Courtier

Basic Info

Type: Action
Cost: 5
Effect: Reveal a card from your hand. For each type the card has (Action, Treasure, etc.), choose one — +1 Action / +1 Buy / +$3 / Gain a Gold (different choices each).

Rating

Intrigue's flexible-effect card. Effect count = revealed card's type count. Multi-type cards (Harem = Treasure-Victory, Nobles = Action-Victory, Great Hall = Action-Victory) trigger multiple effects.

Defining trait: "Harem/Nobles reveal = 2 effects." Multi-type powerhouses scale Courtier exponentially.

Tier B+ to A. Supply-dependent. With multi-type cards, strong; without, just +$3 vanilla.

How to Play

Early: $5 buy candidate. First Courtier as +$3 baseline.

Mid: Acquire Harem/Great Hall/Nobles → reveal for 2 effects.

End: Courtier gives +$3 + Gold gain — finishing accelerator.

Type-Count Strategy

Reveal type count:

1 type (standard): 1 effect, usually +$3.
2 types (Harem TR-VP, Great Hall A-VP): 2 effects, e.g., +$3 + Gold.
3 types (rare in Intrigue alone, e.g., Dark Ages Curse-effect cards): 3 effects.
4 types: All 4 effects.

Intrigue-only supplies cap at 1-2 types. +$3 + Gold combo is the workhorse.

Key Combos

Courtier + Harem: Harem reveal (Treasure-Victory) → Courtier = +$3 + Gold. One-turn explosion.

Courtier + Great Hall: GH reveal (Action-Victory) → +1 Action + $3.

Courtier + Nobles: Nobles reveal (Action-Victory) → +1 Action + $3.

Courtier + Festival: Courtier $3 + Gold gain, Festival adds Action/Buy/coin. Finishing accelerator.

Courtier + King's Court (Prosperity): KC + Courtier = 3 reveals = +$9 + 3 Gold gains.

Courtier + Throne Room: TR + Courtier = 2 reveals = +$6 + 2 Gold gains.

Courtier + Bridge: Cost reduction.

Synergies

Harem: 2-type staple.
Great Hall: 2-type staple.
Nobles: 2-type.
Festival: Finisher.
King's Court: Triples.
Throne Room: Doubles.
Bridge: Cost reduction.
Chapel: Thinning.
Masquerade: Thin + draw.
Dark Ages multi-types: 3-4 types.

Counters & Bad Matchups

Action-only decks: 1 type, +$3 fixed.
No Harem/GH/Nobles: Effect count stuck at 1.
No trashing: Limited deck-build flex.
Heavy terminals: Courtier is also terminal.
Pure BM: Harem-route OK but cumbersome.

Advanced Tips

Reveal-card selection: Prioritize multi-type cards. Hold Harem/GH/Nobles for Courtier reveal.

"+$3 + Gold" combo: Reveal Harem for 2 effects: +$3 (economy) + Gold gain (deck-strengthening). Pre-Province ideal.

Second Courtier: 1 enough; 2nd for chain. 3+ excess.

KC + Courtier: KC plays Courtier 3x, each reveals → effects. All-+$3 = +$9 (Province guaranteed); all-Gold-gain = +3 Golds.

3+ type cards (Dark Ages): Massive payoffs. Rare in Intrigue alone.

Courtier BM: Courtier + Harem + Silver/Gold = stable BM. Boosts $8 hit-rate.

Duke synergy: Courtier $3 + Gold helps $5 frequency for Duchy/Duke.