Goons
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Goons (Prosperity)

Cost: $6

Type: Action-Attack

Text: +1 Buy\n+$2\nEach other player discards down to 3 cards in hand.\dWhile this is in play, when you buy a card, +1VP.

Strategy Review

Here's a comprehensive strategy guide for Goons:

Goons Strategy Guide

Goons is one of the most powerful cards in Dominion, combining three valuable effects: economy, attack, and VP generation. Its ability to generate VP tokens while in play makes it a cornerstone of many strong strategies and can lead to dramatic victories. Let's break down how to best utilize this powerful $6 card.

Core Strengths

  1. VP Generation
  2. The primary reason to buy Goons is its VP-generating ability
  3. Each buy while Goons is in play gives +1VP token
  4. Multiple Goons stack (2 Goons = 2VP per buy)
  5. VP tokens cannot be removed once gained

  6. VP tokens are hidden information during play

  7. Economic Boost

  8. +$2 is a solid payload
  9. +1 Buy enables multiple purchases to maximize VP generation

  10. Combines both elements needed for VP generation (money and buys)

  11. Attack Component

  12. Forces opponents to discard down to 3 cards
  13. Can significantly disrupt opponent's deck-building plans
  14. Multiple Goons stack for the attack (must discard to 3 once for each Goons played)

Key Strategic Considerations

  1. VP Generation Strategy a) Maximizing Buys
  2. Each buy generates VP, so more buys = more VP
  3. Consider cards that grant extra buys (Market, Grand Market, Festival)
  4. Villages + multiple Goons can enable multiple buys
  5. Even buying cheap cards becomes worthwhile for VP tokens

b) Timing Your Goons - Play all Goons before making purchases - Multiple Goons multiply VP gained per buy - Consider saving some purchases for turns when you have Goons in hand

  1. Building Your Engine

a) Core Components - Card draw to find Goons consistently - Village variants for multiple Goons plays - Additional buy-granting cards - Throne Room variants to multiply Goons effects

b) Support Cards - Throne Room/King's Court for multiple Goons activations - Laboratory/Smithy for card draw - Market/Worker's Village for extra buys - Bridge/Highway to reduce costs

  1. Common Strategies

a) Big Money + Goons - Simple but effective - Buy 2-3 Goons - Focus on treasure cards - Use natural deck cycling to play Goons regularly - Benefits from +Buy cards

b) Goons Engine - More complex but potentially stronger - Multiple Goons - Strong deck manipulation - Multiple buys per turn - Can generate massive VP token leads

c) Rush Strategy - Get Goons early - Focus on cheap cards to maximize VP generation - Might ignore Victory cards entirely - Particularly effective with cost reducers

Key Synergies

  1. Cost Reducers
  2. Bridge: Enables cheaper purchases, more buys for VP
  3. Highway: Similar to Bridge
  4. Quarry: Makes actions cheaper for more buys

  5. These enable more purchases per turn with Goons in play

  6. Multi-Action Cards

  7. Throne Room/King's Court: Multiply Goons effects
  8. Procession: Can upgrade Goons while getting double benefit

  9. Crown: Can use for actions or treasure phase

  10. +Buy Cards

  11. Market: Extra buy and deck cycling
  12. Grand Market: Powerful with multiple Goons
  13. Festival: Actions, buys, and coins

  14. Worker's Village: Village with +Buy

  15. Draw Engines

  16. Laboratory: Non-terminal draw
  17. Wharf: Strong draw and +Buy
  18. Hunting Party: Finds unique cards (including Goons)
  19. Council Room: Mass draw with +Buy

Counter-Strategy and Defense

  1. Defending Against Goons
  2. Watchtower can help protect hand size
  3. Horse Traders provides discard immunity
  4. Royal Seal helps ensure key cards stay on deck

  5. Hand size increasers (Library, Secure Storage) help maintain cards

  6. Racing Goons

  7. Sometimes better to compete for Goons than defend
  8. First player to establish Goons engine often wins

  9. Consider opening 5/2 to reach $6 faster

  10. Alternative Strategies

  11. Gardens strategy can compete if Goons player buys too many small cards
  12. Traditional VP card strategy can work if Goons player can't build engine
  13. Rush strategies might win before Goons engine fully develops

Timing and Gameplay Tips

  1. Early Game
  2. Prioritize reaching $6 for first Goons
  3. Consider skipping early Silver for actions that help reach $6

  4. Plan engine components based on available kingdoms

  5. Mid Game

  6. Focus on playing Goons every turn
  7. Build toward multiple Goons plays
  8. Start generating VP tokens consistently

  9. Consider whether to transition to green cards

  10. Late Game

  11. Track approximate VP token count
  12. Decide when to pivot to Victory cards
  13. Use Goons attack to disrupt opponent's final turns
  14. Consider whether to three-pile end game

Advanced Techniques

  1. VP Token Counting
  2. Keep mental track of VP tokens generated
  3. Consider opponent's potential VP token count

  4. Factor in hidden information for end-game decisions

  5. Engine Optimization

  6. Balance draw, actions, and payload
  7. Determine optimal number of Goons
  8. Calculate VP per turn potential

  9. Plan terminal space carefully

  10. Mixed Strategies

  11. Combine VP tokens with traditional Victory cards
  12. Balance engine building with VP generation
  13. Adapt strategy based on opponent's approach

Common Mistakes to Avoid

  1. Overvaluing Attack
  2. Don't focus too much on the discard attack
  3. VP generation is primary benefit

  4. Attack is bonus, not main strategy

  5. Insufficient +Buy

  6. Need multiple buys to maximize VP generation
  7. Don't rely solely on Goons' +Buy

  8. Include supporting +Buy cards

  9. Poor Timing

  10. Playing treasures before Goons
  11. Making purchases before playing all Goons
  12. Not tracking VP token generation

Kingdom Considerations

  1. Strong Kingdoms
  2. Multiple +Buy available
  3. Cost reducers present
  4. Strong draw engines possible

  5. Throne Room variants available

  6. Weak Kingdoms

  7. Limited draw
  8. No +Buy support
  9. Heavy cursing/junking
  10. Strong alt-VP present

Sample Build Orders

  1. Basic Goons Engine
  2. Turn 1-4: Silver/Economy
  3. Turn 5-6: First Goons
  4. Turn 7-9: Draw engine pieces

  5. Turn 10+: Additional Goons and +Buy

  6. Rush Goons

  7. Turn 1-4: Reach $6 ASAP
  8. Turn 5: First Goons

  9. Turn 6+: Focus on cheap cards and multiple buys

  10. Advanced Engine

  11. Turn 1-4: Engine components
  12. Turn 5-6: First Goons
  13. Turn 7-9: Additional engine pieces
  14. Turn 10+: Multiple Goons and support cards

Conclusion

Goons is a powerhouse card that can dominate games through VP token generation. Success requires: - Understanding timing of plays - Building appropriate support - Maximizing buys per turn - Balancing engine building with VP generation

The key is recognizing that while the attack is useful, the VP generation is the primary focus. Build your strategy around maximizing buys while Goons is in play, and you'll be well on your way to victory.

When Goons is in the kingdom, it's often correct to either go for Goons or have a specific plan to counter it. The card's power level demands respect and attention in any game where it appears.