[Dominion] Bishop Card Guide - Trash for VP Tokens
Rating of the Prosperity card Bishop. Cost 4 Action. +1 Coin / +1 VP / trash a card (gain VP equal to half its cost). Each opponent may trash too.
Bishop
Basic Info
- Type: Action
- Cost: 4
- Effect: +1 Coin / +1 VP token. You may trash a card from your hand (gain VP tokens equal to half its cost, rounded down). Each other player may also trash a card.
Rating
A unique alt-VP strategy enabler. Lets you win without Provinces, on VP tokens alone. Combines thinning + VP scoring.
Overall B+ to A tier. Time-dependent: longer games favor Bishop. The "opponents may also trash" downside helps your opponents thin too — sometimes a serious drawback.
Classic line: Bishop every turn → trash Estates/Coppers → VP tokens accumulate → 10-20 VP from tokens alone wins without Provinces.
How to Play
Open with Bishop on 4-coin turns. Competing with Chapel? Chapel = burst thinning, Bishop = slow thinning + VP. Sometimes both.
Mid-game: Bishop every turn. Trash Gold (6) = 3 VP, cost-4 = 2 VP, Estate (2) = 1 VP. +1 base VP every play.
End-game: Trash Provinces for 4 VP each (cost 8). Balance: token accumulation vs Province scoring.
Bishop's "Opponent May Also Trash"
The drawback: opponents thin their decks for free off your Bishop. Sometimes opponents decline (decline = no thinning for them). Strategic decision.
Key Combos
Bishop + King's Court: ×3 trash + 3 VP + 3 coin. Up to 12 VP per turn possible.
Bishop + Throne Room: ×2.
Bishop + Altar / Forge / Remodel / Expand: Trasher network.
Bishop + Smithy: Drawing for both Bishop and trash fodder.
Bishop + Vineyard: Action count = VP, double-dipping.
Bishop + Goons: VP token stacking.
Synergies
- King's Court: Triple ops.
- Throne Room: Double.
- Altar / Remodel / Expand / Forge: Trasher network.
- Smithy / Library: Draw support.
- Vineyard: Action = VP.
- Goons: VP token combo.
- Monument: VP token stacking.
- University: Action gain.
Counters & Bad Matchups
- No high-cost trash: Trashing Coppers = 0 VP.
- Fast games: Token strategy too slow vs Province rush.
- Boards that help opponents thin: Bishop assists opponents.
- Heavy terminal collisions: Bishop is terminal, Villages required.
Advanced Tips
"VP per Bishop play" baseline: trash Gold (6) = 3 VP + 1 base = 4 VP per turn.
Province trashing: 4 VP from a Province (cost 8). Direct keeping = 6 VP. Only worth when Provinces are gone or game-state forces it.
3-pile end: Mass trashing empties piles. Province + others trigger end.
KCKC + Bishop: 6 trash ops + 6 VP + 6 coin per turn. 10-15 VP per turn theoretical max.