Legionary

Basic Info

• Type: Action-Attack
• Cost: 5
• Effect: +$3 / You may reveal a Gold from hand. If you do, each other player discards down to 2 cards in hand, then draws +1 card.
• Split pile: 5 Legionary / 5 Rocks per pile.

Rating

Empires' premier handsize attack. +$3 plus Gold-conditional handsize-3 squeeze on opponents. Tier A.

Conditional, but mid-game when Golds are common, fires reliably. Three-card hand is brutal — slows opponent turns dramatically.

How to Play

$5 turn — Legionary or Gold first. Build a Gold base early so Legionary fires.

Legionary is paired with Rocks (split pile). Race for both.

Mid-game once Gold-rich, Legionary attacks every turn — debilitating against opponents.

+$3 + engine income → Province turns are common.

When to Pick / Skip

Pick when:

1. Attack-friendly board.
2. Gold-friendly strategy.
3. Want Rocks line via split pile.

Skip when:

1. Copper-loyal builds.
2. Moat / Diplomat heavy mirrors.
3. Very short games.

Key Combos

Legionary + KC / TR: +$6, double handsize attack, double pile drain.

Legionary + Mine: Silver → Gold to fuel reveal.

Legionary + Gold-gain (Bandit, Rogue): more Golds for reveal.

Legionary + Rocks: same pile, dual goal.

Legionary + Witch / Mountebank: stacked attacks.

Legionary + draw-deck engine: Gold guaranteed.

Legionary + Rebuild: handsize attack + VP.

Synergies

• KC / TR: doubled.
• Strong villages: chain.
• Mine: Gold pump.
• Multi-attack stack.
• Draw engines: ensure Gold in hand.
• Rebuild: VP closer.
• Rocks: split pile.

Counters & Bad Matchups

• Moat / Diplomat / Lighthouse: react to attack.
• Copper-loyal builds.
• Terminal-collision.
• Very short games.

Advanced Tips

Reveal is optional — always reveal if you have Gold.

KC + Legionary: +$6 plus 2 handsize attacks.

Pair with Rocks splitpile: drain top half, then bottom = endgame.

After attack, opponent draws +1 → 3 cards in hand. Cuts critical actions.

Time attacks across consecutive turns to deny recovery.

Mirror: more Legionaries first → more attacks → snowball victory.