Harem
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Harem (Intrigue)

Cost: $6

Type: Treasure-Victory

Text: Worth $2\nWorth 2VP

Strategy Review

Here's a comprehensive strategy guide for Harem:

Harem Strategy Guide

Introduction Harem is a unique hybrid card that combines two of Dominion's fundamental card types: Treasure and Victory. As a $6-cost card that provides both $2 and 2VP, it occupies an interesting strategic space that requires careful consideration to use effectively. This guide will explore when and how to incorporate Harems into your strategy.

Basic Characteristics - Provides $2 when played as a treasure - Worth 2 Victory Points at game end - Costs $6 - Hybrid card (counts as both Treasure and Victory)

Core Strategic Considerations

  1. Dual-Purpose Nature The primary appeal of Harem lies in its ability to serve two functions simultaneously. Unlike pure victory cards like Province or Duchy that are dead cards during gameplay, Harem contributes meaningfully to your buying power while also providing victory points. This dual nature makes it particularly valuable in certain situations:

a) Mid-game transitions - Helps smooth the transition from deck-building to victory point acquisition - Allows you to start collecting VP without severely compromising deck efficiency

b) Close games - Provides incremental VP gains while maintaining buying power - Can be crucial in races where every VP matters

  1. Comparison to Alternative $6 Purchases

When considering Harem, you're often choosing between it and other $6 options:

Gold ($6): - Provides $3 vs Harem's $2 - No victory points - Better for pure economy

Province ($8): - Worth 6VP vs Harem's 2VP - Provides no money - Dead card during play

Key decision factors: - Stage of game - Deck composition - Victory point gap - Available actions/buys - Kingdom card alternatives

  1. Timing Considerations

Early Game (Turns 1-7): - Generally avoid Harems - Focus on building economy and engine pieces - Gold usually superior for economy building

Mid Game (Turns 8-15): - Prime time for Harem acquisition - Balance between economy and VP becomes crucial - Can help transition to end game

Late Game (Turns 16+): - Evaluate versus Provinces - Consider if deck can still reach $8 - May be crucial for VP racing

Strategic Approaches

  1. The Balanced Strategy This approach involves gradually incorporating Harems while maintaining deck efficiency:

Key elements: - Build basic economy first - Add 2-3 Harems in mid-game - Use as bridge to Provinces - Maintain action density if running an engine

Benefits: - Flexible transition to victory points - Maintains deck functionality - Provides backup VP source

  1. The Harem Rush Strategy This aggressive approach focuses on acquiring multiple Harems early:

Requirements: - Strong treasure base - Multiple buys - Absence of strong attack cards - Kingdom cards supporting quick play

Execution: - Prioritize Silver early - Begin acquiring Harems around turn 6-7 - Aim for 4-5 Harems before opponents transition to Provinces - Consider supplementing with Duchies

Risks: - Can fall behind in economy - Vulnerable to deck-slowing attacks - May struggle to reach Province price point

  1. The Hybrid Engine Approach Incorporating Harems into an engine-based strategy:

Key components: - Strong card draw - Action multipliers - Payload cards - Careful balance of Harems

Benefits: - Maintains engine functionality - Provides VP security - Flexible scaling

Synergies and Combinations

  1. Card Draw Effects Cards that help you see more of your deck work well with Harem:
  2. Laboratory
  3. Council Room
  4. Smithy

  5. Market These help ensure Harems are played when needed for money.

  6. Multiple Buy Effects Cards providing extra buys enhance Harem strategies:

  7. Market
  8. Grand Market
  9. Festival

  10. Villa Allow acquisition of both Harems and other crucial cards.

  11. Treasure-Focused Cards Cards that interact with treasures can make Harems more valuable:

  12. Bank
  13. Merchant Guild
  14. Plaza

  15. Treasury

  16. Deck Thinning Cards that help remove copper and estates make Harems more impactful:

  17. Chapel
  18. Steward
  19. Trading Post
  20. Upgrade

Counter-Strategy and Weaknesses

  1. Vulnerability to Attacks

a) Deck Attack Cards: - Militia - Ghost Ship - Margrave Can make it harder to play Harems consistently

b) Junking Attacks: - Witch - Mountebank - Cultist Dilute deck, making Harems harder to play effectively

  1. Economic Limitations

Drawbacks to consider: - Inferior to Gold for pure money - Can slow Province acquisition - May struggle against big money strategies - Requires careful deck balance

Defending against these weaknesses: - Maintain strong deck thinning - Include sufficient card draw - Balance Harem quantity carefully - Consider protective action cards

Specific Kingdom Configurations

  1. Strong Harem Kingdoms

Features that favor Harems: - Multiple buy effects - Strong card draw - Absence of powerful attacks - Treasure synergies - Efficient deck thinning

Example Kingdom: Market, Laboratory, Chapel, Bank, Festival (Strong engine potential with multiple buys and treasure synergy)

  1. Weak Harem Kingdoms

Features that discourage Harems: - Strong attacks - Alternate VP sources - Superior $6 options - Limited deck control - Strong trashing

Example Kingdom: Witch, Gardens, Chapel, Bridge, Village (Better alternative strategies available)

Multiplayer Considerations

2-Player Games: - VP race more crucial - Harem timing more critical - Counter-strategy more important

3-4 Player Games: - More flexibility in timing - Greater value in consistent money - Higher competition for key cards

Competition for Harems: - Limited supply (12 cards) - Consider split pile dynamics - Watch opponent's strategies

Advanced Techniques

  1. Harem Counting
  2. Track Harems in supply
  3. Monitor opponent's Victory Point totals
  4. Calculate VP differences

  5. Plan end-game timing

  6. Deck Composition Management

  7. Maintain proper action/treasure ratios
  8. Monitor deck velocity
  9. Balance victory cards carefully

  10. Track deck efficiency metrics

  11. Timing Optimization

  12. Identify key purchase windows
  13. Plan transition points
  14. Monitor game pace
  15. Adjust strategy based on opponents

Common Mistakes to Avoid

  1. Over-Investment
  2. Buying too many Harems
  3. Neglecting engine development
  4. Ignoring economy needs

  5. Missing Province opportunities

  6. Poor Timing

  7. Buying too early
  8. Waiting too long
  9. Misreading game pace

  10. Ignoring opponent's strategy

  11. Strategic Inflexibility

  12. Forcing Harem strategy
  13. Ignoring better alternatives
  14. Not adapting to attacks
  15. Missing key synergies

Conclusion

Harem is a versatile card that requires careful strategic consideration. Its dual nature as both treasure and victory card provides unique opportunities but also demands thoughtful implementation. Success with Harems requires:

  • Clear understanding of timing
  • Careful deck composition management
  • Recognition of synergies and counters
  • Adaptability to game state
  • Balance between economy and victory points

When used correctly, Harems can provide a powerful bridge between the deck-building and victory point acquisition phases of the game. However, they require more nuanced play than pure victory or treasure cards. Understanding when and how to incorporate Harems into your strategy is a valuable skill for any Dominion player.

Final Tips: - Start with basic strategies before attempting complex Harem plays - Practice recognizing favorable kingdoms - Stay flexible in implementation - Monitor opponent's responses - Keep track of supply counts - Balance short-term and long-term benefits

With practice and understanding, Harems can become a valuable tool in your strategic arsenal, providing both economic utility and victory point accumulation in a single card slot.