Smithy (Dominion)

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

Smithy Strategy Guide

Introduction Smithy is one of the original and most straightforward card drawers in Dominion. For $4, you get +3 cards with no other effects. While simple, Smithy's role in Dominion strategy is nuanced and has evolved significantly as the game has expanded. This guide will explore when and how to use Smithy effectively.

Basic Characteristics - Cost: $4 makes Smithy accessible early but competes with other important $4 cards - Draw power: +3 cards is significant but comes without +Actions - Terminal action: Uses up your action without giving more - No additional effects or restrictions

Core Strengths 1. Strong Early Draw - Smithy provides immediate access to substantial card draw - Helps see more of your deck quickly - Can enable $8 provinces turns earlier in the game - Effective at finding key cards in your deck

1. Simplicity
2. No complex conditions or requirements
3. Reliable effect that always delivers exactly what's promised

4. Easy to plan around and calculate probabilities

5. Affordable Price Point

6. Available on $4 opening
7. Can often be acquired on turn 3-4
8. Multiple copies achievable early game

Limitations 1. Terminal Action Nature - Uses your single action without providing more - Can lead to action collision with other terminals - May dead-draw multiple copies

1. No Additional Benefits
2. Pure card draw without +Money, +Buy, or other effects
3. Competing $4 cards often provide multiple benefits
4. Can feel inefficient in later game stages

When to Buy Smithy

Strong Situations for Smithy:

1. Big Money Variants
2. Traditional Big Money + Smithy is a classic strategy
3. Helps find more treasure cards consistently

4. Can accelerate province buying significantly

5. Thin Deck Environments

6. Works well when deck is mostly valuable cards
7. Less chance of drawing dead cards

8. Higher probability of hitting important treasures

9. Key Card Hunting

10. When your strategy relies on finding specific cards
11. Helps locate combo pieces more reliably

12. Useful for finding reaction cards against attacks

13. Early Game Acceleration

14. Can jumpstart engine building
15. Helps reach important price points sooner
16. Enables earlier access to powerful cards

Weak Situations for Smithy:

1. Heavy Action Chain Decks
2. Competes for limited actions
3. May break crucial action chains

4. Better alternatives usually available

5. Junked Decks

6. Drawing more cards diluted by curses/ruins
7. Less likely to hit valuable cards

8. May just reveal more junk

9. Strong Attack Presence

10. Vulnerable to discard attacks
11. Can draw cards that will be immediately discarded

12. May need different defensive priorities

13. Better $4 Options Available

14. Many kingdom cards outclass Smithy
15. Campaign cards often provide multiple benefits
16. Village variants may be more crucial

Optimal Number of Smithies

The ideal number of Smithies varies by strategy:

Big Money - Usually 1-2 Smithies optimal - Third copy often causes collision - Diminishing returns after second copy

Engine Building - Generally 0-1 Smithies - Usually transitional until better draw found - Multiple copies rarely correct

Hybrid Approaches - 1-2 Smithies typical - Depends on other components - Consider action density carefully

Key Factors in Determining Quantity: - Deck size and composition - Other available draw - Action supply - Game pace - Kingdom synergies

Playing With Smithy Effectively

Timing Considerations:

1. Early Game
2. Often best as early purchase
3. Can enable crucial $5-$6 purchases

4. Helps establish economy quickly

5. Mid Game

6. Consider transitioning away from Smithy
7. May need to trim copies

8. Watch for diminishing returns

9. Late Game

10. Often becomes less relevant
11. May want to trash for deck efficiency
12. Still valuable in thin decks

Deck Position: - Prefer playing early in turn - Reveals options for remaining actions/buys - Can find crucial reaction cards

Action Management: - Plan around terminal nature - Consider carefully with other terminals - May need to choose between competing actions

Common Combos and Synergies

Village Combinations: - Villages enable multiple Smithy plays - Can form basic drawing engine - Watch action balance carefully

