Old Witch

Basic Info

Type: Action-Attack
Cost: 5
Effect: +3 Cards / Each other player gains a Curse, then may trash a Curse from their hand.

Rating

A near-upgrade to Witch. Cost 5: +3 Cards (Smithy+) plus Curse-spread. Opponents may trash a hand-Curse, but only what they hold — long-term Curse buildup persists.

Biggest strength: +3 Cards draw power. Witch is +2 Cards; Old Witch is Smithy-grade. Curse + heavy draw on one card.

Caveat: opponents' self-cleanse partially negates Curse pressure. Only hand-Curses qualify — discard / deck Curses persist, so the cumulative attack still bites.

Overall A tier. Cost-5 +3 Cards + curser is decisive, especially on thinning-poor boards.

How to Play

Auto-buy at 5 coins. Top contender alongside Witch.

Mid: spread Curses every turn while drawing.

Late: pure +3 terminal draw post-Curse-pile.

Self-Cleanse Tactics

Mitigate opponent cleansing:

Speed Curse-spread: hit before they hold Curses in hand.
Cleanse-tempo: each opponent cleanse uses their hand slot.
Cumulative: 1-per-turn cleanse doesn't keep up.

Self benefit: trash own Curses received from opponents' Old Witch with your own.

Key Combos

Old Witch + Chapel: Bulk-trash own Curses; opponents stuck with hand-only.

Old Witch + Acting Troupe / Lackeys: Terminal relief.

Old Witch + Mountain Village: Recycle for repeat plays.

Old Witch + City Gates: +1 hand size.

Old Witch + Inventor: Gain ($5→$4 with Inventor).

Old Witch + Throne Room: TR + OW = +6 Cards / 2 Curses.

Synergies

Chapel: Self-Curse thin.
Acting Troupe / Lackeys: Terminal relief.
Mountain Village / Fishing Village: Repeat plays.
City Gates Project: +1 hand.
Inventor / Workshop: Gain chain.
Throne Room: Doubled.
Masquerade: Curse hot-potato.

Counters & Bad Matchups

Thinning-rich boards: Opponents can answer.
Ambassador (Seaside): Returns Curses.
Quick-finish: Curse pile undrained.
No +1 Buy: Hard to combine with other buys.

Advanced Tips

Mirror match: Both buy Old Witch — Curses ping-pong, self-cleanse balances. Big-Money-like outcome.

Curse-pile distribution: 4-player has 10 Curses split across 3. Early Old Witch monopolizes.

First-player edge: First Old Witch is one Curse ahead; mirror matches favor priority.

Note: hand-Curse cleanse can apply right after gaining one if Curse is already in hand (unusual, typically post clean-up).