Diplomat

Basic Info

• Type: Action-Reaction
• Cost: 4
• Effect: +2 Cards. If you have 5 or fewer cards in hand (after drawing), +2 Actions. Reaction: When another player plays an Attack card, you may reveal this from a hand of 5+ cards; if you do, +2 Cards then discard 3.

Rating

Intrigue's multi-function Reaction. +2 Cards draw, conditional +2 Actions, Attack-mitigation in one card. Cost 4 versatile.

Defining trait: Reaction mode. On attack, draw 2 / discard 3 = quality improvement + attack mitigation.

Tier B to B+. Strong on attack-heavy boards. Mediocre cantrip-draw on attack-free boards.

How to Play

Early: $4 buy. First Diplomat = plain draw.

Mid: Hold for Attack reaction.

End: +2 Cards for Province draw.

Reaction Mode

"+2 Cards / discard 3":

1. Weak hand: Cycle Estates/Coppers for stronger cards.
2. Hand quality improvement: Attack-defense + filter combo.
3. Strong-card retention: Discard only weak cards.

Key Combos

Diplomat + Chapel: Thinning + draw.

Diplomat + Masquerade: Thinning + draw + draw.

Diplomat + Market: Universal.

Diplomat + Smithy: Draw stack.

Diplomat + King's Court (Prosperity): KC + Diplomat = +6 Cards + conditional +6 Actions.

Diplomat + Throne Room: TR + Diplomat = +4 Cards + conditional +4 Actions.

Diplomat + Minion: Reset triggers Diplomat reaction.

Diplomat + Witch/Torturer: Defense boost on attack-heavy boards.

Synergies

• Chapel: Thinning.
• Masquerade: Thin + draw.
• Market: Universal.
• Smithy: Draw.
• King's Court: Triples.
• Throne Room: Doubles.
• Minion: Chain.
• Witch/Torturer boards: Defense.
• Conspirator: Action count.
• Duke: $5 frequency.

Counters & Bad Matchups

• No-attack environments: Reaction wasted.
• Hand 6+ decks: +2 Action condition fails.
• Already-thin: Draw is just cantrip-quality.
• Heavy terminals: Diplomat also terminal without +2 Actions trigger.
• Pure BM: Silver suffices.

Advanced Tips

5-card condition: Keep hand ≤5 pre-draw (discard-cards combo).

Reaction usage: On Attack, always reveal for +2 Cards / 3 discards. Discard Estates, hold strong cards.

Multi-stack: 2-3 = chain (5-card condition easier to hit).

KC + Diplomat: KC + Diplomat = +6 Cards + conditional +6 Actions.

3-pile-out: Diplomat 10 + Estate 8 + 1 pile.

Duke: $5 frequency + Province draw via +2 Cards.

"Diplomat vs. Smithy": Smithy = unconditional +3 Cards. Diplomat = conditional +2 + Reaction. Attack-heavy = Diplomat; peaceful = Smithy.

Reaction is optional: "may reveal" — skip if hand is all strong cards.