Bridge Troll
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Bridge Troll (Adventures)

Cost: $5

Type: Action-Attack-Duration

Text: Each other player takes his -$1 token. Now and at the start of your next turn:\n+1 Buy\dWhile this is in play, cards cost $1 less on your turns, but not less than $0.

Strategy Review

Here's a comprehensive strategy guide for Bridge Troll:

Bridge Troll Strategy Guide

Introduction Bridge Troll is a powerful $5-cost Action-Attack-Duration card from the Adventures expansion that combines cost reduction with minor economic attacks. Its dual effects of reducing costs and giving extra Buys make it a versatile engine component that can enable powerful purchasing combinations while slightly hampering opponents' economy.

Core Mechanics 1. Attack Component - Forces each opponent to take their -$1 token - This is a persistent effect until opponents find a way to remove it - Reduces opponent buying power by $1 each turn - Token cannot stack (unlike Bridge's cost reduction)

  1. Duration Effects
  2. Provides +1 Buy now and at the start of your next turn
  3. Cost reduction remains active while Bridge Troll stays in play
  4. The $1 cost reduction applies to all cards

  5. Cannot reduce costs below $0

  6. Key Characteristics

  7. Does not provide +Cards or +Actions
  8. Stays in play until your next turn
  9. Multiple Bridge Trolls stack their cost reduction
  10. Extra Buys accumulate if you play multiple copies

Strategic Uses

  1. Engine Building Bridge Troll excels in engine decks where you can:
  2. Play multiple copies in one turn
  3. Maintain cost reduction across multiple turns
  4. Utilize extra Buys effectively

  5. Stack with other cost reducers

  6. Cost Reduction Strategies The cost reduction effect is powerful for:

  7. Making key $5 cards cost $4 (within Festival/Market drawing range)
  8. Reducing Province cost to make double/triple Province turns easier
  9. Enabling mass Gold purchases

  10. Making cheaper cards free for combo purposes

  11. Buy Acceleration The extra Buy component allows:

  12. Multiple Province purchases in late game
  13. Efficient purchase of engine components
  14. Flexibility in mixed strategy approaches
  15. Better utilization of excess money

Key Combinations

  1. Other Cost Reducers Bridge Troll stacks excellently with:
  2. Bridge (allowing deeper cost reduction)
  3. Highway (multiplicative cost reduction)
  4. Quarry (for massive Action card discounts)

  5. Innovation (for free gainers)

  6. +Cards Effects Since Bridge Troll doesn't draw cards, pair with:

  7. Laboratory/Smithy for draw power
  8. Council Room for deck velocity
  9. Library to fill your hand

  10. Warehouse/Cellar for deck filtering

  11. Duration Synergies Works well with other Duration cards:

  12. Wharf for sustained draw
  13. Caravan for reliable draw
  14. Haven for hand optimization

  15. Fishing Village for action chains

  16. Gainers Cost reduction enables powerful gaining combos:

  17. Workshop can gain better cards
  18. Ironworks becomes more flexible
  19. University can gain more expensive cards
  20. Horn of Plenty hits higher price points

Timing and Deployment

Early Game (Turns 1-5) - Consider opening Bridge Troll if $5 available - Early Bridge Troll can enable better $4 purchases - Useful for accelerating engine assembly - Can slow opponent's early development

Mid Game (Turns 6-12) - Look to acquire multiple copies - Stack cost reduction effects - Begin utilizing extra Buys - Consider companion engine pieces

Late Game (Turns 13+) - Use for multiple Province buys - Stack with other cost reducers - Consider as victory point enabler - Maintain pressure on opponents

Purchase Timing Considerations - Buy early if building an engine - Worthwhile mid-game investment - Less valuable in late-game situations - Consider opportunity cost vs. other $5 cards

Counter-Strategies and Weaknesses

  1. Limitations
  2. No +Cards or +Actions
  3. Requires multiple copies for strong effect
  4. Duration timing can be awkward

  5. Vulnerable to deck-inspection attacks

  6. Counter Cards Strong counters include:

  7. Moat (blocks attack component)
  8. Watchtower (gaining flexibility)
  9. Gardens (alternative VP strategy)

  10. Ambassador (returns expensive cards)

  11. Counter-Strategies Opponents can:

  12. Focus on +Money strategies
  13. Use gainers to bypass cost
  14. Build faster engines
  15. Ignore -$1 token impact

Playing Against Bridge Troll

  1. Defensive Considerations
  2. Accept -$1 token impact
  3. Plan purchases accounting for reduced buying power
  4. Consider alternate victory paths

  5. Look for ways to remove tokens

  6. Adaptation Strategies

  7. Emphasize +Cards effects
  8. Build robust money density
  9. Use alternative gaining methods
  10. Focus on engine acceleration

Kingdom Considerations

  1. Favorable Kingdoms Bridge Troll shines with:
  2. Multiple other cost reducers
  3. Strong card draw
  4. Action-heavy engines

  5. Multiple valuable $5 cards

  6. Unfavorable Kingdoms Less effective with:

  7. Big Money strategies
  8. Cursing attacks
  9. Junking attacks

  10. Treasure-focused decks

  11. Kingdom Analysis Consider Bridge Troll when:

  12. Multiple valuable targets for cost reduction exist
  13. Engine components are available
  14. Extra Buys can be utilized
  15. Attack component is relevant

Advanced Techniques

  1. Chaining Multiple Bridge Trolls
  2. Play sequence matters
  3. Track Duration effects
  4. Maximize cost reduction

  5. Plan Buy utilization

  6. Token Management

  7. Track opponent token status
  8. Time attacks effectively
  9. Consider token removal

  10. Plan around token impact

  11. Cost Reduction Mathematics Understanding price points:

  12. $6 → $5 (Province range)
  13. $5 → $4 (key engine pieces)
  14. $4 → $3 (efficient gainers)

  15. $3 → $2 (cheap utility)

  16. Buy Optimization Maximizing extra Buys:

  17. Plan purchase sequences
  18. Account for cost reduction
  19. Consider gaining effects
  20. Balance deck composition

Sample Strategies

  1. Bridge Troll Engine Core cards:
  2. Multiple Bridge Trolls
  3. Strong draw (Lab/Smithy)
  4. Village variants
  5. Payload cards

Strategy: - Build engine infrastructure - Stack cost reduction - Utilize extra Buys - Maintain pressure

  1. Bridge Troll/Bridge Combo Core cards:
  2. Bridge Troll
  3. Bridge
  4. Draw engine
  5. Throne Room variants

Strategy: - Maximize cost reduction - Enable massive gaining - Purchase multiple Provinces - Control game pace

  1. Duration Chain Core cards:
  2. Bridge Troll
  3. Wharf/Caravan
  4. Fishing Village
  5. Market Square

Strategy: - Build sustained effects - Maintain cost reduction - Leverage extra Buys - Control deck tempo

Conclusion

Bridge Troll is a versatile card that combines powerful cost reduction with minor economic attacks and extra Buys. Its effectiveness scales with multiple copies and proper engine support. While not always a game-defining card, it can enable powerful strategies and combinations when properly utilized.

Key Takeaways: 1. Stack multiple copies for stronger effect 2. Combine with other cost reducers 3. Support with card draw 4. Plan Buy utilization 5. Consider timing of deployment

Success with Bridge Troll requires: - Understanding of engine building - Proper kingdom analysis - Strategic timing - Effective combination building - Adaptable gameplay

This powerful Duration card rewards careful planning and strategic deployment while providing consistent value through cost reduction and extra Buys. Master its use to enable powerful combinations and control game pace effectively.