Soothsayer (Guilds)

Here's a comprehensive strategy guide for Soothsayer:

Soothsayer Strategy Guide

Introduction Soothsayer is a $5 Action-Attack card from the Guilds expansion that combines junking attacks with economy and card draw. Its unique combination of effects makes it a particularly interesting card that can serve multiple strategic purposes while maintaining relevance throughout the game.

Core Effects Breakdown 1. Gain a Gold - Adds a Gold directly to your discard pile 2. Each other player gains a Curse - Standard junking attack 3. Each player who gained a Curse draws a card - Compensatory draw mechanism

Key Strengths - Provides immediate economic benefit through Gold gaining - Attacks opponents through Curse distribution - Scales well with multiple opponents - Maintains utility even after Curses are depleted - Self-replacing for cursed opponents (they draw a card)

Key Weaknesses - $5 cost can be awkward to hit early - Requires Action to play - Attack can be blocked by standard defense cards - Less effective in 2-player games - Gives opponents card draw when successful

Strategic Considerations

1. Early Game Strategy

Early acquisition of Soothsayer can be powerful for several reasons: - Getting Golds into your deck early accelerates your economy - Early Curse distribution has maximum impact - Opponents have fewer defense mechanisms - Deck bloat hasn't occurred yet, making Curses more impactful

However, consider these early-game factors: - Hitting $5 may require sacrificing other important early purchases - Terminal Action density becomes a concern - May need to prioritize payload cards first

Opening Considerations: - Strong $5 opening if you can hit it - Generally preferable to open with Silver/Silver if you can't guarantee early $5 - Works well with traditional economy boosters like Silver or Pearl Diver

1. Mid-Game Strategy

Soothsayer shines in the mid-game when: - You can reliably play it multiple times - Opponents haven't fully developed their engines - Curse pile is still available - Economy boost from Gold is most impactful

Mid-game priorities: - Balance Soothsayer quantity with other Action cards - Consider deck tracking to maximize Curse distribution - Use gained Golds to reach key price points - Watch for opponent's defensive capabilities

1. Late Game Strategy

Even after Curses are gone, Soothsayer remains relevant: - Continues providing economy through Gold gaining - Can serve as a reliable Gold gainer for engines - May force opponents to draw dead cards they've accumulated

Late-game considerations: - Value decreases once Curse pile is empty - Gold gaining becomes primary benefit - May become too slow for highly optimized engines

Synergies and Combinations

1. Draw Engines Soothsayer works particularly well with:
2. Villages (any variety)
3. Cantrips
4. Draw cards (Laboratory, Smithy, etc.)
5. Throne Room variants

These combinations allow for: - Multiple Soothsayer plays per turn - Faster deck cycling - More consistent access to gained Golds - Greater Curse pressure

1. Duration Cards Strong synergies with:
2. Fishing Village
3. Caravan
4. Haven
5. Wharf

Benefits include: - Guaranteed Actions for next turn - Improved hand management - More reliable Soothsayer plays

1. Treasure Interactions Particularly effective with:
2. Bank
3. Counting House
4. Fortune Teller
5. Crystal Ball

These combinations leverage the Gold-gaining aspect effectively.

1. Attack Amplifiers Combines well with:
2. Militia/Mountebank for additional pressure
3. Ghost Ship for sustained attack
4. Witch for maximum Curse distribution
5. Ambassador for forced Curse returns

Counter-Strategies and Defenses

1. Traditional Defense Cards Several cards effectively counter Soothsayer:
2. Moat blocks the attack completely
3. Lighthouse prevents Curse gaining
4. Horse Traders provides immunity and deck improvement

5. Watchtower can trash gained Curses

6. Trashing Strategies Counter Soothsayer by:

7. Aggressive trashing (Chapel, Steward)
8. On-gain trashing (Watchtower, Trading Post)

9. Selective trashing (Bishop, Altar)

10. Engine Acceleration Beat Soothsayer by:

11. Building faster engines
12. Focusing on payload over defense

13. Outpacing Curse distribution

14. Rush Strategies Counter through:

15. Province rushing
16. Alternate VP rushing
17. Garden strategies

Multiplayer Considerations

1. 3+ Player Games Soothsayer becomes stronger with more players:
2. More Curses distributed per play
3. Greater economic impact
4. More potential card draw for cursed players

5. Increased attack impact

6. Team Games In team formats:

7. Coordinate attacks with teammates
8. Share defense responsibilities
9. Consider team-wide economic benefits
10. Plan Curse distribution strategically

Kingdom Composition Factors

1. Strong Kingdoms for Soothsayer
2. Kingdoms with strong Villages
3. Draw-heavy environments
4. Treasure-focused strategies

5. Limited trashing options

6. Weak Kingdoms for Soothsayer

7. Heavy trashing presence
8. Strong defensive options
9. Fast alternate VP strategies
10. Action-light environments

Timing and Purchasing Guidelines

When to Buy Soothsayer: - Early if hitting $5 doesn't compromise core strategy - Mid-game when deck control is established - When opponents lack defense - If economy needs boosting

When to Skip Soothsayer: - Better $5 options available - Strong opponent defenses present - Curse pile nearly depleted - Economy already strong

Number to Buy: - Usually 1-2 in basic Big Money - 2-3 in engine strategies - More in dedicated attack strategies - Fewer in presence of competing terminals

Advanced Techniques

1. Curse Management
2. Track Curse distribution
3. Time attacks for maximum impact
4. Consider keeping some Curses available

5. Use other attacks strategically

6. Gold Optimization

7. Plan discard pile timing
8. Coordinate with deck drawing
9. Consider treasure density

10. Balance with other economy

11. Hand Management

12. Plan Action sequencing
13. Consider opponent draw timing
14. Manage terminal collision
15. Track deck composition

Common Mistakes to Avoid

1. Strategic Errors
2. Over-investing in Soothsayer
3. Ignoring opponent defenses
4. Neglecting core deck development

5. Poor timing of purchases

6. Tactical Mistakes

7. Playing too many terminals
8. Ignoring treasure density
9. Poor action sequencing
10. Neglecting alternative victory paths

Conclusion

Soothsayer is a versatile card that combines economic improvement with attack capabilities. Its effectiveness varies significantly based on kingdom composition, player count, and strategic context. While not always a game-defining card, it can be a powerful tool when used appropriately and in the right circumstances.

Key Takeaways: - Balance attack potential with economic benefits - Consider player count and kingdom composition - Time purchases and plays strategically - Watch for defensive capabilities - Maintain flexibility in strategy

Success with Soothsayer requires careful consideration of timing, kingdom context, and opponent strategies. When used effectively, it can provide both economic advantage and offensive pressure, making it a valuable addition to many strategies.