Here's a comprehensive strategy guide for Pirate Ship:

Pirate Ship Strategy Guide

Overview

Pirate Ship is one of the more controversial cards in Dominion, often considered relatively weak but with some interesting niche applications. It's a $4 Action-Attack card that offers two modes: either attack other players' treasures or cash in previously accumulated Coin tokens for money. Understanding when and how to use Pirate Ship effectively is crucial, as it requires significant investment and setup to make worthwhile.

Basic Mechanics and Considerations

Attack Mode

• Forces each opponent to reveal their top 2 cards
• You choose one revealed Treasure to trash (if any)
• Other revealed cards are discarded
• If at least one Treasure was trashed, you gain a Coin token
• Coin tokens persist throughout the game
• Maximum one token per attack, regardless of number of opponents

Cash-in Mode

• Provides $1 per Coin token you've accumulated
• Tokens are not spent; they remain available for future turns
• Can potentially provide significant money once tokens accumulate

Strengths

1. Permanent Economy Growth
2. Coin tokens never go away
3. Can eventually provide substantial money without deck dilution

4. Tokens can't be attacked or removed by opponents

5. Dual-Purpose Flexibility

6. Can either build up tokens or cash them in

7. Allows adaptation to game state

8. Treasure Denial

9. Can slow opponents' economy

10. Particularly effective against certain strategies

11. Multiplayer Effectiveness

12. More opponents means more chances to hit Treasures
13. Token accumulation can be faster in multiplayer games

Weaknesses

1. Slow Start
2. Takes several turns to accumulate meaningful tokens

3. Early turns provide no immediate economic benefit

4. Unreliable Attack

5. Depends on opponents' deck composition
6. May miss Treasures entirely

7. Only hits top 2 cards

8. Opportunity Cost

9. $4 could buy Silver or other more immediately useful cards
10. Takes up an Action

11. Multiple copies needed for consistency

12. Vulnerable to Fast Strategies

13. Too slow against rush strategies
14. May not accumulate enough tokens before game ends

When to Buy Pirate Ship

Favorable Conditions

1. Slower Kingdoms
2. No strong rush strategies available
3. Game likely to go long

4. Few alternate sources of +Buy or +Cards

5. Opponent Deck Compositions

6. Opponents likely to run treasure-heavy strategies

7. Few alternate sources of money (like Villages + Worker's Village)

8. Board Context

9. Few competing $4 cards
10. Limited trashing available

11. Few alternative economy options

12. Early Game

13. Should be purchased in opening turns if at all
14. Later purchases usually too slow to be effective

Unfavorable Conditions

1. Fast Kingdoms
2. Province rush possible
3. Strong engine components available

4. Multiple +Buy options

5. Strong Alternatives

6. Better $4 cards available
7. Strong trashing options

8. Better attack cards

9. Opponent Strategies

10. Action-based economy
11. Low treasure density
12. Quick deck cycling

Building Around Pirate Ship

Number of Copies

• Usually want 2-3 copies
• More copies increase consistency
• Diminishing returns after 3
• Consider deck size and shuffle frequency

Supporting Cards

1. Card Draw
2. Helps find Pirate Ships more consistently

3. Examples: Laboratory, Council Room, Smithy

4. Action Support

5. Villages help play multiple Pirate Ships

6. Throne Room effects can double attack or payout

7. Deck Control

8. Scrying Pool, Oracle help ensure hits

9. Sifting cards improve consistency

10. Complementary Attacks

11. Ghost Ship, Sea Hag can manipulate opponent's top cards
12. Militia, Cutpurse provide additional economic warfare

Strategy Phases

1. Early Game (Turns 1-5)
2. Acquire first Pirate Ship
3. Always use attack mode

4. Consider second copy if possible

5. Mid Game (Turns 6-12)

6. Continue accumulating tokens
7. Add support cards

8. Consider third copy

9. Late Game (Turns 13+)

10. Switch to cash-in mode when needed
11. Use tokens for key purchases
12. Balance attack vs. money needs

Countering Pirate Ship

Direct Counters

1. Reaction Cards
2. Moat blocks the attack

3. Horse Traders can mitigate discard

4. Deck Composition

5. Reduce treasure density
6. Use alternative money sources

7. Action-based economy

8. Strategy Adjustments

9. Fast game pace
10. Early Province rush
11. Engine building

Indirect Counters

1. Deck Cycling
2. Frequent shuffling reduces impact

3. Card draw diminishes effect

4. Alternative Victory Paths

5. Gardens strategies
6. Duke/Duchy combinations

7. Colony rush in Prosperity games

8. Economic Alternatives

9. Market Square
10. Bridge
11. Monument

Advanced Techniques

Token Accumulation Optimization

1. Timing Considerations
2. Attack when opponents likely have treasures
3. Consider opponent deck cycling

4. Track opponent shuffles

5. Multiple Ship Coordination

6. Use ships in sequence
7. Track token counts

8. Plan payouts

9. Mode Switching

10. Calculate break-even points
11. Consider opportunity costs
12. Plan key purchase turns

Combo Potential

1. Throne Room Effects
2. Double attack potential
3. Flexible mode selection

4. Increased token accumulation

5. Deck Inspection

6. Navigator synergy
7. Scout combination

8. Crystal Ball planning

9. Duration Card Interactions

10. Wharf for draw
11. Fishing Village for actions
12. Caravan for consistency

Specific Kingdom Scenarios

Strong Pirate Ship Kingdoms

1. Slow Money
2. Limited trashing
3. Few alternative economy options

4. Multiple defensive cards

5. Supportive Components

6. Villages available
7. Card draw present

8. Deck inspection tools

9. Weak Alternatives

10. Few competing $4 cards
11. Limited engine potential
12. No rush strategies

Weak Pirate Ship Kingdoms

1. Fast Engines
2. Strong trashing
3. Multiple +Buy options

4. Quick deck cycling

5. Alternative Economy

6. Market Square
7. Bridge

8. Worker's Village

9. Counter Cards

10. Strong reactions
11. Alternative victory paths
12. Superior attacks

Multiplayer Considerations

3+ Player Games

1. Advantages
2. More targets for attacks
3. Higher token accumulation potential

4. Increased attack impact

5. Disadvantages

6. More potential for counter-strategies
7. Harder to control game pace
8. Increased variance

Team Games

1. Coordination
2. Share attack duties
3. Coordinate economy

4. Plan purchase timing

5. Support Roles

6. Defensive coverage
7. Economy supplementation
8. Engine building

Common Mistakes to Avoid

1. Overinvestment
2. Too many copies
3. Too late in game

4. Ignoring alternatives

5. Poor Mode Selection

6. Attacking with low hit probability
7. Cashing in too early

8. Missing key purchase opportunities

9. Strategic Inflexibility

10. Forcing Pirate Ship strategy
11. Ignoring board context
12. Failed adaptation

Conclusion

Pirate Ship is a specialized card that requires careful consideration and proper support to be effective. While often considered weak, it can be powerful in the right circumstances, particularly in multiplayer games or slower kingdoms. Success with Pirate Ship demands proper timing, good decision-making regarding mode selection, and appropriate kingdom analysis.

Key takeaways: - Buy early or not at all - Consider kingdom context carefully - Plan for proper support - Remain flexible in strategy - Watch game pace - Optimize token accumulation - Time mode switches effectively

When used correctly, Pirate Ship can provide a strong economic engine and disruptive attack capabilities, but it requires significant investment and setup time. Players must weigh these factors against alternative strategies and kingdom context when deciding whether to pursue a Pirate Ship strategy.