University (Alchemy)

Here's a comprehensive strategy guide for University in Dominion:

University Strategy Guide

1. Overview

University is a unique card from the Alchemy expansion that serves two primary functions: providing +2 Actions and allowing you to gain Action cards costing up to $5. What makes University special is that it gains cards without requiring you to pay any coins or Potions, making it an excellent engine-building tool.

1. Key Strengths

a) Action Generation - The +2 Actions is significant, allowing you to play multiple terminal Actions - Helps prevent terminal collision in Action-heavy decks - Enables engine building by providing the Actions needed to play gained cards

b) Free Gaining - Gains cards without spending money - Can gain cards costing Potion without having Potions - Works independently of your buying power - Can gain cards even in turns where you have no money

c) Selective Gaining - You can choose whether to gain a card - Flexibility to skip gaining when your deck is working well - Can gain different cards based on your current needs

1. Primary Use Cases

a) Engine Building - Quickly accumulate multiple copies of key engine pieces - Get important $5 Action cards earlier than normally possible - Build card density without sacrificing buying power

b) Potion Cost Cards - Gain Potion-cost cards without needing Potions - Particularly valuable for Familiar, Scrying Pool, and Golem - Helps avoid deck dilution from buying Potions

c) Early Game Acceleration - Gain important $5 cards before you can reliably hit $5 - Build engine components faster than through buying - Get multiple copies of key cards quickly

1. Key Card Interactions

Strong Targets for University:

a) $5 Cost Cards - Laboratory (reliable draw engine piece) - Market (all-around useful capabilities) - Council Room (strong draw with kingdom-wide impact) - Festival (excellent terminal Actions provider) - Witch (powerful attack card) - Mine (treasure upgrading)

b) Potion Cost Cards - Familiar (strong attack card) - Scrying Pool (powerful draw engine) - Golem (Action chaining) - Possession (game-changing effect)

c) Lower Cost Cards - Village variants ($3-4 range) - Smithy ($4, draw power) - Workshop ($3, gaining flexibility) - Harbinger ($3, deck manipulation)

1. Synergies

a) Action-Based Engines - Throne Room/King's Court (multiply University's effect) - Villages (provide even more Actions) - Draw cards (find University more consistently) - Treasury (reliable money while building Actions)

b) Card Gainers - Workshop (gain University itself) - Ironworks (gain University and get immediate benefit) - Expand (upgrade University late game) - Trading Post (thin while maintaining Universities)

c) Deck Manipulation - Scrying Pool (find Universities more reliably) - Haven (set up next turn) - Scheme (keep University in play) - Tracking Station (control draw order)

1. Strategic Considerations

a) Early Game - Priority on gaining University itself - Focus on gaining engine pieces - Balance between gaining and playing gained cards - Consider kingdom-specific timing

When to Buy University: - First/second shuffle if $2 available - When planning an Action-heavy strategy - When valuable $5 or Potion-cost cards present - When multiple copies needed for consistency

b) Mid Game - Transition from gaining to playing engine - Selective gaining based on deck needs - Managing deck composition - Avoiding over-gaining

c) Late Game - Possibly transitioning away from University - Converting Universities to more valuable cards - Using gained cards for victory point acquisition - Managing deck efficiency

1. Common Mistakes to Avoid

a) Over-Investment - Buying too many Universities - Gaining too many different Action cards - Diluting deck without proper support - Neglecting treasure/victory point acquisition

b) Poor Timing - Gaining cards without Action capacity to play them - Not considering deck shuffle timing - Failing to establish proper engine first - Missing key power card opportunities

c) Suboptimal Targets - Gaining unnecessary duplicates - Choosing wrong cards for current game state - Ignoring kingdom-specific priorities - Failing to adapt gaining choices

1. Counter Strategies

When Opposing University:

a) Rush Strategies - Focus on quick victory point accumulation - Capitalize on opponent's slow start - Use Cursing attacks before engine establishes - Consider Gardens victory condition

b) Deck Attack - Use discard attacks (Militia, Ghost Ship) - Employ trash attacks (Knights, Rogue) - Utilize deck inspection (Bureaucrat, Spy) - Consider hand size reduction (Militia, Ghost Ship)

c) Alternative Engines - Build money-based strategies - Focus on more efficient engine pieces - Utilize alternate gaining methods - Emphasize direct victory point acquisition

1. Kingdom Considerations

a) Supporting Components Needed - Card draw - Additional Actions - Deck manipulation - Trashing capability

b) Kingdom Assessment - Available $5 targets - Potion card presence - Alternative gaining methods - Victory condition pace

c) Opportunity Cost - Compare to other $2 cards - Evaluate alternative strategies - Consider kingdom timing - Assess victory point race

1. Advanced Techniques

a) Timing Optimization - Coordinate gains with shuffles - Plan action sequencing - Manage deck composition - Control game pace

b) Gaining Patterns - Systematic acquisition of engine pieces - Strategic duplication choices - Adaptation to opponent's strategy - Late game transitions

c) Engine Building - Balanced component acquisition - Support card integration - Deck efficiency maintenance - Victory point conversion timing

1. Specific Kingdom Examples

Example 1: University/Laboratory Engine - Buy early University - Gain multiple Laboratories - Add Villages for action support - Transition to victory points

Example 2: University/Familiar Strategy - Acquire University first - Gain Familiars without Potions - Build curse-giving engine - Convert to victory points

Example 3: University/Market Chain - Start with University - Gain Markets for flexibility - Build balanced engine - Maintain buying power

1. Conclusion

University is a powerful engine-building tool that requires careful strategic planning and execution. Its strength lies in the ability to gain valuable Action cards without payment, particularly $5 and Potion-cost cards. Success with University depends on:

• Proper timing of acquisition
• Strategic choice of gained cards
• Balanced engine building
• Kingdom context awareness
• Appropriate support components

When used effectively, University can enable powerful engines and unique strategies that would be difficult to achieve through normal buying. However, it requires careful management to avoid common pitfalls and maintain deck efficiency.

1. Tips for Success

2. Plan your engine structure before starting

3. Consider kingdom-specific timing
4. Balance gaining with playing capability
5. Maintain deck efficiency
6. Adapt gaining choices to game state
7. Support with appropriate components
8. Monitor opponent's strategy
9. Plan victory point conversion
10. Manage deck composition carefully

11. Practice timing optimization

12. Final Thoughts

University is a unique and powerful card that offers significant strategic depth. Its effectiveness varies greatly based on kingdom composition and player skill in managing its capabilities. Success with University requires understanding both its strengths and limitations, as well as careful attention to timing and strategic planning.

The card's ability to gain powerful Actions without payment makes it a valuable tool in many strategies, but players must avoid the temptation to over-rely on its gaining ability without proper support. When used appropriately, University can enable powerful engines and unique strategies that can dominate games.

Remember that University is often just one component of a larger strategy, and its effectiveness depends heavily on the kingdom context and player skill in managing complex Action-based engines. Master its use through practice and careful consideration of kingdom dynamics.