Crypt (Nocturne)

Here's a comprehensive strategy guide for Crypt:

Crypt Strategy Guide

Introduction Crypt is a $5 Night-Duration card from Nocturne that allows you to set aside Treasures from play and gradually retrieve them over subsequent turns. This unique ability makes it a powerful engine component and deck-thinner that requires careful timing and strategic consideration to use optimally.

Core Mechanics and Basic Usage

1. Timing
2. Crypt is played in the Night phase, after you've played your Treasures for purchases
3. You can set aside any number of Treasures that are in play
4. Each turn thereafter, you get one Treasure back into your hand

5. The order of return is chosen by you when you set them aside

6. Key Benefits

7. Guaranteed Treasure draw each turn
8. Deck thinning effect (temporarily removes Treasures from shuffle)
9. Hand smoothing across multiple turns
10. Protection from attacks that hit the deck/discard pile

Basic Strategic Principles

1. Treasure Selection When deciding which Treasures to set aside with Crypt, consider:
2. Your deck's current composition
3. Expected number of shuffles before seeing cards again
4. Which Treasures you'll need most urgently

5. Terminal payload considerations

6. Quantity Decision The optimal number of Treasures to set aside varies based on:

7. Game phase (early/mid/late)
8. Deck size and shuffle frequency
9. Alternative drawing capabilities
10. Risk of dead draws

Advanced Strategies

1. Early Game Usage Early game Crypt strategies typically focus on:
2. Setting aside 2-3 Coppers to thin deck
3. Reserving key special Treasures
4. Maintaining enough buying power for critical $5-$6 purchases

5. Supporting early engine development

6. Mid-Game Optimization As the game progresses:

7. Consider setting aside larger quantities of Treasure
8. Prioritize special Treasures with unique abilities
9. Use as complement to engine drawing

10. Plan for upcoming shuffle timing

11. Late Game Considerations In the endgame:

12. Focus on Province-buying power
13. Consider Victory card rush timing
14. Manage deck entropy
15. Counter opponent's closing strategies

Specific Treasure Interactions

1. Basic Treasures Copper:
2. Good early-game target to thin deck
3. Less valuable in developed engines
4. Consider keeping some accessible for emergencies

Silver: - Solid mid-game target - Balance between setting aside and keeping available - More valuable in slogs than engines

Gold: - Usually best kept in deck for immediate use - Consider crypting if deck is very efficient - Good late-game target when ensuring Province buys

1. Special Treasures

Platinum: - Excellent Crypt target - Guarantees high-value turns - Consider deck's shuffle timing

Bank: - Complex interaction requiring careful planning - Can set aside after getting full value - Consider impact on future Banks in deck

Venture: - Generally poor Crypt target - Loses chain potential when isolated - Better kept in deck for natural draws

Key Combinations

1. Draw Engines Crypt works exceptionally well with:
2. Laboratory variants
3. Hunting Party effects
4. Village/Draw combinations
5. Caravan/Duration drawers

Benefits: - Ensures consistent Treasure access - Reduces deck variance - Supports payload reliability

1. Throne Room Effects Strong synergies with:
2. Throne Room
3. King's Court
4. Crown
5. Procession

Considerations: - Multiple Crypts can layer effectively - Can set aside different Treasures for each copy - Manages multiple streams of guaranteed Treasure

1. Special Treasure Enablers Particularly effective with:
2. Bank
3. Grand Market
4. Hoard
5. Fortune

Counter-Strategies and Weaknesses

1. Attack Vulnerability Crypt is susceptible to:
2. Duration-targeting attacks
3. Hand-size reduction effects

4. Forced discard effects

5. Opportunity Cost Consider:

6. $5 price point competition
7. Action density requirements
8. Terminal Night slot usage

9. Setup time investment

10. Deck Composition Impact Potential drawbacks:

11. Can create dead draws
12. May reduce shuffle beneficial effects
13. Can strand key components

Timing and Tempo

1. Purchase Timing Optimal Crypt purchase windows:
2. Early: Turn 3-4 with $5 opening
3. Mid: When engine components are established

4. Late: When securing key Treasures becomes critical

5. Playing Sequence Important considerations:

6. Play after using Treasures for purchases
7. Consider other Night card interactions
8. Plan for next turn's requirements
9. Account for opponent's likely moves

Kingdom Considerations

1. Favorable Kingdoms Crypt shines with:
2. Strong engine components
3. Special Treasure presence
4. Limited attack pressure

5. Duration synergies

6. Challenging Kingdoms Less effective with:

7. Heavy attack presence
8. Competing Night cards
9. Rush strategies
10. Treasure-light approaches

Strategic Tips and Tricks

1. Optimization Techniques
2. Track shuffle timing carefully
3. Plan several turns ahead
4. Consider opponent's strategy

5. Maintain flexibility in retrieval order

6. Common Mistakes to Avoid

7. Over-crypting Treasures
8. Neglecting deck balance
9. Ignoring opponent's capabilities

10. Missing critical timing windows

11. Advanced Tactics

12. Use as pseudo-deck tracker
13. Leverage information advantage
14. Control shuffle timing
15. Manipulate opponent's decisions

Sample Strategies

1. Engine Support Components:
2. Multiple Crypts
3. Strong draw engine
4. Village support
5. Special Treasures

Execution: 1. Establish engine base 2. Add Crypts strategically 3. Set aside special Treasures 4. Maintain consistent power turns

1. Big Money Variant Components:
2. 1-2 Crypts
3. High-value Treasures
4. Minimal actions
5. Support cards

Execution: 1. Acquire key Treasures 2. Setup Crypt protection 3. Ensure Province-buying power 4. Control game tempo

Edge Cases and Special Situations

1. Three-Player Games Considerations:
2. Increased competition for cards
3. Modified timing windows
4. Complex interaction tracking

5. Adjusted strategy selection

6. Colony Games Adjustments:

7. Higher value Treasure priority
8. Extended game length planning
9. Modified engine requirements
10. Platinum handling

Conclusion

Crypt is a versatile card that requires careful planning and execution to use effectively. Its ability to smooth out deck performance, protect key Treasures, and ensure consistent access to buying power makes it a valuable addition to many strategies. Success with Crypt comes from:

• Understanding timing and quantity decisions
• Managing deck composition effectively
• Leveraging synergies with other cards
• Adapting to game state and opponent strategy

The card's unique position as a Night-Duration card adds complexity to its use but also provides opportunities for sophisticated play patterns that can significantly impact game outcomes.

Key Takeaways: 1. Plan carefully for quantity and timing 2. Consider deck composition impact 3. Leverage synergies appropriately 4. Maintain strategic flexibility 5. Track shuffle timing 6. Counter opponent's strategies

With proper understanding and application of these principles, Crypt can be a powerful tool in your Dominion strategy arsenal, capable of supporting various approaches and contributing to consistent victory conditions.