Fortune Teller (Cornucopia)

Here's a comprehensive Fortune Teller strategy guide:

Fortune Teller Strategy Guide

Overview Fortune Teller is a $3 Action-Attack card from Cornucopia that serves two purposes: providing $2 in economy and forcing opponents to put Victory or Curse cards on top of their deck. While the attack seems minor at first glance, it can be surprisingly effective in certain situations and becomes more powerful as the game progresses.

Core Functions

1. Economy
2. Provides $2, equivalent to Silver
3. Takes up an Action slot

4. Can contribute to reaching important price points

5. Attack Element

6. Forces Victory/Curse cards to top of deck
7. Guaranteed to hit in late game
8. Affects deck composition knowledge
9. Creates dead draws for opponents

Key Strengths

1. Terminal Silver+ Fortune Teller provides the buying power of Silver while adding an attack element. This makes it generally superior to Silver in the early game, provided you can handle the terminal Action slot.

2. Scaling Attack The attack becomes stronger as the game progresses because:

3. Players acquire more Victory cards
4. Victory cards become more concentrated as decks thin

5. Dead draws matter more in critical late-game turns

6. Information Gathering

7. Reveals portion of opponents' decks
8. Helps track Victory card distribution
9. Aids in counting cards and planning turns

Weaknesses

1. Terminal Action
2. Competes for limited Action slots
3. Can cause terminal collision

4. May need village support

5. Inconsistent Attack

6. Early game may reveal few or no Victory cards
7. Effectiveness varies based on opponent's deck composition

8. Some kingdoms offer ways to mitigate the attack

9. Opportunity Cost

10. Takes up a $3 buy that could be used for other engines pieces
11. Attack may not justify the investment in some kingdoms

Optimal Usage Strategies

1. Early Game Acquisition Fortune Teller is typically best bought in the early game when:
2. You want terminal silver equivalents
3. The kingdom lacks strong $3 alternatives
4. Opponents are likely to green early

5. Attack mitigation is limited

6. Attack Timing Maximize Fortune Teller's impact by:

7. Playing it before opponents' key turns
8. Using it when opponents are likely to need specific cards
9. Chaining multiple Fortune Tellers for repeated interference

10. Coordinating with other deck inspection/manipulation attacks

11. Deck Tracking Use the information gained to:

12. Count Victory cards in circulation
13. Track opponent's deck composition
14. Plan your greening strategy
15. Adjust your tactics based on revealed cards

Synergies

1. Other Attacks Fortune Teller combines well with:
2. Militia/Bureaucrat: Compound hand disruption
3. Ghost Ship: Force bad cards back multiple times
4. Saboteur: Know what you're hitting

5. Witch: Make Curses more likely to be drawn

6. Duration Cards Cards that last multiple turns work well because:

7. They reduce terminal collision
8. They provide actions when Fortune Teller reveals Victory cards

9. They help maintain pressure over multiple turns

10. Card Selection Fortune Teller benefits from:

11. Scrying Pool: Additional deck inspection
12. Oracle: Complementary deck manipulation
13. Warehouse/Cellar: Help manage your own Victory cards

14. Spy: Additional deck manipulation

15. Villages Village support helps by:

16. Enabling multiple Fortune Teller plays
17. Reducing terminal collision
18. Maintaining consistent pressure

Counter Strategies

1. Deck Manipulation Opponents can counter Fortune Teller with:
2. Warehouse/Cellar: Discard revealed Victory cards
3. Haven: Save key cards
4. Treasury: Return to deck after Fortune Teller

5. Scheme: Control top card

6. Card Draw Heavy drawing can mitigate the attack:

7. Laboratory/Smithy: Draw past dead cards
8. Caravan: Spread draws across turns
9. Library: Draw to specific hand size

10. Council Room: Extra cards offset dead draws

11. Alternative Victory Cards Some Victory cards reduce Fortune Teller's impact:

12. Gardens: Less affected by top-decking
13. Duke: Can function from any position
14. Silk Road: Functions regardless of order
15. Victory tokens: Immune to Fortune Teller

Kingdom Considerations

1. Strong Kingdoms Fortune Teller shines when:
2. Few counter cards are available
3. Terminal space is available
4. Other attacks are present

5. Greening happens early

6. Weak Kingdoms Fortune Teller struggles when:

7. Strong $3 alternatives exist
8. Heavy card draw is available
9. Deck manipulation is prevalent

10. Victory cards are less important

11. Colony Games Fortune Teller gains strength because:

12. More Victory cards in play
13. Higher stakes for dead draws
14. Longer game length
15. More opportunities for attack

Multiplayer Considerations

1. Three+ Players Fortune Teller becomes stronger with:
2. More targets for attack
3. Increased Victory card density
4. Compound effect across opponents

5. Greater information gathering

6. Team Games In team games, consider:

7. Coordinating attacks with partner
8. Sharing deck tracking information
9. Supporting partner's strategy
10. Joint pressure on opponents

Opening Considerations

1. Fortune Teller/Silver Pros:
2. Strong economy
3. Early attack presence
4. Flexible purchasing power
5. Information gathering

Cons: - Terminal collision risk - May miss better $3 options - Attack might be weak early

1. Double Fortune Teller Pros:
2. Consistent attack pressure
3. Strong economy
4. Maximum information gathering

Cons: - Severe terminal collision - Requires village support - May be too attack-focused

Advanced Techniques

1. Deck Tracking Maintain mental notes of:
2. Victory cards seen
3. Opponent's deck composition
4. Probable upcoming draws

5. Attack effectiveness

6. Timing Optimization Plan Fortune Teller plays around:

7. Opponent's likely purchases
8. Critical turn sequences
9. Known deck contents

10. Other attack coordination

11. Information Usage Leverage revealed information for:

12. Predicting opponent moves
13. Timing green card purchases
14. Planning attack sequences
15. Adjusting strategy mid-game

Sample Game Plans

1. Engine-Based
2. Open Fortune Teller/Silver
3. Add village support
4. Include multiple Fortune Tellers
5. Transition to engine pieces

6. Use attack to slow opponents

7. Big Money Variant

8. Open Fortune Teller/Silver
9. Add additional money
10. Include 2-3 Fortune Tellers
11. Time attacks strategically

12. Green when ahead

13. Rush Strategy

14. Open double Fortune Teller
15. Add minimal support cards
16. Focus on early pressure
17. Green aggressively
18. Maintain attack presence

Situational Considerations

1. Rush Kingdoms In rush scenarios:
2. Fortune Teller can slow opponents
3. Attack becomes relevant sooner
4. Information more valuable

5. Terminal space more precious

6. Engine Kingdoms In engine buildings:

7. Need village support
8. May need fewer copies
9. Attack helps deny key components

10. Information aids timing

11. Slog Kingdoms In long games:

12. Attack grows stronger
13. Information more valuable
14. Multiple copies more useful
15. Terminal space less critical

Conclusion

Fortune Teller is a nuanced card that combines reliable economy with a scaling attack. While not always a game-changer, it can be a valuable addition to many strategies when used thoughtfully. Success with Fortune Teller relies on:

• Understanding timing and opportunity cost
• Leveraging information gained
• Coordinating with other cards
• Adapting to kingdom context

The card shines brightest when: - Terminal space is available - Counter cards are limited - Victory cards matter greatly - Information has high value

Consider Fortune Teller when you need: - Early economy with upside - Scaling attack potential - Deck tracking capability - Flexible strategy options

Remember that Fortune Teller's effectiveness varies significantly based on kingdom composition and player count. Always evaluate it in context of available alternatives and overall strategy goals.