Embassy (Hinterlands)

Here's a comprehensive strategy guide for Embassy:

Embassy Strategy Guide

Introduction Embassy is a powerful drawing card that comes with significant tradeoffs: a massive +5 card draw balanced by a mandatory discard of 3 cards, plus the drawback of giving each opponent a Silver when gained. Understanding how to maximize Embassy's benefits while minimizing its downsides is key to using it effectively.

Core Mechanics - Draws 5 cards, then forces you to discard 3 - Net card advantage of +2 cards - When gained, each opponent receives a Silver - $5 cost puts it in competition with other important kingdom cards

Basic Usage At its simplest level, Embassy functions as a more powerful Laboratory, providing a net +2 cards without using up your action. However, several important factors make it more complex:

1. Card Selection The discard requirement allows you to shape your hand by discarding less useful cards. This makes Embassy particularly valuable when you:
2. Have excess copper or other low-value cards
3. Need to thin specific cards from your deck
4. Want to customize your hand composition

5. Have cards that benefit from being discarded

6. Deck Velocity Embassy moves through your deck quickly, which can be both beneficial and dangerous:

7. Helps find key cards faster
8. Can lead to deck cycling
9. May cause premature green card shuffles in endgame
10. Increases probability of drawing your best cards

Key Strengths

1. Hand Optimization Embassy's discard mechanic allows you to curate your hand effectively:
2. Keep strong action cards while discarding basic treasures
3. Maintain crucial combo pieces
4. Discard dead cards or situational cards not needed this turn

5. Shape your hand for specific strategies

6. Deck Acceleration The high draw volume helps:

7. Find key cards more quickly
8. Enable engine building
9. Create more consistent hands

10. Reach payload cards faster

11. Synergy Potential The forced discard creates opportunities with:

12. Cards that care about the discard pile
13. Reactions to discarding
14. Cards that want specific hand sizes
15. Cards that benefit from deck cycling

Weaknesses and Considerations

1. Opponent Silver Gain The most obvious downside is giving each opponent a Silver:
2. Strengthens opponent's buying power
3. Can be especially problematic in 2-player games
4. May enable critical price points for opponents

5. Gets worse with more players

6. Deck Dilution Risk Drawing 5 cards can sometimes be problematic:

7. May draw too many victory cards
8. Can cause premature shuffling
9. Might overdraw in thin decks

10. Can be awkward with hand-size matters cards

11. Cost Considerations At $5, Embassy competes with:

12. Other strong drawer cards
13. Key engine pieces
14. Important attack cards
15. Gainers and payload cards

Optimal Timing for Gaining Embassy

Early Game Pros: - Helps establish engine quickly - Maximizes lifetime value - Can shape early deck composition

Cons: - Gives opponents early Silvers - May lack discard fodder - Competes with other crucial $5 purchases

Mid Game Pros: - More likely to have excess cards to discard - Can help complete engine assembly - Better control over hand composition

Cons: - Less total game impact - May still strengthen opponents meaningfully - Could interfere with established deck rhythm

Late Game Pros: - Silver giving matters less - Can help find key cards for finishing - Useful for last big turns

Cons: - Limited remaining shuffles - May draw victory cards unnecessarily - Might be too late to justify cost

Key Synergies

1. Discard Benefits Cards that work well with Embassy's discard requirement:
2. Tunnel
3. Market Square
4. Faithful Hound
5. Haven

6. Archive

7. Draw Chain Enablers Cards that complement Embassy's drawing power:

8. Village variants
9. Fishing Village
10. Library
11. Draw-to-X cards

12. Duration cards

13. Deck Manipulation Cards that help control what Embassy draws:

14. Scheme
15. Scout
16. Warehouse
17. Vagrant
18. Oracle

Counter Strategies

When Opposing Embassy: 1. Rush strategies - Push provinces before engines come online - Capitalize on early Silver gains - Pressure victory card pile

1. Deck attack
2. Use discard attacks to strain Embassy decks
3. Ghost Ship can be particularly effective

4. Militia can force awkward discards

5. Alternative strategies

6. Focus on building payload without drawing
7. Use trashing to offset Silver gains
8. Employ alternative victory paths

When to Skip Embassy

Embassy is less attractive when: 1. The kingdom contains: - Strong alternative drawers - Essential $5 cards - Better engine pieces - Critical attacks

1. Game conditions include:
2. Many opponents (more Silvers given)
3. Strong rushing potential
4. Limited trashing
5. Hostile deck attacks

Multiplayer Considerations

2 Players: - Silver giving most impactful - Consider rush strategies - May need alternative draw - Careful timing crucial

3+ Players: - More total Silvers given - Individual impact diluted - Can enable chain reactions - May create king-making scenarios

Sample Strategies

1. Embassy Engine Key components:
2. Multiple Embassies
3. Village variants
4. Payload cards
5. Trashing support

Goal: Build consistent deck with strong draws and payload

1. Embassy/Discard Combo Key components:
2. Embassy
3. Discard benefiting cards
4. Action support
5. Gain control

Goal: Leverage discard synergies while maintaining draw

1. Embassy Big Money Key components:
2. 1-2 Embassies
3. Strong treasures
4. Limited actions
5. Optional trashing

Goal: Use Embassy to find money consistently

Tips for Optimal Play

1. Hand Management
2. Plan discards carefully
3. Consider future turns
4. Track deck composition

5. Maintain action density

6. Timing Considerations

7. Watch opponent's positions
8. Monitor pile counts
9. Track shuffle timing

10. Plan gain timing

11. Technical Play

12. Order operations carefully
13. Track discarded cards
14. Monitor deck velocity
15. Plan reshuffles

Common Mistakes to Avoid

1. Over-investing
2. Buying too many Embassies
3. Neglecting payload
4. Ignoring other key cards

5. Forcing Embassy in wrong kingdoms

6. Poor Timing

7. Gaining too early
8. Waiting too long
9. Bad shuffle timing

10. Wrong turn sequencing

11. Mismanaging Discards

12. Discarding key cards
13. Keeping wrong cards
14. Poor planning
15. Ignoring synergies

Conclusion

Embassy is a powerful but complex card that requires careful consideration of: - Kingdom context - Opponent count - Game timing - Available synergies

Success with Embassy depends on: - Understanding its dual nature - Managing its drawbacks - Leveraging its strengths - Proper timing and execution

While the Silver-giving drawback is significant, Embassy's strong drawing power and hand-shaping ability make it a valuable addition to many strategies. The key is recognizing when its benefits outweigh its costs and how to best incorporate it into your overall game plan.

Final Recommendations

1. Consider Embassy when:
2. Strong discard synergies exist
3. Engine building is viable
4. Trashing is available

5. Silver giving is less impactful

6. Look elsewhere when:

7. Rush strategies are strong
8. Critical $5 cards compete
9. Many opponents present

10. Better draw available

11. Always evaluate:

12. Kingdom context
13. Player count
14. Game pace
15. Available synergies

Understanding these factors will help you make better decisions about when and how to incorporate Embassy into your strategy.