Mining Village

Basic Info

• Type: Action
• Cost: 4
• Effect: +1 Card / +2 Actions. You may trash this card; if you do, +$2.

Rating

Intrigue's flagship Village. Strict upgrade over Village ($3, +1 Card / +2 Actions) with the self-trash for +$2 option. One cost higher, but optional Province-buy support.

Biggest strength: self-trash for +$2. Once Village's role is done, trash for Province-buy assistance.

"Don't trash" is also important. Mid-game = standard Village function. Multi-stack: 1-2 for self-trash, rest for sustained use.

Tier B+ to A. One cost above Village but with strategic flexibility. Engine and BM both compatible.

How to Play

Early: $4 buy candidate. Village competition: Mining Village ($4) vs. Village ($3).

Mid: Function as Village in engine. +1 Card / +2 Actions enables multi-Action turns.

End: Self-trash for +$2 to hit $8 Province threshold.

Self-Trash Timing

Decision criteria:

1. Trash: $6 → $8 needed for Province, definite buy.
2. Don't trash: Need Action count, don't shrink deck.
3. Trash: Multiple Mining Villages stocked, surplus.
4. Don't trash: Single copy, engine collapse risk.

Multi-stack ideal: 3 Mining Villages → 2 sustained use, 1 self-trash for Province.

Key Combos

Mining Village + Torturer: Top village support for Torturer chain. +2 Actions for chain, self-trash for Province.

Mining Village + Minion: Chain support.

Mining Village + Bridge: Top village for Bridge engine. Cost reduction + +2 Actions enables mass-Province turns.

Mining Village + Conspirator: Hit 3-action threshold via Village.

Mining Village + Smithy: Smithy terminal covered.

Mining Village + Masquerade: Terminal-collision relief.

Mining Village + Chapel: Thinning + action support.

Mining Village + King's Court (Prosperity): KC + MV = +3 Cards / +6 Actions / optional +$2.

Mining Village + Throne Room: TR + MV = +2 Cards / +4 Actions / optional self-trash. Trash triggers once even under Throne.

Synergies

• Torturer: Chain village.
• Minion: Chain support.
• Bridge: Bridge engine.
• Conspirator: Action density.
• Smithy: Draw support.
• Masquerade: Terminal relief.
• Chapel: Thinning + action.
• King's Court: Triples.
• Throne Room: Doubles.
• Torturer-chain supplies generally.

Counters & Bad Matchups

• No terminal-overload: Village-need limited; cost-3 Village suffices.
• Strong $4 alternatives: Smithy / Minion ($5) etc. compete.
• No thinning: Self-trash effect underused.
• Short games: No time to self-trash.
• Pure BM: Silver preferred.

Advanced Tips

"Last copy" for self-trash: 3 Mining Villages → keep 2, trash 1. Avoid engine collapse.

Pre-Province self-trash: $6 needing $2 → trash MV for guaranteed Province.

Throne self-trash: TR + MV = +2 Cards / +4 Actions / self-trash triggers once (+$2, not +$4).

KC + Mining Village: KC + MV = +3 Cards / +6 Actions, self-trash once (+$2).

Duke strategy fit: MV reaches $5 (self-trash + deck progress) for Duchy/Duke.

3-pile-out concern: MV pile (10) depletes fast. Watch pile-out.

"MV 1st copy vs. Village 2nd copy": $4 single = MV; $3 doubles = Village. Supply-dependent.

Self-trash as cleanup: Multi-MV thinning. Late-game self-trash thins deck.