Expand (Prosperity)

Here's a comprehensive strategy guide for Expand:

Expand Strategy Guide

Introduction Expand is a powerful but expensive trasher-gainer from Prosperity that allows you to upgrade cards in your deck. At $7, it represents a significant investment, but its flexibility and ability to improve your deck quality make it a valuable addition to many strategies.

Core Mechanics and Basic Usage

1. Fundamental Operation
2. Expand lets you trash any card from your hand and gain a card costing up to $3 more
3. The gained card goes to your discard pile
4. You must trash a card to gain one; you can't choose to trash nothing

5. Unlike Remodel, there's no requirement to gain a card that costs exactly $3 more

6. Key Advantages

7. Flexible upgrading of cards throughout the game
8. Can improve both treasure and action cards
9. Maintains deck size (one-for-one exchange)
10. Works well with both cheap and expensive cards
11. Can target any card type

Basic Strategic Applications

1. Early Game Uses
2. Converting early Copper into Silver ($0 → $3)
3. Upgrading Silver into Gold ($3 → $6)
4. Converting Estate into Silver ($2 → $5)

5. Transforming early game actions into mid-game power cards

6. Mid Game Uses

7. Upgrading Gold into Provinces ($6 → $8)
8. Converting redundant terminal actions into more valuable cards
9. Improving lower-cost engine components into stronger ones

10. Transitioning from money-focused cards to victory points

11. Late Game Uses

12. Converting excess money into Provinces
13. Transforming dead cards into victory points
14. Emergency defense against attacks by gaining reaction cards
15. Converting unneeded actions into victory cards

Optimal Targeting Strategies

1. Common Upgrade Paths From → To (Cost differences noted)
2. Copper → Silver (+$3)
3. Silver → Gold (+$3)
4. Gold → Province (+$2)
5. Estate → Duchy (+$3)
6. Duchy → Province (+$2)
7. $4 card → $7 card (+$3)

8. $5 card → $8 card (+$3)

9. Key Price Points to Consider

10. $3 gap maximum means careful planning of upgrades
11. Important breakpoints at $5 and $6 for accessing key cards
12. Province price point ($8) requires starting with at least $5
13. Colony games require multi-step upgrading

Advanced Strategies and Considerations

1. Engine Building a) Component Improvement
2. Upgrade cantrips into stronger draw cards
3. Convert terminal actions into non-terminal actions
4. Transform dead cards into engine pieces
5. Upgrade lower-value treasures into action cards

b) Engine Maintenance - Remove unnecessary duplicates - Add payload cards as needed - Balance draw and actions - Convert excess components into victory points

1. Big Money Enhancement
2. Systematic treasure upgrading
3. Converting early actions into money
4. Late-game conversion to Provinces

5. Maintaining optimal deck density

6. Rush Strategies

7. Quick conversion of starting cards into medium-cost cards
8. Rapid upgrading to Duchy/Province
9. Careful timing of victory card gains
10. Balancing deck quality with victory point acquisition

Timing and Execution

1. When to Buy Expand
2. Usually not a first-buy card due to cost
3. Often acquired after basic engine pieces or treasure
4. Better early in games where upgrading is crucial

5. Can be delayed if other $7 cards are more pressing

6. When to Play Expand

7. Early turns: Focus on improving economy
8. Mid-game: Enhance engine or convert to victory points
9. Late-game: Convert dead cards to points

10. Consider deck composition for next shuffle

11. Opportunity Cost

12. $7 cost means competing with other powerful cards
13. Consider whether immediate upgrading is needed
14. Balance against alternative strategies
15. Evaluate game length and pace

Synergies and Combinations

1. Strong Synergies a) Card Draw
2. Laboratory (draws after expanding)
3. Smithy (provides more options)
4. Library (helps find both Expand and targets)
5. Hunting Party (ensures diverse cards to upgrade)

b) Other Cards - Market (provides flexibility) - Village variants (allow multiple Expands per turn) - Throne Room/King's Court (multiple upgrades) - Treasury (reliable target and reshuffling)

1. Kingdom Card Interactions a) Beneficial Cards
2. Bridge (reduces costs, enabling new upgrade paths)
3. Royal Seal (top-deck gained cards)
4. Watchtower (control gained card location)
5. Mining Village (self-trash for immediate benefit)

b) Warehouse Effects - Cellar (dig for Expand or targets) - Warehouse (find optimal cards to upgrade) - Council Room (more options) - Vault (selective hand improvement)

Counter-Strategies and Weaknesses

1. Main Weaknesses
2. High initial cost
3. Requires good cards to upgrade from
4. Terminal action

5. Can be awkward with wrong hand composition

6. Counter-Play

7. Cursing attacks diminish upgrade options
8. Discard attacks reduce targeting flexibility
9. Junking strategies flood deck with poor targets
10. Fast rush strategies may end game before value realized

Special Considerations

1. Colony Games
2. Different upgrade paths needed
3. More emphasis on multiple Expands
4. Greater value in upgrading Provinces

5. Longer game length increases utility

6. Prosperity Components

7. Platinum provides new upgrade targets
8. Colony requires multi-step upgrading
9. Interaction with other expensive cards

10. Enhanced importance of economy

11. Mixed Strategy Considerations

12. Balance between engine and money
13. Timing of victory card acquisition
14. Handling terminal collision
15. Managing deck composition

Game State Analysis

1. Favorable Conditions
2. Long game expected
3. Strong economy established
4. Multiple valuable upgrade targets

5. Limited alternative $7 options

6. Unfavorable Conditions

7. Rush strategy opponent
8. Heavy attacking environment
9. Poor economy

10. Better alternative $7 cards

11. Board State Evaluation

12. Available upgrade targets
13. Alternative strategies
14. Game pace
15. Opponent's strategy

Implementation Tips

1. General Guidelines
2. Plan upgrade paths in advance
3. Consider next shuffle implications
4. Balance immediate vs. long-term gains

5. Watch opponent's strategy

6. Common Mistakes to Avoid

7. Over-investing in multiple copies
8. Upgrading too early without economy
9. Neglecting engine development

10. Poor timing of victory card gains

11. Advanced Techniques

12. Chaining multiple Expands
13. Strategic deck thinning
14. Victory point conversion timing
15. Multi-turn planning

Conclusion

Expand is a versatile card that requires careful strategic planning and good timing to use effectively. Its strength lies in its flexibility to improve nearly any card in your deck and adapt to changing game conditions. While the $7 cost is significant, the ability to systematically upgrade your deck while maintaining size makes it a powerful tool in many strategies.

Key Takeaways: 1. Plan upgrade paths carefully 2. Consider timing and game phase 3. Balance with other strategic needs 4. Adapt usage to board context 5. Watch for synergies and counters

Success with Expand comes from understanding both its immediate tactical uses and its role in your overall strategy. Whether using it to build an engine, enhance a money strategy, or convert to victory points, proper timing and targeting are crucial for maximizing its potential.