Transmute
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Transmute (Alchemy)

Cost: $0

Type: Action

Text: Trash a card from your hand. If it is an... Action card, gain a Duchy\nTreasure card, gain a Transmute\nVictory card, gain a Gold

Strategy Review

Transmute Strategy Guide

Introduction: Transmute is one of the more peculiar cards from the Alchemy expansion, costing 0 coins and one potion. Its transformation abilities make it a unique card that can help transition your deck through different phases of the game, though it requires careful planning to use effectively.

Core Mechanics: Transmute allows you to trash one card from your hand and gain a specific card based on the type of card trashed: - Action → Duchy (6 cost) - Treasure → Transmute (0 cost + potion) - Victory → Gold (6 cost)

Basic Strategy:

  1. Early Game Considerations:
  2. Opening with Transmute is generally weak because:
  3. It requires a potion purchase
  4. It doesn't provide any immediate deck improvement
  5. It's terminal (no +Actions)
  6. It requires specific cards to trash for useful gains
  7. Better as a mid-game acquisition when you have cards you want to transform

  8. Can be valuable in games where you want multiple copies of itself

  9. Mid-Game Usage: The primary uses of Transmute in the mid-game are: a) Converting cheap treasure cards into more Transmutes b) Converting excess actions into Duchies c) Converting starting Estates into Gold

  10. Late Game Considerations:

  11. Can help convert dead cards into victory points
  12. Useful for converting excess Silvers into more Transmutes
  13. Can convert non-scoring action cards into Duchies when racing for points

Specific Card Type Analysis:

  1. Trashing Actions: Pros:
  2. Converts $3-5 actions into $6 Duchies
  3. Good way to thin terminal actions when transitioning to late game
  4. Can remove dead action cards while gaining points

Cons: - Loses deck functionality - May be too slow compared to just buying Duchies - Requires having actions in hand with Transmute

Best Practice: - Save this conversion for when you're ready to transition to victory points - Focus on trashing cheaper actions first - Consider whether the action's ongoing utility outweighs the 3VP from Duchy

  1. Trashing Treasures: Pros:
  2. Can build up multiple Transmutes
  3. Good way to convert Copper and Silver into more converting power
  4. Creates engine potential

Cons: - Loses money from deck - May slow down overall purchasing power - Requires potion in supply

Best Practice: - Usually best with excess Silver - Avoid trashing Gold unless you have a specific strategy - Consider whether you need more Transmutes

  1. Trashing Victory Cards: Pros:
  2. Converts starting Estates into Gold
  3. Can improve deck quality while maintaining victory card count
  4. Most efficient conversion rate (3 coins to 6 coins)

Cons: - Limited victory cards available early - May not want to trash victory cards late game - Requires having victory cards in hand with Transmute

Best Practice: - Almost always convert Estates when possible - Consider keeping Duchies/Provinces late game - Time conversions with deck cycling

Combo Potential:

  1. Draw Engines:
  2. Library
  3. Laboratory
  4. Smithy

  5. Council Room These help find Transmute with its target cards.

  6. Action Chains:

  7. Village variants
  8. Festival

  9. Market Help play multiple Transmutes per turn

  10. Specific Card Synergies:

a) Throne Room/King's Court: - Can perform multiple transmutations in one turn - Helps overcome terminal nature - Can quickly build up Transmutes

b) Herb Gatherer: - Helps acquire potions - Provides flexibility in timing Transmute plays

c) Warehouse/Cellar: - Helps find matching pairs of Transmute and target cards - Improves consistency

d) Quarry: - Makes actions cheaper to buy as Transmute fodder - Enables faster action-to-Duchy conversion

Counter Strategies:

  1. Against Transmute-heavy opponents:
  2. Rush strategies can outpace Transmute's slow conversion
  3. Duchy dancing can prevent action-to-Duchy conversion value

  4. Cursing attacks can clog hand, making it harder to match Transmute with targets

  5. When Transmute is in supply:

  6. Consider whether normal VP rushing is faster
  7. Watch for opponents building multiple Transmutes
  8. Calculate victory point conversion efficiency

Kingdom Considerations:

  1. When to Buy Transmute:

Strong Conditions: - Multiple useful conversion targets available - Strong draw engine present - Few alternate victory point sources - Slower kingdom pace - Good trashing already available

Weak Conditions: - Fast kingdom pace - Better victory point engines available - Limited draw - Strong alternate card gainers - Better uses for actions/treasures

  1. Number of Transmutes to Buy:

Minimal Strategy (1-2): - When using primarily for Estate/action conversion - Limited potion availability - Fast game pace

Medium Strategy (2-3): - When building moderate engine - Regular treasure conversion planned - Moderate game pace

Heavy Strategy (3+): - Full conversion engine - Multiple potion sources - Slow game pace

Timing Considerations:

  1. Early Game (Turns 1-5):
  2. Usually skip unless specific strategy
  3. Focus on deck development

  4. Consider potion if planning mid-game Transmute

  5. Mid Game (Turns 6-12):

  6. Best time to acquire first Transmute
  7. Start converting Estates to Gold

  8. Begin building multiple Transmutes if needed

  9. Late Game (Turns 13+):

  10. Convert actions to Duchies
  11. Consider victory card conversions carefully
  12. May want to stop transmuting to preserve points

Advanced Strategies:

  1. Transmute Chains:
  2. Use multiple Transmutes to convert cards sequentially
  3. Example: Copper → Transmute → Action → Duchy

  4. Requires careful deck management

  5. Victory Point Acceleration:

  6. Convert cheap actions to Duchies
  7. Use gained Gold to buy Provinces

  8. Balance conversion with direct Province purchases

  9. Engine Construction:

  10. Build multiple Transmutes through treasure conversion
  11. Create consistent draw to find Transmute pairs
  12. Maintain enough treasure for needed purchases

Risk Factors:

  1. Deck Composition:
  2. Monitor action/treasure ratio
  3. Maintain sufficient purchasing power

  4. Watch victory card density

  5. Timing Risks:

  6. Converting too early can weaken deck
  7. Converting too late may waste opportunities

  8. Balance between engine building and point conversion

  9. Resource Management:

  10. Potion availability
  11. Action density
  12. Treasure requirements

Sample Turn Sequences:

Early Game: Turn 1-2: Silver/Potion Turn 3-4: Deck development Turn 5: Transmute Turn 6: Convert Estate to Gold

Mid Game Engine Building: Turn 7: Convert Silver to Transmute Turn 8: Draw engine components Turn 9: Convert more treasure to Transmutes Turn 10: Begin action conversion

Late Game Conversion: Turn 11-12: Convert actions to Duchies Turn 13+: Balance between conversion and Province purchases

Conclusion:

Transmute is a specialized card that requires careful planning and timing to use effectively. Its strength lies in its flexibility to convert cards throughout the game, but this comes at the cost of speed and efficiency. Success with Transmute often depends on:

  1. Correct kingdom analysis
  2. Proper timing of conversions
  3. Balanced resource management
  4. Strong supporting cards

While not always the optimal strategy, Transmute can be powerful in the right circumstances, particularly in kingdoms with: - Strong draw engines - Limited alternate VP sources - Slower pace - Good potion accessibility

Remember that Transmute's greatest strength is its ability to adapt your deck through different game phases, but this must be balanced against the opportunity cost of using more direct strategies.