Country interactions

Below is a list of clarifications on country abilities and how they interact with other countries.

Andorra

If the opposition lands a rim shot that bounces one one side and sinks a cup on the other, Andorra still has to remove both cups (or more, if more cups were rimmed).
If the opposition lands a bounce shot, Andorra can choose a cup on either side to remove as collateral.

Antartica

The opponent can steady themselves by holding onto a wall, the table, their partner, etc, but must shoot within 3 seconds.

Argentina

Argentina do not have to declare their ability (i.e. Argentina don't need to warn the opposition) when activating Maradona Hand of God.

Australia

To clarify, if the opposition wishes to re-rack Australia, they must have 3 or 6 cups that are not outback exploring.

Belgium

Belgium's ability can stack if the opposition has their turn skipped. I.e., if Belgium have two turns in a row and draw a K both times, the opposition would lose 2 shots on their next turn.

Benin

If Benin activate their ability after their second-last cup is sunk (i.e., they now have one cup remaining), and the opposition sinks this last cup on their next turn, immediately move to the redemption phase. Even if Benin successfully completes the redemption to continue the game, the ability is void and no cup is returned.

Botswana

If the opposition sinks a grenade or balls back that removes more than one cup of Botswana's last three (the Diamonds Are Made Under Pressure cups), Botswana receive a redemption phase for each cup. Normal game cups that are sunk via the grenade/balls back are still removed.
As a reminder, if the opposition sinks all of Botswana's remaining cups with a grenade or balls back, Botswana do not receive a redemption and they instantly lose. Meaning, if Botswana have two cups left and the opposition sink both to trigger a balls back, no redemption is triggered.

Brazil

To clarify, if the opposition activates an ability to remove one of Belgium's cups from the game, this does not count as successfully ‘sinking' a cup. The opposition must directly sink two cups (including through grenades, bounce shots, trick shots, and rebound shots) to bring their teammate back into the game.
The opponent does not have to sink both cups on the same turn.

Burkina Faso

Targeted Attack cannot be used to delay an opponent's ability back-to-back. The ability must be activated at the next possible chance once the opposition sinks a cup. In other words, Burkina Faso can only activate Targeted Attack twice if the opposition can also activate their ability twice (or more).
If Burkina Faso activate Attempted Coup and happen to choose Somalia's final pirate ship cup, Somalia must declare that the cup was indeed a pirate ship cup, however, the cup is not removed. At least you know which cup to shoot for.

Cambodia

If the opposition sinks a grenade, they can trigger numerous mines at once.

Chad

After Chad activates Power Move, all water cups (such as Canada's Great Lakes) are removed from the game after the swap.
After Chad activates Power Move, any game cups that do not need to be sunk to win the game, sunk as Greece's Trojan Horse or Romania's Vampire Castle cups, remain on the table. These become normal game cups.
As a reminder, after Chad activates Power Move, regular beer pong means both teams can only be re-racked on triangle numbers (3, 6, and 10).

China

China's Great Wall cups are special cups, and therefore cannot be moved or removed using other country abilities.

Cuba

To clarify, as Cuba's Missile Crisis cannot be used to end the game, if either team happens to trigger two (or more) grenades on the same turn, the game does not automatically end. One cup must be left behind.

DRC

To clarify, DRC may fill up their own cups or the oppositions. This can be useful for defending against grenades.

England

To clarify, England can activate their ability during the opposition's turn. However, the ability cannot be applied retroactively. For example, if England activates Royal Decree after the opposition sinks a grenade, the grenade still counts as normal.
If England have one cup remaining, Royal Decree is active, and the opposition lands a grenade in their final cup, England still progresses to redemption. In this scenario, a grenade does not end the game with no redemption.

Equatorial Guinea

Equatorial Guinea's water cups are special cups, and therefore cannot be moved or removed using other country abilities.
Grenades and balls back sunk in Equatorial Guinea's water cups do not result in additional cups removed from the game.
If Equatorial Guinea sinks one of the opposition's cups and one of the water cups, then balls back is activated.

Ethiopia

To clarify, when placing a donated cup, Ethiopia does not have to place the cup in a ‘normal' position. It can be placed anywhere as long as it is touching another Ethiopian cup.

