Candlestick Maker (Guilds)

Here's a comprehensive strategy guide for Candlestick Maker:

Candlestick Maker Strategy Guide

Introduction Candlestick Maker is a humble $2 Action card from the Guilds expansion that offers a combination of small but useful effects: +1 Action, +1 Buy, and a Coin token. While it might seem unassuming at first glance, its versatility and low cost make it a valuable addition to many strategies, particularly in engines that care about Buy flexibility or coin token accumulation.

Basic Properties Cost: $2 At its core, Candlestick Maker provides: - +1 Action (self-replacing) - +1 Buy - 1 Coin token

The key feature that sets Candlestick Maker apart from other +Buy cards is that it's both self-replacing (doesn't use up your Action allowance) and provides stored value through the Coin token.

Key Strengths

1. Action Chain Compatibility Being self-replacing means Candlestick Maker can fit into any Action chain without disrupting it. This makes it significantly more flexible than terminal +Buy cards like Workshop or Pearl Diver.

2. Buy Flexibility The +1 Buy is valuable in any deck that wants to acquire multiple cards per turn, which is most engines and some Big Money variants.

3. Stored Value Coin tokens can be saved for future turns, providing flexibility in timing your purchases and potentially enabling crucial power turns.

4. Low Opportunity Cost At $2, Candlestick Maker competes mainly with other cheap cards like Chapel, Silver, and Courtyard. Its price point means acquiring it early doesn't significantly delay your deck development.

When to Buy Candlestick Maker

Early Game (Turns 1-4) - As an opening: Generally not recommended as your primary opening buy, as cards like Chapel, Silver, or terminals that provide $2 or more are usually stronger - As a second buy: Can be worthwhile if you anticipate needing extra Buys or want to start accumulating Coin tokens early - Particularly strong with $3/$4 or $2/$5 opening splits where you have a spare $2

Mid Game (Turns 5-10) - When building an engine that needs multiple Buys - When you want flexible purchasing power through Coin tokens - When you have strong trashing and deck control, making additional small Actions less burdensome

Late Game (Turns 11+) - Generally lower priority unless you specifically need the +Buy - Can still be valuable if you need more Coin tokens for specific combinations

Key Synergies

1. Coin Token Synergies

Baker - Baker provides Coin tokens on setup - Combined with Candlestick Maker, you can accumulate tokens faster - Enables more consistent access to higher price points

Plaza - Plaza lets you discard Treasure cards for Coin tokens - Candlestick Maker provides additional tokens without requiring Treasure discard - Together they provide flexible stored value

Merchant Guild - Merchant Guild gives Coin tokens when buying Victory cards - Candlestick Maker's +Buy enables buying multiple Victory cards per turn - Combined token generation accelerates your purchasing power

1. +Buy Utilization

Workshop variants - Candlestick Maker enables getting multiple gains from cards like Workshop, Artificer, or Guardian - The Action doesn't get consumed, allowing you to still play your Workshop - Coin tokens can help reach price points that Workshop variants can't hit

Gainers (e.g., Forum, Bridge) - Extra Buys enable multiple gains per turn - Self-replacing nature keeps your engine running - Stored value helps reach key price points

1. Engine Components

Draw engines - Fits seamlessly into draw engines due to +1 Action - Provides needed +Buy without taking up Action capacity - Coin tokens can enable key purchases when draw is inconsistent

Laboratory variants - Works well with other self-replacing Actions - Helps maintain momentum while building +Buy capacity - Can smooth out early game purchasing

Building Around Candlestick Maker

Basic Engine Structure A typical Candlestick Maker-based engine might look like: - 1-2 copies of strong trashing (e.g., Chapel) - 2-3 Candlestick Makers - 4-5 drawing cards (e.g., Laboratory, Village variants) - 2-3 payload cards (e.g., Merchant Guild, Baker) - Supporting Treasury cards

Key Considerations: 1. Don't over-invest in Candlestick Makers early 2. Prioritize deck control and drawing 3. Use Coin tokens strategically

Token Management Strategy

When to Save Tokens: - Approaching a key price point ($8 for Province, $6 for key components) - Anticipating a reshuffle where money might be thin - Building toward a specific combo turn

When to Spend Tokens: - To reach a critical purchase immediately - When you have excess tokens and strong current-turn buying power - To enable multiple important purchases in one turn

Counter-Strategies and Weaknesses

1. Deck Bloat
2. Multiple Candlestick Makers can contribute to deck bloat
3. Mitigate with strong trashing

4. Be selective about how many you acquire

5. Opportunity Cost

6. Each Candlestick Maker could be another Action card
7. Ensure you have enough payload to justify the +Buy

8. Don't over-invest in early +Buy if you can't utilize it

9. Terminal Draw Competition

10. In terminal draw-heavy boards, Actions are at a premium
11. May need to be more selective about including Candlestick Maker
12. Consider alternative +Buy sources

Countering Candlestick Maker Strategies

1. Pressure
2. Rush strategies can punish slow token accumulation
3. Attack cards that reduce hand size make +Buy less valuable

4. Cursing attacks can make deck control harder

5. Competition

6. Competing for key engine pieces can disrupt Candlestick Maker strategies
7. Alternative +Buy sources might be more efficient
8. Contest key price points to prevent power turns

Sample Game Plans

Basic Engine Build Turn 1-2: Acquire trashing and key $5 cards Turn 3-4: Add 1-2 Candlestick Makers Turn 5-7: Build engine with drawing cards Turn 8+: Use accumulated tokens for power turns

Token-Focused Strategy Turn 1-2: Open with Baker/Candlestick Maker Turn 3-5: Add token-generating components Turn 6-8: Build toward big token turns Turn 9+: Convert tokens into Provinces

Tips and Tricks

1. Early Game
2. Don't feel pressured to use Coin tokens immediately
3. Consider keeping one token for flexibility

4. Use +Buy to grab useful $2-$3 cards when available

5. Mid Game

6. Track opponent's strategy to gauge token saving needs
7. Use tokens to smooth out awkward reshuffles

8. Combine with other +Buy effects for maximum impact

9. Late Game

10. Save tokens for Province turns
11. Use +Buy to grab Victory cards efficiently
12. Consider whether additional Candlestick Makers are worth it

Common Mistakes to Avoid

1. Over-Investment
2. Buying too many Candlestick Makers early
3. Focusing too much on token accumulation

4. Neglecting engine development for +Buy

5. Poor Token Management

6. Spending tokens unnecessarily
7. Not saving tokens for key purchases

8. Failing to plan for power turns

9. Strategy Misalignment

10. Including Candlestick Maker in decks that don't need +Buy
11. Neglecting trashing/deck control
12. Ignoring board context when deciding quantity

Conclusion

Candlestick Maker is a versatile $2 card that offers valuable flexibility through its combination of +Action, +Buy, and Coin token generation. While not usually a primary strategy focus, it can be a valuable support card in many engines and token-based strategies. Success with Candlestick Maker comes from understanding when to include it, how many to buy, and how to manage its tokens effectively.

The key to using Candlestick Maker well is to view it as a flexible tool rather than a core strategy piece. Its low cost and self-replacing nature mean it can fit into many different decks, but it's important not to over-invest or rely too heavily on its effects. When used appropriately, it can provide the extra flexibility and stored value that turns a good engine into a great one.

Remember that board context is crucial - consider the available kingdom cards, your opponent's strategy, and the pace of the game when deciding how heavily to invest in Candlestick Maker. With proper understanding and application, this humble $2 card can be a valuable addition to your Dominion strategy arsenal.