Tragic Hero

Basic Info

• Type: Action
• Cost: 5
• Effect: +3 Cards / +1 Buy / If you have 8+ cards in hand, trash this and gain a Treasure.

Rating

A-tier. Cost-5 +3 Cards +1 Buy — Smithy plus. Self-trashes at 8+ hand to gain a Treasure (typically Gold).

The 8-card trigger is easy in draw-to-X engines.

How to Play

Compete at $5 with Smithy; Tragic Hero adds +Buy and end-game Gold gain.

Mid-game, stack copies as engine draw core.

When engine completes, trigger self-trash at 8+ hand → Gold gain.

Key Combos

Tragic Hero + draw-to-X engine: Self-trash → Gold.

Tragic Hero + Throne Room: +6 Cards +2 Buys.

Tragic Hero + Bridge: +1 Buy multi-Province.

Synergies

• Draw engines: Self-trash trigger.
• Throne Room: Doubling.
• Bridge: +Buy chain.
• Exorcist: Trash chain.

Counters & Bad Matchups

• Small decks: 8-card condition fails.
• Terminal-heavy: draws only.

Advanced Tips

2-3 copies — engine draw + late Gold acquisitions.

Time the self-trash: hand size ≥ 8 → Gold (or Platinum) gain.

In engine construction, just use as draw; trigger self-trash one-by-one once draw is complete.