Egypt

Egypt cannot move any cups moved by Poland's Strategic Invasion, as these cups are still counted as their own.

Falkland Islands

When both teams are setting up cups after Contested Territory has been activated, if the opposition has a re-rack setup then they must follow this setup as closely as possible. For example, if the opposition is Sri Lanka and they have 7 cups remaining, they must follow the 7-cup re-rack setup. If they only have 5 cups, however, they must fill up 5 of the 7 cups in this re-rack setup. The 5 cups must be the 5 locations closest to the back of the table.
If the opposition has ‘hidden' cups (e.g., Somalia's pirate ship cups, or Cambodia's minefield), the opposition can reset the placement of any remaining hidden cups after Contested Territory is activated. For example, if Somalia has 3 hidden pirate ship cups remaining (a 2-cup ship and 1-cup ship) out of 8 total cups, and are forced to hand over 2 cups, then Somalia can hide the 2-cup ship and 1-cup ship in the remaining 6 cups.
Falkland Islands could immediately activate their ability to remove South Africa's protected corner cups, if they wish.

Finland

Finland can still activate The White Death if the shot bounces numerous times on the rims of cups, or even on the table. However, the ball must clearly be bouncing. No rolling across the table.
If the opposition grab the ball in mid air, obviously the ability is void for that shot.

France

To clarify, France does not receive half damage from rim shots. However, if the opposition lands a shot that is both a bounce shot and a rim shot, then the total number of cups is halved.

Germany

To clarify, Germany can activate their ability after both balls have been thrown, but before the opposition shoots.
For example, if Germany shoot their normal turn and receive balls back, then sink 1 cup during the balls back phase, they can then activate their ability to gain two additional shots.
As a reminder, Germany must sink all shots on their turn in order to trigger a balls back.

Greece

Greece's Trojan Horse is a special cup, and therefore cannot be moved or removed using other country abilities.
The opposition can trigger a balls back by sinking the Trojan Horse.
To clarify, either team can win while the Trojan Horse is on the table.

Greenland

To clarify, if Greenland is re-racked then the middle cup ability is removed.

Hungary

To clarify, each triangle can be re-racked at 3 cups. The opposition does not need to wait until both sides have 3 cups each to call a re-rack.

Iceland

As a reminder, Hot Springs, like all rules, cannot be activated during redemption. Meaning, if the opposition sinks Iceland's last cup, they cannot activate the ability to prevent Iceland from going to redemption.

Indonesia

To clarify, Indonesia's Bootleg Bali Merchandise cups are not special cups, and can be removed via country abilities. Removing a cup would remove one ‘life' of the counterfeit cup.
If Indonesia is re-racked, they choose the new location of the three counterfeit cups.

Italy

Italy's Rome cup is a special cup, and therefore cannot be moved or removed using other country abilities.
To clarify, the opposition can sink Italy's path cups in any order. They do not need to be sunk from front to back.

Kazakhstan

To clarify, in this instance, every third turn means every third ‘round'. Kazakhstan's ability activates every 3 of their turns. It was just easier to write this way.

Kenya

To clarify, if the opposition lands a ball in their own cup, this shot cannot be chosen to trigger a grenade. In fact, because the opposition did not land all their shots in Kenya's cups, no grenade is triggered for this turn.
As a reminder, if the opposition sinks a rebound shot, a grenade is not triggered. This is because the opposition would have had to have missed one of their shots.
As a reminder, the opposition can re-rack Kenya on triangle numbers (3, 6,10, and 15 are triangle numbers).

Liechtenstein

If Liechtenstein happens to need a second celebrity shot on their turn (e.g., someone's gone to the bathroom), then that celebrity shot can still trigger the next activation of the ability. Liechtenstein must declare which celebrity shot would trigger the next activation prior to shooting.

Madagascar

To clarify, if the opposition wishes to re-rack Madagascar, they must have 3 or 6 cups, not including the 2 additional cups.

