Oracle (Hinterlands)

Here's a comprehensive strategy guide for Oracle:

Oracle Strategy Guide

Introduction Oracle is a $3 Action-Attack card from Hinterlands that combines deck inspection, forced decisions, and card drawing. While its attack can be disruptive, its true strength lies in its flexibility and the information it provides about opponents' decks. Understanding how to maximize Oracle's potential requires careful consideration of both its attack and draw components.

Core Mechanics 1. Attack Phase - Each player (including you) reveals their top 2 cards - For each player, you choose whether they: a) Discard both cards, or b) Put them back in any order they choose - The controller makes this choice separately for each player - Choices can be different for different players

1. Draw Phase
2. After the attack resolves, you draw 2 cards
3. This draw happens even if Oracle is throne-roomed or copied

Key Strengths

1. Information Gathering
2. Reveals opponents' deck composition
3. Helps track important cards like Colony/Province
4. Shows what opponents might draw next turn

5. Allows strategic planning based on opponent's cards

6. Flexibility

7. Can be used both offensively and defensively
8. Adapts to different game situations

9. Works in both engine and big money strategies

10. Reliable Card Draw

11. Guaranteed +2 cards
12. Helps cycle through deck
13. Maintains hand size while attacking

Using Oracle Effectively

1. Early Game Strategy
2. Buy Oracle early to establish deck control
3. Use as a reliable source of +2 cards
4. Learn opponents' deck compositions
5. Disrupt early economy development

Early Game Decision Making: - Discard opponents' copper+action combinations - Force back good combinations they need - Generally discard terminal actions without draw - Allow treasure-heavy hands to remain if they don't threaten your strategy

1. Mid Game Strategy
2. Focus on disrupting engine building
3. Track key cards in opponents' decks
4. Use information to time your own purchases
5. Combine with other attacks for maximum impact

Mid Game Priorities: - Discard engine components that work together - Force back dead cards or terminal collisions - Keep track of green card distribution - Use information to predict opponents' buying power

1. Late Game Strategy
2. Focus on victory card tracking
3. Disrupt potential Province/Colony purchases
4. Force opponents to draw victory cards
5. Protect your own key purchases

Late Game Tactics: - Always discard Province/Colony + treasure combinations - Force back victory card pairs - Track scoring potential - Use information to time game end

Synergies and Combinations

1. Duration Cards
2. Wharf: Powerful draw engine
3. Fishing Village: Action density
4. Caravan: Smooth deck cycling

5. Haven: Additional deck control

6. Other Attacks

7. Ghost Ship: Enhanced deck control
8. Militia/Margrave: Hand size reduction
9. Bureaucrat: Victory card manipulation

10. Sea Hag: Curse distribution control

11. Deck Inspection

12. Scout: Additional deck manipulation
13. Navigator: Enhanced filtering
14. Wandering Minstrel: Action management

15. Patrol: Victory card tracking

16. Throne Room Effects

17. Throne Room
18. King's Court
19. Crown
20. Procession

Multiple Oracle plays provide: - More deck information - Enhanced disruption - Increased card draw - Better deck control

Engine Considerations

1. Building with Oracle
2. Provides necessary card draw
3. Helps find key components
4. Offers deck tracking

5. Maintains pressure on opponents

6. Action Density

7. Low opportunity cost at $3
8. Works well with other non-terminal actions
9. Can function as bridge card in developing engines

10. Helps find terminals in proper order

11. Engine Disruption

12. Breaks opponent's card combinations
13. Forces inefficient play orders
14. Reveals engine weaknesses
15. Provides strategic timing information

Defending Against Oracle

1. Deck Composition
2. Maintain consistent deck quality
3. Avoid reliance on specific combinations
4. Build redundancy into engines

5. Include multiple victory paths

6. Reaction Cards

7. Moat: Complete protection
8. Horse Traders: Draw replacement
9. Market Square: Benefit from discards

10. Watchtower: Protect key cards

11. Strategic Adaptations

12. Keep important cards separated
13. Build robust engines
14. Maintain alternative strategies
15. Use gainers to bypass deck order

Timing Considerations

1. When to Buy Oracle Early Game:
2. First or second shuffle
3. When opponents lack reactions
4. Before engine pieces are established
5. When economy is developing

Mid Game: - When tracking becomes important - Before key attack windows - When engines are vulnerable - To maintain pressure

Late Game: - When victory card tracking matters - To prevent winning purchases - When information is crucial - To maintain draw

1. When to Play Oracle
2. Early in turn for information
3. Before making key purchases
4. When opponents are vulnerable
5. To set up next turn

Counter-Strategies

1. Direct Counters
2. Buy Reaction cards
3. Build robust engines
4. Maintain deck consistency

5. Use gainers and topdeckers

6. Economic Counters

7. Focus on treasure-based strategies
8. Use one-shot treasures
9. Build strong payload turns

10. Maintain multiple paths to victory

11. Strategic Counters

12. Rush strategies
13. Alt-VP approaches
14. Single card engines
15. Trashing-heavy strategies

Kingdom Considerations

1. Strong Kingdoms
2. Engine components present
3. Limited trashing
4. Few reactions

5. Key card combinations

6. Weak Kingdoms

7. Heavy trashing
8. Many reactions
9. Big money dominant

10. Alternative victory paths

11. Key Support Cards

12. Villages
13. Sifters
14. Gainers
15. Throne Room variants

Multiplayer Considerations

1. 3+ Player Games
2. More information gathered
3. Increased attack impact
4. Complex decision making

5. Extended game length

6. Team Games

7. Coordinate attacks
8. Share information
9. Protect partner's deck
10. Joint strategy planning

Cost Considerations

At $3, Oracle competes with: - Silver - Other cheap attacks - Engine components - Utility cards

Opportunity cost analysis: - Early: Competes with economy - Mid: Supports engine building - Late: Provides crucial information

Common Mistakes

1. Tactical Errors
2. Discarding wrong combinations
3. Ignoring information gained
4. Poor timing of plays

5. Misreading opponent's strategy

6. Strategic Errors

7. Over-investing in Oracles
8. Neglecting economy
9. Ignoring counter-play

10. Poor kingdom analysis

11. Information Management

12. Not tracking important cards
13. Missing key combinations
14. Failing to adapt decisions
15. Ignoring opponent's needs

Advanced Techniques

1. Information Tracking
2. Note victory card distribution
3. Track engine components
4. Monitor treasure density

5. Predict opponent's plays

6. Decision Optimization

7. Consider multiple turn impacts
8. Plan for opponent's responses
9. Account for deck composition

10. Adapt to game state

11. Strategic Timing

12. Coordinate with other attacks
13. Plan purchase sequences
14. Time victory card purchases
15. Control game pace

Conclusion

Oracle is a versatile card that combines: - Reliable card draw - Deck inspection - Strategic disruption - Information gathering

Success with Oracle requires: - Strong tactical decision making - Good information management - Strategic flexibility - Careful timing

The card's strength lies not just in its attack potential but in the information and control it provides. Used well, Oracle can be a powerful tool for both engine and big money strategies, while providing crucial intelligence about opponents' decks and capabilities.

Remember: - Value information gained - Make contextual decisions - Adapt to game state - Consider long-term impacts

With practice and understanding, Oracle can be a powerful addition to many strategies, providing both utility and control while maintaining consistent pressure on opponents.