Workshop (Dominion)

Workshop Strategy Guide

Workshop is one of the original cards from base Dominion and exemplifies a simple but powerful effect - gaining cards without having to buy them. While its $4 gaining limit can feel restrictive in the late game, Workshop can be a crucial engine piece in the early game and remains relevant in specific strategies throughout. Let's dive deep into how to best utilize this $3 action.

Core Strengths

1. Early Game Acceleration
2. Gains cards without requiring treasure
3. Helps acquire key $4 components quickly
4. Can gain multiple $4 cards faster than buying them normally

5. Doesn't require other cards to function

6. Action Economy

7. Single action that immediately improves your deck
8. No +Actions needed to function

9. Can be played alongside other actions easily

10. Flexibility

11. Can gain any card type (Action, Treasure, Victory, etc.)
12. Useful in both engine and big money strategies
13. Works well even with just one copy

Limitations

1. Price Cap
2. Cannot gain cards costing $5 or more
3. Becomes less relevant as game progresses

4. May become dead card in late game

5. No Deck Manipulation

6. Gained card goes to discard pile
7. No immediate benefit from gained card

8. No filtering or deck improvement

9. Action Card

10. Takes up an action
11. Can contribute to action clog
12. Vulnerable to attacks that limit actions

Early Game Strategy

The early game is where Workshop truly shines. Here's how to maximize its potential:

Opening Considerations ($3/$4 or $4/$3 split): - Workshop/Silver: Solid general-purpose opening - Workshop/Workshop: Valid when multiple $4 cards are crucial - Silver/Workshop: Better if board lacks strong $4 cards

Turn 3-4 Priority Targets: 1. Engine Components - Gardens (if running Gardens strategy) - Silver (for treasure density) - Villages (if building action chain) - Cantrips that cost $4 - Attack cards that cost $4

1. Strategy-Specific Gains
2. Fishing Village for action chains
3. Gardens for rush strategies
4. Silver for Big Money variants
5. Specific $4 kingdom cards that enable combos

Key Workshop Strategies

1. Gardens Rush Workshop is a cornerstone of Gardens rush strategies:
2. Quickly gains Gardens ($4)
3. Can gain Estates ($2) for pile control
4. Helps reach 8+ cards faster
5. Works well with multiple Workshops

Implementation: - Open Workshop/Workshop - Gain Gardens whenever possible - Fill with Estates when Gardens pile low - Consider Workshop chains for multiple gains per turn

1. Engine Building Workshop can accelerate engine construction:
2. Gains key $4 components
3. Provides early deck improvement
4. Helps reach critical mass faster

Engine Considerations: - Prioritize gaining engine pieces over treasure - Balance Workshop quantity with engine needs - Plan transition timing to more powerful cards

1. Big Money Variant While not optimal for pure Big Money, Workshop can support hybrid strategies:
2. Gains Silver efficiently
3. Provides alternate gaining method
4. Can gain specific support cards

Implementation: - Limited Workshop quantity (1-2) - Prioritize Silver gains - Transition to higher-value cards mid-game

Synergies and Combinations

Strong Synergies:

1. Throne Room/King's Court
2. Multiple Workshop activations
3. Faster component acquisition

4. Better Gardens rush potential

5. Royal Seal/Watchtower

6. Control gained card placement
7. Immediate access to gained cards

8. Improved efficiency

9. Tracker/Guide

10. Top-deck gained cards
11. Immediate access to components

12. Enhanced deck building

13. Draw Cards

14. Access Workshop more consistently
15. Utilize gained cards faster
16. Improve overall deck flow

Kingdom Card Synergies:

