Apothecary
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Apothecary (Alchemy)

Cost: $2

Type: Action

Text: +1 Card\n+1 Action\nReveal the top 4 cards of your deck. Put the revealed Coppers and Potions into your hand. Put the other cards back on top in any order.

Strategy Review

Here's a comprehensive strategy guide for Apothecary:

Apothecary Strategy Guide

Introduction Apothecary is a $2+ cost Action card from the Alchemy expansion that helps you draw Coppers and Potions while providing deck control. Its low cost and ability to both filter and draw make it an interesting early-game option, though its effectiveness varies significantly based on deck composition and kingdom context.

Basic Mechanics When you play Apothecary, you: 1. Draw one card 2. Get +1 Action 3. Reveal the top 4 cards of your deck 4. Put any Coppers and Potions from those cards into your hand 5. Return the other cards to the top of your deck in any order

Key Strengths - Low cost ($2+) - Non-terminal (provides +1 Action) - Helps concentrate treasure in hand - Offers deck control through card ordering - Synergizes with Potions - Can function as a light deck filter

Key Weaknesses - Requires Potion to purchase - Limited draw power - Less effective in thin decks - Becomes weaker as deck improves - Can interfere with other deck manipulation effects

Early Game Strategy

  1. Opening Considerations Apothecary is a possible opening purchase when:
  2. You plan to buy Potion-cost cards later
  3. The kingdom lacks strong $3-$4 cards
  4. You want early treasure concentration
  5. There are no strong trashing options

The typical opening decision tree: a) If opening with $4/3: - Consider Potion + Silver instead - Only get Apothecary if other Potion cards are crucial b) If opening with $5: - Usually better to get a stronger $5 card - Consider only if Potion cards are essential c) If opening with $2/3: - Apothecary becomes more attractive - Still compare to Silver + Silver

  1. Early Deck Benefits In early turns, Apothecary can:
  2. Help hit important price points
  3. Concentrate Coppers for bigger purchases
  4. Set up next turn's draw
  5. Find your Potion when needed

Mid-Game Strategy

  1. Deck Evolution As your deck improves, Apothecary's value changes:
  2. Becomes less effective at finding Copper
  3. More useful for finding Potions
  4. Ordering non-treasure cards becomes more important

  5. Can help arrange combos

  6. Quantity Considerations How many Apothecaries to buy:

  7. 1-2: Minimal investment, helps find Potions
  8. 3-4: Stronger treasure concentration

  9. 5+: Usually excessive unless part of specific strategy

  10. Transition Period Signs it's time to stop buying Apothecaries:

  11. Deck becoming too thin
  12. Better cards available
  13. Treasure density decreasing
  14. Draw engines online

Key Synergies

  1. Potion-cost Cards Apothecary naturally pairs with:
  2. Familiar
  3. Golem
  4. Possession
  5. Scrying Pool

  6. Vineyard

  7. Treasure-focused Strategies Works well with:

  8. Bank
  9. Venture
  10. Merchant Guild
  11. Royal Seal

  12. Trader

  13. Deck Manipulation Synergizes with:

  14. Navigator
  15. Oracle
  16. Warehouse
  17. Wishing Well

  18. Scout

  19. Action Chains Benefits from:

  20. Village variants
  21. Scheme
  22. Treasury
  23. Market
  24. Festival

Counter-Synergies

  1. Deck Thinning Conflicts with:
  2. Chapel
  3. Steward
  4. Ambassador
  5. Masquerade

  6. Trading Post

  7. Other Manipulators Can interfere with:

  8. Cartographer
  9. Fortune Teller
  10. Crystal Ball
  11. Spy variants

  12. Wandering Minstrel

  13. Draw Engines Less effective with:

  14. Laboratory
  15. Smithy
  16. Council Room
  17. Hunting Party
  18. Drawing hands

Specific Kingdom Scenarios

  1. Heavy Trashing In kingdoms with strong trashing:
  2. Skip Apothecary early
  3. Consider later for Potion finding

  4. Focus on deck improvement first

  5. Big Money In simple Big Money variants:

  6. Can help concentrate treasure
  7. Usually inferior to stronger cards

  8. Consider only with Potion synergies

  9. Engine Building In engine kingdoms:

  10. Usually skip entirely
  11. Exception: needed for key Potion cards

  12. Better to focus on engine pieces

  13. Rush Strategies In rush scenarios:

  14. Can help hit key price points
  15. Usually too slow
  16. Better to focus on gaining victory cards

Advanced Techniques

  1. Card Ordering When returning cards:
  2. Consider next turn's needs
  3. Plan for other players' attacks
  4. Set up known combinations

