Cost: $2
Type: Action-Duration
Text: +1 Card\n+1 Action\nSet aside a card from your hand face down. At the start of your next turn, put it into your hand.
Haven is a $2 Action-Duration card from Seaside that allows you to set aside a card from your hand until your next turn, while providing +1 Card and +1 Action. While seemingly simple, Haven offers surprising strategic depth and utility that makes it a valuable addition to many decks.
Core Functions and Basic Usage
Terminal Draw Smoothing Haven's primary function is to smooth out your deck's performance across turns. By setting aside a valuable card when you can't use it effectively, you ensure access to it on your next turn. This makes Haven particularly useful for:
Saving terminal actions when you've already played one
Guaranteeing specific combo pieces for your next turn
Deck Tracking Haven provides perfect information about at least one card you'll have next turn, which helps with planning and probability calculations. This information becomes increasingly valuable as you gain experience with the card.
Virtual Hand Size While Haven doesn't increase your overall card count, it effectively gives you access to an extra card across two turns, helping to prevent dead draws and ensuring more consistent play.
Timing and Strategic Considerations
Early Game (Turns 1-5) In the opening phase, Haven serves several purposes:
The $2 price point makes Haven an attractive opening buy, especially in games where: - You start with 5/2 split - You're planning for engine building - The kingdom lacks other strong $2 options - Terminal draw density is high
Mid Game (Turns 6-12) During the middle game, Haven's utility expands:
Late Game (Turns 13+) In the endgame, Haven can be crucial for:
Specific Strategic Applications
Engine Building In engine contexts, Haven shines by:
Preserving payload cards for big turns
Ensuring critical cards aren't lost in shuffles
Big Money Strategies Even in simple Big Money decks, Haven offers value:
Securing Province purchases
Reducing variance in buying power
Rush Strategies When pursuing rush strategies, Haven helps by:
Maintaining tempo
Synergies and Combinations
Strong Synergies:
Managing hand size across turns
Payload Cards Cards that provide significant benefits but may not always align perfectly benefit greatly from Haven:
Duration Cards Haven naturally complements other duration cards:
Action Chains Cards that benefit from specific sequences work well with Haven:
Festival chains
Reaction Cards Haven can hold reaction cards until needed:
Counter-Synergies and Weaknesses
Time for engine building is limited
Heavy Attack Environments While Haven can help manage attacks, it struggles against:
Ghost Ship (hand size reduction)
Alternative Victory Conditions Some alternate victory conditions reduce Haven's utility:
Defending Against Attacks
Haven provides modest protection against various attacks:
Protects against Ghost Ship
Deck Attack Protection
Helps recover from Swindler
Cursing Protection
Kingdom Considerations
When evaluating Haven's potential in a kingdom, consider:
Landmarks/Projects
Support Cards
Trashing capability
Competing $2 Options
Cost Considerations
At $2, Haven competes with several powerful cards:
Strong Alternatives: - Chapel (superior in trashing contexts) - Native Village (better for combo decks) - Lighthouse (superior attack protection)
Weaker Alternatives: - Pearl Diver (generally inferior) - Cellar (situationally better) - Courtyard (different timing considerations)
Opening Buy Considerations
Haven as an opener works best when:
Supports transition to engine building
Alternative Split
Number of Havens to Buy
Optimal Haven count varies by strategy:
Fewer with strong village support
Big Money
Diminishing returns after 2-3
Rush Strategies
Timing Considerations
Key moments for Haven purchases:
Early Game - Opening buy if conditions right - First reshuffle if needed - When reaching first $5 cards
Mid Game - When transitioning to engine - Before adding green cards - When terminal density increases
Late Game - Rarely correct to add Haven - Consider gaining for deck tracking - May help manage Province density
Advanced Techniques
Manage green card density
Information Management
Plan attack timing around Haven protection
Engine Optimization
Conclusion
Haven is a subtle but powerful card that offers significant strategic depth despite its simple appearance. Its ability to smooth out deck performance, guarantee key cards, and provide perfect information about future turns makes it valuable in many situations. While not always a game-defining card, Haven's low cost and consistent utility make it a worthwhile addition to many strategies.
Key Takeaways:
Providing future information
Consider Haven when:
Lacking other $2 options
Avoid Haven when:
Understanding Haven's strengths and limitations allows players to make better decisions about when to include it in their strategy and how to maximize its effectiveness throughout the game.