Sir Michael (Dark Ages)

Here's a comprehensive strategy guide for Sir Michael:

Sir Michael Strategy Guide

Overview: Sir Michael is one of the Knights from Dark Ages, combining two powerful attack effects: hand reduction and selective trashing of opponents' cards. As a $5-cost card, it competes with many other powerful options but offers unique attacking capabilities that can significantly disrupt opponents' strategies.

Key Strengths: 1. Dual Attack Effect - Forces discard down to 3 cards, disrupting opponent's hand quality - Trashes opponent's deck cards in the critical $3-$6 range - Can hit both engine pieces and treasures effectively

1. Selective Trashing
2. You choose which card to trash among the revealed cards
3. Can target key engine components or valuable treasures

4. More precise than random trashing attacks

5. Hand Size Attack

6. Reducing hands to 3 cards can severely impact combo-based decks
7. Particularly effective against engines that need multiple components

Weaknesses: 1. Self-Destructive Nature - Can be trashed by other Knights - Vulnerable in Knight mirrors - May need replacement copies

1. Limited Range
2. Only trashes cards costing $3-$6
3. Cannot touch Colony/Province level cards

4. Misses some cheaper engine pieces

5. Cost

6. At $5, competes with other powerful cards
7. May be difficult to acquire early with poor opening draws

Timing and Usage:

Early Game (Turns 1-5): - Generally not a priority opening buy - Consider opening with Sir Michael only if: * Opponent's strategy relies heavily on $3-$6 cards * Few other compelling $5 options exist * Kingdom lacks other trashing options

Mid Game (Turns 6-12): - Prime time to deploy Sir Michael - Target opponent's key engine pieces - Disrupt treasure accumulation - Consider buying multiple copies for consistency

Late Game (Turns 13+): - Effectiveness decreases - Focus shifts to Province-level cards - Still useful for hand reduction attack - May become dead weight in deck

Strategic Considerations:

1. Opening Decisions When considering Sir Michael as an opening buy:
2. Evaluate kingdom's other $5 options
3. Assess opponent's likely strategy
4. Consider presence of other Knights

5. Check for anti-attack cards

6. Trashing Priorities When choosing cards to trash: a) Engine Components:

7. Villages
8. Card draw
9. Key payload cards
10. Important support cards

b) Treasures: - Silver (especially in Big Money strategies) - Gold (if revealed) - Special treasures in range

1. Hand Size Attack Usage Maximize impact by:
2. Playing during opponent's likely build turns
3. Targeting known combo pieces
4. Disrupting known drawing chains
5. Forcing difficult discard decisions

Synergies and Combinations:

1. Throne Room Effects
2. Throne Room
3. King's Court
4. Procession Benefits:
5. Double hand reduction
6. Multiple trashing opportunities

7. Increased disruption potential

8. Card Return Effects

9. Haven
10. Native Village
11. Archive Benefits:
12. Protect key cards from discard
13. Maintain hand quality

14. Counter opponent's Sir Michael

15. Deck Inspection

16. Scrying Pool
17. Scout
18. Oracle Benefits:
19. Know what's coming
20. Better timing of attacks

21. Strategic card ordering

22. Other Knights

23. Multiple Knight pressure
24. Backup when Sir Michael is trashed
25. Increased trashing threat

Counter Strategies:

1. Defending Against Sir Michael a) Direct Counters:
2. Moat
3. Lighthouse
4. Other reaction cards

b) Strategic Counters: - Build wide rather than tall - Maintain multiple paths to victory - Keep crucial cards in reserve

1. Deck Construction
2. Include cards outside $3-$6 range
3. Build redundancy into engine
4. Consider alternate victory paths

5. Include hand maintenance cards

6. Timing Considerations

7. Buy key components before Sir Michael appears
8. Split critical purchases across turns
9. Maintain backup strategies

Specific Kingdom Considerations:

1. Strong Kingdoms for Sir Michael
2. Limited trashing options
3. Key engine pieces in $3-$6 range
4. Absence of attack protection

5. Multiple valuable targets

6. Weak Kingdoms for Sir Michael

7. Heavy reaction presence
8. Alternative trashing methods
9. Few valuable targets

10. Strong competing $5 cards

11. Kingdom Analysis Factors

12. Available trashing
13. Victory card distribution
14. Engine components
15. Attack protection

Card Interactions:

Positive Interactions: 1. Duration Cards - Wharf - Caravan - Fishing Village Benefit: Maintain hand size through attacks

1. Set Aside Cards
2. Island
3. Haven

4. Archive Benefit: Protect key components

5. Deck Manipulation

6. Scheme
7. Treasury
8. Herbalist Benefit: Control revealed cards

Negative Interactions: 1. Other Knights - Risk of mutual destruction - Competing for same role - Resource splitting

1. Reaction Cards
2. Moat
3. Lighthouse

4. Horse Traders Challenge: Reduced effectiveness

5. Alternative Victory Paths

6. Gardens
7. Duke
8. Silk Road Issue: Less impactful trashing

Game Phase Impact:

Opening Phase: - Generally suboptimal opening - Consider if kingdom supports it - Watch for opponent's vulnerabilities

Building Phase: - Peak effectiveness - Target key components - Disrupt engine assembly - Control treasure accumulation

Endgame: - Declining utility - Focus on hand size attack - Consider transitioning strategy - May become dead weight

Advanced Techniques:

1. Timing Optimization
2. Track opponent's deck cycling
3. Hit during crucial build turns

4. Coordinate with other attacks

5. Target Selection

6. Monitor opponent's strategy
7. Identify critical components
8. Track trashed cards

9. Adjust priorities as game progresses

10. Multi-Player Considerations

11. Spread attacks effectively
12. Track multiple strategies
13. Maintain position awareness
14. Consider table politics

Cost-Benefit Analysis:

Pros: - Powerful dual attack - Selective trashing - Hand size control - Engine disruption

Cons: - Self-destructive nature - Competing $5 cost - Limited range - Vulnerability to counters

When to Buy: 1. Strong Conditions: - Few other trashing options - Vulnerable opponent strategy - Weak competing $5 cards - Limited attack protection

1. Weak Conditions:
2. Strong reaction presence
3. Better trashing available
4. Strong competing $5 cards
5. Resistant opponent strategy

Conclusion:

Sir Michael is a powerful but situational attack card that excels at disrupting engine-based strategies and controlling opponent's deck development. Its effectiveness depends heavily on kingdom composition, opponent strategy, and timing considerations. While not always a priority purchase, it can be devastating in the right circumstances, particularly in mid-game engine battles.

Success with Sir Michael requires careful consideration of: - Kingdom composition - Opponent's strategy - Timing of attacks - Target selection - Counter presence - Alternative options

Used effectively, Sir Michael can significantly impede opponent's strategies while maintaining its own utility throughout the mid-game. However, players must weigh its benefits against other $5 options and consider the presence of counters when deciding to include it in their deck building strategy.