Bishop (Prosperity)

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

Bishop Strategy Guide

Introduction Bishop is a unique card from Prosperity that combines several powerful effects: trashing, economy, and Victory Point (VP) generation. Its ability to continuously generate VPs while simultaneously helping to trim your deck makes it a versatile card that can contribute to both deck improvement and scoring. Understanding when and how to use Bishop effectively is key to maximizing its potential.

Core Mechanics and Basic Usage

1. Components of Bishop
2. +$1: Provides minor economy
3. +1VP: Guaranteed VP token regardless of what you trash
4. Mandatory self-trash: Must trash a card if possible
5. Optional opponent trashing: Can help or hurt opponents

6. VP from trashed card: Half the card's cost (rounded down)

7. Basic Operation Bishop is most basically used to:

8. Generate VP tokens consistently
9. Thin your deck of unwanted cards
10. Create a minor economic boost
11. Force difficult decisions on opponents

Key Strategic Elements

1. VP Generation Bishop generates VPs in two ways: a) Guaranteed +1VP token per play b) Additional VPs based on trashed card cost

VP Generation Examples: - Trashing Copper ($0): Just the base 1VP - Trashing Silver ($3): 1VP + 1VP = 2VP total - Trashing Gold ($6): 1VP + 3VP = 4VP total - Trashing Province ($8): 1VP + 4VP = 5VP total

1. Deck Thinning Bishop's mandatory trash effect makes it an effective deck thinner, particularly early in the game. Key considerations:
2. Can remove starting Coppers and Estates
3. Helps streamline your deck
4. Creates space for better cards

5. Can remove dead cards late game

6. Timing Considerations When to buy Bishop depends on several factors:

7. Early game: Focus on deck thinning
8. Mid game: Balance thinning and VP generation
9. Late game: Maximize VP generation

Optimal Strategy Approaches

1. Early Game Bishop ($4 cost) Advantages:
2. Immediate deck thinning
3. Starts VP accumulation early
4. Affordable price point

Early Game Priorities: a) Trash Estates when possible - Generates 2VP total (1 base + 1 from cost) - Removes a starting junk card

b) Remove Coppers selectively - Only generates base 1VP - Balance copper removal with needed economy

1. Mid Game Bishop Focus shifts to:
2. Trashing mid-value cards for points
3. Setting up end-game scoring potential

4. Maintaining deck efficiency

5. Late Game Bishop Priorities change to:

6. Maximizing VP generation
7. Trashing high-value cards
8. Racing to game end conditions

Key Synergies and Combinations

1. Card Cost Increasers Cards that increase costs work well with Bishop:
2. Bridge: Increases all card costs
3. Bridge Troll: Persistent cost increase

4. Highway: Decreases costs (less desirable)

5. Gainers and Extra Buys Cards that help acquire multiple cards:

6. Workshop: Gains $4 cost cards directly
7. Ironworks: Can gain Bishop for free

8. Multiple Bishops can accelerate VP generation

9. Card Draw and Actions Supporting cards that help find Bishop:

10. Laboratory: Draws without terminal collision
11. Village variants: Provide extra actions

12. Cantrips: Help cycle to Bishop

13. Trash for Benefit Cards Complementary trashers:

14. Chapel: Early game mass trashing
15. Salvager: Alternative benefit from trashing
16. Remodel: Transform cards while Bishop generates VP

Counter Strategies and Weaknesses

1. Main Weaknesses
2. Terminal action
3. Mandatory trashing can be awkward
4. Requires good cards to trash for VP

5. Can be too slow in fast kingdoms

6. Counter Strategies

7. Rush strategies can outpace Bishop VP generation
8. Cursing attacks can provide bad trash fodder

9. Action limitation can hamper Bishop effectiveness

10. Kingdom Considerations Bishop is weaker in:

11. Kingdoms with strong alt-VP
12. Fast engines with better VP generation
13. Kingdoms lacking good trash targets

Special Tactics and Considerations

1. Multi-Bishop Strategy Running multiple Bishops: Advantages:
2. More consistent VP generation
3. Faster deck thinning
4. Higher scoring potential

Disadvantages: - Terminal collision - May run out of good trash targets - Opportunity cost of multiple $4 purchases

1. Bishop Wars When multiple players go for Bishop:
2. Race to acquire Bishops early
3. Competition for trash targets

4. Importance of supporting infrastructure

5. Opponent Trashing Strategic considerations:

6. Can help opponents thin decks
7. May enable unwanted trash-for-benefit
8. Can force difficult decisions

Sample Bishop Strategies

1. Basic Bishop Engine Priority sequence: a) Buy 1-2 Bishops early b) Add deck drawing c) Include payload cards d) Maintain good trash targets e) Generate VPs consistently

2. Bishop/Gainer Combo Components:

3. Multiple Bishops
4. Workshop/Ironworks
5. Card draw
6. Economy Strategy:
7. Gain multiple Bishops quickly
8. Maintain stream of valuable cards

9. Generate VPs while thinning

10. Bishop Control Focus:

11. Single Bishop
12. Deck efficiency
13. Selective trashing
14. Steady VP generation

When to Skip Bishop

1. Kingdom Conditions Skip Bishop when:
2. Strong alt-VP present
3. Faster scoring engines available
4. Limited trash targets

5. Heavy cursing attacks

6. Opening Considerations Don't open Bishop if:

7. Critical $5 cards available
8. Need early economy
9. Better trashers present
10. Race condition exists

Timing Your Bishop Strategy

1. Opening Decision Consider Bishop opening when:
2. No strong $5 cards
3. Want early thinning
4. Plan long game

5. Good supporting cards

6. Mid-Game Transition Pivot to Bishop when:

7. Deck needs thinning
8. VP race is close
9. Have good trash targets

10. Can support terminal action

11. Endgame Considerations Bishop becomes stronger with:

12. High-value cards to trash
13. Multiple action capability
14. Need for steady VP generation

Advanced Bishop Tactics

1. Province Management
2. Consider trashing Provinces late game
3. Balance VP now vs. deck quality

4. Account for game end condition

5. Gold Management

6. Trashing Gold generates good VP
7. Balance economy needs

8. Consider replacement economy

9. Timing Optimization

10. Track opponent's deck status
11. Monitor Province pile
12. Plan terminal action sequencing

Kingdom Analysis Examples

1. Strong Bishop Kingdom Features:
2. Cost increasers
3. Good trashing targets
4. Action support

5. Slower alt-VP

6. Weak Bishop Kingdom Features:

7. Strong alt-VP
8. Limited trash targets
9. Action limitations
10. Fast end conditions

Conclusion

Bishop is a versatile card that requires careful strategic planning to use effectively. Its combination of deck thinning and VP generation makes it a powerful tool in many kingdoms, but understanding its limitations and optimal timing is crucial. Success with Bishop often depends on:

• Correct kingdom analysis
• Proper timing of acquisition
• Good supporting card choices
• Strategic trashing decisions
• Effective opponent reading

When played well, Bishop can provide a steady stream of VPs while improving deck quality, making it a valuable addition to many strategies. However, players must always consider the opportunity costs and kingdom context when deciding whether to incorporate Bishop into their strategy.

Remember: - Evaluate kingdom context carefully - Plan trash targets in advance - Balance VP generation with deck quality - Consider opponent reactions - Maintain supporting infrastructure

With proper understanding and application of these principles, Bishop can be a powerful tool for both deck improvement and victory point generation in your Dominion games.