Trader (Hinterlands)

Here's a comprehensive strategy guide for Trader:

Trader Strategy Guide

Introduction: Trader is a fascinating $4 Action-Reaction card from Hinterlands that offers two distinct abilities: trashing with Silver gain, and the ability to convert any gain into a Silver. This dual-purpose nature makes it a versatile card that can serve multiple strategic roles in your deck.

Core Functions:

1. Trashing Ability
2. The primary action lets you trash one card and gain Silvers equal to its cost
3. This creates a direct conversion of cards into money
4. Unlike most trashers, Trader guarantees economic benefit from trashing

5. Works particularly well with expensive cards you no longer need

6. Gain Conversion Reaction

7. Can convert any card gain into a Silver instead
8. Works on both voluntary gains (buying, gaining from cards) and forced gains
9. Multiple Traders can be revealed for the same gain, but only the first one matters
10. The reaction is optional, giving you control over which gains to convert

Key Strategic Uses:

1. Deck Thinning Trader excels at removing unwanted cards while providing economic benefit:
2. Convert starting Estates into Silvers (1 Estate → 2 Silver)
3. Transform Coppers into Silvers (1 Copper → 1 Silver)

4. Remove situational action cards late game The ability to gain multiple Silvers from a single trash makes it more efficient than many other trashers for building economy.

5. Economy Building Trader provides strong economic acceleration:

6. Quick conversion of low-value cards into Silvers
7. Reaction ability ensures consistent Silver gains
8. Can rapidly increase deck density of treasure cards

9. Particularly strong in kingdoms without +Buy or alternative payload

10. Attack Defense The reaction ability provides protection against certain attacks:

11. Convert Curses into Silvers
12. Avoid gaining unwanted cards from Diplomat, Embassy, or similar
13. Counter junking attacks by maintaining deck quality This defensive capability makes Trader particularly valuable in aggressive kingdoms.

Timing and Strategy:

Early Game: - Priority is usually to thin Estates first (best conversion rate) - Consider keeping one Trader in hand for reaction against attacks - Don't over-invest in multiple Traders early unless facing heavy attacks - Balance trashing with building deck functionality

Mid Game: - Use action ability to remove situational early-game cards - Consider converting gained Victory cards into Silvers if not yet ready for greening - Keep at least one Trader for reactive purposes - May want multiple Traders if facing heavy junking attacks

Late Game: - Convert excess action cards into money for Province purchases - Consider letting some Victory card gains through rather than converting to Silver - Use reaction ability selectively based on remaining turns - May trash Trader itself for Silvers if no longer needed

Key Interactions and Combos:

Strong Synergies:

1. Cost Manipulators Cards that increase costs work exceptionally well with Trader's action:
2. Bridge: Increases trash value of all cards
3. Highway: Similar to Bridge

4. Quarry: Boosts Action card costs for trashing These can dramatically increase the Silver output from trashing.

5. Gainers Cards that gain multiple cards provide opportunities for selective conversion:

6. Workshop: Convert gained cards into Silvers when needed
7. Border Village: Can convert the additional gain

8. Feast: Convert gained cards if money is needed more The reaction gives flexibility in how to use gainers.

9. Card Draw Drawing cards helps ensure Trader is available for reaction:

10. Laboratory: Consistent draw helps find Trader
11. Hunting Party: Can reliably find Trader if it's unique in deck

12. Library: Helps assemble Trader with other key cards

13. Multi-Action Chains Cards that provide multiple actions help maximize Trader's utility:

14. Village variants: Allow playing multiple Traders
15. King's Court: Triple the trashing power
16. Throne Room: Double the trashing effect

Counter Synergies:

1. Alternative Treasures Cards that provide alternative money sources reduce Trader's value:
2. Platinum: Often better than converting to Silver
3. Bank: Wants variety of treasure cards

4. Hoard: Prefers Golds to Silvers

5. Action-Heavy Engines Decks focusing on action chains may not want the treasure density:

6. Draw-to-X cards can be hindered by too many treasures
7. Laboratory chains work better with more actions
8. Complex engines may prefer other cards to Silvers

Kingdom Considerations:

When to Buy Trader:

Strong Purchase When: 1. Few other trashing options available 2. Facing junking attacks 3. Kingdom lacks alternative economy 4. Cost manipulators present 5. No strong engine components available

Weak Purchase When: 1. Better trashing options available (Chapel) 2. Strong engine components present 3. Alternative treasure sources available 4. Kingdom has strong +Buy options 5. Fast alternative victory strategies present

Number to Buy: - Usually 1-2 is sufficient - Consider 2-3 if facing heavy attacks - Rarely want more than 3 - Single copy often enough in engine decks

Timing Considerations: - Early priority if primary trasher - Can delay if other trashing available - May skip if strong engine possible - Consider as counter-purchase to attacks

Counter-Play:

Playing Against Trader:

1. Rush Strategies
2. Push to end game before Trader deck fully develops
3. Focus on alternate victory cards

4. Leverage +Buy to outpace Silver economy

5. Engine Building

6. Build engines that outpace Silver-based deck
7. Use cards that benefit from opponent's treasures

8. Focus on draw and actions rather than pure money

9. Attack Modifications

10. Consider alternative attack strategies
11. Use forced gains that target hand rather than deck
12. Build toward alternate win conditions

Defending Your Trader:

1. Reaction Management
2. Keep Trader available for key moments
3. Consider deck tracking to maximize availability

4. Balance reaction use with action needs

5. Deck Development

6. Don't over-rely on Silver economy
7. Maintain some engine components if available
8. Consider alternative victory paths

Advanced Techniques:

1. Selective Conversion
2. Don't automatically convert every gain
3. Consider deck composition needs

4. Balance money density with functionality

5. Multi-Trader Timing

6. Coordinate multiple Traders for maximum effect
7. Consider revealing order with other reactions

8. Plan trashing sequence for optimal results

9. Late Game Transitions

10. Plan conversion of Traders into Silvers
11. Time transition to victory card acquisition
12. Manage reaction availability versus action use

Common Mistakes to Avoid:

1. Over-Investment
2. Buying too many Traders early
3. Converting every gain to Silver

4. Focusing solely on money density

5. Poor Timing

6. Trashing key cards too early
7. Converting valuable gains unnecessarily

8. Missing reaction opportunities

9. Strategic Inflexibility

10. Ignoring engine possibilities
11. Over-committing to Silver strategy
12. Failing to adapt to opponent's strategy

Sample Opening Strategies:

1. Trader/Silver
2. Strong with no other trashing
3. Builds early economy

4. Provides reaction protection

5. Trader/Terminal Action

6. Balances economy with utility
7. Works well with cost manipulators

8. Requires careful action timing

9. Double Trader

10. Strong against early attacks
11. Accelerates Silver gaining
12. Can lack flexibility

Conclusion:

Trader is a versatile card that provides both deck improvement and defensive capabilities. Its success depends heavily on kingdom context and player strategy. Understanding when to use each ability and how to balance its dual roles is key to maximizing its potential. While not always a game-dominating card, Trader can provide solid support for various strategies and effective counter-play against certain attacks.

The key to mastering Trader is recognizing its role in your broader strategy and adapting its use accordingly. Whether serving as a primary deck improver, economy builder, or defensive tool, Trader's flexibility makes it a valuable addition to many decks when used thoughtfully and appropriately.