Specialist

Basic Info

• Type: Action
• Cost: 5
• Effect: Pick a card in your hand. Choose one: gain a copy of it; or trash it and gain a card costing up to [its cost + 2].

Rating

One of Dominion's most versatile gainers. Effectively a Remodel+ at higher cost — pick "copy" or "Remodel +2" each turn.

Killer feature: copy a Gold for another Gold, copy a Province for another Province (if pile allows). Density-spike like no other card.

Trash mode is identical to Remodel: turn Estates into Silvers, Silvers into Golds, etc.

Overall A-tier (sometimes S). On Allies boards, top-priority slot whenever Workshop/Remodel-tier gainers are in demand.

How to Play

Buy ASAP at cost 5. Mid-game backbone for both deck-thickening and thinning.

Mid-game: every turn, react to hand. Gold present → copy Gold. Estate present → upgrade. Adaptive economic acceleration.

End-game: Province-copy doubles your VP turns. Gold→Province also viable.

Mode Priority

Copy mode:

1. Province / Duchy (gain copies if available).
2. Gold (economy boost).
3. Strong Actions (Smithy, etc.).
4. Allies (with Liaison support).

Trash +2 mode:

1. Estate → Silver/Silver-class.
2. Copper → Silver/Moat.
3. Silver → Gold.
4. Dead terminal → live Action.

Key Combos

Specialist + Gold: Copy hand-Gold = +6-coin equivalent deck boost.

Specialist + Province: End-game double-Province turn potential.

Specialist + Chapel/Masquerade: Trash mode complements thinning.

Specialist + Remodel/Expand: Trash-gainer chain.

Specialist + City Gate/Liaison: Ally Favor accumulation.

Synergies

• Gold: Doubled.
• Remodel/Expand: Trash chains.
• Chapel: Thin support.
• Liaison cards: Ally Favor flux.
• Strong Actions: Multiplied via copy.

Counters & Bad Matchups

• No target in hand: Whiff.
• Pile-out near end: Copy unavailable.
• Terminal-heavy: Specialist is terminal.
• Already-thin decks: Few trash targets.

Advanced Tips

Read each turn: Copy = strong-card density. Trash = upgrade weak.

Province-copy is the best end-game move. Beware Province pile under 3.

Second Specialist: Worth a 2nd at cost-5 if affordable. 3+ excess.

Multi-player: Province-copy contested. Gold/Silver-copy more reliable.