Cemetery (Nocturne)

Here's a comprehensive strategy guide for Cemetery in Dominion:

Cemetery Strategy Guide

Introduction Cemetery is a unique Victory card from the Nocturne expansion that offers both deck-thinning capabilities and victory points while also replacing one of your starting Coppers with a Haunted Mirror. This multi-faceted card requires careful consideration of timing and synergies to maximize its potential.

Key Features 1. Provides 2 Victory Points 2. Allows trashing up to 4 cards when gained 3. Replaces a starting Copper with Haunted Mirror 4. Costs $4

Basic Strategy Considerations

1. Early-Game Acquisition Cemetery presents an interesting early-game decision. At $4, it's accessible in many opening hands, but getting it early comes with both advantages and drawbacks:

Advantages: - Early deck-thinning opportunity - Removes starting cards when your deck is still small - Gets Haunted Mirror into your deck sooner - Secures 2VP early

Disadvantages: - Takes up a draw that could be used for economy - May not have optimal cards to trash yet - Could slow down early engine building

1. The Trashing Effect The ability to trash up to 4 cards when gaining Cemetery is powerful but situational. Key considerations:

2. You must have cards in hand to trash

3. It's optional and flexible (can trash 0-4 cards)
4. Works only when gaining, not when buying
5. Can't trash cards from your deck or discard pile

Optimal Trashing Targets: 1. Copper (unless needed for specific strategies) 2. Estate 3. Curse cards 4. Weak early-game cards you no longer need 5. Action cards that have become redundant

1. The Haunted Mirror Factor

The Haunted Mirror is a key component of Cemetery's strategy:

Haunted Mirror Rules: - Worth $1 like Copper - When trashed, you may discard an Action card to gain a Ghost - Ghost is a powerful Duration card that can play Action cards from your deck

Strategic Implications: - Provides motivation to include trashing - Creates potential for Ghost-based strategies - Makes Action cards more valuable to hold

Timing and Strategic Decisions

1. Early Game (Turns 1-5) Opening with Cemetery:
2. Consider if your other opening card can provide sufficient economy
3. Best paired with a strong $5 card like Market or Festival
4. More attractive if the kingdom has strong trashing options
5. Better in kingdoms where $3 cards are particularly strong

Skip Cemetery early if: - Strong engine components are available - Alternative trashing is abundant - Economy is crucial and limited

1. Mid Game (Turns 6-12) Mid-game considerations:
2. Better when you have cards worth trashing
3. Can help transition from early-game cards to late-game strategy
4. Valuable if Ghost strategies are relevant

5. Consider opportunity cost vs. other $4 cards

6. Late Game (Turn 13+) Late-game factors:

7. Primarily bought for VP
8. Trashing becomes less important
9. Consider if Ghost production is still valuable
10. Watch deck density

Synergies and Combinations

1. Strong Synergies

Trashing Synergies: - Trading Post: Converts Haunted Mirror into Silver - Salvager: Can trash Cemetery for $4 - Chapel: Makes managing Haunted Mirror easier - Forge: Can combine with Cemetery's trashing

Ghost-Related Synergies: - Laboratory variants: Great targets for Ghost - Draw-to-X cards: Help find Action cards to discard - Villages: Support multiple Ghosts - Duration cards: Excellent Ghost targets

Economy Synergies: - Market Square: Profits from trashing Haunted Mirror - Tunnel: Can be discarded for Ghost activation - Bridge: Makes Cemetery more accessible

1. Anti-Synergies

2. Cards requiring Copper (Loan, Counterfeit)

3. Decks needing high treasure density
4. Kingdoms with limited Actions
5. Fast province rush strategies

Building Around Cemetery

1. Ghost-Focused Strategy Requirements:
2. Strong Action cards in kingdom
3. Reliable trashing for Haunted Mirror
4. Card draw to find Action cards
5. Duration cards preferred

Implementation: 1. Acquire Cemetery early 2. Build basic engine components 3. Establish trashing mechanism 4. Convert Mirrors to Ghosts 5. Use Ghosts to power engine

1. Deck-Thinning Strategy Focus:
2. Maximize initial trashing
3. Combine with other trashers
4. Build lean, efficient deck

Implementation: 1. Open Cemetery + trasher 2. Aggressively thin deck 3. Build focused strategy 4. Add selective payload cards

1. Hybrid Approach Balancing:
2. Moderate trashing
3. Selective Ghost creation
4. VP accumulation
5. Engine building

Counter Strategies

1. Opposing Cemetery
2. Rush strategies to end game before Ghost engines mature
3. Attacks that give Copper
4. Cursing attacks to fill hand with untrashable cards

5. Junking attacks to reduce Action card availability

6. Defending Against Cemetery

7. Maintain Action card density
8. Keep economy robust
9. Watch Ghost accumulation
10. Consider matching Cemetery purchases

Kingdom Considerations

1. Favorable Kingdoms
2. Strong Action cards present
3. Multiple trashing options
4. Duration cards available
5. Card draw abundant

6. Alternative VP sources exist

7. Unfavorable Kingdoms

8. Limited Actions
9. Copper-dependent strategies
10. Rush-friendly boards
11. Heavy attack presence
12. Poor trashing options

Multiplayer Considerations

2-Player Games: - Ghost strategies more reliable - Trashing more impactful - VP race less intense - Mirror control more important

3+ Player Games: - Ghost strategies harder to assemble - VP competition more relevant - Need faster execution - Consider pile emptying

Sample Strategies

1. Basic Ghost Engine Opening: Cemetery + Silver Build: Village variants, draw cards Mid-game: Convert Mirrors to Ghosts End-game: Balance VP gathering with engine maintenance

2. Thin-and-Win Opening: Cemetery + Chapel Focus: Aggressive trashing Mid-game: Build efficient deck End-game: Traditional VP accumulation

3. Hybrid Control Opening: Cemetery + trasher Build: Balanced economy and actions Mid-game: Selective Ghost creation End-game: Multiple paths to victory

Common Mistakes to Avoid

1. Overvaluing Ghosts
2. Don't force Ghost strategies
3. Consider kingdom support

4. Balance with other priorities

5. Poor Trashing Choices

6. Don't trash economy too aggressively
7. Keep Action cards for Ghost activation

8. Consider future needs

9. Timing Errors

10. Getting Cemetery too early
11. Converting Mirrors at wrong time
12. Neglecting VP accumulation

Advanced Tips

1. Ghost Management
2. Track Ghost pile
3. Plan Action card retention

4. Consider opponent's access

5. Mirror Timing

6. Don't rush conversions
7. Consider economy needs

8. Watch Action card availability

9. Trashing Optimization

10. Plan multi-turn sequences
11. Consider deck composition
12. Watch for timing windows

Conclusion

Cemetery is a sophisticated card that requires careful planning and execution. Its success depends heavily on kingdom context, timing, and strategic alignment. While its VP value provides a floor on its utility, the true power comes from optimizing its various components - trashing, Ghost production, and deck composition management.

The key to mastering Cemetery is understanding when to emphasize each of its aspects and how to balance them within your overall strategy. Whether focusing on its trashing capability, Ghost production potential, or simply its VP value, Cemetery can be a powerful addition to many strategies when used thoughtfully and in appropriate kingdoms.

Remember that Cemetery's flexibility is both its strength and its challenge - successful use requires reading the kingdom context correctly and adapting your approach accordingly. With practice and careful consideration of the factors outlined above, Cemetery can be a valuable tool in your Dominion strategy arsenal.