Groundskeeper

Basic Info

• Type: Action
• Cost: 5
• Effect: +1 Card / +1 Action / This turn, when you gain a Victory card, +1 VP token.

Rating

Empires unique VP-earner. Cantrip (+1 Card +1 Action) with "+1 VP per Victory gain this turn".

Strength: cantrip = no action friction. Mass VP tokens through engine play.

Tier A; S+ on Province-per-turn engines. VP tokens directly = final score.

How to Play

Early: $5 buy. Engine core.

Mid: 1-2 in engine build.

Late: Province/Duchy/Estate gain = +1 VP token each. Stack Groundskeepers for multiplier.

VP Token Math

2 Groundskeepers + Province gain = +2 VP.

3 Groundskeepers + Province + Duchy in one turn = +6 VP.

5-6 Province turns × 3 Groundskeepers = +15-18 VP.

Key Combos

Groundskeeper + +1 Buy: Multi-VP cards per turn.

Groundskeeper + Engineer: Gain trigger.

Groundskeeper + Castles (Crumbling, Small): Per-Castle VP token.

Groundskeeper + Overlord: Overlord copy.

Groundskeeper + Crown/Throne: Doubled = 2 VP per gain.

Synergies

• +1 Buy (Market, Grand Market, Margrave): Multi-gain.
• Castles: VP-trigger.
• Engineer: Gain accelerator.
• Crown/Throne/KC: Doubling.
• Worker's Village: +Buy + village.

Counters & Bad Matchups

• BM (only buy VP at end): Tokens whiff.
• Heavy trasher: Other $5s preferred.
• Short games: No accumulation.

Advanced Tips

True value: Per-turn Province gains with token stacking. 5 Provinces = 30 + 10-15 tokens = 40-45 VP.

Stack 3-4 Groundskeepers: 3-4 tokens per Province.

Groundskeeper + Engineer: Trash-to-gain VP token chain.

Groundskeeper + Crown: Doubled = 2 tokens per gain.

Mirror: First-mover wins.

3-pile: Empty Groundskeeper / Estate / Province piles for end + VP burst.