1. Cost Reducers
2. Bridge: Expands gaining options
3. Highway: Increases Workshop flexibility

4. Quarry: Better action gaining

5. Gainers

6. Workshop + Gains = Faster deck building
7. Multiple gain effects per turn

8. Accelerated strategy execution

9. Duration Cards

10. Fishing Village ($3): Action supply
11. Wharf ($5): Draw support
12. Haven ($2): Deck control

Counter-Synergies and Weaknesses

1. Terminal Action Collision
2. Multiple Workshops can clog
3. Competes with other terminals

4. May need village support

5. Late Game Weakness

6. Limited utility past mid-game
7. Dead card in prosperity games

8. Poor top-deck situations

9. Attack Vulnerability

10. Militia/Torturer weaken consistency
11. Discard attacks reduce effectiveness
12. Action denial hurts utility

Countering Workshop Strategies

1. Pile Control
2. Rush Gardens pile if opponent investing heavily
3. Control key $4 piles

4. Force transitions earlier

5. Attacks

6. Militia/Torturer to disrupt
7. Ghost Ship to slow down

8. Saboteur to hit Workshop

9. Outpace

10. Build faster engine
11. Focus on $5+ cards
12. Develop stronger economy

Timing and Transitions

Early Game (Turns 1-5): - Acquire Workshop(s) - Establish gaining pattern - Target key $4 components

Mid Game (Turns 6-12): - Maximize Workshop utility - Begin transition planning - Adjust to opponent's strategy

Late Game (Turns 13+): - Consider Workshop trashing - Focus on higher-value cards - Prepare for game end

Workshop Count Guidelines

1. Gardens Strategy
2. 2-3 Workshops optimal
3. More if unopposed

4. Less with competing strategy

5. Engine Building

6. 1-2 Workshops typically
7. More with village support

8. Less with alternate gainers

9. Big Money Variant

10. 1 Workshop usually sufficient
11. Maximum 2 unless specific need
12. Consider skipping if better options

Kingdom Evaluation

When evaluating Workshop's value in a kingdom:

Strong Workshop Kingdoms: - Multiple key $4 cards - Gardens present - Village support available - Limited alternate gaining

Weak Workshop Kingdoms: - Few valuable $4 cards - Strong $5 alternatives - Heavy attack presence - Better gaining options

Specific Card Interactions

Strong With: 1. Throne Room 2. Gardens 3. Village variants 4. Watchtower 5. Treasury 6. Market Square 7. Fishing Village 8. Haven

Weak Against: 1. Militia 2. Ghost Ship 3. Saboteur 4. Torturer 5. Possession 6. Bureaucrat 7. Tax

Sample Game Plans

1. Workshop Gardens Rush Turn 1-2: Workshop/Workshop Turn 3-5: Gain Gardens Turn 6-8: Gardens/Estates Turn 9+: Rush ending conditions

2. Workshop Engine Support Turn 1-2: Workshop/Silver Turn 3-4: Gain engine pieces Turn 5-7: Transition to $5 cards Turn 8+: Build engine

3. Workshop Silver Turn 1-2: Workshop/Silver Turn 3-5: Gain Silver Turn 6+: Transition to Gold

Advanced Tips

1. Pile Management
2. Track Gardens pile
3. Monitor Estate depletion

4. Consider alternative $4 cards

5. Timing Optimization

6. Plan Workshop plays
7. Coordinate with other actions

8. Prepare transitions

9. Opponent Reading

10. Watch for pile control
11. Adjust to attacks
12. Counter opposing strategy

Common Mistakes to Avoid

1. Over-investing
2. Too many Workshops
3. Holding too long

4. Missing transitions

5. Poor Targeting

6. Wrong $4 cards
7. Ignoring Silver

8. Missing key components

9. Strategic Errors

10. Wrong Workshop count
11. Poor timing
12. Missed synergies

Conclusion

Workshop is a fundamental Dominion card that exemplifies the game's gaining mechanics. While simple in design, it requires careful consideration of timing, quantity, and strategic application. Most effective in the early game and specific strategies like Gardens rush, Workshop can provide crucial acceleration and support various deck types.

Success with Workshop comes from: - Understanding its timing windows - Proper quantity selection - Clear strategic focus - Effective transitions - Synergy maximization

When properly utilized, Workshop can provide the early game boost needed to execute powerful strategies or support more complex engines. While its $4 limit becomes a liability later, its early game utility and specific strategic applications make it a valuable addition to many Dominion decks.

Remember to evaluate kingdom context, adjust quantity based on strategy, and plan transitions to maintain effectiveness throughout the game. With proper application, Workshop can be a powerful tool in your Dominion arsenal.