  5. Protect key cards from attacks

  6. Timing Considerations Optimal play sequence:

  7. Play other deck inspection first
  8. Use non-conflicting draw
  9. Play Apothecary last if possible

  10. Consider other players' turns

  11. Multiple Apothecary Chains When playing several Apothecaries:

  12. Track deck composition
  13. Plan card ordering carefully
  14. Consider keeping some treasure back
  15. Balance immediate needs vs. future turns

Counter-Strategy

  1. Defending Against Apothecary When opponents have Apothecary:
  2. Consider junking attacks
  3. Accelerate game pace
  4. Focus on stronger strategies

  5. Don't over-adjust

  6. Attack Cards Effective attacks include:

  7. Militia
  8. Ghost Ship
  9. Torturer
  10. Minion
  11. Bureaucrat

Kingdom Recommendations

  1. Strong Kingdoms for Apothecary Look for:
  2. Other Potion cards
  3. Treasure synergies
  4. Weak alternatives
  5. Slower pace

  6. Limited trashing

  7. Weak Kingdoms for Apothecary Avoid when seeing:

  8. Strong trashing
  9. Better draw options
  10. Fast gameplay
  11. Strong $3-$4 cards
  12. Engine components

Sample Strategies

  1. Apothecary/Big Money Basic approach:
  2. Open Potion/Silver
  3. Get 2-3 Apothecaries
  4. Focus on Silver/Gold

  5. Add Provinces when affordable

  6. Apothecary/Engine Build order:

  7. Open Potion/Village
  8. Get 1-2 Apothecaries
  9. Build engine core

  10. Use for Potion finding

  11. Multi-Apothecary Aggressive approach:

  12. Open Potion/Silver
  13. Buy 4-5 Apothecaries
  14. Focus on treasure concentration
  15. Transition to victory cards

Timing and Endgame

  1. Early Game (Turns 1-7) Priority:
  2. Acquire key components
  3. Set up treasure concentration
  4. Establish Potion access

  5. Build toward strategy

  6. Mid Game (Turns 8-15) Focus:

  7. Maximize Apothecary chains
  8. Transition to main strategy
  9. Begin victory card acquisition

  10. Adjust to opponent's pace

  11. Late Game (Turns 16+) Considerations:

  12. Victory card timing
  13. Maintaining Potion access
  14. Protecting lead/catching up
  15. Game-ending decisions

Common Mistakes

  1. Overvaluing
  2. Buying too many
  3. Focusing too much on Copper finding
  4. Ignoring better options

  5. Overestimating draw power

  6. Undervaluing

  7. Ignoring Potion synergies
  8. Missing treasure concentration
  9. Overlooking deck control

  10. Dismissing in appropriate kingdoms

  11. Tactical Errors

  12. Poor card ordering
  13. Bad timing
  14. Incorrect chain sequencing
  15. Improper treasure management

Conclusion

Apothecary is a specialized card that requires careful consideration of kingdom context and strategy. Its primary strengths lie in: - Early treasure concentration - Potion card access - Deck control - Action chain support

While not always a top-tier card, it can be effective when: - Supporting Potion strategies - Enabling treasure synergies - Providing early game stability - Offering deck manipulation

Success with Apothecary requires: - Clear strategic vision - Understanding of timing - Careful play sequencing - Recognition of appropriate kingdoms

Remember that Apothecary's effectiveness diminishes as decks improve, making it crucial to have a transition plan and to avoid over-investing in most cases. Use it as a supportive piece rather than a primary strategy unless specific kingdom conditions strongly favor it.