Library (Dominion)

Here's a comprehensive strategy guide for Library:

Library Strategy Guide

Library is a powerful but nuanced card-drawing engine piece that helps you reach a consistent hand size of 7 cards. While seemingly straightforward, Library requires careful deck construction and timing to maximize its effectiveness. Let's explore how to best utilize this $5 Action card.

Core Mechanics and Basic Usage

Library's primary function is to guarantee a hand size of 7 cards, which is two more than the standard draw. The key mechanical feature is the option to set aside Action cards as you draw them, allowing you to filter your draws toward treasure and victory cards.

This filtering mechanism is both Library's greatest strength and its most challenging aspect to master. When you play Library, you make individual decisions about each Action card you draw, choosing whether to keep it in hand or set it aside.

Key Strategic Considerations

1. Hand Size Consistency
2. Library ensures you always reach 7 cards
3. Provides reliability in deck execution
4. Helps mitigate bad shuffles and poor starting hands

5. Particularly valuable in kingdoms with few other draw options

6. Action Card Filtering

7. Optional setting aside of Action cards creates strategic depth
8. Allows you to hunt for specific treasures or victory cards
9. Can help avoid terminal collision
10. Requires careful consideration of which Actions to keep vs. discard

Optimal Timing and Usage

Early Game: - Library can be an early priority when: * The kingdom lacks strong +Cards alternatives * You need consistent access to $5+ purchases * Your strategy requires finding specific treasures - Often competes with other valuable $5 cards like Market or Council Room - Consider skipping early Library if: * Kingdom has strong +Cards alternatives * Terminal space is limited * Money density is already high

Mid Game: - Most effective when your deck has: * Good treasure density * Clear purpose for the extra cards * Manageable number of Action cards - Use Library to: * Find key components of your engine * Ensure consistent buying power * Dig for specific cards needed for combos

Late Game: - Can help find Victory cards during greening phase - May become less useful as deck gets clogged with Victory cards - Consider whether playing Library is worth the time investment

Deck Construction Considerations

1. Treasure Density
2. Library works best with good money density
3. Aim for roughly 40-50% treasure cards when using Library
4. Consider including more Silver than usual

5. Gold becomes more valuable with Library

6. Action Card Balance

7. Too many Actions can make Library less effective
8. Carefully select which Actions to include
9. Prioritize non-terminal Actions when possible

10. Consider deck tracking to optimize Action density

11. Victory Card Management

12. Library helps find Victory cards during greening
13. Plan for reduced effectiveness as Victory cards accumulate
14. Consider timing of Victory card purchases

Synergies and Combinations

Strong Synergies:

1. Duration Cards
2. Library works well with Duration cards since they're not in your deck when drawing
3. Examples: Wharf, Fishing Village, Haven

4. Helps maintain consistent draws while Duration cards are in play

5. Trashing Cards

6. Chapel and other trashers help maintain optimal deck composition
7. Removing copper and unwanted Actions improves Library's effectiveness

8. Creates a more streamlined deck for Library to work with

9. Card Selection

10. Scrying Pool, Scout, and similar selection cards complement Library
11. Help arrange deck for optimal Library draws

12. Can pre-filter unwanted cards

13. Treasury

14. Library helps find Treasuries
15. Treasury's self-cycling works well with Library's drawing

16. Creates consistent money engine

17. Native Village

18. Can store excess Actions for later use
19. Helps manage Action density
20. Provides flexibility in card management

Weak Combinations:

1. Terminal Draw Heavy Decks
2. Multiple terminal draw cards compete for limited terminal space
3. Can lead to dead draws and inefficiency

4. Example: Multiple Smithies or Council Rooms

5. Action-Heavy Engines

6. Too many Actions reduce Library's effectiveness
7. May need to set aside many cards, reducing hand size benefit

8. Consider alternative draw engines

9. Cursing Attacks

10. Curses dilute deck and reduce Library's effectiveness
11. Makes finding key cards more difficult
12. May need additional deck control tools

Counter Strategies

When Opposing Library:

1. Deck Pollution
2. Curse givers can reduce Library's effectiveness
3. Ruins and other negative cards weaken Library draws

4. Consider Ambassador or Cultist

5. Rush Strategies

6. Library takes time to set up and execute
7. Fast Province rush can win before Library becomes effective

8. Consider Gardens or Duke strategies

9. Alternative Draw Engines

10. Build faster engines with non-terminal draw
11. Laboratory or Bazaar can outpace Library
12. Focus on efficiency over hand size

Defending Your Library Strategy:

1. Deck Control
2. Include trashing to maintain deck quality
3. Consider defense cards against attacks

4. Keep Action density manageable

5. Timing Adjustments

6. Accelerate engine building if facing rush
7. Consider earlier greening if necessary
8. Adapt purchase timing based on opposition

Advanced Techniques

1. Selective Action Keeping
2. Sometimes keeping certain Actions is correct
3. Consider future turns and combo potential

4. Track deck composition mentally

5. Stack Management

6. Pay attention to deck ordering
7. Use deck tracking for better decisions

8. Consider reshuffling implications

9. Time Management

10. Practice efficient Library resolution
11. Know when to skip setting aside Actions
12. Balance perfect play vs. clock considerations

Common Mistakes to Avoid

1. Over-investing in Actions
2. Don't buy too many terminal Actions
3. Maintain good treasure density

4. Keep deck focused

5. Poor Timing

6. Don't buy Library too late
7. Consider opportunity cost of $5

8. Watch kingdom context

9. Inefficient Filtering

10. Don't automatically set aside all Actions
11. Consider each Action's value

12. Think about next turn

13. Neglecting Deck Composition

14. Don't ignore treasure density
15. Watch Victory card dilution
16. Monitor Action card quantity

Kingdom Considerations

Favorable Kingdoms:

1. Limited Draw Options
2. Few alternative +Cards cards
3. Weak or absent engine components

4. Limited terminal space competition

5. Money-Focused

6. Strong treasure cards available
7. Few essential Action cards

8. Clear path to victory through buying power

9. Trashing Available

10. Chapel or other strong trashers
11. Ways to maintain deck quality
12. Tools for controlling deck composition

Unfavorable Kingdoms:

1. Strong Engine Potential
2. Multiple vital Actions available
3. Better draw alternatives

4. Clear engine-building path

5. Heavy Attack Presence

6. Multiple cursing attacks
7. Deck pollution threats

8. Difficult to maintain deck quality

9. Rush-Friendly

10. Fast alternate victory conditions
11. Strong cheap victory cards
12. Limited time for setup

Conclusion

Library is a powerful but situational card that requires careful deck construction and strategic planning to use effectively. Success with Library depends on:

• Maintaining appropriate deck composition
• Making good filtering decisions
• Understanding kingdom context
• Proper timing of purchase and play
• Adapting to opposition strategies

When used correctly, Library provides consistent hand size and reliable access to key cards. However, it requires more skill and attention than simpler draw cards. Consider the kingdom context, your strategy, and potential counter-play when deciding whether to include Library in your deck.

Remember: - Keep treasure density high - Manage Action quantity carefully - Stay flexible in filtering decisions - Watch deck composition - Consider timing and opposition

With practice and attention to these principles, Library can be a powerful tool in your Dominion strategy arsenal. Its ability to provide consistent hand size and card filtering makes it a valuable addition to many decks, particularly in kingdoms where traditional engine building is less viable.