Merchant Ship (Seaside)

Merchant Ship Strategy Guide

Introduction: Merchant Ship is a Duration card from the Seaside expansion that provides +$2 both when played and at the start of your next turn, for a total of $4 across two turns. While seemingly straightforward, its unique timing and consistent payload make it an interesting card with several strategic implications.

Core Strengths: 1. Guaranteed $4 across two turns 2. Duration effect provides turn-start money 3. Efficient cost-to-benefit ratio 4. Reliable payload without requiring other cards 5. Doesn't take up draw space on the following turn

Basic Analysis:

Cost Efficiency: At $5, Merchant Ship provides excellent value for its cost. The total $4 return means you're essentially getting back 80% of your investment each time you play it. While this might seem less impressive than cards like Market (+1 Card, +1 Action, +1 Buy, +$1 for $5), the spacing of the money across turns and reliability create unique advantages.

Timing Advantages: The key feature of Merchant Ship is getting $2 at the start of your next turn before drawing cards. This pre-draw money has several benefits: - Helps ensure hitting important price points - Combines with your hand more predictably than terminal draw - Makes planning purchases easier - Can enable better decisions about Action cards to play

Key Use Cases:

1. Early Game: Merchant Ship is often a strong early-game buy because:
2. Helps reach $8 provinces more consistently
3. Provides reliable economy while building
4. Doesn't interfere with deck development

5. Works well even in small deck sizes

6. Engine Support: While not an engine component itself, Merchant Ship can support engines by:

7. Providing guaranteed money without taking draw slots
8. Enabling more confident filtering of treasure cards
9. Supporting payload without requiring actions

10. Helping hit critical price points more reliably

11. Big Money Support: Merchant Ship excels in money-focused strategies:

12. Consistently contributes to buying power
13. Doesn't require action chains
14. Works well with other treasure
15. Helps reach province price points

Strategic Considerations:

1. Opening Considerations: Merchant Ship is typically a strong $5 opening, particularly when:
2. The board lacks strong engine pieces
3. You want reliable economy
4. There's no strong trashing available
5. You're planning a money-oriented strategy

However, avoid opening Merchant Ship when: - Strong engine components are available - Critical $5 kingdom cards are limited - Strong trashing is available - The game demands high tempo

1. Quantity to Buy: The optimal number of Merchant Ships depends on several factors:

Buy more when: - The game pace is moderate to slow - You're pursuing a money strategy - There's limited deck draw - You need reliable income

Buy fewer when: - The game pace is very fast - You're building an engine - You have strong deck draw - There are better payload options

1. Timing Considerations: Maximize Merchant Ship's effectiveness by:
2. Playing it late in your turn when possible
3. Considering how the next-turn money affects decisions
4. Planning purchases across multiple turns
5. Using the guaranteed money to inform other plays

Key Synergies:

1. Duration Card Synergies:
2. Wharf: Provides draw while Merchant Ship provides money
3. Caravan: Helps draw into Merchant Ships more consistently
4. Fishing Village: Provides actions for multiple Ships

5. Haven: Helps set up strong following turns

6. Draw Synergies:

7. Laboratory: Non-terminal draw helps find Ships
8. Library: Can skip treasures knowing Ship money is coming
9. Hunting Party: Helps find unique Ships in deck

10. Council Room: Mass draw helps find Ships while supporting money strategy

11. Deck Control:

12. Scout: Helps arrange Ships for optimal play
13. Treasury: Works well with Ship's reliable money
14. Warehouse: Helps find Ships while managing hand

15. Pearl Diver: Bottom-deck control can set up Ships

16. Economic Enhancers:

17. Bank: Ships count as treasure in play
18. Venture: Helps hit Ships when in deck
19. Monument: Additional money/VP strategy support
20. Grand Market: Ships help hit $6 without Copper

Counter Strategies:

1. Racing:
2. Focus on faster VP gaining
3. Prioritize provinces before Ships become effective
4. Use Gardens or other alternate VP

5. Build engines that outpace Ship's economy

6. Attacks:

7. Ghost Ship: Disrupts draw to Ships
8. Militia/Margrave: Reduces hand size for playing Ships
9. Saboteur: Can hit Ships at critical moments

10. Pirate Ship: Targets treasure-heavy strategies

11. Alternative Strategies:

12. Strong engines can outpace Ship strategies
13. Chapel trashing can build more efficient decks
14. Village/Smithy chains can draw more consistently
15. Alternative VP paths can end game before Ships dominate

When to Skip Merchant Ship:

1. Fast Games:
2. Province rush is viable
3. Strong attacks present
4. Critical alternative VP available

5. Engine pieces enable quick cycling

6. Better Alternatives:

7. Strong payload cards available
8. Efficient engine components present
9. Better duration cards available

10. Strong trashing enables different strategy

11. Board Conditions:

12. Limited actions with multiple terminals
13. Strong attack pressure
14. Need for specific price points
15. Better $5 priorities

Advanced Tips:

1. Turn Planning:
2. Track Ships in play for next-turn money
3. Plan purchases across multiple turns
4. Consider timing of other duration effects

5. Balance Ship plays with other actions

6. Deck Composition:

7. Maintain appropriate Ship density
8. Balance with other economy cards
9. Consider action density

10. Plan treasure ratios

11. Game Phase Adaptation:

12. Early: Focus on acquiring Ships
13. Mid: Leverage reliable income
14. Late: Consider transitioning to alternate strategy

15. Endgame: Use guaranteed money for key purchases

16. Optimization Techniques:

17. Track Ship location in deck
18. Plan multi-turn sequences
19. Balance with other duration effects
20. Manage action timing

Sample Strategies:

1. Ship Money:
2. Multiple Merchant Ships
3. Minimal other actions
4. Silver/Gold support
5. Focus on consistent purchases

Key Cards: - Merchant Ship - Silver - Gold - Market (for +Buy)

1. Ship/Duration Engine:
2. Multiple duration cards
3. Ship for economy
4. Card draw support
5. Action management

Key Cards: - Merchant Ship - Wharf - Fishing Village - Caravan

1. Hybrid Approach:
2. Balanced Ship quantity
3. Selected engine pieces
4. Treasure support
5. Flexible purchase options

Key Cards: - Merchant Ship - Laboratory - Silver - Market

Conclusion:

Merchant Ship is a reliable economic card that provides consistent value across multiple turns. Its strength lies in: - Reliable economy - Turn-start money - Efficient cost-to-benefit - Strategic flexibility - Duration synergies

While not always the optimal choice, it excels in: - Money-focused strategies - Duration card combinations - Reliable economy building - Moderate-paced games

Understanding when and how to incorporate Merchant Ship into your strategy is key to maximizing its potential. Consider the game pace, available kingdoms cards, and overall strategy when deciding its role in your deck.

Remember: - Value the guaranteed next-turn money - Plan multi-turn sequences - Balance with other actions - Adapt quantity to game conditions

With proper use, Merchant Ship can provide the consistent economy needed to execute various strategies effectively while offering unique advantages through its duration effect and turn-start timing.