• Type: Action
• Cost: 2
• Effect: +2 Cards / When you gain this, +2 Villagers.

Top-of-the-line cost-2 card. +2 Cards (2/3 of Smithy) plus +2 Villagers on gain. Cost-2 draw + token economy in one.

Biggest strength: gain-trigger Villagers. Just buying it grants Action freedom. The +2 Cards keeps it relevant as a standalone draw piece.

Overall A tier. Top of the cost-2 slot, prime 2-3 / 3-2 opening pick.

Auto-buy at 2 coins.

Mid: multiple copies bank Villagers; stable +2 draw.

Late: dump Villagers on Province turns for terminal stacks.

Villager basics:

1. Spendable any time (Action phase or otherwise).
2. Persistent.
3. No cap.

2 Lackeys = +4 Villagers, 3 = +6. Acting Troupe-tier Villager source.

Lackeys + Smithy: Draw + Villager support.

Lackeys + Witch: Terminal-collision relief.

Lackeys + Chapel: Thinning + draw.

Lackeys + City Gates: +1 hand size.

Lackeys + Inventor: Inventor gain → Lackeys → +2 Villagers.

Lackeys + Throne Room: TR + Lackeys = +4 Cards.

• Smithy / Council Room: Draw chain.
• Witch / Curser: Terminal relief.
• Chapel: Thin + draw.
• City Gates Project: +1 hand.
• Inventor / Workshop: Gain chain for Villagers.
• Throne Room: Doubled.
• Remodel / Improve: Upgrade chain.

• Pure Big Money: +2 Cards weaker than Smithy.
• Quick-finish: Villager bank wasted.
• Action-light: No use for Villagers.
• Terminal-heavy: Collisions despite Villagers.

Gain-trigger: any Lackeys gain via Workshop / Inventor / Remodel grants +2 Villagers. Chain gains for Villager bursts.

Multiple copies: 2-3 = +4-6 Villagers, fueling terminal-heavy decks.

Lackeys-BM: Lackeys ×2 + Silver + Smithy. Cost-2 +2 draw + Villagers.

Note: +2 Cards is terminal (no +Action). Use Villagers from prior Lackeys to chain plays.