Contraband (Prosperity)

Here's a comprehensive strategy guide for Contraband:

Contraband Strategy Guide

Introduction: Contraband is a unique treasure card from Prosperity that offers a significant economic boost with a notable drawback. At $5 cost, it provides $3 and an extra Buy, but lets your opponent restrict your purchasing options. Understanding when and how to use Contraband effectively requires careful consideration of both its benefits and limitations.

Core Benefits: 1. Economic Efficiency - Provides $3 for a $5 investment - More efficient than Silver ($2 for $3) - Extra Buy provides valuable flexibility - Can accelerate early-game economy

1. Extra Buy Value
2. Enables multiple purchases in one turn
3. Synergizes with other extra Buy effects
4. Allows splitting purchases across price points
5. Particularly valuable in engines that generate lots of money

Key Limitations: 1. Opponent Control - Left-hand opponent names an unbuyable card - Can severely restrict strategic options - Opponent can block key cards - Multiple Contrabands allow multiple blocks

1. Predictability
2. Opponent knows you have buying power
3. Telegraph's your likely purchases
4. Can lead to effective blocking
5. May force suboptimal plays

Optimal Usage Scenarios:

1. Early Game Contraband can be an excellent early-game purchase when:
2. Kingdom lacks strong $5 options
3. Multiple viable strategies exist
4. Building basic economy is priority

5. Extra Buy enables valuable split purchases

6. Alternative Victory Path Games Strong when:

7. Multiple viable Victory cards exist
8. Gardens strategies are viable
9. Duke/Duchy splitting is important

10. Victory card flexibility matters less

11. Engine Building Useful in engines where:

12. Multiple components are interchangeable
13. Card draw isn't severely restricted
14. Economy needs acceleration
15. Extra Buy enables component acquisition

Strategic Considerations:

1. Timing of Play
2. Play early in Buy phase if seeking specific cards
3. Play later if flexibility is needed
4. Consider opponent's blocking priorities

5. Account for other treasures available

6. Number of Contrabands

7. Single Contraband often manageable
8. Multiple create compounding restrictions
9. Consider diminishing returns

10. Balance with other treasures

11. Position in Turn Order

12. More valuable with passive left-hand opponent
13. Riskier with experienced opponent
14. Consider table dynamics
15. Adapt strategy to opponent tendencies

Synergies:

1. Extra Buy Effects Strong with:
2. Market
3. Grand Market
4. Festival
5. Worker's Village

6. Multiple payload cards

7. Alternative Victory Paths Works well with:

8. Gardens
9. Duke
10. Silk Road

11. Multiple victory card strategies

12. Flexible Engines Complements:

13. Village/Draw engines
14. Multiple action chains
15. Card-gaining effects
16. Non-buying acquisition

Counter-Strategies:

1. As Opponent When naming cards:
2. Block essential engine pieces
3. Prevent key victory cards
4. Disrupt known strategies

5. Force suboptimal purchases

6. As Player To mitigate restrictions:

7. Maintain flexible strategy
8. Build redundant components
9. Utilize non-purchase gaining
10. Consider trashing Contraband late-game

Specific Kingdom Considerations:

1. Strong Contraband Kingdoms
2. Multiple viable $5 cards
3. Alternative gaining methods
4. Split pile strategies

5. Engine redundancy

6. Weak Contraband Kingdoms

7. Single essential $5 card
8. Critical unique components
9. Terminal draw dependency
10. Limited strategic paths

Example Scenarios:

1. Early Game Split Starting hand: $5 Options: a) Buy Contraband
2. Enables future 3/2 splits
3. Accelerates economy
4. Risks restrictions b) Buy Market
5. Reliable but slower
6. No opponent control
7. More predictable path

Decision factors: - Kingdom composition - Opponent skill level - Strategic flexibility - Economic needs

1. Mid-Game Engine Situation: Building Village/Smith engine Considerations:
2. Contraband enables multiple component buys
3. Opponent can block critical pieces
4. Alternative components available
5. Economic acceleration needed

