Rabble
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Rabble (Prosperity)

Cost: $5

Type: Action-Attack

Text: +3 Cards\nEach other player reveals the top 3 cards of his deck, discards the revealed Actions and Treasures, and puts the rest back on top in any order he chooses.

Strategy Review

Here's a comprehensive strategy guide for Rabble:

Rabble Strategy Guide

Introduction Rabble is a powerful $5 Action-Attack card from Prosperity that combines strong card draw with a potentially devastating attack. Its dual nature as both a terminal draw card and an attack makes it an interesting strategic option that can fit into multiple deck types. Understanding when and how to use Rabble effectively requires careful consideration of both its benefits and limitations.

Core Benefits

  1. Card Draw
  2. +3 Cards makes Rabble one of the stronger terminal draw cards in Dominion
  3. Helps you see more of your deck each turn
  4. Can enable larger hand sizes for playing more valuable cards
  5. Particularly useful in engines that need to see specific combinations of cards

  6. Attack Element

  7. Forces opponents to discard Actions and Treasures from their top 3 cards
  8. Can significantly disrupt opponent deck composition
  9. Particularly effective against decks relying on specific Action combinations
  10. Can slow down treasure-based Big Money strategies

Key Strengths

  1. Terminal Draw Power
  2. At +3 cards, Rabble provides excellent deck cycling
  3. Helps find key cards more consistently
  4. Can enable larger hands for more impactful turns
  5. Works well with cards that benefit from having more options in hand

  6. Selective Discard Attack

  7. Unlike most attacks, Rabble specifically targets Actions and Treasures
  8. Particularly effective against engine decks relying on Action chains
  9. Can seriously hamper treasure-based strategies
  10. Allows Victory cards to remain, which can clog opponent decks

  11. Information Gathering

  12. Forces opponents to reveal cards, giving you insight into their deck composition
  13. Helps inform strategic decisions about timing attacks or adjusting your strategy
  14. Can reveal when opponents are vulnerable or about to have strong turns

Limitations and Weaknesses

  1. Terminal Action
  2. Takes up an Action without providing +Actions
  3. Requires villages or other +Action cards to play multiple Rabbles
  4. Can cause action collision in hands with multiple Rabbles
  5. May compete with other important terminal actions

  6. Attack Limitations

  7. Doesn't affect Victory cards
  8. Less effective against decks with high Victory card density
  9. Can be blocked by Reaction cards like Moat
  10. May help opponents organize their deck if they have beneficial Victory cards

  11. Opportunity Cost

  12. At $5, competes with other powerful cards in the same price range
  13. May not always be the optimal $5 purchase
  14. Requires careful timing of purchases to maximize effectiveness

Using Rabble Effectively

  1. Early Game Strategy
  2. Consider Rabble as an early $5 purchase when:
  3. The kingdom lacks strong alternative $5 cards
  4. Opponents are likely to build engine-based strategies
  5. You need reliable card draw
  6. There are good village cards available
  7. Often worth getting 1-2 copies early to establish board presence

  8. Mid-Game Considerations

  9. Balance Rabble quantity with other deck needs
  10. Ensure sufficient +Actions if acquiring multiple copies
  11. Watch opponent strategies to gauge Rabble's attack effectiveness
  12. Consider transitioning away from Rabble if attack becomes less relevant

  13. Late Game Usage

  14. May become less effective as decks fill with Victory cards
  15. Can help find key cards for final turns
  16. Attack portion may help delay opponent scoring
  17. Consider trashing Rabbles if they become less useful

Synergies and Combinations

  1. Village Cards
  2. Any village card helps enable multiple Rabble plays
  3. Notable examples:
  4. Village
  5. Festival
  6. Market
  7. Worker's Village
  8. City

