Ultimate Guide to Dominion: Dark Ages Cards
Dominion: Dark Ages is a challenging expansion focusing on trashing cards and resource upgrades. It adds 35 new Kingdom cards, introduces $0 cost cards (like Poor House and Shelters), and replaces Estates with Shelters. Unique features include Ruins (penalty cards), Knights (disruptive Action-Attack cards), and Rats (the only card with more than 12 copies). Designed for advanced players, this set emphasizes strategy and complex card interactions.
Key Features:
- Shelters: Replace Estates with starting cards offering unique effects.
- Ruins: Penalty cards with minor benefits, often added via Looter attacks.
- Knights: 10 unique cards that trash opponents' cards and disrupt strategies.
- Trashing Mechanics: Cards like Junk Dealer and Procession streamline decks.
Quick Tips:
- Focus on trashing weak cards early.
- Use Shelters strategically to build engines or thin your deck.
- Avoid overvaluing Knights too soon - build an economy first.
- Manage Ruins carefully to prevent deck bloat.
Best Combinations:
- Necropolis + Knights: Extra actions to play multiple Knights.
- Junk Dealer + Forager: Efficient deck thinning and resource generation.
Where to Buy: Available at Walmart ($35.99), Target ($44.99), and local game stores. Online retailers like Brain-Games.com offer additional perks like expert support and component replacements.
Dark Ages pairs well with expansions like Prosperity and Guilds for added synergies. Start with fewer Dark Ages cards if you're new, and gradually increase complexity as you gain experience.
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Card Types
The Dark Ages expansion introduces three types of cards that shake up the usual Dominion gameplay. Let’s break down how each type changes the strategy.
Shelter Cards
Shelter cards take the place of Estates in some starting decks. These $1-cost cards come in three forms:
| Shelter Type | Effect | Strategic Use |
|---|---|---|
| Necropolis | +2 Actions | Helps kick-start engine decks |
| Hovel | Trashable when gaining a Victory card | Aids in deck thinning |
| Overgrown Estate | Draws a card when trashed | Adds cycling opportunities |
You can’t buy Shelters, and there’s no Supply pile for them. When combining Dark Ages with other sets, the decision to include Shelters depends on the proportion of Dark Ages Kingdom cards in play . Their presence can steer early-game decisions, especially for decks focusing on trashing or engine-building. Now, let’s look at the impact of Ruins cards.
Ruins Cards
Ruins are penalty cards that weaken your deck, much like Curses, but they offer minor benefits. Here’s what they do:
- Ruined Market: Grants +1 Buy
- Ruined Library: Draws a card, essentially replacing itself
- Abandoned Mine: Provides +$1
- Ruined Village: Makes you discard a card
- Survivors: Offers slight deck-sifting
Ruins usually enter decks through Looter attacks. However, certain card interactions, like those involving Ways, can offset their drawbacks and even make them useful in some situations. Now, let’s examine the disruptive potential of Knight cards.
Knight Cards
Knights are a group of 10 unique Action-Attack cards that disrupt opponents and influence mid-to-late-game strategies. Each Knight has a special ability in addition to a shared attack. Only the top card of the shuffled Knight pile is available for purchase, and most Knights cost $5, except for Sir Martin, which costs $4.
The shared attack forces opponents to reveal the top two cards of their deck, trash one that costs $3 to $6, and discard the other. If a Knight is trashed by another Knight’s attack, both are permanently removed from play.
"Knights are more interesting than Curses." - Donald X. Vaccarino
Knights work best in decks that can play them multiple times. Timing your purchases and leveraging each Knight’s unique abilities can maximize their disruptive power.
Playing Dark Ages Cards
Best Card Combinations
Dark Ages introduces some powerful card synergies that can give you an edge. Here are a couple of strong combinations to consider:
| Combo Type | Cards | Strategy |
|---|---|---|
| Engine | Necropolis + Knights | Leverage extra actions to play multiple Knights each turn for maximum impact. |
| Control | Junk Dealer + Forager | Convert weaker cards into resources to streamline your deck. |
Make sure to establish a solid economy before relying too heavily on Knights. Besides the well-known combos, there are some underrated cards that can offer surprising strategic advantages.
Hidden Gems
Procession is a fantastic card for upgrading your deck while maintaining momentum. It can transform weaker cards into stronger ones without losing tempo. Similarly, Sage helps you filter through your deck efficiently, especially when paired with high-value cards like Silver and Gold.
Looking to boost your economy quickly? Death Cart can trash Action cards to give you a $5 boost, speeding up your progress.
Common Mistakes
Watch out for these common errors that can derail your strategy:
- Overvaluing Knights Early: Building your economy should come first. Buying Knights too early can leave you with a weak deck that struggles to keep up.
