Black Cat

Basic Info

• Type: Action-Attack-Reaction
• Cost: 2
• Effect: +2 Cards. If it isn't your turn, each other player gains a Curse. When another player gains a Victory card, you may play this from your hand.

Rating

A cursing-reaction at cost 2 — exceptional. As a normal Action it is a terminal +2 cards; as a Reaction it transforms into a curse-spreading attack the instant any opponent gains a VP card. Tier A, one of the finest opening cards in Dominion.

Biggest strength: a $2 curser purchasable on opening. Witch costs $5; Black Cat lands the same kind of payload at $2. The reaction triggers even on opening Estates from the starting deck.

Drawback: on your own turn, it is just a terminal +2-cards drawer (no curse spread).

Tier A. Top contender for $2 slot, comparable to Cellar / Chapel as opening staples.

How to Play

5/2 split: buy Black Cat with the $2. Triggers on opponent's Estate buys / VP gains.

Early: pick Black Cat over Silver if a $4 turn would otherwise force the tradeoff. The reaction is high-impact early.

Mid: deploy as +2-card terminal in engine. Village + Black Cat baseline.

Late: pure +2-card drawer (curse pile likely empty). Still useful for thinning hand draws.

Reaction Mechanics

Trigger: another player gains a Victory card. Includes:

1. Their Buy phase Province / Duchy / Estate purchases.
2. Festival-style VP-gain effects.
3. Anyone gaining a Garden during a non-your turn.

This lets you start cursing the moment a VP race begins.

Key Combos

Black Cat + Coven: Double cursing. Coven Exiles, Black Cat punishes VP gains.

Black Cat + Gatekeeper: Gain-Exile + VP-trigger curse — layered attack.

Black Cat + Mastermind: 3x trigger next turn = +6 cards drawn.

Black Cat + Hunting Lodge: 5-draw to hold Black Cat live.

Black Cat + Snowy Village: +4 Actions chain Black Cat with other terminals.

Black Cat + Witch: Stack pure curse density.

Black Cat + Reaction stacks (Moat, Trader): Black Cat itself is Reaction; multi-reaction defensive setups.

Synergies

• Coven: Double cursing.
• Gatekeeper: Layered Exile.
• Mastermind: 3x firing.
• Hunting Lodge: Draw support.
• Hostelry: Action support.
• Snowy Village: +4 Actions.
• Smithy / Council Room: Draw boost.
• Cavalry: Horse + draw.

Counters & Bad Matchups

• Moat (their side): Reaction blocks attack.
• Diplomat (their side): Reaction blocks attack.
• Terminal-heavy boards: Black Cat itself is terminal — needs Villages.
• Empty Curse pile: Drops to plain +2 cards.
• BM strategy: Self-turn cannot trigger curse — Witch dominates BM context.

Advanced Tips

5/2 open: $2 → Black Cat. Reaction triggers on opponent's first-shuffle Estate buys.

One copy enough to fire reactions; two for engine draw. Three+ usually overkill.

Reaction tactic: Hold Black Cat in hand at end of your turn for opponent VP buys. Don't burn it on a draw early.

Black Cat-BM: Silver / Black Cat → Silver → react on VP-rush turns → Gold → Province.

Mirrors: First Black Cat fires first curses. Don't skip the $2 slot.

Curse-displacement: Black Cat ×2 + Gatekeeper recycles Curse into Exile and back via VP triggers.

Asymmetry: Black Cat is rare in firing during opponent turns — gives unique tempo.