Expand
Basic Info
- Type: Action
- Cost: 7
- Effect: Trash a card from your hand. Gain a card costing up to 3 more than it.
Rating
A pure upgrade of Remodel (cost 4, +2 cost). At cost 7, the +3 cost conversion is potent. Province (cost 8) becomes reachable from Gold (6) directly — Remodel cannot do this (only +2 means Gold → 8 doesn't reach Province? actually 6+2=8 reaches but Expand offers more flexibility for non-Gold sources).
The biggest power: trash any cost-5 card → gain Gold (cost 6); trash Gold → gain Province; trash Estate (2) → gain cost-5 card.
Overall B+ tier. On cost-7 slot, behind King's Court and Grand Market. Excellent end-game VP-conversion tool.
How to Play
Early game: rarely affordable. Mid-game with engine reaching 7 coin, buy.
Mid-game: trash unwanted 3-4 cost → gain 6-7 cost (Gold, Expand itself, Market, other 5/6).
End-game classic line: Trash Gold → gain Province. 1 Province per Expand per turn.
KC + Expand: ×3 trashing/gaining. 3 Gold → 3 Province in one turn = 18 VP.
Key Combos
Expand + King's Court: ×3 conversions per turn.
Expand + Throne Room: ×2.
Expand + Smithy / Library: Drawing support.
Expand + Bridge: Bridge lowers cost; Expand exploits the spread.
Expand + Altar / Remodel / Forge: Trasher stacking.
Expand + Vineyard: Action count = VP, double-dipping.
Synergies
- King's Court: Triple conversion.
- Throne Room: Double.
- Smithy / Library / Council Room: Draw support.
- Remodel / Altar / Forge: Trasher network.
- Bridge / Quarry: Cost manipulation.
- Vineyard: Action-count VP.
Counters & Bad Matchups
- Trash-empty decks: No conversion fuel.
- Boards where 7 coin is hard: Expand itself unaffordable.
- BM strategy: No thinning needed.
- Heavy terminal collisions: Expand is terminal, Villages required.
Advanced Tips
Maximize the +3 spread. Trash cost-3 → gain cost-6 (Gold) is the cleanest line.
Province conversion via Gold (6+3=9, but capped at Province 8). Cost-5 → Gold is straight +1.
3-pile end support: Mass conversions empty multiple piles. Trigger Province + 2 other piles for ending.
KC + Expand combo is one of the most decisive endings in Dominion. Boards with both — secure both.