Jack of All Trades (Hinterlands)

Here's a comprehensive strategy guide for Jack of All Trades:

Jack of All Trades Strategy Guide

Introduction Jack of All Trades (JoAT) is a complex $4 action card that performs multiple functions: gaining Silver, deck inspection, draw to 5, and selective trashing. While each individual effect might seem modest, the combination makes it a versatile engine component and opening card that can significantly influence game trajectory.

Core Functions Analysis

1. Gain a Silver
2. Guaranteed payload increase
3. Doesn't require drawing or playing the Silver
4. Adds directly to deck, bypassing hand requirements
5. Improves deck density immediately

6. Can contribute to certain landmark/project scores

7. Look at Top Card

8. Provides deck control
9. Can prevent dead draws
10. Helps manage shuffle timing
11. Valuable information for planning next turn

12. Synergizes with deck tracking

13. Draw to 5

14. Ensures consistent hand size
15. Recovers from discarding
16. Helps find important cards
17. Can draw through deck faster

18. Non-terminal action

19. Optional Non-Treasure Trashing

20. Deck improvement capability
21. Selective targeting
22. Maintains treasures
23. Can occur after drawing
24. One-shot effect per play

Opening Considerations

Strong Opening Card ($4/$3 or $4/$4 splits) Pros: - Immediate economy boost via Silver - Helps manage early Estates - Non-terminal from the start - Flexible utility

Cons: - Competes with other strong $4 options - Single-card trashing is limited - May delay building toward specific strategies

Common Opening Pairs: 1. Double Jack of All Trades - Accelerates Silver gaining - More consistent deck inspection - Multiple trashing opportunities - Strong economy development

1. Jack of All Trades + Silver
2. Immediate money density
3. Reliable $5 turns

4. Good for money-based strategies

5. Jack of All Trades + Another $4 Action

6. Maintains flexibility
7. Can complement specific strategies
8. Popular with cards like Mining Village or Merchant

Early Game Strategy

Priority Uses: 1. Trashing Estates when possible 2. Building basic money density 3. Managing deck composition 4. Setting up for key purchases

Key Decisions: - Whether to trash immediately or wait for better targets - Managing Silver density vs. other strategic needs - Balancing deck inspection with draw potential - Timing plays with other actions

Mid-Game Considerations

Deck Evolution: - Transitions well into both engine and money strategies - Maintains utility even as deck improves - Helps find key cards - Can become draw engine component

Strategic Roles: 1. Engine Support - Finds components - Maintains hand size - Provides economy - Removes junk cards

1. Money Strategy Enhancement
2. Builds Silver density
3. Improves consistency
4. Maintains tempo

5. Removes non-money cards

6. Hybrid Approaches

7. Flexible support for mixed strategies
8. Helps manage deck ratio
9. Provides consistent utility

Synergies and Combinations

Strong Synergies:

1. Deck Inspection Benefits
2. Warehouse: Additional filtering
3. Scout: Enhanced deck manipulation
4. Oracle: Information advantage

5. Navigator: Improved decision-making

6. Silver Synergies

7. Merchant Guild: Extra coin tokens
8. Merchant: Additional money
9. Bank: Increased treasure count

10. Fortune Hunter: Activation support

11. Draw Synergies

12. Library: Helps reach hand size
13. Watchtower: Reaction to gained Silver
14. Laboratory: Additional draw power

15. Market: Complementary effects

16. Trashing Synergies

17. Chapel: Complementary trashing
18. Monastery: Additional targeted removal
19. Upgrade: Transform opportunities
20. Remodel: Material for upgrading

Anti-Synergies:

1. Competing priorities
2. Other $4 cost essential cards
3. Alternative trashers

4. Draw-to-X effects

5. Deck composition conflicts

6. Heavy action chains
7. Complex engines

8. Lean deck strategies

9. Timing issues

10. Duration cards
11. Reserve cards
12. Reaction chains

Advanced Techniques

1. Shuffle Management
2. Track deck composition
3. Time discards strategically
4. Manipulate shuffle points

5. Optimize draw efficiency

6. Silver Timing

7. Consider gaining order
8. Manage deck density
9. Plan for specific price points

10. Account for shuffle timing

11. Trashing Decisions

12. Evaluate current vs. future value
13. Consider deck composition
14. Balance immediate vs. long-term gains

15. Account for game state

16. Hand Size Optimization

17. Manage action density
18. Plan for key combinations
19. Balance draw efficiency
20. Consider turn sequence

Counter-Strategy

Playing Against JoAT:

1. Rush Strategies
2. Capitalize on slower build-up
3. Target key price points
4. Pressure victory card availability

5. Force early game end

6. Superior Engine Building

7. Outpace Silver accumulation
8. Build stronger draw
9. Establish better trashing

10. Create action chains

11. Alternate Economy

12. Develop better payload
13. Build alternative money sources
14. Create stronger combinations
15. Establish better scaling

Defending JoAT Strategy:

1. Tempo Maintenance
2. Maintain purchase power
3. Keep trashing relevant
4. Manage deck efficiency

5. Balance improvements

6. Adaptation

7. Adjust to opposition
8. Modify build order
9. Alter strategic focus

10. Maintain flexibility

11. Leverage Strengths

12. Maximize consistency
13. Utilize information advantage
14. Maintain efficiency
15. Build systematically

Kingdom Considerations

Favorable Kingdoms:

1. Limited trashing
2. Few competing options
3. Valuable removal utility

4. Important deck improvement

5. Money emphasis

6. Silver value high
7. Treasure synergies

8. Economy-based scoring

9. Moderate pace

10. Time to develop
11. Value consistency
12. Strategic flexibility

Unfavorable Kingdoms:

1. Strong engines
2. Better draw available
3. Superior trashing

4. Faster scaling

5. Alt-VP focus

6. Limited Silver value
7. Better scaling options

8. Different priorities

9. Rush potential

10. Too slow to develop
11. Better immediate options
12. Pressure on timing

Multiplayer Considerations

2-Player Games: - Stronger overall - More control potential - Better trashing value - Consistent utility

3+ Player Games: - Reduced trashing impact - More competition for cards - Different timing considerations - Adjusted strategic value

Game Phase Impact

Opening Phase: - Strong initial utility - Economic development - Deck improvement - Strategic flexibility

Middle Game: - Consistent support - Maintained utility - Adaptive potential - Resource management

End Game: - Reduced trashing value - Continued draw utility - Silver still relevant - Information advantage

Variant Considerations

Prosperity: - Colony/Platinum context - Modified economy scale - Different price points - Adjusted timing

Shelters: - Modified trashing targets - Different opening patterns - Adjusted utility - Changed priorities

Conclusion

Jack of All Trades is a versatile $4 action that provides consistent utility throughout the game. Its multiple functions make it valuable in various strategies, though it excels particularly in money-based approaches and as engine support. Understanding its optimal use requires careful consideration of kingdom context, timing, and strategic goals.

Key Takeaways:

1. Strong opening option providing immediate economic improvement and deck control

2. Flexible utility supporting multiple strategies while maintaining consistent value

3. Requires thoughtful play to maximize complex decision points and timing considerations

4. Benefits from careful kingdom analysis to determine optimal strategic role

5. Valuable support card that can adapt to changing game states and requirements

Success with Jack of All Trades comes from understanding its multiple roles and choosing the right moments to emphasize different aspects of its utility. While not always the optimal choice, its flexibility and consistent value make it a strong consideration in many kingdoms.