Royal Blacksmith (Empires)

Here's a comprehensive strategy guide for Royal Blacksmith:

Royal Blacksmith Strategy Guide

Overview: Royal Blacksmith is a unique action card from the Empires expansion that offers significant card draw but comes with a mandatory discard of all Coppers revealed. While the +5 Cards is powerful, the forced Copper discard makes this a card that requires careful deck construction and timing to use effectively.

Key Characteristics: - Draws 5 cards - Forces you to reveal and discard all Coppers from your hand - Costs $0 but requires debt payment of 8 debt tokens - Non-terminal (doesn't use up an action)

Core Strengths:

1. High Card Draw
2. Drawing 5 cards is one of the strongest card-drawing effects in Dominion
3. Being non-terminal allows it to chain with other actions

4. Can significantly improve deck velocity

5. Copper Removal

6. Helps thin deck of starting Coppers
7. Creates more consistent money density in future shuffles

8. Can enable certain engine strategies

9. Zero Cost

10. Can be gained with Workshop-like gainers
11. Doesn't compete with other purchases in your buy phase
12. Can be gained multiple times in a turn with the right enablers

Core Weaknesses:

1. High Debt Cost
2. 8 debt tokens is a significant burden
3. Delays future purchases

4. Can be particularly punishing in the early game

5. Forced Copper Discard

6. Can leave you without enough money to buy anything
7. May discard Coppers you actually needed
8. Can be particularly problematic with hands containing multiple Coppers

Strategic Considerations:

1. Timing of Acquisition

Early Game: - Generally not recommended as a first or second turn purchase - The debt burden is too significant when you need early provinces - Early game hands often contain multiple Coppers you can't afford to lose

Mid Game: - Better timing when you have alternative money sources established - More likely to have the economy to handle debt - Can help transition to late game strategies

Late Game: - Can be excellent for cycling through deck quickly - Less impactful debt burden when major purchases are complete - Helps find key cards for finishing moves

1. Deck Construction Considerations

Money Sources: - Treasure cards that aren't Copper (Silver, Gold) - Treasure-generating actions (Market, Merchant) - Virtual coin cards (Bridge, Highway) - Capital-style cards that provide money without being treasures

Card Draw Support: - Card draw actions to maintain hand size after Copper discards - Villages to play multiple actions - Duration cards that provide coins on future turns

1. Complementary Strategies:

Treasure-Heavy Approaches: - Focus on Silver/Gold instead of Copper - Use cards like Mine to upgrade Coppers - Incorporate Platinum in Prosperity games

Engine Building: - Use as part of draw-your-deck engines - Combine with villages for multiple plays - Include payload cards that don't rely on Copper

Alternative Victory Paths: - Can support alternate victory conditions where money is less important - Works well with VP token strategies - Can enable rush strategies with the right support

Key Synergies:

1. Treasure Converters
2. Mine: Upgrades Coppers to Silver before Royal Blacksmith discards them
3. Trader: Converts Coppers to Silver
4. Apprentice: Can trash Coppers for benefit

5. Chapel: Remove Coppers proactively

6. Alternative Money Sources

7. Bank: Benefits from fewer Coppers in deck
8. Merchant Guild: Provides coins without being treasure cards
9. Highway: Reduces costs without requiring treasure

10. Bridge: Similar cost reduction benefits

11. Draw Enablers

12. Laboratory: Additional draw without using actions
13. Hunting Party: Finds unique cards after mass draw
14. Library: Can help rebuild hand after Copper discard
15. Caravan: Provides future draw to recover

Counter Strategies:

1. When Opposing Royal Blacksmith
2. Rush strategies to win before engine setup
3. Copper-flooding attacks (Bureaucrat)
4. Debt-punishing cards

5. Hand size attacks (Militia, Ghost Ship)

6. Defending Your Royal Blacksmith

7. Maintain alternative money sources
8. Include deck reshuffling effects
9. Have multiple draw sources
10. Include trash-for-benefit options for Coppers

Specific Kingdom Considerations:

Strong Kingdoms: - Presence of alternative money sources - Available trashing for Coppers - Strong engine components - Cost reducers - Multiple villages

Weak Kingdoms: - Heavy reliance on Copper - Limited action chains - Absence of alternative money - Attack-heavy environments - Provinces as only victory condition

Kingdom Examples:

Strong Kingdom Example: Village, Market, Mine, Bank, Bridge, Royal Blacksmith, Laboratory, Festival, Grand Market, Gardens

This kingdom provides: - Multiple villages for action chains - Alternative money sources - Copper removal options - Synergistic victory condition

Weak Kingdom Example: Militia, Bureaucrat, Moat, Workshop, Council Room, Royal Blacksmith, Merchant, Cellar, Moneylender, Province

This kingdom features: - Heavy attack presence - Limited engine potential - Few alternative money sources - Copper-dependent strategy

Advanced Techniques:

1. Multi-Royal Blacksmith Chains
2. Acquire multiple copies
3. Use villages to play several in one turn

4. Create draw-your-deck capability

5. Debt Management

6. Time debt acquisition carefully
7. Use cost reducers when available

8. Consider payload turns between debt payments

9. Copper Management

10. Strategic Copper trashing
11. Intentional deck tracking
12. Careful hand composition planning

Common Mistakes to Avoid:

1. Early Game Errors
2. Taking too early before alternative money exists
3. Underestimating debt impact

4. Not having sufficient trashing

5. Mid Game Mistakes

6. Playing without counting remaining Coppers
7. Forgetting about opponent's attacks

8. Insufficient action support

9. Late Game Issues

10. Taking too late to impact game
11. Not accounting for deck dilution
12. Mismanaging shuffle timing

Sample Turn Examples:

Early/Mid Game Turn: Hand: Village, Royal Blacksmith, Silver, Silver, Estate Play Village (+2 Actions) Play Royal Blacksmith (+5 Cards, no Coppers to discard) Continue with strong buying turn

Late Game Turn: Hand: Laboratory, Royal Blacksmith, Market, Gold, Province Play Laboratory (+2 Cards) Play Market Play Royal Blacksmith Draw into key cards for victory

Conclusion:

Royal Blacksmith is a powerful but situational card that requires careful deck construction and timing to use effectively. Its high debt cost and Copper-discarding effect make it challenging to use in the early game, but it can be a key component of strong engines in the mid to late game. Success with Royal Blacksmith depends on:

• Building appropriate money alternatives
• Having sufficient action support
• Managing debt timing
• Creating proper deck composition
• Understanding kingdom context

When used correctly, Royal Blacksmith can enable powerful draw engines and help create consistent deck performance. However, it requires careful planning and support to overcome its significant drawbacks. Players should carefully evaluate kingdom context and their deck composition before incorporating Royal Blacksmith into their strategy.

Final Tips: - Don't rush to acquire early - Build alternative money first - Plan for debt management - Consider kingdom synergies - Watch opponent's strategy - Track Copper distribution - Maintain action support - Have clear victory path

This powerful card rewards careful planning and proper setup while punishing hasty or unsupported acquisition. Master its use by understanding both its strengths and limitations within the broader context of your strategy.