Skirmisher

Basic Info

• Type: Action-Attack
• Cost: 5
• Effect: +1 Card, +1 Action, +1 Coin. This turn, when you gain an Attack card, each other player discards down to 3 cards in hand.

Rating

Cost 5 cantrip (+1 Card +1 Action) with +1 Coin and an Attack-gain-trigger discard attack. Baseline performance is Market-grade.

Key feature: trigger fires on Attack-gain. Specialist/Remodel/Workshop chaining Attacks fires the discard. 3-card discard is severe tempo harassment.

Skirmisher itself is an Attack — gaining another Skirmisher self-triggers.

A-tier. Solid economy card and a key piece on Attack-axis boards.

How to Play

Mid-game cost-5 buy. 2-3 copies viable.

Mid-game: every turn for stable +1 Coin. Combine with Attack-gain for harassment.

End-game: Skirmisher's +1 Coin supports Province buys.

Key Combos

Skirmisher + Specialist: Specialist gains Attack → trigger.

Skirmisher + Workshop/Artisan: Gainer + Attack chain.

Skirmisher + Skirmisher: Self-chain, multiple discards.

Skirmisher + Highwayman: Attack-axis amplification.

Skirmisher + City Gate: City Gate gains Skirmisher → trigger.

Synergies

• Specialist: Attack-gain chain.
• Workshop family: Gainer link.
• Highwayman: Attack-axis.
• Other Attacks on board: more discard targets.
• Chapel: cycle Skirmisher.

Counters & Bad Matchups

• Attack-light boards: no trigger.
• Moat reaction: partial cancel.
• Pre-thinned engines: discard hurts less.
• Multi-player: trigger fires once per gain (not per opponent).

Advanced Tips

Order: play Skirmisher first, gain Attack second.

Skirmisher + +1 Buy: 2 Attack gains/turn = 2 triggers.

Skirmisher-BM: 2-3 copies for stable +1 Coin economy.

Second Skirmisher: Yes for both economy and trigger.

Multi-player: Attack hits all, value scales up.