Ghost (Nocturne)

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

Ghost Strategy Guide

Introduction Ghost is a unique Night-Duration card from the Nocturne expansion that allows you to set up powerful Action plays for your next turn. Its ability to play an Action card twice makes it particularly potent with the right targets, but it comes with several important constraints and considerations that players need to understand to use it effectively.

Key Characteristics: - Night-Duration card costing $4 - Not in the Supply (gained through other means) - Reveals cards until finding an Action - Plays that Action twice on your next turn

How to Obtain Ghost Since Ghost isn't in the Supply, you'll need specific cards to gain it: - Cemetery (can gain Ghost when trashing) - Devil's Workshop (can gain Ghost as one of its options) - Necromancer (can play Ghost from the trash) Understanding these acquisition methods is crucial for planning your strategy around Ghost.

Core Strategic Considerations

1. Deck Composition The effectiveness of Ghost heavily depends on:
2. Action density in your deck
3. Quality of Action cards available
4. Consistency of hitting desired Actions

Having too few Actions makes Ghost unreliable, while too many might make it difficult to hit your preferred target. Aim for a deck with 30-40% Actions when focusing on Ghost strategies.

1. Timing Considerations Ghost's delayed effect means you need to think ahead:
2. Playing Ghost commits you to specific Actions next turn
3. Can't respond to opponent's moves as flexibly

4. May need to sequence multiple Ghosts carefully

5. Action Selection When revealing cards for Ghost, you can't choose which Action you get - you must take the first one revealed. This makes deck control particularly important.

Optimal Targets for Ghost

1. Terminal Draw
2. Laboratory variants
3. Smithy

4. Council Room Double-playing draw cards helps build explosive turns and improves consistency.

5. Villages

6. Village variants
7. Fishing Village

8. Native Village Getting extra Actions helps chain multiple effects together.

9. Payload Cards

10. Witch
11. Monument

12. Bridge Cards that generate significant benefits from being played multiple times.

13. Engine Pieces

14. Market
15. Worker's Village
16. Festival Cards that provide multiple benefits become extremely efficient when doubled.

Strong Synergies

1. Deck Control Cards that help manipulate your deck improve Ghost's reliability:
2. Scrying Pool
3. Sage

4. Oracle These help ensure Ghost hits desired targets.

5. Duration Synergies Ghost works well with other Duration effects:

6. Fishing Village
7. Wharf

8. Caravan These create powerful multi-turn sequences.

9. Card Draw Having strong draw helps find your Ghosts:

10. Laboratory
11. Hunting Party

12. Library Consistent access to Ghost improves its impact.

13. Trashing Streamlining your deck makes Ghost more reliable:

14. Chapel
15. Steward
16. Trading Post Removing non-Actions increases consistency.

Specific Combo Examples

1. Ghost + Bridge
2. Double Bridge effect reduces costs significantly
3. Can enable mega-turn strategies

4. Particularly strong with multiple Ghosts

5. Ghost + Draw Cards

6. Double Laboratory draws 4 cards
7. Double Smithy draws 6 cards

8. Creates explosive draw potential

9. Ghost + Terminal Attack

10. Double Witch forces 2 Curses
11. Double Militia creates severe pressure

12. Can rapidly deteriorate opponent's deck

13. Ghost + Village Variants

14. Ensures Action chains next turn
15. Creates reliable engine operation
16. Enables complex combinations

Counter Strategies

1. Rush Strategies
2. Fast Province rush can outpace Ghost setups
3. Duchy rush in appropriate situations

4. Colony rush with strong treasures

5. Deck Pollution

6. Curse givers
7. Ruins

8. Locusts Making opponent's deck less Action-dense reduces Ghost's effectiveness.

9. Alternative Victory Paths

10. Gardens
11. Silk Road
12. Duke These can win before Ghost engines fully develop.

Advanced Techniques

1. Ghost Chaining Playing multiple Ghosts on consecutive turns requires careful planning:
2. Track Action card positions
3. Consider draw effects

4. Manage deck shuffling

5. Mixed Duration Sequencing When combining Ghost with other Duration cards:

6. Plan activation order
7. Consider resource availability

8. Maximize benefit timing

9. Reserve Management With Reserve cards in play:

10. Time calls strategically
11. Consider next turn's needs
12. Plan for contingencies

Common Mistakes to Avoid

1. Over-investing
2. Don't focus too heavily on acquiring Ghosts
3. Balance with other strategic needs

4. Maintain economic development

5. Poor Target Selection

6. Avoid setting up weak double plays
7. Consider opportunity cost

8. Plan for opponent's responses

9. Insufficient Support

10. Don't ignore deck control
11. Maintain enough Actions
12. Build proper engine infrastructure

Kingdom Analysis

When evaluating Ghost in a kingdom:

1. Action Quality
2. Are there strong Actions worth doubling?
3. Do benefits scale well?

4. Are targets reliable?

5. Support Cards

6. Is deck control available?
7. Are there complementary engine pieces?

8. What acquisition methods exist?

9. Competition

10. What alternative strategies exist?
11. How fast is the kingdom?
12. What counter-plays are available?

Opening Considerations

Early Game Priorities: 1. Establish gaining mechanism for Ghost 2. Develop basic economy 3. Add key Action cards 4. Build deck control

When to Skip Ghost: - Low-quality Action cards - Better alternative strategies - Insufficient support cards - Too much competition

Multi-Player Considerations

In 3+ Player Games: - Attack effects become stronger - Resource competition increases - Timing becomes more critical - Kingdom depletion accelerates

Adaptation is crucial as more players affect: - Card availability - Strategy viability - Game pace - Counter-play options

Cost-Benefit Analysis

Pros: - Powerful double-play effect - Night card (doesn't compete with Actions) - Creates strong engine potential - Enables powerful combinations

Cons: - Not in Supply (limited access) - Delayed effect - Can't choose Action target - Requires deck support

Conclusion

Ghost is a powerful card that requires careful planning and support to use effectively. Success depends on: - Proper deck construction - Strategic timing - Strong target selection - Appropriate kingdom context

When properly supported, Ghost can enable some of the strongest engines and combinations in Dominion. However, it requires significant investment and understanding to use optimally.

Tips for Success: 1. Plan your deck composition carefully 2. Build reliable gaining mechanisms 3. Develop strong support infrastructure 4. Time your plays strategically 5. Maintain flexibility in strategy

Remember that Ghost is a tool, not a strategy itself. It works best as part of a larger plan that considers the entire kingdom context and game situation.

Sample Turn Sequences

Early Game: Turn 1-2: Develop economy Turn 3-4: Establish Ghost gaining Turn 5-6: Add key Actions Turn 7+: Begin Ghost engine

Mid Game: - Chain multiple Ghosts - Build Action density - Develop winning trajectory - Counter opponent's strategy

Late Game: - Maximize Ghost value - Time victory point acquisition - Maintain engine consistency - Close out the game

By understanding these aspects of Ghost strategy, players can better evaluate when and how to incorporate this powerful card into their gameplay.