’t hesitate to sit out a round if needed. Water breaks are your friend, and nobody likes a guest who forgets where they are by 9 PM.
Avalanche Drinking Game Rules: Dice & Glass Version
What You Need to Play the Dice Version of Avalanche Drinking Game
Here’s what you’ll need:
- One standard six-sided die
- A large glass (known as “the avalanche glass”)
- Drinks for each player
- At least three players
Step-by-Step Dice Rules for Avalanche Drinking Game
- Players sit in a circle with the glass in the middle.
- On your turn, roll the die.
- Each number means something different:
- 1: Add a splash of your drink to the avalanche glass.
- 2: Pass the die to the next player.
- 3: Make a rule everyone must follow.
- 4: Everyone drinks once.
- 5: Choose someone to drink.
- 6: Drink the entire avalanche glass.
- After someone drinks the avalanche glass, refill and keep playing.
Why Choose the Dice Version?
It’s faster to set up, great for smaller tables, and forces everyone to contribute to the mystery drink in the center. It’s equal parts suspenseful and gross — perfect for college parties or bold players.
Fan-Favorite Avalanche Drinking Games
Sports-Themed Avalanche Drinking Game
On Reddit, hockey fans have adapted Avalanche into a game for watching Colorado Avalanche games. You drink every time a player scores, takes a penalty, or whenever an announcer says “avalanche” — and of course, waterfalls are triggered for overtime or big plays.
Creative House Rules and Custom Variations
Other creative ideas include birthday-themed Avalanche where everyone drinks whenever the birthday person draws a card, or holiday versions where specific cards correspond to holiday trivia or dares. The community is full of ideas for making the game fit any party vibe.
Celebrity Meltdown Avalanche
Everyone at the table picks a celebrity known for dramatic meltdowns (think Charlie Sheen, Lindsay Lohan, or Kanye). Whenever your chosen celeb is mentioned in conversation, or anyone quotes them, you take a drink. If someone at the table can’t name a meltdown moment for their celeb when challenged — boom, waterfall.
Accents & Impersonations Avalanche
At the start of the game, everyone draws a slip of paper with a random accent or celebrity impression written on it (Scottish, Australian, Arnold Schwarzenegger, Britney Spears, etc.). You have to keep up your accent while playing. Slip up? You drink. Forget entirely? Everyone points and chants “AVALANCHE!” and you start a waterfall.
Animal Kingdom Avalanche
Each player picks an animal sound to be “theirs” at the start. Any time someone draws a face card or rolls a six, everyone must make their sound as fast as possible. The last person to make their sound drinks. Bonus chaos: if two people accidentally make the same sound, both drink double.
Reverse Avalanche
For this wild variant, instead of starting with just one drink, every player starts with a full glass and keeps adding to it on certain triggers (like rolling a 1, or drawing a 7). By the time someone finally rolls a 6 or draws an Ace, they have to drink the horrifying concoction that’s been building all night — the reverse avalanche.
Meme Avalanche
Perfect for a Gen Z crowd: everyone starts the game by choosing a viral meme or TikTok trend to “be.” Any time a word or phrase related to that meme comes up, you must act it out or say a catchphrase. Fail? You drink. Bonus: if someone perfectly quotes a meme mid-round, everyone else drinks.
Avalanche vs Waterfall vs Ring of Fire: What’s the Difference?
These games are often confused, and for good reason — they share similar mechanics. Waterfall is actually a specific rule in games like Avalanche, where everyone starts drinking at once and can’t stop until the person to their right does. Ring of Fire (or King’s Cup) involves drawing cards with specific rules as well, but usually with a “king’s cup” in the middle. Avalanche borrows elements of both but keeps things simpler and faster-paced.
Final Tips & Safety Reminders
Know Your Limits
Avalanche is a blast, but don’t let yourself get buried under it. Drink water, pace yourself, and stop if you feel dizzy or unwell.
Stay Hydrated & Have Fun
Nothing kills a party vibe faster than someone passing out at 8 PM. Know when to call it and remember: it’s just a game.
FAQs About the Avalanche Drinking Game
Is Avalanche just another name for Waterfall?
No. Avalanche includes a waterfall mechanic, but it’s a full game with its own rules and structure. Waterfall is usually just one rule in larger games like Avalanche, Ring of Fire, or King’s Cup.
How many people can play Avalanche?
It’s best with 4–8 players. Technically you can play with just three, but it’s less chaotic and less fun. Larger groups can work if you add a second deck or split into teams.
Can you play Avalanche without cards?
Yes — the dice & glass version works without cards and is even faster to set up. All you need is a single six-sided die and one communal glass.
What happens if the avalanche glass is too gross to drink?
That’s… kind of the point. But house rules can allow the player to take a penalty shot or do a dare instead if they really can’t stomach it.
Is Avalanche a good drinking game for beginners?
It depends. The rules are easy to learn, but the pace can be intense, especially when waterfalls or reverse avalanches start happening. If you’re looking for something calmer, try flip cup or beer pong.
What’s the difference between Avalanche and King’s Cup?
Both use a deck of cards, but King’s Cup has more complex rules and often involves a lot of extra mini-games. Avalanche is simpler, faster, and more focused on drinking sequences.
Can you make Avalanche non-alcoholic?
Absolutely. Just replace alcohol with water, soda, or juice and keep the same rules. It’s still a hilarious party game and works great for teens or sober gatherings.
What’s the origin of the Avalanche drinking game?
Nobody really knows — but it seems to have evolved from regional variations of Waterfall and Ring of Fire in college drinking culture. It’s gained popularity through word of mouth, blogs, and Reddit.
How long does a game of Avalanche last?
Usually 20–40 minutes per game depending on group size and how fast you play. Most groups end up playing multiple rounds with breaks in between.
What are some funny house rules people add to Avalanche?
On Reddit, people have shared wild ideas:
– If someone spills, everyone drinks.
– Singing is mandatory during a waterfall.
– Whoever draws a joker has to tell an embarrassing story.
– If someone forgets whose turn it is, they drink twice.