Monument (Prosperity)

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

Monument Strategy Guide

Introduction Monument is a unique $4 action card from Prosperity that provides both economic and victory point benefits. As one of the few cards that can generate victory points during the game rather than just at final scoring, Monument occupies an interesting strategic space that can enable alternative paths to victory.

Basic Properties - Costs $4 - Provides +$2 when played - Gives +1 VP token immediately when played - Is non-terminal (doesn't use up your action)

Core Strengths 1. VP Generation During Play The most distinctive feature of Monument is its ability to generate VP tokens during the game rather than just providing victory points at game end. This has several important implications: - VP tokens can't be taken away - They don't dilute your deck like victory cards - They accumulate gradually throughout the game - They're tracked separately from card-based victory points

1. Economic Value The +$2 bonus makes Monument economically efficient:
2. Pays for itself in 2 plays
3. Helps reach important price points

4. Provides ongoing economic benefit alongside VP generation

5. Non-Terminal Nature Being non-terminal means:

6. Can be played alongside other actions
7. Doesn't compete for limited action slots
8. Chains well with other cards
9. Doesn't require villages or other action suppliers

Key Strategic Considerations

1. Timing of Acquisition

Early Game: - Generally not a priority opening buy - Can be worthwhile as a second or third purchase - Competes with other important $4 cards

Mid Game: - Prime time to add Monuments - Deck should be stable enough to play them reliably - Early enough to accumulate meaningful VP

Late Game: - Less valuable as VP generation time decreases - Still useful if deck can play multiple copies - Consider opportunity cost vs. victory cards

1. Quantity to Buy

Factors affecting optimal Monument count: - Game length/pace - Deck drawing capability - Competition for $4 price point - Alternative VP sources - Terminal space available

General guidelines: - 2-3 copies minimum for meaningful impact - 4-5 copies in drawing engines - Up to 6-8 in specialized Monument-focused strategies

1. Deck Composition Considerations

Monument works best in: - Decks with good drawing - Non-terminal heavy builds - Engines that can play multiple actions - Decks that maintain good money density

Less effective in: - Terminal-heavy decks - Big Money variants - Decks focused on one-shot gains - Strategies requiring rapid green card acquisition

Synergies and Combinations

1. Card Drawing Strong synergies with:
2. Laboratory
3. Council Room
4. Library

5. Hunting Party These help ensure Monuments are drawn and played consistently.

6. Duration Cards Good pairs with:

7. Wharf
8. Fishing Village

9. Caravan These provide actions and draw across multiple turns, maximizing Monument plays.

10. Villages Beneficial with:

11. Festival
12. Worker's Village

13. Mining Village Allow playing multiple Monuments alongside other actions.

14. Throne Room Effects Powerful doubles with:

15. Throne Room
16. King's Court

17. Crown Double or triple the VP and money gains.

18. Other VP Token Generators Combines well with:

19. Bishop
20. Goons
21. Groundskeeper Create multiple VP token streams.

Counter-Strategies and Weaknesses

1. Speed Issues
2. Relatively slow VP accumulation
3. Requires multiple plays to generate significant points

4. Can be outpaced by traditional VP card strategies

5. Opportunity Cost

6. Competes with other important $4 cards
7. Uses deck space that could go to engine pieces

8. May delay crucial power card acquisitions

9. Vulnerability to:

10. Cursing attacks (dilute deck)
11. Discard attacks (reduce plays)
12. Hand size reduction (limits action capacity)

Sample Strategies

1. Basic Monument Engine Key components:
2. 3-4 Monuments
3. Strong deck drawing
4. Village support

5. Money density maintenance Goal: Consistent Monument plays while maintaining purchasing power

6. Monument Mass Key components:

7. 6+ Monuments
8. Multiple Throne Room effects
9. Heavy drawing

10. Action multiplication Goal: Maximum VP token generation through multiple Monument plays

11. Hybrid Approach Key components:

12. 2-3 Monuments
13. Traditional VP cards
14. Balanced engine building
15. Flexible purchase strategy Goal: VP tokens as supplement to normal scoring

Situational Considerations

1. Kingdom Context Consider Monument more strongly when:
2. Few alternative VP sources available
3. Attack cards threaten victory card strategies
4. Long game likely
5. Strong drawing support present

Avoid heavy Monument investment when: - Fast Province rush possible - Critical alternative $4 cards present - Limited action processing available - Strong alt-VP cards available

1. Player Count Impact Two Players:
2. More time to accumulate VP tokens
3. Easier to control game pace
4. Can focus more on engine building

Three+ Players: - Less time before game end - More competition for key cards - May need to pivot to traditional VP faster

Implementation Tips

1. Early Game
2. Establish reliable deck drawing first
3. Secure key engine pieces before heavy Monument investment

4. Consider one early Monument if $4 opens available

5. Mid Game

6. Add Monuments once engine functioning
7. Balance Monument quantity with other needs

8. Maintain money density

9. Late Game

10. Track VP token count vs. opponent scoring
11. Consider pivoting to green cards if behind
12. Use Monuments for supplemental gains

Common Mistakes to Avoid

1. Over-Investment
2. Buying too many too early
3. Neglecting engine development

4. Ignoring traditional VP cards

5. Under-Investment

6. Getting too few to matter
7. Adding them too late

8. Missing VP token accumulation window

9. Poor Support

10. Insufficient deck drawing
11. Too many terminals
12. Weak money base

Advanced Techniques

1. VP Token Tracking
2. Keep careful count of VP tokens
3. Compare to opponent's visible VP

4. Calculate breakeven points vs. Provinces

5. Timing Optimization

6. Plan Monument purchases around deck shuffles
7. Coordinate with other engine pieces

8. Balance with victory card acquisition

9. End Game Transitions

10. Know when to switch to green cards
11. Calculate VP token potential vs. Province rush
12. Consider 3-pile ending threats

Conclusion

Monument is a versatile card that provides both economic benefit and victory point generation. Its success depends heavily on proper timing, quantity, and support infrastructure. While not always a game-dominating strategy, Monument can be a powerful tool in the right circumstances and with appropriate deck construction.

Key Takeaways: - Timing and quantity are crucial - Requires proper deck support - Works best in drawing engines - Consider kingdom context carefully - Balance with traditional VP strategies - Track VP tokens meticulously

When properly implemented, Monument strategies can provide a strong alternative or supplement to traditional victory point accumulation, while maintaining deck functionality throughout the game. Success with Monument requires careful planning, good timing, and appropriate support cards, but can be very rewarding when executed well.