Malawi

Lake Malawi water cups are special cups, and therefore cannot be moved or removed using other country abilities.
Malawi's ability is not activated if they successfully manage to blow a ball out of a cup and into a water cup.
If Malawi accidentally drop their own ball into a water cup, they do not get to reshoot the shot, but all other shots on their turn are not void. Play continues as normal.
To clarify, if the opposition sink one shot in a normal cup (on either team), then sink a Lake Malawi water cup, all shots are void. Meaning, no cups are removed from the game.
A grenade in a normal game cup adjacent to a water cup does not trigger Malawi's ability.

Mexico

To clarify, in this instance, every third turn means every third ‘round'. Mexico's ability activates every 3 of their turns. It was just easier to write this way.
To clarify, if Mexico's shot bounces on the rim of a cup, that does count as a bounce for the purpose of this ability. I.e., if a shot bounces on the rim of a cup it can be caught/defended by the opposition.
If Mexico decides not to shoot a bounce shot on their turn, they must wait 3 more turns before they are given the opportunity again.

Monaco

The guess includes all cups the opposition on either side of the table (e.g., the opposition drops a ball into their own cups, accidentally or on purpose).
Cups sunk through Japan's Kamikaze ability count towards Monaco's guess.
Any cups sunk through consecutive balls back count also count towards this total (i.e., if the opposition sinks two and receives balls back, then sinks one more, the correct answer is three).

Netherlands

Netherland's Lake Reclamation cups are special cups, and therefore cannot be moved or removed using other country abilities.

Nigeria

Nigeria's spam cup is a special cup, and therefore cannot be moved or removed using other country abilities.
To clarify, Nigeria receives a new spam cup after they are re-racked, even if the opposition have sunk the initial spam cup.
To clarify, the scam is not 'revealed' if the opposition activates an ability to remove an adjacent cup. The scam is only revealed if an adjacent cup is sunk (including where cups are removed from a rim shot, grenade, or collateral for a bounce shot)

North Korea

To clarify, North Korea can sink one (or two) of their own cups in order to trigger A Successful Launch. Not sure how well that will work out for you though.

North Macedonia

North Macedonia's back middle 3 cups are special cups, and therefore cannot be moved or removed using other country abilities.
To clarify, North Macedonia can only be re-racked on 3 cups.

Peru

If the opposition moves one of Peru's cups, and that cup has an upside down cup on top of it, the upside-down cup stays on top and is moved also.
If the opposition removes a cup that has an upside down cup on top of it, Peru can choose where to put the upside down cup before any additional shots are taken.

Philippines

To clarify, Philippines' 3-cup islands must be placed in a triangle with all cups touching. The triangle can be flipped (as shown in the example setup) but cannot be partially rotated (i.e., the triangle cannot point left or right, it must point up or down).

Poland

If Poland accidentally sinks the opposition's last cup on their side of the table without first sinking the Strategic Invasion cup/s, do not progress to redemption. The shot is void.
If Poland accidentally sinks the opposition's last two (or more) cups on their side of the table (i.e., with a grenade or balls back) without first sinking the Strategic Invasion cup/s, the game does not automatically end. The opposition remove all but one cup on their side of the table, and then they take their turn.
As the Strategic Invasion cups still count as the opposition's cups, if an opposition's ability refers to their own cups in any way, it obviously applies to these cups as well. For example, Peru receives an empty cup to use for their ability when a Strategic Invasion cup is sunk.

Portugal

To clarify, if both Portuguese players are hit (by separate balls), they both receive +1 shot on their next turn.

Romania

To clarify, grenades, bounce shots, and rim shots, all only remove 1 cup while a vampire cup is on the table.
To clarify, Egypt cannot move vampire/castle cups, and cannot move normal cups into the castle/vampire cup setup positions.

Russia

To clarify, Russia cannot revive a comrade if both players are dead.

Saudi Arabia

Egypt can move cups within, but not between, each vertical row.
The text 'Removes' refers to using an ability to remove a cup

Singapore

As a reminder, if the opposition have a ball in their hand they cannot be forced to drop it (and Singapore cannot snatch the ball) in order to trigger Singapore's ability.

