Like all great games, Catan is a mixture of skill and luck.
Like all great games, Catan is a mixture of skill and luck. Is it possible to win at Catan while being unlucky? Yes, but it sure is unlikely. You need to pick up at least some cards in order to apply your skill, strategize and make appealing trades to others. There are many types of luck in Catan and it can be challenging to quantify it.