Shepherd

Basic Info

• Type: Action
• Cost: 4
• Effect: +1 Action / Reveal any number of Victory cards from your hand and discard them. +2 Cards per discarded. / On gain: receive Pasture (Heirloom) replacement.

Rating

Nocturne Victory-discard mass draw. Solves the engine's worst problem (Victory-card clog) by trading one Victory for +2 Cards.

Tier S in engine builds. Province phase no longer chokes the deck.

How to Play

$4 slot, 1-3 copies. Mid-late: shines.

Early Estate dump (1 Estate = +2 Cards). Mid-late: dump Duchies/Provinces for huge draw.

Heirloom Pasture: trash bait + extra VP.

When to Pick / Skip

Shines on:

1. Draw-everything engines.
2. Builds expecting many Victory buys.
3. Boards where Estates linger.

Skip:

1. Heavy Chapel (Estates trashed).
2. Rush boards.
3. BM where VP rarely sits in hand.

Key Combos

Shepherd + King's Court: +6 Cards (3 Victory).

Shepherd + Crossroads: dual VP draw.

Shepherd + Cellar: hand-fill before discard.

Shepherd + Inn: shuffle control.

Shepherd + Steward: VP retention vs draw.

Synergies

• King's Court: doubled.
• Crossroads: VP draw.
• Cellar: hand prep.
• Inn: shuffle.
• Steward / Hunting Party: VP control.
• Smithy: draw to find Shepherd.

Counters & Bad Matchups

• Heavy Chapel: Estates trashed.
• BM: VP not in hand.
• Rush boards.
• Cemetery: removes Estates.

Advanced Tips

Engine glue: Shepherd dissolves Province clog. Buy 5 Provinces and still draw deck.

Estate use: 1 Estate + Shepherd = cantrip equivalent +1 net card.

KC + Shepherd: 3 VP discarded → +12 Cards potential.

Multi-Shepherd: 2-3 fire across mid-late.

Heirloom Pasture: trash candidate; extra Estates count.

Province phase: Shepherd ensures continuity.

Mirror match: village count + Shepherd quality wins.