Tunnel

Basic Info

• Type: Victory-Reaction
• Cost: 3
• Effect: Worth 2 VP. When you discard this other than during Cleanup, you may reveal it to gain a Gold.

Rating

Hinterlands' specialty Victory card. 2 VP at $3 (mild price-per-VP), but the discard-trigger Gold generator is exceptional. With reliable discard outlets (Council Room, Oracle, Inn, Crossroads, Steward, etc.), Tunnel becomes a Gold factory.

Community consensus: variable from S to B depending on discard support — but with enabling cards, S-tier. Tier A.

How to Play

Buy at $3 — but only if discard outlets exist on the board.

Mid: Use discarders (Council Room, Oracle, Inn, Crossroads, Steward, Cellar) to discard Tunnel for Gold.

Late: Tunnel itself = 2 VP, keep buying.

When to Pick / Skip

Strong when supply has multiple discard mechanisms:

1. Council Room (forced opponent draw, less direct).
2. Oracle, Crossroads, Steward, Inn, Fishing Village (action-driven discard).
3. Cellar / Throne Room + Cellar (mass discard).

If no discard outlets, Tunnel is just an overpriced 2-VP card. Skip.

Key Combos

Tunnel + Crossroads: Crossroads draws VP (Tunnel), discard later for Gold.

Tunnel + Oracle: Oracle force-discards top of deck for opponent and self options.

Tunnel + Inn: Inn shuffle discards Tunnel.

Tunnel + Cellar (Base): Multi-discard for multi-Gold.

Tunnel + Steward: Steward 2-discard mode.

Tunnel + Throne Room + Cellar/Steward: Doubled discard = 2 Golds in one turn.

Tunnel + Library (Base): Library discards Tunnel when over 7-card draw.

Synergies

• Council Room (Base): Force-cycle.
• Oracle: Top discard.
• Crossroads: VP-draw + Tunnel.
• Inn: On-gain shuffle.
• Steward: Trash + discard.
• Cellar (Base): Optional discard.
• Library (Base): 7+ discard.
• Throne Room: Doubled discard.

Counters & Bad Matchups

• No discarders on board: Tunnel never reveals → just an overpriced 2 VP.
• Short games: Gold-stacking too slow.
• Attack-free safe boards: Tunnel relies on self-discard.

Advanced Tips

Discarder secured first: Buy 2+ discard cards before Tunnel.

Gain timing: Just after gaining Tunnel, line up next-turn discard for instant Gold.

Multi-buy: 4-6 Tunnels for sustained Gold + 8+ VP.

Crossroads combo: Crossroads +1 Card per VP draws Tunnels into hand. Discard later turns.

Inn combo: Inn on-gain shuffle reveals Tunnel back to deck (but not strictly a Cleanup-external discard, depends on ruling).

Steward combo: 2-discard pulls 2 Tunnels = 2 Golds. Maximum efficiency.

3-pile to-go: Tunnel is $3 — pile drains alongside Estate stack.