Throne Room Effects: - Double Smithy draws 6 cards - Can enable huge turns - Watch for deck tracking

Treasury Synergy: - Helps find Treasuries - Can enable consistent returns - Builds strong money density

Cost Reducers: - Bridge makes Smithy more accessible - Highway enables earlier acquisition - Quarry can enable multiple buys

Counters and Challenges

Direct Counters: 1. Discard Attacks - Militia/Ghost Ship particularly effective - Forces difficult decisions - May need to adjust strategy

1. Deck Inspection
2. Bureaucrat can strand Smithy
3. Navigator can deny crucial draws

4. Requires careful timing

5. Hand Size Attacks

6. Torturer punishes extra cards
7. Ghost Ship limits effectiveness
8. Consider defensive priorities

Indirect Challenges: 1. Action Pressure - Cursers strain action economy - May need different priorities - Consider alternative strategies

1. Deck Dilution
2. Ruins/Curses reduce effectiveness
3. May need trashing first

4. Watch draw quality

5. Speed Pressure

6. Rush strategies can outpace
7. May need faster alternatives
8. Consider victory card density

Defending Smithy Strategy:

1. Trashing Support
2. Chapel enables thin deck effectiveness
3. Steward provides flexibility

4. Trading Post can convert dead cards

5. Action Management

6. Villages mitigate terminal collision
7. Fishing Village provides duration support

8. Market provides balanced effects

9. Careful Timing

10. Play around known attacks
11. Save for crucial turns
12. Consider passing occasionally

Kingdom Analysis

Favorable Kingdoms: 1. Limited Draw - Few competing draw options - Basic treasures prominent - Simple victory conditions

1. Strong Trashing
2. Chapel/Ambassador present
3. Can achieve thin deck

4. High-quality draws likely

5. Limited Actions

6. Few crucial terminals
7. Simple economic goals
8. Clear victory path

Unfavorable Kingdoms: 1. Strong Alternatives - Laboratory available - Drawing engines possible - Better terminal actions

1. Heavy Attack
2. Multiple discard effects
3. Hand size limitations

4. Deck inspection present

5. Engine Requirements

6. Need for action chains
7. Complex combo pieces
8. Multiple terminal priorities

Specific Card Interactions

Strong With: - Chapel (enables thin deck) - Village (provides actions) - Market (balanced support) - Bridge (cost reduction) - Treasury (money density)

Weak Against: - Militia (discard pressure) - Ghost Ship (hand size) - Torturer (discard punishment) - Ambassador (deck dilution) - Bureaucrat (deck inspection)

Alternative Considerations: - Laboratory (superior draw) - Council Room (more effects) - Hunting Party (selective draw) - Library (hand filling) - Warehouse (filtering)

Advanced Techniques

Deck Tracking: - Monitor deck composition - Track shuffle timing - Plan draw probability

Action Sequencing: - Optimize play order - Consider revealed information - Plan multiple turns ahead

Buy Phase Planning: - Calculate probability curves - Consider deck evolution - Plan transition timing

Conclusion

Smithy remains a solid, if unspectacular, card in Dominion. Its straightforward nature and reliable effect make it a useful tool in many strategies, particularly in simpler kingdoms or big money variants. However, its limitations become more apparent as kingdom complexity increases or when facing strong attacks.

Success with Smithy requires: - Careful consideration of kingdom context - Clear strategic planning - Understanding of timing and probability - Recognition of alternatives and transitions

While rarely the optimal choice in complex kingdoms, Smithy's accessibility and reliability ensure it maintains a role in the game. Understanding when and how to use Smithy effectively remains an important skill for Dominion players at all levels.

Remember: - Consider kingdom context carefully - Plan around terminal nature - Watch for diminishing returns - Be prepared to transition - Monitor deck composition - Track effectiveness throughout game

When used appropriately, Smithy can provide the draw power needed to execute many strategies effectively while remaining simple enough to fit into almost any deck building approach.