Herbalist (Alchemy)

Here's a comprehensive strategy guide for Herbalist:

Herbalist Strategy Guide

Introduction Herbalist is a humble $2 Action card from the Alchemy expansion that offers a modest economic boost and a unique ability to manipulate Treasure cards. While it may appear simple at first glance, Herbalist's potential lies in its ability to set up your next turn and create interesting interactions with various Treasure cards.

Basic Functions

1. Economic Value
2. Provides +1 Buy and +$1
3. Functions similarly to a Silver in terms of money production when considering Action usage

4. The +Buy is valuable in engines that generate lots of money but lack buying power

5. Treasure Manipulation

6. Can place one Treasure card from play onto your deck at end of turn
7. This ability is optional
8. Only works with Treasures that were actually played that turn
9. The ability triggers when Herbalist is discarded from play (not when trashed or discarded from hand)

Core Strategy Considerations

1. Basic Usage Patterns

Early Game: - Can serve as an early-game economy boost - Helps reach important price points like $5 or $6 - Provides flexibility with the extra Buy - Can help set up next turn's hand by topping a good Treasure

Mid Game: - Utility diminishes unless specific combos are present - May become a dead card in some engines - Can still provide value in money-based strategies

Late Game: - Often becomes less relevant - Exception: specific combo decks or Treasure-heavy strategies - Can help ensure province purchases by controlling next turn's draw

1. Treasure Selection Strategy

When choosing which Treasure to put back on top, consider: - Current deck composition - Probability of drawing good action cards - Next turn's purchasing goals - Presence of other deck manipulation effects

Priority order for typical games: 1. Gold (if you need buying power) 2. Special Treasures (if beneficial) 3. Silver (if no better options) 4. Copper (rarely optimal)

Synergies and Combinations

1. Special Treasure Cards

Bank: - Can ensure a strong Bank play next turn - Particularly powerful if you can play multiple Treasures - Creates consistency in Bank-based strategies

Philosopher's Stone: - Helps maintain Philosopher's Stone value - Can keep deck size more predictable - Especially useful in smaller decks

Royal Seal: - Creates double top-deck potential - Can set up powerful opening hands - Excellent for maintaining control over deck composition

Venture: - Can guarantee a Treasure for Venture to hit - Helps maintain chain reactions - Reduces variance in Venture plays

1. Action Cards

Treasury: - Can manipulate which Treasures Treasury returns - Helps maintain economy while building engine - Creates more consistent money turns

Counting House: - Can keep Coppers out of the Counting House count - Helps control timing of big Counting House turns - Creates interesting decision points

Library: - Can ensure hitting treasure for Library stops - Helps control Action density - Reduces chance of dead Library draws

1. Victory Card Interactions

Gardens: - Herbalist adds cards to your deck for Gardens - Extra Buy helps accumulate cards quickly - Can maintain economy while pursuing Gardens strategy

Duke: - Extra Buy helps acquire both Dukes and Duchies - Economic boost helps reach key price points - Can ensure treasure for crucial purchases

Advanced Techniques

1. Multi-Herbalist Chains

Benefits: - Can set up multiple Treasures in desired order - Creates more consistent following turns - Helps maintain economic momentum

Considerations: - Requires multiple Action capacity - May not be worth deck space in many engines - Best in specific combo decks

1. Turn Optimization

Planning aspects: - Consider future turn requirements - Balance immediate needs vs. future turns - Account for shuffle timing

Decision points: - Whether to play Herbalist early or late in turn - Which Treasure to save for next turn - When to skip using the ability

1. Timing Considerations

Shuffle timing: - Track when shuffles are likely - Plan around deck composition - Consider whether saved Treasure will matter

Action timing: - Usually play Herbalist before other actions - Exception: when other cards affect decision - Consider order of multiple Herbalists

Counter-Strategies and Weaknesses

1. Main Weaknesses

Opportunity cost: - Takes up deck space - Uses an Action - Often inferior to other $2 cards

Engine interference: - Can dilute Action density - May slow down engine building - Sometimes conflicts with other strategies

1. Situations to Avoid

Poor fits: - Heavy engine builds - Decks with few Treasures - Rapid cycling decks

Bad combinations: - Decks relying on Copper trashing - Strategies requiring precise deck control - Games where Actions are at a premium

When to Buy Herbalist

1. Favorable Conditions

Kingdom characteristics: - Special Treasure cards present - Limited +Buy available - Money-based strategies viable

Deck characteristics: - Using valuable Treasures - Need for economic consistency - Space for non-terminal Actions

1. Opening Considerations

As an opener: - Generally inferior to Silver - Can work with 3/4 opens - Better with certain combinations

Split considerations: - Can complement 5-cost cards - Works in some 4/3 splits - Consider other $2 options

1. Later Purchases

Mid-game factors: - Deck composition - Available combos - Economic needs

Late-game considerations: - Remaining turns - Victory card situation - Deck cycling speed

Sample Play Patterns

1. Early Game Example

Turn 1-2: - Open Silver/Herbalist - Use Herbalist to ensure Silver for turn 3 - Aim for early $5 purchase

Turn 3-4: - Leverage guaranteed Silver - Build towards engine or money strategy - Consider additional Herbalists

1. Mid-Game Example

With multiple Herbalists: - Play Herbalists early in turn - Play Treasures strategically - Set up next turn's buying power

With special Treasures: - Maximize special Treasure effects - Maintain consistency - Build towards key purchases

1. Late Game Example

Province turns: - Ensure sufficient money for Provinces - Use +Buy for additional purchases - Maintain economic momentum

Alternative strategies: - Support alternate victory conditions - Maintain defense against attacks - Enable combo finishes

Competition Considerations

1. Multiplayer Dynamics

Advantages: - Less competition for $2 cards - Can control pace better - More turns to utilize abilities

Disadvantages: - Slower strategies vulnerable - May not impact game enough - Other players may have better options

1. Race Considerations

Province race: - Help maintain buying power - Extra Buy can be crucial - May be too slow

Alternate victory conditions: - Support alternative strategies - Help maintain flexibility - Enable different paths to victory

Conclusion

Herbalist is a niche card that excels in specific situations but requires careful consideration before including in your strategy. Its strength lies in its ability to create consistency and enable certain combinations, particularly with special Treasure cards. While not always the optimal choice, understanding when and how to use Herbalist effectively can provide a significant advantage in the right circumstances.

Key Takeaways: - Best used with special Treasures - Valuable for maintaining economic consistency - Requires careful timing and planning - Most effective in specific combinations - Consider opportunity cost carefully - Better in money-based strategies than engines

Remember that Herbalist's success often depends more on how it fits into your overall strategy than its individual power level. Use it thoughtfully and in the right circumstances for best results.