Somalia

To clarify, pirate cup ships must be horizontal or vertical, not diagonal. Diagonal cups are not touching.
If the opposition's ability allows them to choose a cup to remove from the game, their ability “cannot be used to end the game”, and they happen to choose Somalia's final pirate ship cup, Somalia must tell the opposition that they choose their final pirate ship cup. However, that cup is not removed from the game, and the opponent must select a different cup to remove.
As a reminder, “at the end of their turn” includes after the opposition has shot balls back. Meaning, Somalia only tells the opposition which cups were pirate ships at the end of balls back, EXCEPT if the opposition sank the last pirate ship cup. Somalia must tell their opposition immediately.

South Africa

To clarify, if South Africa have 7 cups and the opposition sinks two cups and triggers a balls back, they can now shoot for the corner cups as they are unprotected.

South Korea

To clarify, if South Korea correctly calls a cup that is sunk, then sinks a grenade in that same cup, the result is a grenade plus 1 additional cup. However, as the ability cannot be used to end the game, if this additional cup were to remove the opposition's last cup, that cup cannot be removed.

Spain

As a reminder, if Spain activates Running of the Bulls, they cannot trigger balls back or a grenade, as that player must keep shooting until they miss.

Switzerland

Switzerland cannot activate their ability if either team has less than 4 cups. To clarify, this does not include cups that do not need to be sunk to win the game. E.g., it does not include Greece's Trojan Horse or Romania's Vampire Castles cups.
In the rare event that the opposition only has two cups left when the loan repayment is triggered (because Switzerland sunk numerous cups during the 3 turns that the loan was accruing), then only one cup is repaid. Similarly, the opposition cannot give Switzerland a special cup as payment for the loan.
If Switzerland accidentally sink a loan cup, the opposition must drink it, but it is removed from the game, and no debt is applied to that cup.

Tanzania

To clarify, the number of balls Tanzania has during their ability is normally 8, however, this can be increased or decreased by other country abilities. E.g., if Belgium draws a K to make the opposition receive -1 shot on their next turn, and Tanzania wishes to activate their ability, they must shoot with only 7 balls.
To clarify, if Cuba activates their ability, then Tanzania activates theirs on their turn, Tanzania does not receive a grenade for every shot they sink.
The USA can refill all the cups Tanzania sink on their turn, if they choose to activate their ability.
The opposition can stop Tanzania's ability early if their ability is triggered and Tanzania loses the remaining shots on their turn. For example, Cambodia can halt the ability if Tanzania triggers a minefield cup. Similarly, Malawi can make all shots void if Tanzania sinks a Lake Malawi water cup.

Turkey

To clarify, if Turkey correctly guesses the coin toss when they are already at the maximum shots per turn (4), or incorrectly at the minimum (0), nothing happens. The number of shots per turn remains unchanged.

Turkmenistan

If Turkmenistan accidentally sinks their own Door to Hell cup, it is removed like normal.

Ukraine

Ukraine cannot sink its own Chernobyl cup.
To clarify, Chernobyl must be sunk (by the opposition) to win the game.

Uzbekistan

Uzbekistan can remove another landlocked cup with their ability, if they wish.
If the opposition sinks a grenade in the centre cup (of the initial 10-cup setup), Uzbekistan would remove all 5 middle cups (plus the two normal cups). As Uzbekistan would be required to remove an additional 5 more cups from the ability activation, they would have to remove 12 cups in total.
As landlocked cups cannot be used to end the game, Uzbekistan must leave one cup remaining. For example, if Uzbekistan had 4 cups remaining and 2 were landlocked, and the opposition sank both landlocked cups to trigger a balls back, Uzbekistan would remove all but one cup. The opposition would then get a chance to shoot balls back.

Vatican City

To clarify, the Pope Cup can be affected by a rim shot, bounce shot, or grenade after the surrounding 6 cups are removed. E.g., a grenade in the Pope Cup (when it is not touching any other cups) ends the game with no redemption.
Vatican City can be re-racked on normal triangle numbers (3 and 6). There's probably not many times it's worthwhile doing, though. If Vatican City is re-racked, they choose where the Pope Cup is located.
Vatican City can accidentally end the game if they drop a ball in their own Pope Cup, but only if there are no cups surrounding it. If there are any cups surrounding, the cup is not removed and the shot is void (they do not get to reshoot).