Here's a comprehensive strategy guide for Improve:

Improve Strategy Guide

Overview

Improve is a $3 Action card from Renaissance that serves two distinct purposes: providing $2 in your Action phase and offering a selective trashing/gaining mechanism during Clean-up. Its unique timing and specific cost-increase requirement make it an interesting card with several strategic applications.

Basic Characteristics

Strengths

• Provides economy (+$2)
• Allows controlled upgrading of Action cards
• Clean-up phase timing creates unique opportunities
• Can improve multiple cards if you have multiple copies
• Doesn't take up an Action when performing the upgrade

Weaknesses

• Requires exact cost matching (+$1)
• Only works on Action cards
• Must be a card you would discard from play
• Cannot improve Victory cards or Treasures

Core Strategic Uses

1. Early Game Economy

As a $3 cost card that gives +$2, Improve can serve as early game economy. While not as efficient as Silver, the upgrading ability makes it more versatile in the long run. In the first few turns, the +$2 helps reach important price points like $5 and $6.

2. Engine Development

Improve shines in engine decks where you're playing multiple Action cards each turn. It allows you to gradually upgrade your cheaper Actions into more powerful ones while maintaining deck velocity.

3. Card Cycling

By upgrading cards, you're effectively thinning your deck of lower-value Actions while gaining better ones. This helps improve your deck's overall quality over time.

Timing Considerations

Clean-up Phase Timing

The upgrade happens at the start of Clean-up, which has several important implications:

1. Cards that stay in play until Clean-up (like Duration cards) can be improved
2. You can improve cards that were played multiple times in a turn
3. The gained card goes directly to your discard pile
4. You can't improve cards that were already discarded earlier in the turn

Duration Card Interactions

Duration cards present special opportunities with Improve: - You can improve a Duration card when it's finally ready to be discarded - This allows you to get value from the Duration effect and then upgrade it - Examples include improving Fishing Village into Laboratory or Caravan into Wharf

Key Card Combinations

Strong Synergies

1. Throne Room Effects

• Throne Room variants let you play an Action multiple times
• The card still only gets discarded once, so you get multiple uses before improving
• Examples: Throne Room, King's Court, Crown

2. Cost Reducers

• Cards that reduce costs create new improving opportunities
• Bridge, Highway, and similar effects open up new upgrade paths
• Cost reduction can help hit exact cost requirements

3. Villages

• Small villages that cost $3 or less can be improved into stronger cards
• Native Village → Library
• Village → Laboratory
• Fishing Village → Council Room

4. Cantrips

• Cheap cantrips can be upgraded into more powerful Actions
• Harbinger → Laboratory
• Vassal → Smithy
• Pearl Diver → Market

Anti-Synergies

1. Terminal Draw Heavy Boards
2. If you're relying on terminal draw, improving them can break your engine

3. Be cautious about improving key drawing components

4. Reserve Cards

5. Cards on the Tavern mat can't be improved

6. Plan accordingly if using Reserve cards

7. Non-Action Strategies

8. Improve is less useful in Big Money or Treasure-focused decks
9. Limited utility in Victory card rushing strategies

Strategic Decision Making

When to Buy Improve

Consider acquiring Improve when: 1. The board has clear upgrade paths for Actions 2. You're building an engine deck 3. Early economy is needed 4. You have multiple cheap Actions you want to upgrade

Avoid buying Improve when: 1. Better $3 options exist for your strategy 2. The board lacks good upgrade targets 3. You're pursuing a non-Action strategy 4. The game will end too quickly to utilize the upgrading

Choosing Upgrade Targets

Priority considerations: 1. Immediate deck improvement 2. Maintaining engine functionality 3. Cost efficiency 4. Card availability in Supply piles

Number of Improves to Buy

Factors affecting quantity: 1. Available upgrade targets 2. Deck size and composition 3. Game length 4. Competing $3 cards 5. Terminal space in deck

Specific Card Upgrade Paths

$2 to $3 Upgrades

• Vassal → Steward
• Pearl Diver → Improve
• Haven → Fishing Village

$3 to $4 Upgrades

• Village → Militia
• Improve → Market
• Mining Village → Smithy

$4 to $5 Upgrades

• Smithy → Laboratory
• Festival → Market Square
• Militia → Council Room

$5 to $6 Upgrades

• Laboratory → Gold Mine
• Market → Artisan
• Library → Gear

Kingdom Considerations

Fast vs. Slow Kingdoms

In fast kingdoms: - Focus on immediate economic benefit - Be selective with upgrades - Consider skipping Improve for faster strategies

In slow kingdoms: - Maximize upgrade potential - Build engine gradually - Acquire multiple copies if appropriate

Colony Games

• Higher cost cards create more upgrade opportunities
• Longer game length allows more time for improvements
• Consider pathway to Platinum price points

Cursing Kingdoms

• Can help recover from cursing attacks by improving cheaper Actions
• May need to prioritize other defensive cards first
• Balance between defense and improvement

Counter-Play

Dealing with Improve

When opponents have Improve: 1. Consider depleting key upgrade target piles 2. Accelerate game pace if possible 3. Contest important $3 piles 4. Watch for engine assembly patterns

Racing Considerations

• Improve strategies often take time to develop
• Look for opportunities to rush alternate victory conditions
• Consider whether to contest Improve or pursue different strategy

Advanced Techniques

Chain Improvements

• Plan upgrade sequences across multiple turns
• Consider cost reduction effects for complex chains
• Track Supply pile counts for critical upgrades

Multiple Improve Timing

• With multiple Improves, sequence upgrades carefully
• Consider order of operations for optimal results
• Watch for pile depletion affecting later upgrades

Engine Optimization

1. Identify key engine pieces
2. Plan upgrade paths to strengthen engine
3. Maintain proper Action balance
4. Consider deck cycling speed

Common Mistakes to Avoid

1. Over-improving
2. Don't upgrade cards that are working well in your engine
3. Maintain proper deck balance

4. Consider whether upgrades actually improve deck function

5. Poor Timing

6. Don't improve key cards too early
7. Consider game stage when choosing upgrades

8. Watch Supply pile counts

9. Ignoring Economy

10. Don't forget Improve's +$2 benefit
11. Balance upgrading with economic needs

12. Consider opportunity cost of upgrades

13. Inflexible Planning

14. Adapt upgrade paths based on opponent's strategy
15. Watch for pile depletion
16. Consider alternative strategies if upgrades blocked

Kingdom-Specific Strategies

Action-Heavy Kingdoms

• Prioritize engine building
• Look for key upgrade paths
• Consider multiple Improves

Treasure-Heavy Kingdoms

• Focus on economic benefit
• Be selective with upgrades
• Consider alternative $3 cards

Mixed Kingdoms

• Balance Action and Treasure considerations
• Look for specific upgrade opportunities
• Consider hybrid strategies

Conclusion

Improve is a versatile card that requires careful strategic planning to use effectively. Its dual nature as both economy and upgrade mechanism makes it valuable in many kingdoms, particularly those featuring Action-based strategies. Success with Improve comes from understanding upgrade paths, timing considerations, and maintaining proper deck balance while improving.

Key takeaways: 1. Value both the economic and upgrade aspects 2. Plan upgrade paths carefully 3. Consider timing and game context 4. Watch for specific synergies and anti-synergies 5. Maintain engine functionality while upgrading 6. Adapt strategy based on kingdom and opposition

When used properly, Improve can help develop powerful engines and create efficient deck transformations. However, it requires careful attention to timing, upgrade paths, and overall strategy to maximize its potential.