Faithful Hound (Nocturne)

Here's a comprehensive strategy guide for Faithful Hound:

Faithful Hound Strategy Guide

Introduction Faithful Hound is a $2 Action-Reaction card from the Nocturne expansion that provides +2 Cards when played and has a unique reaction ability that lets you recover it when discarded outside of Clean-up. This seemingly simple card offers surprising tactical depth and versatility, making it a valuable addition to many strategies.

Basic Mechanics Let's first understand exactly how Faithful Hound works: - As an Action, it draws 2 cards - When discarded at any time except during Clean-up phase, you can set it aside - If set aside, it automatically returns to your hand at the end of the turn - The reaction is optional - you don't have to set it aside when discarded - Multiple Faithful Hounds can be set aside and will all return to hand

Core Strengths 1. Card Draw - Provides reliable +2 Cards for just $2 - Functions as a cheap Laboratory variant (though without +1 Action) - Helps cycle through deck quickly in early game

1. Discard Protection
2. Protects against forced discards from attacks
3. Can recover from voluntary discards for benefit

4. Creates interesting tactical options with discard-for-benefit cards

5. Hand Size Management

6. Allows for strategic hand sculpting
7. Can maintain larger hand sizes across turns
8. Helps enable certain combo strategies

Primary Use Cases

1. Early Game Draw Faithful Hound shines in the opening stages of the game:
2. Strong $2 opening buy
3. Helps find key $5 cards more consistently
4. Pairs well with other early game cards

5. Improves consistency of hitting important price points

6. Attack Defense The reaction ability provides protection against:

7. Militia/Torturer type attacks
8. Ghost Ship effects
9. Discard attacks in general

10. Allows maintaining hand size through attacks

11. Combo Enabler Faithful Hound works particularly well with:

12. Cards that discard for benefit
13. Draw-to-X effects
14. Hand size matters cards
15. Duration effects that care about next turn's hand

Key Interactions

Strong Synergies

1. Discard For Benefit Cards
2. Trading Post: Discard Hound, get silver, get Hound back
3. Vault: Draw cards now, get Hound back later
4. Cellar: Can discard and recover Hounds while drawing
5. Secret Cave: Helps meet discard requirements while recovering

6. Market Square: Trigger gold gain while keeping Hound

7. Draw-To-X Cards

8. Library: Can discard Hound and get it back later
9. Watchtower: Similar to Library interaction
10. Jack of all Trades: Can discard during draw phase

11. Scholar: Enables full hand refresh while keeping Hound

12. Duration Cards

13. Wharf: Maintain larger hand size across turns
14. Fishing Village/Village Green: Action chains next turn
15. Gear: Strategic hand composition planning

16. Archive: Long-term hand management

17. Deck Inspection

18. Oracle: Can strategically discard during reveal
19. Scout: Additional options during reveals
20. Harbinger: Can recover discarded Hounds
21. Navigator: More flexibility in decisions

Counter Synergies

1. Terminal Draw Competition
2. Other terminals without +Actions
3. Heavy action chains

4. Cards requiring specific timing

5. Clean-up Phase Effects

6. Cannot recover during Clean-up
7. Hermit/Market Square timing conflicts
8. Inn shuffle timing considerations

Purchasing Strategy

Early Game ($2-$3 Decisions) Faithful Hound is often a strong opening buy when: - No strong $3 cards available - Kingdom lacks early draw - Attack protection needed - Combo pieces present

Consider skipping when: - Strong $3 alternatives exist - Heavy terminal collision likely - Better reaction cards available - Fast game likely

Mid-Game Considerations Additional copies can be valuable if: - Original copy proving useful - More draw needed - Attack protection important - Combo potential exists

Late Game Usually poor late purchases due to: - Deck dilution concerns - Limited remaining turns - Better alternatives usually available - Terminal draw less valuable

Number of Copies

Optimal number depends on strategy: 1-2 copies: - Basic draw engine - Attack protection - Light combo support

3-4 copies: - Heavy combo focus - Strong discard synergies - Draw-to-X strategies

5+ copies: - Rarely optimal - Can work with specific combos - Usually better alternatives

Game Stage Tactics

Opening (Turns 1-4) - Consider as opening buy - Use for early draw - Find key cards faster - Enable early combos

Mid-Game (Turns 5-10) - Leverage reaction ability - Enable larger combos - Protect against attacks - Build engine consistency

Late Game (Turns 11+) - Support final combos - Maintain hand size - Enable finishing moves - Consider trashing extras

Advanced Techniques

1. Hand Size Management
2. Strategically discard during attacks
3. Maintain specific hand sizes
4. Enable certain combos

5. Plan for future turns

6. Timing Considerations

7. When to use reaction
8. Planning discard timing
9. Turn sequence optimization

10. Combo timing

11. Multi-Card Combinations

12. Chaining multiple effects
13. Complex combo enabling
14. Turn optimization
15. Resource management

Counter-Play

Playing Against Faithful Hound

1. Attack Considerations
2. Attack effects less effective
3. Multiple attacks more important
4. Timing of attacks matters

5. Consider alternative strategies

6. Pace of Game

7. Faster strategies can work
8. Rushing can prevent combos
9. Province dancing more viable

10. Alt-VP may be stronger

11. Deck Control

12. Trash attacks more effective
13. Deck inspection valuable
14. Shuffle timing important
15. Card order matters more

Kingdom Considerations

Strong Kingdoms

1. Discard Benefits
2. Multiple discard outlets
3. Clear combo potential
4. Strong action support

5. Draw chain enablers

6. Attack Heavy

7. Multiple discard attacks
8. Hand size attacks
9. Reveal/discard effects

10. Multiple attack types

11. Engine Focused

12. Strong action support
13. Clear combo pieces
14. Multiple gain effects
15. Duration synergies

Weak Kingdoms

1. Big Money
2. Limited action usage
3. No clear synergies
4. Fast game pace

5. Better alternatives

6. Rush

7. Too slow for rush
8. Limited impact
9. Better cheap cards

10. Time pressure

11. Alt-VP Focus

12. Limited contribution
13. Better support needed
14. Tempo concerns
15. Resource competition

Special Considerations

1. Multiplayer Games
2. Attack protection more valuable
3. Hand size management important
4. Combo timing different

5. More interactive possibilities

6. Colony Games

7. Longer game length helps
8. More combo potential
9. Greater engine value

10. More copies viable

11. Shelter Games

12. Different opening considerations
13. Necropolis synergy
14. Timing adjustments
15. Different trash priorities

Common Mistakes to Avoid

1. Overbuying
2. Too many copies
3. Wrong timing
4. Better alternatives available

5. Deck dilution

6. Poor Reaction Timing

7. Missing optimal moments
8. Wrong discard choices
9. Bad combo timing

10. Wasteful uses

11. Strategy Misalignment

12. Wrong context
13. Poor kingdom fit
14. Bad combo choices

15. Incorrect support

16. Tactical Errors

17. Poor hand management
18. Bad timing decisions
19. Missed opportunities
20. Wasteful plays

Conclusion

Faithful Hound is a versatile $2 card that offers: - Reliable early game draw - Strong attack protection - Combo potential - Hand size management

Success requires: - Clear strategic vision - Good timing - Proper support - Kingdom awareness

Best used in: - Engine builds - Combo decks - Attack heavy kingdoms - Draw chain strategies

Consider carefully: - Kingdom context - Number of copies - Timing of purchases - Support cards

Master these aspects to maximize Faithful Hound's potential in your games.