Watchtower

Basic Info

• Type: Action - Reaction
• Cost: 3
• Effect: Draw until you have 6 cards in hand.
• Reaction: When you gain a card, you may reveal Watchtower to either trash that card or put it on top of your deck.

Rating

One of Dominion's most versatile Reactions. Three effects (drawing, trashing, top-decking) in one card.

Overall A to S tier. Strength varies by board. On heavy attack boards (curses), Watchtower fully neutralizes spread. With gain-trigger cards (Workshop, Artisan, Hovel) the synergy explodes.

Biggest strength: the Reaction triggers on any gain. Acts as Chapel-style thinner, anti-attack defense, and Workshop top-decking — all in one card.

How to Play

Open with Watchtower on 3-coin turns. Competing with Chapel? Chapel = pure trash, Watchtower = draw + trash + top-deck. Both can be valuable.

Mid-game: Defend attacks via Reaction; top-deck gained Actions for next-turn guarantee. Artisan-gain → Watchtower top-deck → next turn play is a power line.

End-game: Cycle hand to 6 every turn; trash gained Curses/Coppers immediately.

Watchtower Reaction Usage

1. Attack defense: Mountebank, Witch, Bandit-style curse/copper attacks → reveal Watchtower → trash gained Curse/Copper. Full immunity.
2. Top-decking: Workshop, Artisan, Altar gains → top-deck strong card → guaranteed next-turn play.
3. Trashing: Unwanted gains immediately scrapped.

Key Combos

Watchtower + Artisan: Gain cost-5 → top-deck → next turn use.

Watchtower + Worker's Village: Gain cost-6 → immediate use.

Watchtower + Altar: Trash + gain → top-deck the gain.

Watchtower + King's Court: KC + Watchtower = draw to 6 three times = massive draw.

Watchtower + Witch / Mountebank: Total attack defense.

Watchtower + Vineyard: Watchtower is Action; counts toward Vineyard VP.

Synergies

• Artisan / Worker's Village / Workshop / Black Market: Gain-trigger combos.
• Altar / Remodel / Expand: Gain → use immediately.
• King's Court / Throne Room: Doubled draw and reaction.
• Witch / Mountebank / Bandit / Other attacks: Full defense.
• Vineyard: Action = VP.
• Engineer / Citizen: Gain manipulation.

Counters & Bad Matchups

• Boards with no attacks or gain triggers: Watchtower's edge dulls.
• Library / Cellar overlap: Redundant draw.
• Heavy terminal collisions: Watchtower is terminal, Villages required.
• Pure BM: Engine card, weak in BM.

Advanced Tips

Second Watchtower: 1 usually suffices. 2 = stable draw + reaction reliability.

Reaction priority: Trash Curse > Trash Copper > Top-deck strong card > Top-deck weak card.

Defense effect always-on while Watchtower is in hand. Thin deck to keep Watchtower drawn frequently.

3-pile ending: Cost-3 Watchtower piles drain easily. Province + Worker's Village + Watchtower can trigger ending.