- Mismanaging Shelters: Timing is key when dealing with Shelter cards. Trash or keep them based on how they support your cycling and victory plans, but avoid acting too soon or too late.
- Ignoring Ruins: Letting Ruins pile up without a plan can bloat your deck and slow you down. Use cards like Hermit or Junk Dealer to manage them effectively. While Ruins can occasionally offer small benefits, failing to control them will hurt your progress.
To keep your deck efficient, focus on trashing starting cards regularly and avoid unnecessary Copper purchases. Balance your terminal actions with cards that provide extra actions to ensure smooth gameplay. Before diving into a game, take a moment to study the available Kingdom cards - this will help you spot synergies and craft a winning strategy.
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Mixing with Other Sets
Dark Ages introduces distinct gameplay mechanics that shake up the base game and bring new strategies when combined with other expansions.
Base Game Setup
In the base game, swap out starting Estates for Shelters to create a more dynamic early game. Take advantage of Dark Ages' trashing mechanics to unlock powerful card combinations and strategies.
These adjustments to the base game lay the groundwork for even more engaging play when additional expansions are included.
Compatible Expansions
"From 2007 through the break after Guilds, Dark Ages was my favorite expansion. It has lots of card interactions, that's the draw... It has a few problematically powerful/monolithic cards, and a bunch of duds."
Some expansions pair particularly well with Dark Ages:
- Prosperity: Adds a 'rags to riches' theme, enhancing the gameplay with high-value cards.
- Guilds: Offers interesting synergies, such as combining Masterpiece and Feodum for silver accumulation, Apprentice and Market Square for resource conversion, and Procession with Fortress for deck upgrades.
For new players, start with fewer Dark Ages cards to keep things manageable. As players become more experienced, gradually increase the number of Dark Ages cards in the mix for a richer gameplay experience.
Where to Buy
Once you've honed your gameplay skills, it's time to grab your Dominion: Dark Ages set. Here's where you can find it.
Brain-Games.com
Brain Games is a go-to source for Dominion: Dark Ages and other expansions, offering international shipping and a few perks:
- Game Exchange Guarantee: Return or exchange your purchase within 2 weeks.
- Expert Support: Their staff can help with rule clarifications and gameplay tips.
- Component Replacement: Quick fixes for missing or damaged pieces.
You can count on receiving a well-kept, genuine product from them.
Game Stores Near You
Local game stores give you the chance to see the product before buying and often have it available right away. Here's a quick look at pricing from some popular retailers:
| Retailer | Price | Special Offers |
|---|---|---|
| Walmart | $35.99 | Save $9 off MSRP |
| Target | $44.99 | Regular price |
| Retro Gaming of Denver | $51.69 | 15% off orders over $50 |
| Opal Grove Games | $50.00 | Standard pricing |
Retro Gaming of Denver's 15% discount on orders over $50 might be worth checking out.
- Look for bundle deals that include Dominion: Dark Ages with other expansions.
- Online retailers like Walmart often have competitive pricing.
- Local stores may offer rewards programs or other perks.
Make sure the seller is authorized to avoid counterfeit products or missing components. If possible, visit a local store to inspect the game in person before buying.
Summary
Main Points
Dark Ages is one of Dominion's most advanced expansions, offering complex strategies and unique gameplay mechanics. It stands out with features like:
- The only $0 cost cards in Dominion: Poor House and Shelters.
- Multi-card supply piles, including Knights and Ruins.
- The first kingdom card with more than 12 copies: Rats.
This expansion focuses on streamlining your deck by removing weaker cards and creating powerful combinations. These mechanics open up opportunities for strategic depth, as outlined below.
Getting Started
To make the most of Dark Ages, consider these strategies:
Card Management
- Use cards like Altar or Forager to trash weaker cards effectively.
- Build strong engines by carefully combining cards.
- Factor in the unique Shelter cards when making early-game decisions.
Advanced Tactics
- Pay attention to the 'Lose Track' rule, which can impact certain plays.
- Handle Ruins strategically with Looter cards.
- Balance terminal actions with cards that provide extra actions to avoid bottlenecks.
Here's a quick comparison of key features in Dark Ages:
| Feature | Benefit | Strategic Impact |
|---|---|---|
| Trashing | Optimizes your deck | Clears out weak cards, paving the way for stronger plays. |
| Ruins | Minor utility | Less damaging than Curses, with occasional small advantages. |
| Knights | Variable effects | Adds unpredictability and dynamic gameplay. |
Dark Ages pairs well with Cornucopia, as Knights and Ruins introduce differently-named cards that enhance variety-based strategies . If you're new to this expansion, start by experimenting with straightforward card combos before diving into more intricate interactions with other sets.
