Laboratory (Dominion)

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

Laboratory Strategy Guide

Introduction: Laboratory (commonly abbreviated as "Lab") is one of the fundamental card-drawing engine pieces in Dominion. At $5, it provides +2 Cards and +1 Action, making it self-replacing while netting an extra card. This seemingly simple effect is actually one of the most powerful and reliable engine-building tools in the game.

Core Strengths: 1. Card Draw Without Terminal Collision - Lab never conflicts with other actions because it replaces its action - Allows you to see more of your deck each turn - Stacks effectively with multiple copies - Doesn't require other cards to function

1. Reliability
2. No conditions or restrictions on its effect
3. Works consistently regardless of game state
4. Not affected by attacks or kingdom composition

5. Always provides exactly what it promises

6. Engine Building

7. Core component of many deck-drawing engines
8. Helps reach important price points more consistently
9. Improves deck velocity (speed of cycling through cards)
10. Makes your deck more consistent overall

When to Buy Laboratory:

Strong Situations: 1. Engine-Building Kingdoms - When strong payload cards are present - When multiple actions provide significant benefits - When deck control tools are available - When terminal actions need support

1. Early Game ($5 Opens)
2. As a first or second $5 buy
3. When no strong attack cards are competing at $5
4. In kingdoms lacking alternative draw

5. When planning a long-term strategy

6. Mid-Game Transitions

7. When moving from money to engines
8. When deck becoming more action-dense
9. When needing to see specific cards more often
10. When building toward specific combinations

Weak Situations: 1. Rush Kingdoms - When games will end very quickly - When Provinces need to be bought immediately - When Gardens or other alt-VP strategies dominate - When tempo is critical

1. Heavy Attack Environments
2. When Militia/Witch pressure is severe
3. When deck disruption is prevalent
4. When maintaining hand size is difficult

5. When defensive priorities take precedence

6. Strong $5 Competition

7. When Market is available (often preferred)
8. When powerful attacks are present
9. When kingdom-specific $5 cards are essential
10. When specialized draw cards better suit the kingdom

Number of Labs to Buy:

Optimal Laboratory quantity depends on several factors:

1. Small Engines (2-3 Labs)
2. When supporting few terminal actions
3. In hybrid money/engine strategies
4. When deck space is limited

5. When other draw sources exist

6. Medium Engines (3-4 Labs)

7. Standard engine size
8. Balanced with other components
9. Reliable deck cycling

10. Flexible payload options

11. Big Engines (4+ Labs)

12. Heavy action chains
13. Multiple terminal payoffs
14. Draw-heavy strategies
15. Maximum deck velocity needed

Key Synergies:

1. Action Enablers
2. Village variants
3. Festival
4. Market

5. Other action providers

6. Payload Cards

7. Witch
8. Council Room
9. Other powerful terminals

10. Victory card gainers

11. Deck Control

12. Cellar
13. Chapel
14. Warehouse

15. Cards that help manage deck composition

16. Economy Boosters

17. Market
18. Worker's Village
19. Festival
20. Cards providing additional money/buys

Timing Considerations:

Early Game: 1. Opening Considerations - $5/$2 split: Consider Lab first - $4/$3 split: Plan toward Lab - Consider kingdom pace - Evaluate competing $5 cards

1. First Shuffle Priority
2. Balance with economy needs
3. Consider terminal space
4. Plan action sequence
5. Maintain deck flexibility

Mid Game: 1. Transition Timing - When to shift from money - How many Labs needed - Supporting card acquisition - Engine completion timeline

1. Scaling Decisions
2. Additional Lab purchases
3. Support card balance
4. Payload development
5. Victory card timing

Late Game: 1. Final Purchases - When to stop buying Labs - Victory card conversion - Engine maintenance - Ending game considerations

Common Mistakes to Avoid:

1. Over-investing in Labs
2. Buying too many too early
3. Neglecting economy
4. Ignoring other engine pieces

5. Insufficient payload

6. Under-investing in Labs

7. Too few for engine size
8. Inadequate draw power
9. Inconsistent action chains

10. Slow deck cycling

11. Poor Timing

12. Wrong opening priority
13. Late transition to engines
14. Mismatched support cards

15. Inefficient build order

16. Strategic Misalignment

17. Wrong strategy for kingdom
18. Forcing engines inappropriately
19. Ignoring alternate paths
20. Poor kingdom reading

Counter-Strategy:

When Opponents Have Labs: 1. Pressure Considerations - Rush victory cards - Deploy attacks early - Control key piles - Maintain tempo

1. Competing Engines
2. Match or exceed draw power
3. Develop superior payload
4. Control critical components

5. Race effectively

6. Alternative Strategies

7. Consider rush tactics
8. Explore alt-VP
9. Leverage attacks
10. Control game pace

Sample Engine Compositions:

Basic Lab Engine: - 3-4 Labs - 2-3 Villages - 1-2 payload terminals - Economy support - Deck control

Draw-Heavy Engine: - 4-5 Labs - 3-4 Villages - Multiple terminals - Strong payload - Deck manipulation

Hybrid Money/Engine: - 2-3 Labs - 1-2 Villages - Limited terminals - Strong treasures - Flexible buying

Advanced Techniques:

1. Lab Chains
2. Sequencing multiple Labs
3. Maximizing card flow
4. Managing hand size

5. Optimizing action usage

6. Deck Tracking

7. Monitoring deck composition
8. Predicting shuffles
9. Planning turn sequence

10. Managing resources

11. Engine Timing

12. Recognizing power spikes
13. Executing big turns
14. Managing deck entropy

15. Controlling game pace

16. Strategic Flexibility

17. Adapting build order
18. Responding to opponents
19. Adjusting components
20. Modifying win condition

Kingdom Analysis Examples:

Strong Laboratory Kingdom: - Multiple Villages - Strong terminals - Deck control present - Limited attacks - Clear engine potential

Weak Laboratory Kingdom: - Heavy attacks - Rush elements - Poor support cards - Alternative strategies - Limited terminal space

Mixed Laboratory Kingdom: - Competing strategies - Multiple viable paths - Timing-dependent - Complex interactions - Flexible approach needed

Conclusion:

Laboratory is a fundamental engine-building card that provides reliable, consistent deck improvement. Its strength lies in its simplicity and effectiveness, making it a cornerstone of many successful Dominion strategies. Understanding when and how to incorporate Labs into your strategy, along with proper timing and support card selection, is crucial for maximizing their potential.

Key Takeaways: 1. Labs are essential engine components 2. Timing and quantity are critical 3. Support cards enable success 4. Strategic alignment matters 5. Flexibility in application

Practice Tips: 1. Experiment with different quantities 2. Study successful engine compositions 3. Learn kingdom reading 4. Develop timing awareness 5. Master support card interactions

The ability to properly evaluate and utilize Laboratory is a core skill for Dominion players. While not always the optimal choice, understanding its role and application will improve overall game performance and strategic decision-making.