Steward

Basic Info

• Type: Action
• Cost: 3
• Effect: Choose one — +2 Cards / +$2 / Trash 2 cards from hand.

Rating

Intrigue's universal terminal. Cost 3 with 3-choice (+2 Cards / +$2 / Trash 2). Different roles each deck-building phase.

Defining trait: thinning + draw + economy in one card. Mini Chapel + mini Smithy + Silver, in 1 buy.

Tier B+ to A. Each effect is below standalone equivalents, but cost-3 flex is the edge.

How to Play

Early: $3 buy. First Steward = Trash 2 (Estate + Copper) for thinning.

Mid: +2 Cards / +$2 modes per deck-building phase.

End: +$2 for Province; +2 Cards for Province draw.

3-Choice Decision

"Pick 1 of 3":

1. Trash 2: Early, thinning priority.
2. +2 Cards: Mid-late, draw priority.
3. +$2: Economy support, pre-Province.

1 Steward = 1 choice/turn. Multi-stack lets each turn pick differently.

Key Combos

Steward + Chapel: 2-stage thinning. Chapel 4 + Steward 2 = 6-trash.

Steward + Masquerade: Thin + draw.

Steward + Throne Room: TR + Steward = 2 choices. +4 Cards, or trash+draw mix.

Steward + King's Court (Prosperity): KC + Steward = 3 choices. +6 Cards, +$6, 6-trash, or mix.

Steward + Festival: Economy + terminal complement.

Steward + Market: Universal support.

Synergies

• Chapel: 2-stage thin.
• Masquerade: Thin + draw.
• Throne Room: Doubles to 2 picks.
• King's Court: Triples to 3 picks.
• Festival: Economy.
• Market: Universal.
• Smithy: Draw stack.
• Duke: $5 frequency.
• Great Hall: VP + draw.
• Tailor (Dark Ages): Trash + gain.

Counters & Bad Matchups

• Already-thin decks: Trash option fizzles.
• Heavy terminals: Steward also terminal.
• Pure BM: Silver suffices.
• Don't-want-to-trash decks: Thin function unused.
• Single-purpose-suffices supplies: Chapel or Smithy alone.

Advanced Tips

Choose last: See hand, decide.

Multi-stack: 2-3 = different picks per turn.

KC + Steward: KC + Steward = 3 choices. +$6 (Province), 6-trash (massive thin), +6 Cards (megaturn).

Early-trash priority: First Steward trashes; 2nd+ situational.

Duke strategy: Steward +$2 + $5 frequency, or trash for thinning.

"Steward vs. Chapel": Chapel = 4-trash. Steward = 2-trash + 2 alt picks. Speed = Chapel; flex = Steward.

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

Mid-game shift: Early trash → mid +2 Cards → late +$2.