Wishing Well (Intrigue)

Here's a comprehensive strategy guide for Wishing Well:

Wishing Well Strategy Guide

Introduction Wishing Well is a $3 Action card from Intrigue that provides +1 Card and +1 Action, with the additional ability to potentially draw an extra card if you can correctly guess what's on top of your deck. While this seems straightforward, there are various strategic considerations and uses that make Wishing Well more interesting than it might first appear.

Basic Properties - Cost: $3 - Always provides: +1 Card, +1 Action - Potential bonus: One additional card if you guess correctly

Core Advantages 1. Self-replacing action (doesn't take up an action slot) 2. Cheap at $3 3. Potential for extra card draw 4. Provides deck tracking information 5. Can help find specific cards you need

Basic Strategy

1. Default Naming Strategy When you have no specific information about the top card of your deck, the optimal naming strategy is typically to name the card that appears most frequently in your deck. In a basic deck, this will usually be:
2. Early game: Copper (7 copies)
3. Mid game: Often still Copper

4. Late game: Usually your most-bought card (Victory cards, key engine pieces)

5. Deck Tracking Wishing Well becomes significantly more powerful when you can track your deck. Key tracking scenarios:

6. After shuffling, remember the last few cards that went into your discard
7. When you haven't shuffled recently, track the order of played cards
8. Pay attention to cards that were revealed by other effects

9. Note when certain cards must be in specific portions of your deck

10. Timing Considerations

11. Early in your turn: Use Wishing Well early if you need specific cards for your turn to work
12. Late in your turn: Can use it to set up your next turn if you know what's on top
13. Multiple Wishing Wells: Use them consecutively when you have good information

Advanced Strategies

1. Deck Manipulation Synergies Wishing Well becomes much stronger when combined with cards that let you manipulate your deck:

Strong Combinations: - Scrying Pool: Reveals top card - Scout: Shows you multiple top cards - Oracle: Reveals and arranges top cards - Cartographer: Lets you arrange top cards - Navigator: Reveals and potentially discards top cards - Spy effects: Give information about top cards - Crystal Ball: Perfect information about top card

1. Drawing Engine Integration

In drawing engines, Wishing Well serves multiple roles: a) Engine Component - Maintains action chain with +1 Action - Provides guaranteed draw - Can potentially draw an extra key card

b) Engine Reliability - Helps find key cards when you can track them - Acts as a backup drawer if other components fail - Low cost makes it easy to add to engines

1. Information-Based Strategies

Maximizing Success Rate: a) Track gainings: - When you gain a card to the top of your deck, Wishing Well can immediately draw it - Remember cards gained to your deck by opponents' attacks

b) Use revealed information: - Cards revealed by attacks - Cards placed on top by effects - Cards you intentionally put on top

c) Mathematical tracking: - Count key cards played - Track shuffle timing - Calculate probabilities of specific cards being on top

1. Special Use Cases

a) Opening ($3/$4 or $4/$3): Wishing Well can be a reasonable opening in specific kingdoms: - When deck tracking is important - In combination with other $3 cards - When extra draw is valuable early - In engines that want lots of cheap components

b) Early Game Building: - Helps find key cards more consistently - Provides essential +Action for building engines - Low opportunity cost at $3

c) Late Game Uses: - Finding specific Victory cards - Locating key green cards - Drawing through deck more efficiently

Specific Kingdom Considerations

1. Strong Kingdoms for Wishing Well

a) Heavy tracking kingdoms: - Lots of deck revelation - Card ordering effects - Top-deck manipulation

b) Engine kingdoms: - Multiple +Action cards - Need for cheap components - Card draw matters

c) Combo kingdoms: - Specific cards needed - Order-dependent combinations - Tracking-based strategies

1. Weak Kingdoms for Wishing Well

a) Rush kingdoms: - Too slow - Better alternatives at $3 - Not enough time for tracking

b) Big money variants: - Limited tracking utility - Better alternatives exist - Less need for +Action

Counter-Strategy and Competition

1. Competing $3 Cards Compare Wishing Well against:
2. Silver (reliable $2)
3. Village variants (more actions)

4. Other cantrips (different benefits)

5. When to Skip Wishing Well

6. Better +Action sources available
7. Strong money needed early
8. Limited deck tracking potential

9. Rush strategies in play

10. Defending Against Wishing Well

11. Junking attacks reduce effectiveness
12. Deck order disruption
13. Forced shuffling

Optimization Techniques

1. Tracking Methods a) Mental tracking:
2. Remember last few cards played
3. Track key cards through deck
4. Note shuffle timing

b) Physical tracking: - Arrange discard pile visibly - Count key cards - Monitor opponent's actions

1. Probability Management
2. Calculate odds of specific cards
3. Track deck composition

4. Adjust guesses based on known information

5. Timing Optimization

6. Use early for key cards
7. Save for known information
8. Chain with other reveal effects

Common Mistakes to Avoid

1. Strategic Errors
2. Buying too many without support
3. Ignoring deck tracking opportunities

4. Poor naming choices

5. Tactical Mistakes

6. Using before necessary reveals
7. Forgetting about known information

8. Poor timing within turns

9. Deck Building Errors

10. Over-investing in tracking
11. Neglecting economy for Wells
12. Poor support card choices

Sample Strategies

1. Basic Engine
2. 2-3 Wishing Wells
3. Strong +Action support
4. Deck tracking components

5. Reliable payoff cards

6. Tracking-Heavy

7. Multiple Wells
8. Reveal effects
9. Deck manipulation

10. Specific target cards

11. Hybrid Approach

12. Limited Wells (1-2)
13. Basic tracking
14. Strong economy
15. Flexible purchasing

Kingdom Recommendations

Strong Kingdoms: 1. Wishing Well + Scrying Pool + Library 2. Wishing Well + Navigator + Laboratory 3. Wishing Well + Oracle + Village

Weak Kingdoms: 1. Gardens rush 2. Big Money dominant 3. Strong attack-based

Conclusion

Wishing Well is a subtle card that rewards careful play and attention to detail. Its strengths lie in: - Consistent performance (+1 Card, +1 Action) - Potential upside (extra draw) - Low cost ($3) - Tracking benefits - Engine support

Keys to success: 1. Active deck tracking 2. Strategic timing 3. Support card selection 4. Probability management 5. Kingdom context awareness

While not always a game-defining card, Wishing Well can be a valuable component in many strategies and particularly shines in kingdoms with strong tracking elements or need for reliable engine components. Its low cost and self-replacing nature make it a low-risk addition to many decks, while its potential upside rewards skilled play and careful attention to deck composition and order.

Remember that success with Wishing Well often comes down to information management and careful timing rather than raw power. Used thoughtfully, it can provide consistent value while occasionally delivering crucial cards exactly when needed.