Zombie Spy (Nocturne)

Here's a comprehensive strategy guide for Zombie Spy:

Zombie Spy Strategy Guide

Introduction Zombie Spy is a $3 Action-Zombie card from the Nocturne expansion that provides +1 Card, +1 Action, and lets you look at and potentially discard the top card of your deck. While appearing simple at first glance, Zombie Spy offers interesting strategic possibilities and deck control opportunities.

Basic Characteristics - Cost: $3 - Types: Action, Zombie - Effects: +1 Card, +1 Action, deck inspection and optional discard - Being a Zombie type is relevant for other Nocturne cards

Core Functions

1. Cycling The primary function of Zombie Spy is as a cantrip (an action that replaces itself with a card draw and provides an additional action). This means it's generally action-neutral and card-neutral, making it safe to include in most decks without disrupting your engine.

2. Deck Control The ability to look at your top card and choose whether to keep or discard it provides a form of deck control that can be valuable in many situations:

3. Removing unwanted cards from your next draw
4. Making more informed decisions about your current turn
5. Setting up your next turn

6. Gaining information about what's coming up

7. Deck Tracking The peek ability helps you track your deck composition and make better decisions about:

8. Whether to buy certain cards
9. When to reshuffle
10. How to sequence your remaining actions

Key Strengths

1. Low Opportunity Cost At $3, Zombie Spy is relatively cheap and competes with few other powerful cards in its price range. This makes it an easier addition to your deck in the early game.

2. Non-Terminal Being non-terminal (providing +1 Action) means you can play multiple Zombie Spies in the same turn without blocking other actions.

3. Information Gathering The ability to see what's coming next can inform your decisions about:

4. Whether to buy certain cards
5. How to sequence remaining actions
6. Whether to use effects that care about the top card of your deck

Weaknesses

1. Limited Impact
2. Doesn't add cards to your hand
3. Doesn't generate money or victory points
4. Only looks at one card at a time

5. Can't put cards back in a different order

6. Opportunity Cost While $3 is cheap, there are often more impactful cards available at this price point, such as:

7. Silver
8. Villages in some kingdoms
9. Attack cards
10. Other utility cards

Strategic Considerations

1. Early Game In the opening rounds, consider Zombie Spy when:
2. You want to thin your deck of starting Coppers and Estates
3. The kingdom lacks strong $3 alternatives
4. You're planning an engine strategy that benefits from cantrips
5. You want to increase your deck's consistency

Avoid opening with Zombie Spy when: - Silver is critical for reaching important price points - Strong $3 terminals are available - The kingdom favors big money strategies

1. Mid Game During the middle game, Zombie Spy becomes useful for:
2. Managing deck composition
3. Supporting engine building
4. Improving draw consistency

5. Setting up combinations

6. Late Game In the endgame, Zombie Spy can help:

7. Find crucial cards
8. Manage green card density
9. Control when reshuffles happen
10. Track opponent's likely purchases through pile counts

Synergies and Combinations

1. Draw Effects Zombie Spy works well with cards that care about your deck's top card:
2. Oracle
3. Wishing Well
4. Navigator

5. Vagrant

6. Discard Benefits Cards that benefit from discarding combine effectively:

7. Market Square
8. Tunnel
9. Faithful Hound

10. Haven

11. Engine Components Zombie Spy supports engine building through:

12. Increasing action density
13. Providing deck control
14. Supporting card draw

15. Enabling combinations

16. Zombie Synergies Being a Zombie type matters for:

17. Necropolis
18. Crypt
19. Other Zombie cards from Nocturne

Advanced Strategies

1. Deck Tracking Use Zombie Spy to:
2. Track green card density
3. Monitor shuffle timing
4. Plan future turns

5. Assess probability of drawing key cards

6. Discard Decisions Consider discarding when:

7. The top card would interfere with current plans
8. You want to access cards deeper in your deck
9. The card would be more valuable later
10. You're setting up specific combinations

Keep the card when: - It's useful for your next turn - You need to maintain deck composition - You want to protect against attacks - The card enables specific strategies

1. Timing Considerations Think about:
2. Playing Zombie Spy early in your turn to inform decisions
3. Using it late to set up your next turn
4. Coordinating with shuffle timing
5. Sequencing with other actions

Counter Strategies

1. Opposing Zombie Spy When opponents have Zombie Spy:
2. Expect more consistent play
3. Watch for signs of deck tracking
4. Consider junking attacks

5. Pay attention to discard patterns

6. Alternative Approaches Instead of Zombie Spy, consider:

7. Silver for money density
8. Villages for action support
9. Stronger $3 cards
10. Different deck control methods

Kingdom Considerations

1. Favorable Kingdoms Zombie Spy shines when:
2. Engine building is viable
3. Deck control is valuable
4. Card combinations matter

5. Information is important

6. Unfavorable Kingdoms Avoid heavy investment in Zombie Spy when:

7. Big money is dominant
8. Strong attacks are present
9. Better $3 options exist
10. Quick strategies are preferred

Sample Strategies

1. Engine Building
2. Open Zombie Spy + $4 card
3. Add draw and actions
4. Use deck control to find key pieces

5. Build toward strong combinations

6. Combo Support

7. Acquire specific combo pieces
8. Use Zombie Spy for consistency
9. Control deck composition

10. Execute combinations reliably

11. Deck Control

12. Maintain beneficial card ratios
13. Manage green card density
14. Control shuffle timing
15. Optimize draw probability

Quantity Guidelines

1. Light Support (1-2 copies)
2. Basic deck control
3. Minimal investment
4. Backup plans

5. Flexible strategies

6. Medium Investment (3-4 copies)

7. Consistent deck control
8. Engine support
9. Regular information

10. Reliable effects

11. Heavy Investment (5+ copies)

12. Maximum control
13. Strong engine building
14. Frequent peek effects
15. Optimal consistency

Tips and Tricks

1. General Advice
2. Track discarded cards
3. Monitor opponent's strategies
4. Plan several turns ahead

5. Consider shuffle timing

6. Specific Techniques

7. Use early for information
8. Save for crucial moments
9. Coordinate with other effects

10. Time with reshuffles

11. Common Mistakes

12. Over-investing in Zombie Spy
13. Ignoring better alternatives
14. Discarding too aggressively
15. Missing key combinations

Conclusion

Zombie Spy is a utility card that provides consistent, if modest, benefits through deck control and information gathering. While not typically a game-winning card on its own, it can support various strategies and improve deck consistency. Success with Zombie Spy comes from understanding its role in your overall strategy and using its abilities to make better decisions throughout the game.

The key to using Zombie Spy effectively is recognizing when its benefits outweigh the opportunity cost of acquiring it instead of other cards. In the right kingdom and strategy, it can be a valuable support piece that helps your deck run more smoothly and consistently. However, it's important not to over-invest in Zombie Spy at the expense of more impactful cards that directly contribute to your victory condition.

Remember that Zombie Spy's strength lies not in its immediate impact but in the cumulative advantage of making better-informed decisions throughout the game. Use it wisely, and it can be a reliable tool in your Dominion strategy arsenal.