Secret Passage

Basic Info

• Type: Action
• Cost: 4
• Effect: +2 Cards / +1 Action. Take a card from your hand and put it anywhere in your deck.

Rating

Intrigue's high-utility cantrip. +2 Cards / +1 Action (essentially +1 draw cantrip, beating Lab) + deck-position control. Cost-4 multi-function.

Defining trait: "anywhere in deck." Top = guaranteed next turn; bottom = banished until reshuffle. Strict upgrade over Courtyard in many spots.

Tier B+ to A. Engine-core drawer. Deck-position tactics shine.

How to Play

Early: $4 buy. First Secret Passage = topdeck Silver/Gold for next turn.

Mid: Strong cards top, junk bottom.

End: Draw Provinces while burying Estates.

Deck-Position Tactics

"Where to insert":

1. Top: Want next turn (Gold / key Actions).
2. Bottom: Banish until reshuffle (Estates / Coppers).
3. Middle: Want for turn-after-next.
4. Pre-shuffle: Minimal impact.

Key Combos

Secret Passage + Chapel: Thinning + draw + control.

Secret Passage + Masquerade: Thin + draw + draw.

Secret Passage + Library: Deck info.

Secret Passage + Lab: Cantrip stack.

Secret Passage + Market: Universal.

Secret Passage + King's Court (Prosperity): KC + SP = +6 Cards / +3 Actions / 3 inserts.

Secret Passage + Throne Room: TR + SP = +4 Cards / +2 Actions / 2 inserts.

Secret Passage + Minion: Chain.

Synergies

• Chapel: Thinning + control.
• Masquerade: Thin + draw.
• Library: Deck info.
• Lab: Cantrip stack.
• Market: Universal.
• King's Court: Triples.
• Throne Room: Doubles.
• Minion: Chain.
• Courtyard: Topdeck synergy.
• Duke: $5 frequency.

Counters & Bad Matchups

• Heavy terminals: SP is cantrip but related collisions.
• No thinning: Position control diluted.
• Militia: Insert target reduction.
• Pure BM: Silver more direct.
• Strong $4 alternatives: Ironworks / Bridge / Minion ($5).

Advanced Tips

"Next-turn guarantee": Gold / key Actions on top.

"Trash delay": Estates / Coppers to bottom.

Multi-stack: 2-3 = chain cantrip + total deck control.

KC + SP: KC + SP = +6 Cards / +3 Actions / 3 inserts. Total deck control 1 turn.

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

Duke strategy: SP for $5 frequency (drawing into Gold) → Duchy/Duke.

"Secret Passage vs. Courtyard": Courtyard = terminal +3 / topdeck. SP = cantrip +2 / anywhere. Engine = SP; BM = Courtyard.

Lab comparison: Lab = +1 / +1 cantrip. SP = +2 / +1 / insert. SP near-strict upgrade.