Here's a comprehensive strategy guide for Forge:

Forge Strategy Guide

Overview

Forge is a powerful but complex $7-cost trasher from Prosperity that allows you to combine the values of multiple cards to gain a single more expensive card. While its high cost makes it challenging to acquire early, Forge can be a key piece in both engine and big money strategies, offering unique opportunities for deck improvement and acceleration.

Key Strengths

1. Flexible trashing that can handle multiple cards at once
2. Ability to convert multiple low-value cards into a single high-value card
3. Can improve deck quality by consolidating value
4. No upper limit on number of cards that can be trashed
5. Works well with copper and other cheap cards

Key Limitations

1. High cost ($7) makes it difficult to acquire early
2. Must hit exact cost values
3. Only gains one card per use
4. Takes up an action
5. Cannot overpay or underpay

Basic Use Cases

Early Game

In the early game, Forge is primarily useful for:

• Trashing starting Coppers and Estates together to gain mid-cost cards
• Converting multiple $2-$3 cards into a single more impactful card
• Streamlining your deck by consolidating value

Common early-game combinations: - Estate ($2) + Copper ($0) = Silver ($3) - 2x Copper + Estate = Silver - 2x Estate = $4 card - Silver ($3) + Estate ($2) = Gold ($6)

Mid Game

Mid-game uses focus on:

• Converting multiple mediocre cards into powerful cards
• Trashing multiple treasure cards to gain Provinces
• Removing early-game cards that have outlived their usefulness

Late Game

Late-game applications include:

• Converting multiple cards into Provinces or Colonies
• Trashing Victory cards that are no longer needed
• Final deck thinning for consistency

Advanced Strategies

Engine Building

In engine contexts, Forge serves several valuable purposes:

1. Component Upgrading
2. Convert multiple cheap engine pieces into more expensive ones
3. Upgrade cantrips into more powerful draw cards

4. Consolidate redundant components into unique effects

5. Deck Thinning

6. Remove unnecessary treasures as engine develops
7. Clear out early-game support cards

8. Maintain engine consistency

9. Victory Card Management

10. Convert green cards into useful actions during building phase
11. Help hit exact Province/Colony price points
12. Remove early Duchies/Estates once engine is running

Money Strategies

In Big Money variants, Forge can be particularly effective:

1. Value Concentration
2. Convert multiple Silvers into Golds
3. Combine Coppers and Silvers for higher-value treasures

4. Remove Estates while gaining better cards

5. Province Buying

6. Convert multiple treasures directly into Provinces
7. Maintain deck quality while greening
8. Hit exact cost points without overpaying

Key Cost Points

Understanding important cost combinations is crucial for effective Forge use:

Province ($8) - Gold ($6) + Estate ($2) - 2x Silver ($3) + Estate ($2) - 4x Copper ($0) + Gold ($6)

Colony ($11) - Gold ($6) + Gold ($6) - requires other cards - 2x Gold ($6) + Multiple Coppers

Gold ($6) - 2x Silver ($3) - Silver ($3) + Estate ($2) + Copper ($0) - 3x Estate ($2)

Synergies

Strong Combinations

1. Card Draw
2. Laboratory, Smithy, Council Room
3. Helps find multiple cards to forge together

4. Increases chances of hitting desired cost points

5. Other Trashers

6. Chapel, Steward, Trading Post
7. Provides alternative trashing options

8. Helps manage hand composition

9. Gainers

10. Workshop, Ironworks, Mining Village
11. Helps acquire useful components

12. Provides fodder for forging

13. Treasury

14. Can return to deck when needed
15. Provides reliable treasure

16. Helps hit exact costs

17. Cost Reducers

18. Highway, Bridge
19. Creates new cost combinations
20. Increases flexibility

Payload Cards

Forge works particularly well with:

1. King's Court/Throne Room
2. Multiple forges in one turn
3. Greater deck transformation

4. More opportunities to hit costs

5. Grand Market

6. Helps remove Coppers
7. Provides strong buying power

8. Good target for forging

9. Bank

10. Creates interesting cost combinations
11. Benefits from treasure concentration
12. Synergizes with treasure management

