Marauder (Dark Ages)

Here's a comprehensive strategy guide for Marauder:

Marauder Strategy Guide

Introduction Marauder is a unique $4 Action-Attack-Looter card from Dark Ages that combines two effects: gaining Spoils for yourself and distributing Ruins to your opponents. Understanding how to leverage both aspects of this card is crucial for using it effectively.

Core Mechanics 1. Gaining Spoils - Each play of Marauder adds one Spoils card to your discard pile - Spoils is a one-time-use Treasure worth $3 - Spoils return to the Spoils pile when played - The Spoils pile is unlimited

1. Ruins Distribution
2. Each opponent gains one Ruins card
3. Ruins are distributed from a shared pile
4. The Ruins pile contains a limited number based on player count
5. Five different types of Ruins exist, shuffled together

Basic Strategy

Timing Considerations - Early Game: Marauder shines early when: * Opponents' decks are small and Ruins hurt more * You need economic boost from Spoils * You want to establish deck control - Mid Game: Still valuable for: * Maintaining economic pressure * Continuing to dilute opponent decks - Late Game: Less effective when: * Ruins pile is depleted * Deck efficiency matters more * Opponents have ways to handle Ruins

Economic Impact 1. For You: - Provides reliable $3 bursts through Spoils - Helps hit important price points ($6-$8) - Flexible timing of Spoils usage - No deck dilution from gained cards

1. For Opponents:
2. Ruins clog opponent decks
3. Reduces their deck efficiency
4. Forces them to handle dead cards
5. May slow their engine building

Key Strategies

1. Rush Strategy Marauder can support rush strategies by:
2. Providing early economy boost
3. Slowing opponent development
4. Enabling quick $5-$6 purchases
5. Supporting Province rush with reliable gold

Best practices: - Buy Marauder on early $4 turns - Focus on gaining key components quickly - Use Spoils aggressively for important purchases - Don't overinvest in multiple Marauders

1. Engine Building In engine contexts, Marauder can:
2. Provide temporary economy
3. Buy time through opponent disruption
4. Support payload turns
5. Enable specific card combinations

Considerations: - Balance Marauder quantity with engine pieces - Time Ruins attacks strategically - Save Spoils for key purchases - Plan for deck efficiency

1. Big Money Variant Marauder can enhance Big Money by:
2. Adding reliable $3 productions
3. Maintaining opponent pressure
4. Requiring minimal deck support
5. Enabling flexible purchase timing

Implementation: - Get 1-2 Marauders early - Focus on Silver/Gold acquisition - Use Spoils for Province purchases - Maintain steady Ruins pressure

Synergies and Combinations

Strong Synergies:

1. Throne Room Effects
2. Double Marauder plays
3. Multiple Spoils gained
4. Increased Ruins distribution

5. Faster economy development

6. Card Draw

7. Helps find Marauder more often
8. Mitigates deck dilution
9. Enables consistent attacks

10. Improves Spoils utilization

11. Trash for Benefit Cards

12. Remove gained Ruins (for opponents)
13. Convert dead cards to resources
14. Maintain deck efficiency

15. Enable longer game plans

16. Duration Cards

17. Provides economy for expensive durations
18. Slows opponent responses
19. Enables powerful turn sequences

20. Supports long-term strategies

21. Victory Card Gainers

22. Uses Spoils for expensive gains
23. Maintains economy pressure
24. Enables alternate victory paths
25. Supports flexible strategies

Counter-Synergies:

1. Terminal Draw Heavy Decks
2. Competes for action space
3. May reduce consistency
4. Requires careful balance

5. Can slow engine development

6. Thin Deck Strategies

7. Ruins disrupt opponent plans less
8. Economy boost less impactful
9. May need alternative approaches
10. Reduced overall effectiveness

Countering Marauder

Defense Strategies:

1. Direct Counters
2. Moat blocks Ruins gaining
3. Watchtower can trash incoming Ruins
4. Trading Post removes Ruins efficiently

5. Fortress provides Ruins immunity

6. Indirect Approaches

7. Heavy trashing minimizes Ruins impact
8. Fast engines outpace Marauder pressure
9. Alternative victory paths reduce game length

10. Strong drawing reduces Ruins effect

11. Adaptation Strategies

12. Accept and work around Ruins
13. Focus on deck efficiency
14. Develop stronger economy
15. Plan for longer game

Optimization Tips

1. Quantity Management
2. Usually want 1-2 Marauders
3. Rarely need more than 2
4. Consider board context

5. Balance with other cards

6. Timing Optimization

7. Play early in turn sequences
8. Save Spoils for key purchases
9. Consider opponent deck states

10. Track Ruins pile depletion

11. Purchase Timing

12. Priority on early $4 turns
13. Consider versus other $4 options
14. Watch opponent strategies
15. Adapt to game pace

Advanced Considerations

1. Multi-Player Dynamics
2. Stronger with more opponents
3. Ruins spread more widely
4. Economy boost still personal

5. Consider table politics

6. Kingdom Analysis When to prioritize Marauder:

7. Limited trashing available
8. Few alternate economy options
9. Slower game pace likely
10. Attack synergies present

When to skip Marauder: - Strong trashing present - Better economy options - Fast game likely - Strong defense available

1. Pile Control
2. Track Ruins depletion
3. Consider pile-out conditions
4. Monitor Spoils availability
5. Plan end-game timing

Sample Strategies

1. Marauder/Big Money
2. 1-2 Marauders
3. Heavy Silver
4. Minimal Kingdom cards
5. Province focus

Build Order: 1. Silver 2. Marauder 3. More Silver 4. Gold 5. Provinces

1. Marauder/Engine
2. 1 Marauder
3. Village variant
4. Drawing power
5. Payload cards

Build Order: 1. Marauder 2. Villages 3. Draw cards 4. Payload 5. Victory cards

1. Marauder/Rush
2. 2 Marauders
3. Gaining effects
4. Limited support cards
5. Quick victory focus

Build Order: 1. Marauder 2. Second Marauder 3. Gainers 4. Victory cards 5. Support cards

Common Mistakes

1. Overinvestment
2. Buying too many Marauders
3. Focusing too much on attacks
4. Neglecting victory path

5. Insufficient support cards

6. Poor Timing

7. Playing Marauder too late
8. Holding Spoils too long
9. Missing key purchases

10. Inefficient turn sequencing

11. Strategic Misalignment

12. Wrong quantity for strategy
13. Incompatible combinations
14. Ignoring board context
15. Poor adaptation

Conclusion

Marauder is a versatile $4 card that provides both economic boost and opponent disruption. Success with Marauder requires: - Understanding timing windows - Balancing quantities - Recognizing synergies - Adapting to board context

Key Takeaways: 1. Early acquisition usually best 2. 1-2 copies typically optimal 3. Consider kingdom context 4. Balance attack and economy 5. Plan victory path carefully

When used properly, Marauder can: - Accelerate early game - Provide reliable economy - Pressure opponents - Support various strategies

Remember to: - Watch opponent responses - Track pile depletion - Maintain strategic focus - Adapt as game develops