  9. Duration Cards

  10. Cards that provide +Actions on future turns work well:
  11. Fishing Village
  12. Haven
  13. Mining Village

  14. Card Draw Enhancers

  15. Cards that benefit from larger hand sizes:
  16. Library
  17. Watchtower
  18. Grand Market
  19. King's Court

  20. Deck Inspection Cards

  21. Combine with cards that let you manipulate your deck:
  22. Scrying Pool
  23. Oracle
  24. Spy
  25. Scout

Counter Strategies

  1. Reaction Cards
  2. Moat blocks the attack
  3. Horse Traders can help mitigate the impact
  4. Tunnel can turn the attack into a benefit

  5. Victory Card Focus

  6. Emphasizing Victory cards reduces attack effectiveness
  7. Gardens strategies naturally resist Rabble
  8. Duke/Duchy combinations remain relatively unaffected

  9. Deck Composition Adjustments

  10. Keep Action density lower to reduce vulnerability
  11. Consider using fewer, more impactful Actions
  12. Maintain good balance of card types

  13. Alternative Strategies

  14. Focus on one-shot effects rather than engine building
  15. Use gain-to-hand effects to bypass deck order
  16. Emphasize on-gain or on-buy effects

Timing and Tempo Considerations

  1. Purchase Timing
  2. Early Rabble can establish strong presence
  3. Mid-game Rabble requires support cards
  4. Late-game Rabble may be less impactful

  5. Play Sequencing

  6. Play early in turn to maximize drawn cards' utility
  7. Consider opponent deck composition when timing attacks
  8. Watch for crucial moments in opponent strategies

  9. Multiple Rabble Timing

  10. Space out Rabble plays when possible
  11. Consider opponent recovery capability
  12. Watch for diminishing returns

Kingdom Considerations

  1. Favorable Kingdoms
  2. Strong village presence
  3. Limited reaction cards
  4. Engine-dependent strategies
  5. Limited alternate draw options

  6. Unfavorable Kingdoms

  7. Heavy reaction card presence
  8. Victory card focused strategies
  9. Strong alternate $5 cards
  10. Limited +Action availability

Advanced Techniques

  1. Deck Tracking
  2. Monitor opponent discard piles
  3. Track Victory card distribution
  4. Anticipate opponent deck cycles

  5. Multi-player Considerations

  6. Attack impact multiplies with more players
  7. Consider table position when purchasing
  8. Watch for collective resistance strategies

  9. Engine Integration

  10. Balance Rabble quantity with engine needs
  11. Consider alternative draw sources
  12. Plan action management carefully

Sample Strategies

  1. Rabble Engine
  2. Multiple Rabbles
  3. Strong village support
  4. Supplementary draw cards
  5. Victory card gaining capability

  6. Rabble Support

  7. 1-2 Rabbles
  8. Focus on other engine components
  9. Use attack as disruption rather than primary strategy
  10. Maintain flexibility in strategy

  11. Hybrid Approach

  12. Mixed use of Rabble
  13. Balanced card types
  14. Adaptable to game state
  15. Multiple win conditions

Conclusion

Rabble is a versatile card that combines strong draw power with a potentially devastating attack. Its effectiveness varies significantly based on kingdom composition and opponent strategies. Success with Rabble requires careful consideration of:

  • Kingdom context and available support cards
  • Opponent strategies and vulnerabilities
  • Timing of purchases and plays
  • Balance between draw power and attack utility
  • Overall deck composition and strategy

When used effectively, Rabble can be a powerful tool for both building your own deck and disrupting opponent plans. However, it requires thoughtful integration into your strategy and careful attention to game state to maximize its impact.

Remember that Rabble's effectiveness can vary significantly from game to game, and flexibility in approach is often key to successful implementation. Consider the specific context of each game when deciding how heavily to invest in Rabble strategy.

Tips for Success

  1. Don't over-invest in Rabble without sufficient support
  2. Watch opponent strategies to gauge attack effectiveness
  3. Balance Rabble quantity with other deck needs
  4. Consider kingdom context when planning Rabble strategy
  5. Maintain flexibility in strategic approach
  6. Monitor attack impact and adjust accordingly
  7. Pay attention to deck composition and action density

With careful consideration of these factors and proper implementation of the strategies discussed, Rabble can be a powerful addition to many deck types and a significant factor in game outcomes.