Approach: - Buy if redundant components exist - Skip if engine relies on specific cards - Consider timing of purchase - Plan for restrictions

Advanced Techniques:

1. Multi-Contraband Management When playing multiple Contrabands:
2. Sequence plays carefully
3. Track opponent blocks
4. Maintain flexibility

5. Consider trashing excess

6. Bluffing

7. Telegraph false priorities
8. Hide strategic intentions
9. Force suboptimal blocks

10. Maintain uncertainty

11. Late Game Transitions Consider:

12. Trashing Contraband
13. Shifting to other treasures
14. Timing victory card purchases
15. Managing opponent blocks

Specific Match-ups:

1. vs. Big Money Strengths:
2. Accelerates economy
3. Extra Buy valuable
4. Flexible purchasing
5. Less critical blocking

Weaknesses: - Province block hurts - Telegraphs buying power - Can slow victory rush - May need trashing

1. vs. Engines Strengths:
2. Enables component acquisition
3. Accelerates setup
4. Multiple useful targets
5. Buy flexibility valuable

Weaknesses: - Critical pieces blocked - Can disrupt timing - May need alternatives - Requires adaptation

1. vs. Rush Strengths:
2. Speeds early game
3. Enables pile pressure
4. Split purchase power
5. Economic boost

Weaknesses: - Key cards blocked - May be too slow - Victory card vulnerability - Timing critical

Kingdom Analysis Examples:

1. Village/Smithy Kingdom Contraband evaluation:
2. Positive: Enables multiple component buys
3. Negative: Critical pieces blocked
4. Consideration: Component redundancy

5. Decision: Situational buy

6. Gardens Kingdom Contraband evaluation:

7. Positive: Split purchase power
8. Negative: Victory card blocking
9. Consideration: Alternative victory paths

10. Decision: Often worthwhile

11. Grand Market Kingdom Contraband evaluation:

12. Positive: Economic acceleration
13. Negative: Grand Market block
14. Consideration: Alternative strategies
15. Decision: Usually skip

Practical Tips:

1. Purchase Timing
2. Early game: Consider economy needs
3. Mid game: Evaluate engine requirements
4. Late game: Assess victory path

5. Endgame: Consider trashing

6. Play Sequence

7. Plan treasure sequence
8. Account for blocks
9. Maintain flexibility

10. Consider alternatives

11. Opponent Reading

12. Track blocking patterns
13. Anticipate priorities
14. Adapt strategy
15. Force difficult choices

Common Mistakes:

1. Over-investment
2. Too many Contrabands
3. Insufficient flexibility
4. Ignored blocking impact

5. Poor timing

6. Poor Planning

7. Unmanaged restrictions
8. Ignored alternatives
9. Inflexible strategy

10. Late game problems

11. Tactical Errors

12. Bad play sequence
13. Missed opportunities
14. Poor block management
15. Insufficient adaptation

Conclusion:

Contraband is a complex treasure that requires careful consideration of both its benefits and drawbacks. Success with Contraband depends on: - Kingdom composition - Strategic flexibility - Opponent skill - Proper timing - Careful management

Key takeaways: 1. Value the economic boost and extra Buy 2. Maintain strategic flexibility 3. Consider opponent dynamics 4. Plan for restrictions 5. Adapt as needed

When used properly, Contraband can accelerate economy and enable powerful turns, but requires careful planning and adaptation to overcome its limitations. Understanding when to buy, how to use, and when to transition away from Contraband is crucial for maximizing its potential while minimizing its drawbacks.

Final Tips: - Stay flexible in strategy - Track opponent tendencies - Plan for restrictions - Consider alternatives - Manage carefully - Adapt as needed - Think long-term - Practice timing

This understanding of Contraband's strengths, weaknesses, and optimal usage scenarios will help improve your game and make better decisions when encountering this card in kingdoms.