Barbarian

Basic Info

• Type: Action-Attack-Liaison
• Cost: 5
• Effect: +$2 / Each other player trashes the top card of their deck. If it cost $3+, they gain a cheaper card of a different name; otherwise they gain a Curse.
• Liaison: gain a Favor on buy.

Rating

Tier A. One of Allies' strongest attacks. +$2 plus mass-trash, downgrade, and curse-junk in one play.

Wrecks engine builds: trashes a key village or draw from opponent's deck and replaces with junk. Doubles as Liaison for Favor income.

How to Play

$5 turn — Barbarian top pick. Disrupt opponent's deck early, widen the build gap.

Per-turn play locks opponents under junk while you gain $2 + Favor.

Liaison synergy: pair with Favor abilities for compounding edge.

When to Pick / Skip

Almost always pick. Skip when:

1. Reaction-heavy mirror (Moat, Diplomat, Lighthouse).
2. Very short games.
3. Existing strong trasher overlaps role.

Key Combos

Barbarian + KC / TR: doubled.

Barbarian + other attacks (Witch, Torturer): stacked.

Barbarian + draw engine: every-turn fire.

Barbarian + Liaison cards: Favor synergy.

Barbarian + Rebuild: process the Curses you get.

Barbarian + Treasury / topdeck: aim attacks.

Synergies

• KC / TR: doubled.
• Other attacks: stack.
• Engine: per-turn.
• Liaisons: Favor pile.
• Rebuild: Curse process.
• Engineer / University: gain.

Counters & Bad Matchups

• Moat / Diplomat / Lighthouse.
• Short games.
• Heavy trash builds.

Advanced Tips

KC + Barbarian: $4 + 2 attacks; lockdown power.

Curse pile drain timing: rush before opponent reacts.

Liaison Favor: spend on Allies abilities for compounding.

Barbarian + Rebuild: Curses become VP fuel.

Mirror: more Barbarians first → win.

3-pile to-go: Curses + Barbarian + closer.