University

Basic Info

Type: Action
Cost: 2+P (requires Potion)
Effect: +2 Actions / You may gain an Action card costing up to 5.

Rating

"Gain a cost-5 Action every turn" — a premium gainer. Bundled with +2 Actions, it doubles as a Village while accelerating engine assembly.

Biggest strength: bypass the 6-coin barrier for cost-5 Actions like Witch, Hunter, Coven, Bellows. University grants them with a +2 Actions kicker every turn.

Tier A. On supplies with strong cost-5 Actions (Witch, Library, Lab, Remodel + Smithy combos), University is core. On boards lacking cost-5 quality, value drops.

How to Play

Open Potion + Silver. University by turn 3-4.

Mid: Play University, gain strong Actions (Witch, Lab, Library) every turn.

Late: Cost-5 cap means no Duchy (Victory). Pivot to Province economy via standard buys.

Gain Targets

Priority by supply:

Best cost-5 Actions: Witch, Lab, Library, Remodel, Throne Room (cost 4).
Villages: Village, Hamlet, Fishing Village (multi-University = village stacking).
Cost-4 quality: Smithy, Baron, Council Room.
University itself (cost 2+P, gainable).

Key Combos

University + Witch: Gain Witch without 6 coin. Cantrip-like delivery of cursing.

University + Laboratory: Lab chain → +2 cards × N drawer.

University + Library: Library acquisition.

University + Remodel: Remodel acquisition.

University + Vineyard: University is Action, gains are Actions, Vineyard scales.

University + Familiar: University gains Familiar (3+P, ≤5 cost).

Synergies

Potion: Required.
Cost-5 strong Actions: Witch, Lab, Library, Remodel, Market, Council Room.
Cost-4 quality: Smithy, Baron, Throne Room.
Vineyard: Action density.
Familiar/Alchemist: Same expansion.

Counters & Bad Matchups

No good cost-5 Actions: Severe value drop.
Pure BM supply: Action gain doesn't help economy.
End-game Duchy needs: Can't gain Duchy.
Potion-blocked turns: 2+P buy unavailable.

Advanced Tips

Buy criterion: 2+ great cost-5 Actions in supply. With only 1, normal buy substitutes.

Multi-University: 2 Universities = 2 Action gains per turn = fast engine.

University → University: Self-gain (2+P ≤ 5) for chain expansion.

Hard ceiling: cost-5 Actions only. No Gold/Province/Knight gains.

University doesn't enable Province buys directly. Pair with Treasure or coin-Action.

After engine completion: University falls off. Recycle via Remodel or trash.