Counter-Strategies

When to Skip Forge

Avoid Forge when:

1. Kingdom lacks valuable upgrade targets
2. Other strong $7 cards are available
3. Game pace is too fast for setup
4. Trashing is already well-covered
5. Cost combinations don't align well

Countering Forge Strategies

When opponents have Forge:

1. Racing
2. Push pace with faster strategies
3. Focus on immediate point gains

4. Don't allow setup time

5. Denial

6. Compete for key components
7. Control important pile sizes

8. Contest cost points

9. Alternative Paths

10. Develop independent strategy
11. Focus on different victory conditions
12. Avoid direct competition

Kingdom Considerations

Favorable Kingdoms

Forge shines when:

1. Multiple Price Points
2. Various useful cards at different costs
3. Good upgrade targets available

4. Flexible cost combinations

5. Supporting Components

6. Card draw present
7. Additional trashing available

8. Cost modification effects

9. Slower Pace

10. Time to set up combinations
11. Multiple rounds of deck cycling
12. Limited rush potential

Unfavorable Kingdoms

Avoid heavy Forge investment when:

1. Rush Elements
2. Gardens strategies
3. Early Province pressure

4. Fast alt-VP

5. Poor Targets

6. Few valuable upgrade options
7. Awkward cost spacing

8. Better alternatives at similar prices

9. Limited Support

10. No card draw
11. Poor treasure access
12. Competing action requirements

Timing Considerations

Opening Strategy

Early Forge ($7 start) Pros: - Early access to powerful effects - Maximum time for impact - Sets up long-term strategy

Cons: - Difficult to support initially - May be too slow - Requires specific support

Key Decision Points

1. First Forge Play
2. Consider hand composition
3. Evaluate available gains

4. Plan future turns

5. Transition Timing

6. When to start removing engine pieces
7. Balance between utility and upgrades

8. Victory card management

9. Endgame Conversion

10. When to start acquiring points
11. Managing deck composition
12. Final efficiency calculations

Common Mistakes

1. Over-Investment
2. Buying too many Forges
3. Focusing too heavily on combinations

4. Neglecting other strategy elements

5. Poor Planning

6. Not calculating combinations ahead
7. Failing to track pile sizes

8. Mismanaging cost points

9. Inappropriate Use

10. Trashing useful cards too early
11. Making lateral moves

12. Ignoring opportunity cost

13. Timing Errors

14. Buying too late
15. Converting to victory cards too early
16. Missing key power spikes

Advanced Tips

1. Cost Tracking
2. Keep mental note of common combinations
3. Plan several turns ahead

4. Consider opponent's options

5. Pile Management

6. Monitor key card availability
7. Track opponent's likely targets

8. Plan alternative gains

9. Hand Reading

10. Calculate probable draws
11. Plan multiple turn sequences

12. Prepare backup plans

13. Efficiency Optimization

14. Minimize dead cards
15. Maximize value concentration
16. Balance trashing rate

Variant Considerations

Multiplayer Games

In 3+ player games:

1. Increased Competition
2. More pile pressure
3. Shared upgrade targets

4. Complex interaction timing

5. Modified Timing

6. Slower setup window
7. Different rush calculations

8. Altered pile depletion

9. Political Elements

10. Target selection impact
11. Pile control dynamics
12. Tactical considerations

Prosperity Specific

When playing with Prosperity components:

1. Colony/Platinum
2. New cost points available
3. Different upgrade paths

4. Modified timing considerations

5. Treasure Density

6. Higher value possibilities
7. Modified money strategy
8. New combination options

Conclusion

Forge is a powerful but complex card that rewards careful planning and strategic thinking. Its ability to consolidate value and upgrade cards makes it a valuable addition to many strategies, but its high cost and exact pricing requirements demand careful consideration. Success with Forge comes from understanding its role in your strategy, planning combinations effectively, and timing its use appropriately.

Key takeaways: 1. Plan combinations carefully 2. Consider kingdom context 3. Time purchases appropriately 4. Balance with other elements 5. Monitor game pace 6. Track available targets

Used well, Forge can be a game-changing card that significantly improves deck quality and enables powerful strategies. However, it requires careful setup and support to reach its full potential.